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Gaunt's Ghosts #2
Ghostmaker
On Monthax, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and his Tanith First-and-Only await the order to advance into the sweltering jungle and drive the alien eldar from the world. As battle approaches, Gaunt walks the lines, raising his men's spirits and remembering their most heroic deeds and the tragedies that have dogged Gaunt's Ghosts from the day of their founding on lost Tanith. The day that Gaunt became known as the Ghostmaker.
Read By: Toby Longworth
Read By: Toby Longworth
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
April 1, 2019
-Trabajar sobre los personajes principales, más allá del protagonistas, para dotarlos de vida si es que sobreviven.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro El hacedor de fantasmas (publicación original: Ghostmaker, 2000) nos lleva a Monthax, un planeta de jungla y barro que es el nuevo destino de los Primeros de Tanith (y los últimos y los únicos, ya que el planeta Tanith se perdió tras un ataque de fuerzas del Caos), más conocidos como Los Fantasmas de Gaunt. Mientras esta unidad de la Guardia Imperial, parte de la enorme fuerza del Imperio que lucha en la Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat, se despliega, ocupa posiciones y fortifica sus emplazamientos, el coronel-comisario Ibram Gaunt recuerda cómo se convirtió en su oficial en jefe justo durante la tragedia del planeta Tanith y recuerda también diferentes misiones en las que fueron protagonistas distintos miembros de su unidad. Segundo libro de la serie Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. El libro El hacedor de fantasmas (publicación original: Ghostmaker, 2000) nos lleva a Monthax, un planeta de jungla y barro que es el nuevo destino de los Primeros de Tanith (y los últimos y los únicos, ya que el planeta Tanith se perdió tras un ataque de fuerzas del Caos), más conocidos como Los Fantasmas de Gaunt. Mientras esta unidad de la Guardia Imperial, parte de la enorme fuerza del Imperio que lucha en la Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat, se despliega, ocupa posiciones y fortifica sus emplazamientos, el coronel-comisario Ibram Gaunt recuerda cómo se convirtió en su oficial en jefe justo durante la tragedia del planeta Tanith y recuerda también diferentes misiones en las que fueron protagonistas distintos miembros de su unidad. Segundo libro de la serie Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
July 8, 2019
After the great start to the series in First and Only, Abnett makes what feels like a clumsy mis-step in Ghostmaker. The novel is an awkward mis-mash of two things: a collection of short stories and a standalone story that fills out the last section of the novel. Unfortunately it doesn't quite manage to be either of these convincingly. There are some nice character moments - Larkin's chapter in particular is one of my favourite mini-stories in the Black Library - but the short stories would have worked much better if they were simply unconnected in an anthology. The intermediary text linking them to the main story feels like a stretch, and the overarching plot is pretty weak fare. The idea of linking short story episodes via flashback can be executed well, and I think Abnett is one of the only people in the Black Library capable of doing so, but this is a misfire. If reading the series for the first time you can safely skip this one.
December 29, 2010
Dan Abnett's Warhammer 40K novels certainly deliver. This is the second Gaunt's Ghosts novel, and I enjoyed it even more than the first (First and Only (Warhammer 40,000)). I'm not an expert on the Warhammer 40K universe. I read the books because they come highly recommended by my brother in law. With good cause, I might add. I guess it all comes down to specific taste, but these novels do exactly what they set out to do, and there is no pretension to anything else. What we have here is military Sci-Fi from a front-line perspective. The closest you'll likely get to a comparison, outside of science fiction, are infantry memoirs from a total war perspective. Something like If You Survive: From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer's Riveting True Story. The locales are exotic and the action takes place on desert worlds, ice worlds, water worlds, swamp worlds and any kind of other world you can quickly call to mind (no gas giants so far). A veritable testosterone fest, with cool world building as foundation. Oh, and did I mention the atmospheric Gothic vibe of the whole setting? Mr Abnett is probably one of the most important writers in the W40K stable. His action scenes are visceral, economic and riveting. The cast of characters, from the Tanith First and Only to Commissar Gaunt himself, are truly entertaining. The reader often finds himself caring when they die, which is probably not the norm in this kind of fiction. This is 'The Expendables' of military science fiction. Now - on to Necropolis (Warhammer 40,000).
Note: According to goodreads, this is book #3 in the series, with Necropolis being book #2. According to The Founding (Warhammer 40,000), it is the other way round. Anybody care to comment on that?
Note: According to goodreads, this is book #3 in the series, with Necropolis being book #2. According to The Founding (Warhammer 40,000), it is the other way round. Anybody care to comment on that?
August 12, 2023
"When six become one - a story from many stories sums up Ghostmaker"
Ghostmaker by Dan Abnett is a prime example of both brilliance and direness that comes from Black Library, the Games Workshop publishing arm of the company. It has some of the best Gaunt stories in the series and in my opinion, also the worst. Mainly due to the format used by the author. I know, critical of the great Dan Abnett, heresy I hear you cry.
What’s book two in the Gaunts Ghost’s series about; it really a collection of short stories. It helps the reader understand the actual soldiers in the Tanith First and Only, setting the tone for the future of the series. There are some great stories here; Bragg, Cafferyn, Milo, Dordon, Rawne and Corbe all get some advancement towards their characters. Chief Medic Dordon’s springs to mind and also, we get a glimpse into Major Rawne and Commissar-Colonel Gaunt’s tenuous relationship – I mean blood feud. Rawne hates Gaunt to his core, he forced the Ghost’s to abandon their world without putting up a fight. Gaunt does really take a backseat in Ghostmaker he is more on the proliferay (I may have just made that word up; I mean on the side, as a side thought), in the thoughts of the Ghost’s as their stories are told.
Dordon’s story is one of compassion and really does throw the viral belief that everyone is expandable in the Imperial Guard. Some sixty odd injured Volphene BlueBloods get left behind as the Imperial Guard retreat. He decides to stay and a rip-roaring last man standing story ensues. I enjoyed it as it was a different take on the standard take of Warhammer 40,000. There’s another in the same vein. It’s in the Horus Heresy in the anthology Tales of Heresy called The Last Church brilliant, read it! Rawne I’ve mentioned, a glorious bastard, one who does the right thing but riles at the thought of it benefiting Gaunt. He is rather delicious in that bastardised way any anti-hero is. In literacy terms, he is the false protagonist, but boy he would be the pinnacle of them all if he only followed though.
Brin Milo, a young lad, around seventeen years old was a butler (of sorts) on Tanith. He found himself helping Gaunt escape the planet tearing conflict on Tanith – Gaunt repaid him by helping him survive that conflict. He is now Gaunt’s aide. The Ghosts have never taken to him as they remind him of home, of those they have lost. Many of them dislike the boy as they question his survival over those they love. Milo’s story shows us this side of the Ghosts and also helps to evaluate the lad to one of the most popular in the series, for both the reader of those of the Tanith First and Only.
