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Gaunt's Ghosts #5
The Guns of Tanith
In the Sabbat Worlds Crusade, the heretical forces of Chaos are fighting back hard. Dangerously overstretched, their supply lines cut by degenerate enemy troops, the Imperial forces grind to a halt. Colonel-Commissar Gaunt and the Tanith First-and-Only must recapture Phantine, a world rich in promethium but so ruined by pollution that the only way to attack is via a dangerous – and untried – aerial assault. Pitted against deadly opposition and a lethal environment, how can Gaunt and his men possibly survive?
Read it because
The Ghosts are thrown into a new kind of war, sent into battle on grav-chutes to fight on platforms far above a toxic atmosphere. And the atmosphere in the regiment isn't much better as the feud between Mad Larkin and the really insane Lijah Cuu heats up... and turns deadly.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 14, 2019
-Bajo la capa bélica y los combates, algunos momentos oscuros, muy oscuros.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Armas de Tanith (publicación original: The Guns of Tanith, 2002), La Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat continúa y en esta ocasión los Fantasmas de Gaunt participan en la conquista de Fantine, uno de los mundos del Saliente Cabal en el flanco exterior de La Cruzada y que, como los demás, es un planeta minero con enormes yacimientos de promethium que son necesarios para los suministros de las tropas. Pero la naturaleza hostil de la atmósfera del planeta hace que las operaciones de asalto y combate contra el enemigo deban ser aerotransportadas. Quinto 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. En el libro Armas de Tanith (publicación original: The Guns of Tanith, 2002), La Cruzada de los Mundos de Sabbat continúa y en esta ocasión los Fantasmas de Gaunt participan en la conquista de Fantine, uno de los mundos del Saliente Cabal en el flanco exterior de La Cruzada y que, como los demás, es un planeta minero con enormes yacimientos de promethium que son necesarios para los suministros de las tropas. Pero la naturaleza hostil de la atmósfera del planeta hace que las operaciones de asalto y combate contra el enemigo deban ser aerotransportadas. Quinto libro de la serie Los Fantasmas de Gaunt.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...
July 30, 2019
This is a harsh rating, and if I could do so on goodreads I'd really like to award it 2.5 stars, but if I have to pick an integer number then a two star review it is.
That's not to say that most of The Guns of Tanith is bad, at least by the standards of 40k fiction, because it's not. As always with Abnett, the little details of worldbuilding add up to paint a wonderfully rich picture of day-to-day life in the Imperium. The preparation for the grav jump of Operation Larisel, the ammunition woes of the first assault, the smell of the loxatl, the fire detail teams responding to the bombing. These are all great, and in a way if Dan Abnett wrote a Yellow Pages of a hive city, crammed with little details like this, I'd probably give it 5 stars and buy the £200 collectors edition with genuine wax purity seals.
The problem lies in the story beats, and the broad overall story structure. The book is basically split in two, detailing Imperial assaults on two settlements in the clouds. One of the major problems is that the events of the first assault have little bearing on the story structure of the second assault (apart from informing how the assault is structured). Being so disjointed definitely robs the book of the flow of, say, Honour Guard or especially Necropolis. Secondly however, and this is the bigger problem, the book exemplifies a lot of what I don't like about the series. Yes, Gaunt's Ghosts is basically Sharpe in Space, but the degree of melodrama (specifically here I'm referencing Kolea #nospoilers) is to me unforgivable - it broke the limits of my suspension of disbelief. And not giving into the melodrama would have made the story more compelling and shocking: having Kolea not have that particular event happen (#nospoiler) would have been a great fake-out for Bragg having that event happen to him instead (#nospoiler #ohgodwhy). It's difficult to take the events of the series seriously when the characters are acting out a plotline that feels ripped from mid-90s Neighbours. Additionally, the book suffers from the perennial problems of the series: no compelling villains, and an all too abrupt ending of the main antagonist who we barely knew at all.
The structure of the book is a mess, with some lovely moments and character details to offset it, but ultimately it just doesn't quite succeed. Though Mkoll being Mkoll is always great to read, so no complaints about that subplot. The rest of them can get in the bin though. Perhaps instead of this you should read Double Eagle, also by Abnett and featuring some of the same characters, which is the Battle of Britain... in spaaaaaaace. It's great.
So apologies for the heavy rating, but this installment in particular is, to me, all about the weak points of the series.
And, as always, feth you Lijah Cuu.
That's not to say that most of The Guns of Tanith is bad, at least by the standards of 40k fiction, because it's not. As always with Abnett, the little details of worldbuilding add up to paint a wonderfully rich picture of day-to-day life in the Imperium. The preparation for the grav jump of Operation Larisel, the ammunition woes of the first assault, the smell of the loxatl, the fire detail teams responding to the bombing. These are all great, and in a way if Dan Abnett wrote a Yellow Pages of a hive city, crammed with little details like this, I'd probably give it 5 stars and buy the £200 collectors edition with genuine wax purity seals.