His story brings into question his uncanny trick of guessing – he is considered a latent pskyer, which is a really crap thing to be in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are classed as heretics (on the whole) and executed there and then if found wanting. Inquisitor Lilith (from Ravenor fame) interrogates Brin and questions Gaunt’s motives for having such an anomaly under his remit. The story was interesting, but it just turned into one of guile by Milo and I personally found it wanting.
Cafferyn gets a shove into the limelight at some nameless conflict. A naval beach incursion begins with Cafferyn partially drowned and deep in thought – an instant goes by, a flash of the past, He finds himself on Tanith their home planet, surrounded by the conflict occurring around, of those drowning with him. It’s a very real and at the same time surreal moment. A well-used bit of stylistic device plays out. The real meat of the story is to prepare Cafferyn for leadership in the possibly future – a hint, a push there and here. For me it was a rather nothing incident and completely out of place with the narrative previously.
As I writing this, I just realised I’ve missed out ‘Mad’ Larkin’s story – now I know I mentioned that I didn’t like some of the stories, this one was hit and miss for me. He is a flippin’ loon in very LOOSE psychological terms – who wouldn’t be in a universe where there’s only war to look forward to. It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day and all day! Larkin finds himself in an abandoned church during a push to remove Chaos cultists from a series of aqueduct – he ran, or did he. The answers are found when he finds himself talking to an omnipotent (well in his mind) angel, who questions Larkin’s motives for running. Dialogue is had, we’re shown just how close Larkin is to losing it. Didactic comes into play, so often when writers are using a moment of psychosis to show a character’s true nature. Larkin’s real moments are shown when he picks up his sniper rifle. As I’ve said, it was OK, I felt the story was rushed, like many others’ in Ghostmaker.
The real problem with Ghostmaker is the number of stories going on, which caused me a lot of confusion when trying to base what is actually occurring. There are a multitude of conflicts happening, from the planets; Caligula, Monthax, some nameless beach, some nameless battle, some nameless person, somewhere, everywhere. The narrative jumps back and forth, sideways and up and down. I rather felt like I was at the axis watching the stories unfold in a rather unintelligent way. Head spinning, it was my Clockwork Orange moment; being stuck in front of those monitors, sheez.
The second book in the series is a mix bag, it’s certainly controversial with those who read the on-going series. A love/dislike relationship. I personally am on that fence per se. I’m in the middle ground, which leaves me feeling like I’m not committing an opinion. Oh, I’ve got one, don’t try to fit so many sub-narratives into a three-hundred-page novel. There.
Ghostmaker by Dan Abnett is a prime example of both brilliance and direness that comes from Black Library, the Games Workshop publishing arm of the company. It has some of the best Gaunt stories in the series and in my opinion, also the worst. Mainly due to the format used by the author. I know, critical of the great Dan Abnett, heresy I hear you cry.
What’s book two in the Gaunts Ghost’s series about; it really a collection of short stories. It helps the reader understand the actual soldiers in the Tanith First and Only, setting the tone for the future of the series. There are some great stories here; Bragg, Cafferyn, Milo, Dordon, Rawne and Corbe all get some advancement towards their characters. Chief Medic Dordon’s springs to mind and also, we get a glimpse into Major Rawne and Commissar-Colonel Gaunt’s tenuous relationship – I mean blood feud. Rawne hates Gaunt to his core, he forced the Ghost’s to abandon their world without putting up a fight. Gaunt does really take a backseat in Ghostmaker he is more on the proliferay (I may have just made that word up; I mean on the side, as a side thought), in the thoughts of the Ghost’s as their stories are told.
Dordon’s story is one of compassion and really does throw the viral belief that everyone is expandable in the Imperial Guard. Some sixty odd injured Volphene BlueBloods get left behind as the Imperial Guard retreat. He decides to stay and a rip-roaring last man standing story ensues. I enjoyed it as it was a different take on the standard take of Warhammer 40,000. There’s another in the same vein. It’s in the Horus Heresy in the anthology Tales of Heresy called The Last Church brilliant, read it! Rawne I’ve mentioned, a glorious bastard, one who does the right thing but riles at the thought of it benefiting Gaunt. He is rather delicious in that bastardised way any anti-hero is. In literacy terms, he is the false protagonist, but boy he would be the pinnacle of them all if he only followed though.
Brin Milo, a young lad, around seventeen years old was a butler (of sorts) on Tanith. He found himself helping Gaunt escape the planet tearing conflict on Tanith – Gaunt repaid him by helping him survive that conflict. He is now Gaunt’s aide. The Ghosts have never taken to him as they remind him of home, of those they have lost. Many of them dislike the boy as they question his survival over those they love. Milo’s story shows us this side of the Ghosts and also helps to evaluate the lad to one of the most popular in the series, for both the reader of those of the Tanith First and Only.
His story brings into question his uncanny trick of guessing – he is considered a latent pskyer, which is a really crap thing to be in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. They are classed as heretics (on the whole) and executed there and then if found wanting. Inquisitor Lilith (from Ravenor fame) interrogates Brin and questions Gaunt’s motives for having such an anomaly under his remit. The story was interesting, but it just turned into one of guile by Milo and I personally found it wanting.
Cafferyn gets a shove into the limelight at some nameless conflict. A naval beach incursion begins with Cafferyn partially drowned and deep in thought – an instant goes by, a flash of the past, He finds himself on Tanith their home planet, surrounded by the conflict occurring around, of those drowning with him. It’s a very real and at the same time surreal moment. A well-used bit of stylistic device plays out. The real meat of the story is to prepare Cafferyn for leadership in the possibly future – a hint, a push there and here. For me it was a rather nothing incident and completely out of place with the narrative previously.
As I writing this, I just realised I’ve missed out ‘Mad’ Larkin’s story – now I know I mentioned that I didn’t like some of the stories, this one was hit and miss for me. He is a flippin’ loon in very LOOSE psychological terms – who wouldn’t be in a universe where there’s only war to look forward to. It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day and all day! Larkin finds himself in an abandoned church during a push to remove Chaos cultists from a series of aqueduct – he ran, or did he. The answers are found when he finds himself talking to an omnipotent (well in his mind) angel, who questions Larkin’s motives for running. Dialogue is had, we’re shown just how close Larkin is to losing it. Didactic comes into play, so often when writers are using a moment of psychosis to show a character’s true nature. Larkin’s real moments are shown when he picks up his sniper rifle. As I’ve said, it was OK, I felt the story was rushed, like many others’ in Ghostmaker.
The real problem with Ghostmaker is the number of stories going on, which caused me a lot of confusion when trying to base what is actually occurring. There are a multitude of conflicts happening, from the planets; Caligula, Monthax, some nameless beach, some nameless battle, some nameless person, somewhere, everywhere. The narrative jumps back and forth, sideways and up and down. I rather felt like I was at the axis watching the stories unfold in a rather unintelligent way. Head spinning, it was my Clockwork Orange moment; being stuck in front of those monitors, sheez.
The second book in the series is a mix bag, it’s certainly controversial with those who read the on-going series. A love/dislike relationship. I personally am on that fence per se. I’m in the middle ground, which leaves me feeling like I’m not committing an opinion. Oh, I’ve got one, don’t try to fit so many sub-narratives into a three-hundred-page novel. There.
August 31, 2020
Nope not for me. Couldn’t even finish it.
May 3, 2020
This is a bit of a clumsy book. It's basically a short story collection with a plot that ties those stories together. The short stories themselves all tell a story about a major character from Gaunt's Ghosts through their perspective. Most of these are pretty fun, others can be way to wordy for their own good; I quite enjoyed the one about the marksman who has a conversation with an angel.
The plot that ties them together, however, is a bit of a mess. The framing device of Gaunt talking to a soldier to introduce the next short story works pretty well, but when it's time for the actual story to start happening, there really isn't enough time left to tell it. Every short story gets referenced in some way and there are some satisfying pay offs, but I honestly wish that it had been a bit longer. This really shows at the end, when an almost literal deus ex machina resolves the conflict.
Overall I still think this is an enjoyable book, if only for the short stories, but it's disappointing that the over arching plot feels really bare bones. 3.5/5
The plot that ties them together, however, is a bit of a mess. The framing device of Gaunt talking to a soldier to introduce the next short story works pretty well, but when it's time for the actual story to start happening, there really isn't enough time left to tell it. Every short story gets referenced in some way and there are some satisfying pay offs, but I honestly wish that it had been a bit longer. This really shows at the end, when an almost literal deus ex machina resolves the conflict.
Overall I still think this is an enjoyable book, if only for the short stories, but it's disappointing that the over arching plot feels really bare bones. 3.5/5
November 15, 2017
Segunda entrega de los Fantasmas en la que se intenta solucionar uno de los problemas de la anterior entrega, que no es otro que los personajes eran demasiado arquetipicos: El forzudo, el solitario, el criminal,... Así que en esta se nos presentan retazos del pasado de los personajes para que podamos conocerlos mejor y poder diferenciarlos un poco, y de paso Abnett enlaza alguno de estos flashbacks con el tiempo presente.
En resumen: Entretenido y correcto en su intención de darle un poco de profundidad a la saga.
En resumen: Entretenido y correcto en su intención de darle un poco de profundidad a la saga.
June 5, 2019
This short story version worked well to get to know a lot of the characters much more, but I lost interest in going back to it numerous times. It just isn’t as well put together as First and Only. Still a solid read, but it wasn’t a page turner for me. I finished it so that I could move on to Necropolis, which I’ve been told is the best book in the series by several Warhammer/40K super fans. On we go!!
March 5, 2021
I’ll admit this book was unique in style compared to the other two Books in the series I’ve read (First and Only & Honour Guard). It delves into character backstories with flashbacks but each one feels real and gives insight to characters I’ve been wanting to know better, especially Larkin and Corbec. Milo’s story is the final 20 something page segment and it leads right into the present day action fighting chaos which I enjoyed just as much as I did the others.
November 8, 2023
In a series of independent chapters, we learn more about the beginnings of Gaunt's Ghosts, each one focusing on a specific character and their defining moments. These flashbacks occur while Gaunt inspects the camp at their newest frontier, and slowly, stealthily the events of the flashbacks creep closer to the present, giving context and building tension. Until ultimately we get to enjoy a rather epic battle with typical Abnett weirdness, full of twists and drama, heroism and inexplicable occurrences that make an awful lot of sense.
Personally I don't feel as much at home with the Ghosts as I did with Abnett's Inquisitor trilogies and Horus Heresy novels. It is true that the tale makes your mouth water for Dark Tide - if you're into gaming anyway - and I do get an appetite for this particularly peculiar lot of soldiers. But not enough to fully immerse myself with them, sadly.
It is a very good novel, rest assured, but perhaps plain old Imperial Soldiery isn't my cup of tea.
Personally I don't feel as much at home with the Ghosts as I did with Abnett's Inquisitor trilogies and Horus Heresy novels. It is true that the tale makes your mouth water for Dark Tide - if you're into gaming anyway - and I do get an appetite for this particularly peculiar lot of soldiers. But not enough to fully immerse myself with them, sadly.
It is a very good novel, rest assured, but perhaps plain old Imperial Soldiery isn't my cup of tea.
April 7, 2022
The second book in the gaunts ghosts trilogy. Introduces you to a lot of characters in the first novel in detail. Enjoyed it but felt a bit disjointed at times.
March 10, 2019
Changing the review to 5 stars. I really like this book. It's the second book of the Gaunt's Ghosts series, about a regiment in the imperial guard in the warhammer 40k universe. This book has an overarching story about a particular battle, but before it starts, you're given a backstory-short-story for about 6-8 of the main characters, which fleshes it all out a lot. Larkin's story really sticks in my head and it's why I'm changing my review to 5 stars.
August 4, 2011
Second book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series. And where the first one dropped you in the middle of the campaign with the Ghost's this book does not have a long running narrative. Sure there is a story that we visit on every other chapter, and it is the tale that gets you from point A to point B. However, the real story is every chapter is about one of the main characters in the Tanith 1st Regiment. You get one action packed vignette about all the big names. Gaunt, Brin, Bragg, Corbec, Rawne, Mkoll, Larkin, Dorden, and Caffran. The main tale takes place after the first book, the vignettes arc all the way back to the Founding, to the events of book 1, and beyond up the present day theater the Ghosts are fighting in. If you liked the first book, and really want to dig into the nature and background of the troopers and officers then you will love Ghostmaker. I think it was far superior to book 1.
September 15, 2008
The second book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series is as good as the first one. More intensely violent military conflict in space against the horrifying forces of chaos, and it is again pulled off as well as any book of this type that I have read.
This story is a series of shorter events that each describe one of the main characters in more detail. This is a very cool way to tackle a complex group of individuals like this and really helps you learn more about their motivations and goals.
If you liked the first one, you will like this one.
This story is a series of shorter events that each describe one of the main characters in more detail. This is a very cool way to tackle a complex group of individuals like this and really helps you learn more about their motivations and goals.
If you liked the first one, you will like this one.
June 20, 2010
This is the second Gaunt's Ghosts book by Dan Abnett. This book was formed from a bunch of short stories that appeared in Inferno! magazine and I believe they were actually written before the first book.