The problem lies in the story beats, and the broad overall story structure. The book is basically split in two, detailing Imperial assaults on two settlements in the clouds. One of the major problems is that the events of the first assault have little bearing on the story structure of the second assault (apart from informing how the assault is structured). Being so disjointed definitely robs the book of the flow of, say, Honour Guard or especially Necropolis. Secondly however, and this is the bigger problem, the book exemplifies a lot of what I don't like about the series. Yes, Gaunt's Ghosts is basically Sharpe in Space, but the degree of melodrama (specifically here I'm referencing Kolea #nospoilers) is to me unforgivable - it broke the limits of my suspension of disbelief. And not giving into the melodrama would have made the story more compelling and shocking: having Kolea not have that particular event happen (#nospoiler) would have been a great fake-out for Bragg having that event happen to him instead (#nospoiler #ohgodwhy). It's difficult to take the events of the series seriously when the characters are acting out a plotline that feels ripped from mid-90s Neighbours. Additionally, the book suffers from the perennial problems of the series: no compelling villains, and an all too abrupt ending of the main antagonist who we barely knew at all.
The structure of the book is a mess, with some lovely moments and character details to offset it, but ultimately it just doesn't quite succeed. Though Mkoll being Mkoll is always great to read, so no complaints about that subplot. The rest of them can get in the bin though. Perhaps instead of this you should read Double Eagle, also by Abnett and featuring some of the same characters, which is the Battle of Britain... in spaaaaaaace. It's great.
So apologies for the heavy rating, but this installment in particular is, to me, all about the weak points of the series.
And, as always, feth you Lijah Cuu.
October 16, 2025
Five books into the series and Abnett still manages to keep things fresh. Deep into the Sabbat Worlds, the forces of Chaos attempted to cut the supply lines of the Imperials, leading the Warmaster to delegate missions to secure fuel and other resources 'locally'. For the Ghosts, this means deployment to Phantine, a planet settled for some fifteen centuries, but now partially occupied by Chaos.
One of the things I really like about this series concerns the gritty, grim dark worlds of the Imperium. Phantine, for example, rich in hydrocarbons and such, gradually became so polluted that most of the atmosphere is deadly. As the pollution rose, the people there gradually moved to higher and higher elevations. Now, the remaining cities/habs reside on the tallest mountain peaks, largely covered by domes. They chief industry there basically mines the polluted atmosphere for fuel gases and such. Grim!
As far as the story goes, the mission consists of retaking the occupied cities/domes, which will be no picnic. The forces of Chaos, led by one of their best war leaders, has fortified the occupied cities. Abnett provides here a different kind of war, largely aerial in parts, as dropping troops to the cities will be no mean feat. Massive blimps cruise the polluted air as aircraft carriers for strike craft, hiding in the polluted air. The assault troops gear up with air breathers as the very air is toxic. The action focuses upon the battle for two of the cities.
The political intrigue takes a second seat to the trials and tribulations of integrating the Tanith troops with the additions from Verghast, the latter more than a little resentful for being treated as second class to the men from Tanith. Hence, Abnett rounds out the action with lots of politics if you will. Still seriously engaging and looking forward to the next! 4 pulpy stars!!
One of the things I really like about this series concerns the gritty, grim dark worlds of the Imperium. Phantine, for example, rich in hydrocarbons and such, gradually became so polluted that most of the atmosphere is deadly. As the pollution rose, the people there gradually moved to higher and higher elevations. Now, the remaining cities/habs reside on the tallest mountain peaks, largely covered by domes. They chief industry there basically mines the polluted atmosphere for fuel gases and such. Grim!
As far as the story goes, the mission consists of retaking the occupied cities/domes, which will be no picnic. The forces of Chaos, led by one of their best war leaders, has fortified the occupied cities. Abnett provides here a different kind of war, largely aerial in parts, as dropping troops to the cities will be no mean feat. Massive blimps cruise the polluted air as aircraft carriers for strike craft, hiding in the polluted air. The assault troops gear up with air breathers as the very air is toxic. The action focuses upon the battle for two of the cities.
The political intrigue takes a second seat to the trials and tribulations of integrating the Tanith troops with the additions from Verghast, the latter more than a little resentful for being treated as second class to the men from Tanith. Hence, Abnett rounds out the action with lots of politics if you will. Still seriously engaging and looking forward to the next! 4 pulpy stars!!
February 5, 2017
Σε πολλές μεγάλες σειρές βιβλίων (με αυτοτελείς ιστορίες) ο συγγραφέας ξεκινάει με χολυγουντιανά blockbuster και σταδιακά καταλήγει σε επεισόδια σειράς. Το Gaunt's Ghosts κάπου εδώ αρχίζει να γίνεται επεισόδια σειράς, και μάλιστα όχι ένα μεγάλο επεισόδιο, αλλά ενα bingewatch τριών επεισοδίων το ένα μετά το άλλο.
Πιο συγκεκριμένα, δύο επιχειρήσεις σε έναν βιομηχανικό πλανήτη που παράγει Προμήθειο, ένα από τα καύσιμα του σύμπμαντος του 40Κ, έναν πλανήτη που η επιφάνεια είναι τοξική και οι πόλεις βιομηχανικοί θόλοι χτισμένοι στις κορυφές του.