This book deals with the back story of a lot of the main characters, we learn their thoughts and emotions and what makes them human, and what makes them "real" in a sea of billions of Imperial Guardsmen.
This book deals with the back story of a lot of the main characters, we learn their thoughts and emotions and what makes them human, and what makes them "real" in a sea of billions of Imperial Guardsmen.
August 28, 2019
Original Review at Journey to Nowhere: https://journey2nowhere.com/2019/08/2...
The second novel in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett, Ghostmaker continues the story of the Tanith First and Only – a regiment of Imperial Guard fighting the forces of Chaos in the Warhammer 40K universe. Here we see the regiment stationed on the jungle world Monthax, waiting behind friendly lines for the inevitable enemy assault. As the troopers go about their duties, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt walks the line and checks in with his men. As he interacts with each character he remembers past actions that have led his regiment to their current place in the war. Each story is told through the eyes of a different core character, helping to flesh out the past of the characters we were introduced to in First and Only. As Gaunt checks in with his troopers the situation on Monthax is slowly brought to light, and the short stories that occupy the bulk of the novel culminate in the battle on Monthax. Gaunt must once again lead these soldiers into a deadly battle with the forces of Chaos as they work to understand the enemy’s motivations and survive both the battle and the environment itself.
I have always been a fan of short fiction, so for me this novel was a great addition to the series. I think short stories give an author the chance to showcase their abilities as they have to begin and finish a story within a few dozen pages, while also keeping the reading engaged. Abnett does not fail to deliver here; I loved every story and thought it was a nice touch to have each told through the eyes of a different trooper. We not only get a deeper understanding of the history of the Tanith regiment, but also a closer look at the characters themselves, which helped me develop connections to each. These connections will go on to make the preceding novels all the more interesting and engaging. Not all of them are equally engrossing, but none of them disappointed; my favorites included stories of Chief-Medic Dorden as he stays behind enemy lines to care for wounded Volpone soldiers, Mad Larkin as he comes to terms with his potential insanity and Try-Again Bragg as he takes his first command. There was a lot to love here for any fan of military sci-fi.
As each flashback comes and goes we are led deeper into the main storyline of the novel, a standoff between Imperial and Chaos forces in the jungles of Monthax. The last quarter of the piece brings the reader fully into this action as a massive Chaos army begins to make its way through the jungle and the Imperial Guard forces move to intercept. While the mission is clear - engage and destroy the enemy - nobody can discern the goals of the Chaos forces as they move seemingly without purpose through the vast jungle. As things unfold, secrets come to light and the reader is treated to a nice surprise as the enemy’s goals are revealed. I would struggle to think someone not familiar with the 40K universe will understand the story of what unfolds on Monthax, but Abnett certainly does his best to provide some level of backstory without spoiling the ending. Even without the knowledge to fully see what is happening, the story of the Tanith regiment is clear-cut and intriguing. Again, Abnett proves his ability to write out intricate battle scenes with surprising clarity. The ending was chaotic on every level, yet he manages to outline things in a way that allowed me to clearly imagine every scene – I almost felt like I was there in the mud with the Ghosts. This alone is reason enough to give these novels a try for those of you still on the fence. It is another action packed entry into the annals of the Tanith First and Only.
Overall, another solid addition to the series. I think the main plot was overshadowed by the superior short story entries, but that is not to say I did not enjoy the Monthax portion as well. The nostalgia is still strong and I know things are only going to get better from here. Stay tuned for more adventures with Gaunt’s Ghosts.
The second novel in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series by Dan Abnett, Ghostmaker continues the story of the Tanith First and Only – a regiment of Imperial Guard fighting the forces of Chaos in the Warhammer 40K universe. Here we see the regiment stationed on the jungle world Monthax, waiting behind friendly lines for the inevitable enemy assault. As the troopers go about their duties, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt walks the line and checks in with his men. As he interacts with each character he remembers past actions that have led his regiment to their current place in the war. Each story is told through the eyes of a different core character, helping to flesh out the past of the characters we were introduced to in First and Only. As Gaunt checks in with his troopers the situation on Monthax is slowly brought to light, and the short stories that occupy the bulk of the novel culminate in the battle on Monthax. Gaunt must once again lead these soldiers into a deadly battle with the forces of Chaos as they work to understand the enemy’s motivations and survive both the battle and the environment itself.
I have always been a fan of short fiction, so for me this novel was a great addition to the series. I think short stories give an author the chance to showcase their abilities as they have to begin and finish a story within a few dozen pages, while also keeping the reading engaged. Abnett does not fail to deliver here; I loved every story and thought it was a nice touch to have each told through the eyes of a different trooper. We not only get a deeper understanding of the history of the Tanith regiment, but also a closer look at the characters themselves, which helped me develop connections to each. These connections will go on to make the preceding novels all the more interesting and engaging. Not all of them are equally engrossing, but none of them disappointed; my favorites included stories of Chief-Medic Dorden as he stays behind enemy lines to care for wounded Volpone soldiers, Mad Larkin as he comes to terms with his potential insanity and Try-Again Bragg as he takes his first command. There was a lot to love here for any fan of military sci-fi.
As each flashback comes and goes we are led deeper into the main storyline of the novel, a standoff between Imperial and Chaos forces in the jungles of Monthax. The last quarter of the piece brings the reader fully into this action as a massive Chaos army begins to make its way through the jungle and the Imperial Guard forces move to intercept. While the mission is clear - engage and destroy the enemy - nobody can discern the goals of the Chaos forces as they move seemingly without purpose through the vast jungle. As things unfold, secrets come to light and the reader is treated to a nice surprise as the enemy’s goals are revealed. I would struggle to think someone not familiar with the 40K universe will understand the story of what unfolds on Monthax, but Abnett certainly does his best to provide some level of backstory without spoiling the ending. Even without the knowledge to fully see what is happening, the story of the Tanith regiment is clear-cut and intriguing. Again, Abnett proves his ability to write out intricate battle scenes with surprising clarity. The ending was chaotic on every level, yet he manages to outline things in a way that allowed me to clearly imagine every scene – I almost felt like I was there in the mud with the Ghosts. This alone is reason enough to give these novels a try for those of you still on the fence. It is another action packed entry into the annals of the Tanith First and Only.
Overall, another solid addition to the series. I think the main plot was overshadowed by the superior short story entries, but that is not to say I did not enjoy the Monthax portion as well. The nostalgia is still strong and I know things are only going to get better from here. Stay tuned for more adventures with Gaunt’s Ghosts.
October 26, 2020
Whereas the first book in this series was all Gaunt all the time, this novel focuses almost completely on the Ghosts who make up Gaunt’s regiment. It does this through a series of flashback stories, starting with the “founding” of the regiment and then highlighting specific ghosts so that the reader can get to know each of them better. The least successful of these stories for me was the first one, Ghostmaker, which tells how Gaunt pulled the Tanith First off their home world in the face of an unexpected attack by a Chaos fleet. This is the critical moment in explaining the complex relationship between Gaunt and his men. All through the first book they blamed Gaunt for not letting them fight for Tanith. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t satisfy. The fleet sneaks into the system, lands some chaos troops who are killing people, and Gaunt runs. Supposedly the whole world is lost (i.e. destroyed) and Gaunt decided that his regiment wasn’t enough to protect it. I had expected the planet to be destroyed by some sort of nuclear bombardment from orbit, but the enemy soldiers are on the planet and it just doesn’t make any sense that the wholly militarized Empire couldn’t get some relief forces to help save the day before an entire planet was destroyed by troops on the ground. I won’t say this often about Abnett, but I wish he had simply not written this story because to my mind, it makes the founding myth of the regiment ridiculous.
The other stories are much stronger. I won’t mention them all, but I would like to highlight a few. Mad Larkin the sniper gets his day in the sun in “The Angel of Bucephalon” where we find him high in a church spire after having apparently abandoned his fellow soldiers. The whole story is a conversation he has with a stone statue. In it we learn that he needs pills to keep from hallucinating, but even with the pills, the only time he sees the world as it really is, is when he looks at it through his sniper scope. He comes off as a strangely timid soldier who is a simply brilliant marksman. And as the angel, playing the role of commissar, demands he defend himself against her charge of desertion and the punishment of death, he slowly gathers himself together, waits his opportunity, and assassinates the head of the chaos resistance force which the Ghosts had been sent to kill. It’s a very effective tale which will leave you loving Mad Larkin.
“That Hideous Strength” tells the story of dull-whitted “Try Again” Bragg, the strongest and mentally weakest of the Ghosts whom Gaunt puts in charge of a supply convoy that no one thinks can make it to its destination. Bragg is simply awesome—not only as a soldier who won’t quit and remains steadfast in his loyalty to Gaunt—but because we learn that “slow” is very different than “stupid”. It’s just a great story all around.
And finally in “Blood Oath”, Ghost Physician Dorden, oldest man in the regiment, and the only one who is unwilling to carry a gun, finds his values pushed to the limit when he’s told to abandon scores of injured men from a rival regiment because the whole army is retreating. War is an especially terrible place for doctors and we learn a lot about the physician that the whole regiment depends so heavily on. It’s a moving tale.
As a way to quickly introduce the Ghosts who will be the mainstay of this series, this novel is effective. But as a story on its own, it’s weak, probably because it’s not truly a novel, just a collection of loosely braided together short stories.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews
The other stories are much stronger. I won’t mention them all, but I would like to highlight a few. Mad Larkin the sniper gets his day in the sun in “The Angel of Bucephalon” where we find him high in a church spire after having apparently abandoned his fellow soldiers. The whole story is a conversation he has with a stone statue. In it we learn that he needs pills to keep from hallucinating, but even with the pills, the only time he sees the world as it really is, is when he looks at it through his sniper scope. He comes off as a strangely timid soldier who is a simply brilliant marksman. And as the angel, playing the role of commissar, demands he defend himself against her charge of desertion and the punishment of death, he slowly gathers himself together, waits his opportunity, and assassinates the head of the chaos resistance force which the Ghosts had been sent to kill. It’s a very effective tale which will leave you loving Mad Larkin.
“That Hideous Strength” tells the story of dull-whitted “Try Again” Bragg, the strongest and mentally weakest of the Ghosts whom Gaunt puts in charge of a supply convoy that no one thinks can make it to its destination. Bragg is simply awesome—not only as a soldier who won’t quit and remains steadfast in his loyalty to Gaunt—but because we learn that “slow” is very different than “stupid”. It’s just a great story all around.
And finally in “Blood Oath”, Ghost Physician Dorden, oldest man in the regiment, and the only one who is unwilling to carry a gun, finds his values pushed to the limit when he’s told to abandon scores of injured men from a rival regiment because the whole army is retreating. War is an especially terrible place for doctors and we learn a lot about the physician that the whole regiment depends so heavily on. It’s a moving tale.
As a way to quickly introduce the Ghosts who will be the mainstay of this series, this novel is effective. But as a story on its own, it’s weak, probably because it’s not truly a novel, just a collection of loosely braided together short stories.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews
December 12, 2017
The Liberation Crusade continues its push into the Sabbat Worlds, pushing the forces of Chaos back on every front. The Tanith First-and-Only are deployed to Monthax, a jungle world which reminds the Tanith forces of their lost homeworld. As the battles there degenerate into a long, drawn-out stalemate the troopers known as Gaunt's Ghosts find themselves recalling the battles of the past even as a mysterious presence in the deep jungles decides to use the human forces for their own ends...
Ghostmaker, the second novel in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, is an interesting book with a slightly odd structure. The first two-thirds or so of the book consist of short stories flashing back to key moments in the histories of individual soldiers within the Tanith First and also the unit as a whole, from Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt downwards in the rank structure. These short stories are varied in nature and tone, but are all pretty good in quality, mixing humour, tragedy and action with some interesting character-development. Several key Ghost characters were developed in the first book but here Abnett is able to portray several more in detail, explaining some interesting backstory moments which illuminate their action in this and the subsequent book. Abnett also makes greater use of the greater Warhammer 40,000 universe (again, no foreknowledge of the setting is required to enjoy this novel), throwing in some appearances by the orks and eldar to spice things up a bit.
The final third is a more traditional war story as the Tanith First engages the forces of Chaos in earnest on Monthax. It's a solid story with some good writing, but the book's odd structure does mean Abnett struggles a little here and there. In particular, he chooses to have the Imperial Guard join forces with an alien battle group to fend off a greater foe, a trope which various Warhammer 40,000 fiction writers tend to use when needed (rather a lot in the Dawn of War computer games) despite the fact that consorting with any aliens in the WH40K universe is pretty much considered a heresy under any circumstances in the game material. Abnett tries to justify it with the use of a new Inquisitor character trained for this very circumstance, but it's a little bit thin as a piece of story rationale.
Whilst not as strong as First and Only or its much more engrossing successor, the thunderous Necropolis (which is basically the Battle of Stalingrad of WH40K engagements), Ghostmaker (***½) shows ambition with the author trying something new rather than just another adventure for Gaunt and the boys, and for the most part pulls it off. The novel is out of print as a solo title, but is available as part of the first Gaunt's Ghosts omnibus, The Founding, in the UK and USA.
Ghostmaker, the second novel in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, is an interesting book with a slightly odd structure. The first two-thirds or so of the book consist of short stories flashing back to key moments in the histories of individual soldiers within the Tanith First and also the unit as a whole, from Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt downwards in the rank structure. These short stories are varied in nature and tone, but are all pretty good in quality, mixing humour, tragedy and action with some interesting character-development. Several key Ghost characters were developed in the first book but here Abnett is able to portray several more in detail, explaining some interesting backstory moments which illuminate their action in this and the subsequent book. Abnett also makes greater use of the greater Warhammer 40,000 universe (again, no foreknowledge of the setting is required to enjoy this novel), throwing in some appearances by the orks and eldar to spice things up a bit.
The final third is a more traditional war story as the Tanith First engages the forces of Chaos in earnest on Monthax. It's a solid story with some good writing, but the book's odd structure does mean Abnett struggles a little here and there. In particular, he chooses to have the Imperial Guard join forces with an alien battle group to fend off a greater foe, a trope which various Warhammer 40,000 fiction writers tend to use when needed (rather a lot in the Dawn of War computer games) despite the fact that consorting with any aliens in the WH40K universe is pretty much considered a heresy under any circumstances in the game material. Abnett tries to justify it with the use of a new Inquisitor character trained for this very circumstance, but it's a little bit thin as a piece of story rationale.
Whilst not as strong as First and Only or its much more engrossing successor, the thunderous Necropolis (which is basically the Battle of Stalingrad of WH40K engagements), Ghostmaker (***½) shows ambition with the author trying something new rather than just another adventure for Gaunt and the boys, and for the most part pulls it off. The novel is out of print as a solo title, but is available as part of the first Gaunt's Ghosts omnibus, The Founding, in the UK and USA.
January 5, 2023
Rating of 4.75.
Welcome back to my Throwback Thursday series, where I republish old reviews, review books I have read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read. For my latest Throwback Thursday, I check out another Warhammer 40,000 novel with an epic entry from Dan Abnett’s classic Gaunt’s Ghosts series, Ghostmaker.
Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the men of the Tanith First-and-Only, also known as Gaunt’s Ghosts, are some of the toughest soldiers serving the Imperium of Man. The only survivors of the now dead world of Tanith, the Ghosts bear a substantial grudge against the forces of Chaos, as well as a complex relationship with their commander who saved their lives by abandoning their planet. Now deployed to the jungle world of Monthax, the Ghosts prepare for their next inevitable battle against the Chaos host.
As the Ghosts await their next confrontation, Gaunt walks the lines, reliving the events that made his regiment what it is, while also growing close to the unique individuals he commands. Each member of the Ghosts has their own story, and all have been forged in the crucible of war alongside their fearless commander. But when battle is joined again the Ghosts find themselves in a unique confrontation that pulls on their tragic history and forces them to relive the worst day of their lives. Is this the event that will forge the Ghosts into a legendary regiment, or will the survivors of Tanith break when they are needed most?
Abnett once again showcases why he is one of the very best Warhammer authors out there with this brilliant second entry in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series. Bringing together several fantastic narratives into one character-driven plot, Ghostmaker is a key and compelling entry in this wider series that I absolutely powered through in a couple of days.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/01/05/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Welcome back to my Throwback Thursday series, where I republish old reviews, review books I have read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read. For my latest Throwback Thursday, I check out another Warhammer 40,000 novel with an epic entry from Dan Abnett’s classic Gaunt’s Ghosts series, Ghostmaker.
Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the men of the Tanith First-and-Only, also known as Gaunt’s Ghosts, are some of the toughest soldiers serving the Imperium of Man. The only survivors of the now dead world of Tanith, the Ghosts bear a substantial grudge against the forces of Chaos, as well as a complex relationship with their commander who saved their lives by abandoning their planet. Now deployed to the jungle world of Monthax, the Ghosts prepare for their next inevitable battle against the Chaos host.
As the Ghosts await their next confrontation, Gaunt walks the lines, reliving the events that made his regiment what it is, while also growing close to the unique individuals he commands. Each member of the Ghosts has their own story, and all have been forged in the crucible of war alongside their fearless commander. But when battle is joined again the Ghosts find themselves in a unique confrontation that pulls on their tragic history and forces them to relive the worst day of their lives. Is this the event that will forge the Ghosts into a legendary regiment, or will the survivors of Tanith break when they are needed most?
Abnett once again showcases why he is one of the very best Warhammer authors out there with this brilliant second entry in the Gaunt’s Ghosts series. Bringing together several fantastic narratives into one character-driven plot, Ghostmaker is a key and compelling entry in this wider series that I absolutely powered through in a couple of days.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/01/05/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
May 12, 2023
Ghostmaker is an ok follow-up to First and Only, but not an unqualified success. The only real problem is format. First and Only was a straight-up narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. Ghostmaker is essentially a short-story collection framed by Commissar-Colonel Ibram Gaunt wandering around the Tanith "Ghosts" regiment on the eve of battle and then launching into flashbacks (many of which Gaunt wasn't personally present for) of various past incidents centering around the various troopers he encounters. Most of the stories are interesting enough on their own (and DO flesh out a lot of secondary characters), but the story lacks narrative flow, and it doesn't explain itself very well. What I mean by that is that the book starts with a prologue which is disconnected from everything else in the story, involving the Ghosts' first deployment (I think, it might've also been an alternate reality given how it frames itself). Then after this prolonged intro, we're suddenly following Gaunt around and then with no transition we're in a flashback. It took me a couple chapters to realize what was going on. Now, I will say that most of the flashback episodes DO have payoff in the final act of the novel, which is a "from the beginning of this sordid tale we return to the present, already in progress" sort of thing. On the other hand, the ending of the book had several rather vital plot revelations which came out of nowhere (and which the book only foreshadowed in the most round-about way) and I thought that was a bit cheap, and only reinforced my view that the structure of the book worked against itself in terms of developing the "main" story, which ultimately came off as less coherent than the various flashback stories. All in all, there's still a lot of interesting stuff here (and well-told, apart from the use of present continuous tense... GAH!), but it doesn't really come together as well as it should, quite enjoyable for what it is, but undoubtedly a step down from its predecessor.
November 22, 2021
Ghostmaker is comprised of a mixed bag of short stories that endeavor to build further character to the Ghosts. If I'm not mistaken most of the stories were published in a magazine individually and then collected to form this book. For those that found the previous book engrossing and entertaining, you may struggle more here. Where the first book had an overarching direction that pulled the smaller plots together towards one ending, there is much less of that here.
A few of the stories are set as prequel material that take place before the first book and the story within, while some others take place somewhat after. These stories are a bit of a hodgepodge of character driven explorations and so they have different settings and purposes, feeling a bit like an anthology of dedicated stories to individuals among the higher ranking Ghosts.
Some of the stories aren't nearly as engaging or developed enough to feel like they are worth the time involved in them while others are pretty solid. Over all the book sort of meanders through the cast and doesn't feel like it has much direction up until the last story that works to cap the book on a send off that feels like way too little way too late.
Best taken as what it is. A collection of stories of varying delivery quality. Ok but nothing to marvel over.
A few of the stories are set as prequel material that take place before the first book and the story within, while some others take place somewhat after. These stories are a bit of a hodgepodge of character driven explorations and so they have different settings and purposes, feeling a bit like an anthology of dedicated stories to individuals among the higher ranking Ghosts.
Some of the stories aren't nearly as engaging or developed enough to feel like they are worth the time involved in them while others are pretty solid. Over all the book sort of meanders through the cast and doesn't feel like it has much direction up until the last story that works to cap the book on a send off that feels like way too little way too late.
Best taken as what it is. A collection of stories of varying delivery quality. Ok but nothing to marvel over.
January 20, 2022
This is basically a collection of short stories which has its pluses and negatives. On the plus side it means we stay with the action and get to explore different worlds and combat scenarios. On the negative, it doesn’t provide much of a plot to push me on as a reader.
One thing that I found irksome with the format is that you keep reading back to back to back victories where the Ghosts are the heroes. Kinda weird how everyone hates the dudes and they never get any respect despite them piling up prestigious victories. It stretched my belief but luckily the back half are much more successful stories that are smaller in scale opposed to planet-winning heroics (survive the night, escape from Orks, etc).
It helps the book a lot now that I know these characters and Abbnet takes his time giving each of them some shine. It makes combat more tense and outcomes more meaningful. There are about 5 characters that you spend most of your time with, opposed to the 40+ names dropped in the previous book who served as a backdrop for Gaunt.
Really this is just “bolter porn”: tons of quick sci-fi battles scattered across some well done world building. I liked this more than the first book and would give it 3.5 stars if I could. The series continues being fun schlock, which is exactly what I want.
One thing that I found irksome with the format is that you keep reading back to back to back victories where the Ghosts are the heroes. Kinda weird how everyone hates the dudes and they never get any respect despite them piling up prestigious victories. It stretched my belief but luckily the back half are much more successful stories that are smaller in scale opposed to planet-winning heroics (survive the night, escape from Orks, etc).
It helps the book a lot now that I know these characters and Abbnet takes his time giving each of them some shine. It makes combat more tense and outcomes more meaningful. There are about 5 characters that you spend most of your time with, opposed to the 40+ names dropped in the previous book who served as a backdrop for Gaunt.
Really this is just “bolter porn”: tons of quick sci-fi battles scattered across some well done world building. I liked this more than the first book and would give it 3.5 stars if I could. The series continues being fun schlock, which is exactly what I want.
April 18, 2023
An enjoyable read that expands upon the overall lore of the Ghosts without really surpassing the first book.
Where the first book, First and Only, was Gaunt's story, this one is more about the Ghosts themselves. Which is a good thing as it's nice to see the other characters get some time, I found the story around Larkin to be especially good. Focusing on Gaunt too much I fear would lead to the overall series become a bit samey (ironically just like I found happened with the Sharpe series this is based off of)
All in all I liked it but I felt it wasn't as good as the first book. Although still rich in lore, I feel the nature of how it was originally written hurt it in the long run. Initially the series was a collection of short stories from Inferno!, the short story Vermilion Level being expanded into the first book in the series whilst the other short stories were grouped together into this book. And although they were certainly enjoyable to read I felt that it felt kind of disjointed at times. Fun read but not the type of story you'd get immersed in like one could do with the first in the series.
Where the first book, First and Only, was Gaunt's story, this one is more about the Ghosts themselves. Which is a good thing as it's nice to see the other characters get some time, I found the story around Larkin to be especially good. Focusing on Gaunt too much I fear would lead to the overall series become a bit samey (ironically just like I found happened with the Sharpe series this is based off of)
All in all I liked it but I felt it wasn't as good as the first book. Although still rich in lore, I feel the nature of how it was originally written hurt it in the long run. Initially the series was a collection of short stories from Inferno!, the short story Vermilion Level being expanded into the first book in the series whilst the other short stories were grouped together into this book. And although they were certainly enjoyable to read I felt that it felt kind of disjointed at times. Fun read but not the type of story you'd get immersed in like one could do with the first in the series.
October 19, 2017
Highly entertaining and quite devourable.
Ghostmaker does a fantastic job of going back and properly introducing us to the bevy of characters that make up the Tanith First. Abnett's writing is significantly improved and much tighter.
The increased characterisation was excellent - though let's be honest we're still dealing with the classic WW2 trope characters here. Don't go into expecting something mind shattering or eye opening. But they're a fun, well-developed set of tropes that have a serviceable amount of depth to them.
The pacing was a bit erratic, I think an artefact of Ghostmaker being more a series of short stories strung together by another than a single narrative. (Each short story taking place in a different war zone and focusing on a different one of the "main" characters).
Ghostmaker more than validated my decision to get half the series on my bookshelf already. I'm keen to get to the next in the series - but first I need to read some of the other books I've started on in the last month or so :D
Ghostmaker does a fantastic job of going back and properly introducing us to the bevy of characters that make up the Tanith First. Abnett's writing is significantly improved and much tighter.
The increased characterisation was excellent - though let's be honest we're still dealing with the classic WW2 trope characters here. Don't go into expecting something mind shattering or eye opening. But they're a fun, well-developed set of tropes that have a serviceable amount of depth to them.
The pacing was a bit erratic, I think an artefact of Ghostmaker being more a series of short stories strung together by another than a single narrative. (Each short story taking place in a different war zone and focusing on a different one of the "main" characters).
Ghostmaker more than validated my decision to get half the series on my bookshelf already. I'm keen to get to the next in the series - but first I need to read some of the other books I've started on in the last month or so :D
January 24, 2019
This is the second book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, and it's made up of a series of short stories. Each one details an individual Ghost, with an overall linking story tying it all together.
It's good, solid writing. Abnett isn't afraid of killing off his characters, and yet you get the suspicion that there are some that are more vulnerable than others. There's not much to dislike, except perhaps the ease in which a group of soldiers ALWAYS seems to find themselves in exactly the right place at the right time to affect the story. No-one is that lucky.
For example, Gaunt and Major Rawne are alone in a frozen tundra, but they manage to kills some orcs and steal their halftrack. Pursued by other orc halftracks, they drive onto the frozen ocean and break the ice, causing the other halftracks to slide off into the ocean.
or when Larkin, the master sniper manages to shoot the one Chaos leader that will cause the entire world to surrender, after deserting his comrades in terror, and suffering delusions, after being in the forefront of the original attack.
It's good, solid writing. Abnett isn't afraid of killing off his characters, and yet you get the suspicion that there are some that are more vulnerable than others. There's not much to dislike, except perhaps the ease in which a group of soldiers ALWAYS seems to find themselves in exactly the right place at the right time to affect the story. No-one is that lucky.
For example, Gaunt and Major Rawne are alone in a frozen tundra, but they manage to kills some orcs and steal their halftrack. Pursued by other orc halftracks, they drive onto the frozen ocean and break the ice, causing the other halftracks to slide off into the ocean.
or when Larkin, the master sniper manages to shoot the one Chaos leader that will cause the entire world to surrender, after deserting his comrades in terror, and suffering delusions, after being in the forefront of the original attack.
March 19, 2023
This is a bit of a clumsy book. It's basically a short story collection with a plot that ties those stories together. The short stories themselves all tell a story about a major character from Gaunt's Ghosts through their perspective. Most of these are pretty fun, others can be way to wordy for their own good; I quite enjoyed the one about the marksman who has a conversation with an angel.
The plot that ties them together, however, is a bit of a mess. The framing device of Gaunt talking to a soldier to introduce the next short story works pretty well, but when it's time for the actual story to start happening, there really isn't enough time left to tell it. Every short story gets referenced in some way and there are some satisfying pay offs, but I honestly wish that it had been a bit longer. This really shows at the end, when an almost literal deus ex machina resolves the conflict.
Overall I still think this is an enjoyable book, if only for the short stories, but it's disappointing that the over arching plot feels really bare bones. 3.5/5
The plot that ties them together, however, is a bit of a mess. The framing device of Gaunt talking to a soldier to introduce the next short story works pretty well, but when it's time for the actual story to start happening, there really isn't enough time left to tell it. Every short story gets referenced in some way and there are some satisfying pay offs, but I honestly wish that it had been a bit longer. This really shows at the end, when an almost literal deus ex machina resolves the conflict.
Overall I still think this is an enjoyable book, if only for the short stories, but it's disappointing that the over arching plot feels really bare bones. 3.5/5
September 3, 2018
Ghostmaker takes us back into the Gaunt's Ghosts mythos from the beginning, fleshing out the individual officers and characters that make up the preeminent cadre. Abnett delivers on exactly what he promises: war in a grimdark future. Although we get an excerpt from each of the primary characters of the unit, it ultimately boils down to a frequently repetitive journey of muddy, brutal warfare. If you are familiar with the Warhammer 40k setting, you know what you are in for and likely are looking forward to it. I like 40k, but it did become a bit of a slog through the middle of this anthology of vignettes. Nonetheless, the final piece is exceptional by pulling together many character arcs and introducing new characters that I won't spoil here.
If you are a 40k, Gaunt's Ghosts, or Dan Abnett fan, this is an easy recommendation. If you are coming in blind, then you are better to start at the beginning with First and Only.
If you are a 40k, Gaunt's Ghosts, or Dan Abnett fan, this is an easy recommendation. If you are coming in blind, then you are better to start at the beginning with First and Only.
January 29, 2019
Quite a downgrade compared to the first book, but there's still some good stuff in it.
The book felt... Fragmented. The different chapters felt like many short stories stitched together without any overarching plot of theme that drives it forward.
The style of writing doesn't work quite as well as it did in the first book, and the rapid character switches felt jarring and made me hard to care for most of the character (because most of the book isn't about Gaunt (who I find to be the most interesting) himself but about the Ghosts, so I guess the title Ghostmaker is appropriate).
But I have to say, I really enjoyed the last chapter/story, even with the abrupt/rushed ending, it was a great introduction to the Eldars, the magic is very interesting and the plot itself is very suspenseful and it felt like any of the characters could die because there's no plot armor.
Overall, I was disappointed and I hope the next ones are better than this.
The book felt... Fragmented. The different chapters felt like many short stories stitched together without any overarching plot of theme that drives it forward.
The style of writing doesn't work quite as well as it did in the first book, and the rapid character switches felt jarring and made me hard to care for most of the character (because most of the book isn't about Gaunt (who I find to be the most interesting) himself but about the Ghosts, so I guess the title Ghostmaker is appropriate).
But I have to say, I really enjoyed the last chapter/story, even with the abrupt/rushed ending, it was a great introduction to the Eldars, the magic is very interesting and the plot itself is very suspenseful and it felt like any of the characters could die because there's no plot armor.
Overall, I was disappointed and I hope the next ones are better than this.
February 19, 2021
Ghostmaker feels likre the slowest-paced of any of Dan Abnett's 40K books. The Ghosts are on Monthax, a jungle world, and the story of their Monthax campaign is quite good -- lots of plot twists, action, threats to favorite characters, 40K strangeness -- all the things I appreciate with good 40K fiction.
But the Monthax campaign interspersed with flashbacks to earlier military actions, each focused on an important Ghost. These introduce the recurring Ghosts and provide deeper insight into the characters. While some of these stories are pretty good, I thought the technique was clunky. It slowed down the action, and meant that there was really no rising tension as typically occurs in Abnett's books.
Should you read this book if you liked First and Only? I guess so, especially if you want to learn more about the individual Ghosts. But you could also skip it and jump straight to Necropolis without missing anything truly essential.
But the Monthax campaign interspersed with flashbacks to earlier military actions, each focused on an important Ghost. These introduce the recurring Ghosts and provide deeper insight into the characters. While some of these stories are pretty good, I thought the technique was clunky. It slowed down the action, and meant that there was really no rising tension as typically occurs in Abnett's books.
Should you read this book if you liked First and Only? I guess so, especially if you want to learn more about the individual Ghosts. But you could also skip it and jump straight to Necropolis without missing anything truly essential.
November 22, 2022
I didn't think I'd remembered Ghostmaker all that well, but it turns out that's because I remembered bits and pieces of all of the short stories that form the bulk of the book without remembering that they were part of this book to begin with. Each of the shorts are solid on their own and are tied loosely together with an overarching narrative that ends out the book itself. The final story has an interesting concept, but there's some weird stuff going on between Gaunt and a swooning Inquisitor and it's somehow weaker then every story that comes before it despite call-backs to those same stories.
I think the book suffers for it's weird format and probably would have functioned just fine as a short collection. The pacing is off as a result of that way it is put together and for a second novel in a series (who knows how far out this was planned in advance, I suppose) it's an odd one. Still, it's not terrible and there are some cool stories with great background on the various Ghosts.
I think the book suffers for it's weird format and probably would have functioned just fine as a short collection. The pacing is off as a result of that way it is put together and for a second novel in a series (who knows how far out this was planned in advance, I suppose) it's an odd one. Still, it's not terrible and there are some cool stories with great background on the various Ghosts.
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