Δε θα ξοδέψω χρόνο να σας πω πόσο καλά ο Abnett γράφει μάχες, στρατιώτες, διαστημικές μάχες, επιχειρήσεις και χαρακτήρες που σου μένουν, το ότι έχω φτάσει στο πέμπτο βιβλίο λέει πολλά από μόνο του. Αλλά εδώ γράφει τρία acts που το ένα μπορεί να σταθεί και ξεχωριστά από το επόμενο, χτίζει κάποιες ιστορίες που περνάνε από βιβλίο σε βιβλίο (και σου τελειώνει και μία από αυτές σε άγριο cliffhanger) αλλά κάπου τους λείπουν τα τέλη που θα σε χτυπήσουν στο στομάχι.
Ελαφρύ ανάγνωσμα και θέλω σίγουρα να διαβάσω το επόμενο βιβλίο.
Πιο συγκεκριμένα, δύο επιχειρήσεις σε έναν βιομηχανικό πλανήτη που παράγει Προμήθειο, ένα από τα καύσιμα του σύμπμαντος του 40Κ, έναν πλανήτη που η επιφάνεια είναι τοξική και οι πόλεις βιομηχανικοί θόλοι χτισμένοι στις κορυφές του.
Δε θα ξοδέψω χρόνο να σας πω πόσο καλά ο Abnett γράφει μάχες, στρατιώτες, διαστημικές μάχες, επιχειρήσεις και χαρακτήρες που σου μένουν, το ότι έχω φτάσει στο πέμπτο βιβλίο λέει πολλά από μόνο του. Αλλά εδώ γράφει τρία acts που το ένα μπορεί να σταθεί και ξεχωριστά από το επόμενο, χτίζει κάποιες ιστορίες που περνάνε από βιβλίο σε βιβλίο (και σου τελειώνει και μία από αυτές σε άγριο cliffhanger) αλλά κάπου τους λείπουν τα τέλη που θα σε χτυπήσουν στο στομάχι.
Ελαφρύ ανάγνωσμα και θέλω σίγουρα να διαβάσω το επόμενο βιβλίο.
March 3, 2024
Jag gillade den. I stort inget annorlunda från Abnetts andra böcker i serien- några strider, några subplots. Det är tillfredsställande att se idéer från de tidigare böckerna återkomma- Cuu's obehagliga beteende, Koleas kännedom om sina barn. Det är det som gör serien kul att följa, att det är mer än bara krig och strid.
Tyvärr har den samma problem gällande en av subplotsen som i första boken: Gaunt har aldrig fel. I första boken tar han beslutet att förstöra en STC, innan det är bekräftat att den är korrupt bortom räddning. I denna boken säger hans instinkt att Cuu är mördare och Gaunt tänker egentligen lämna honom att bli avrättad. Hark övertalar Gaunt att kämpa för Cuu som han kämpade för Caffrans frisläppning. Det visar sig att Cuu faktiskt är mördaren. Blö
Tyvärr har den samma problem gällande en av subplotsen som i första boken: Gaunt har aldrig fel. I första boken tar han beslutet att förstöra en STC, innan det är bekräftat att den är korrupt bortom räddning. I denna boken säger hans instinkt att Cuu är mördare och Gaunt tänker egentligen lämna honom att bli avrättad. Hark övertalar Gaunt att kämpa för Cuu som han kämpade för Caffrans frisläppning. Det visar sig att Cuu faktiskt är mördaren. Blö
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2025
I still think Dan Abnett is the worst that could have happened to the Ghosts, but this Cuu fella really tries to take the cake by making it even worse. All to say that I am shocked, amazed and thrilled by this airborne infiltration themed narrative. Abnett really got the hang of it now, and it seems more focused and fast paced than the previous novel in the series.
February 4, 2026
You could kinda see the ending coming, but it still hit hard 💔 Even though it's tough, I think it's good that the author finally dared to drop the, in my opinion, far too heavy plot armor, since you could always be sure in the last few books that nothing would happen to the main characters. The fight and flying scenes were a bit long again at times, and the real action didn't start until the last 20 pages, but after five books, I got used to it. The detective/courtroom plot, on the other hand, was really good and refreshing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2012
The Guns of Tanith
The novel begins with the Tanith First training to take part in the airborne assault on Cirenholm, a dome-city perched above Phantine's toxic Scald. The archenemy's elite Blood Pact have captured the city, which the Imperial forces plan to use as a staging ground for their campaign to reclaim Ouranberg, one of Phantine's largest cities and a major source of promethium. After the Ghosts successfully infiltrate the Blood Pact's defences and prevent a distasterous loss for the Imperium, Lord-General Van Voytz re-considers his approach on the Ouranberg invasion.
A number of Ghosts are hand-picked to form specialist kill-teams, placed in a regime of additional jump-training and covertly deployed into Ouranberg prior to the invasion. Codenamed Operation Larisel, their mission is to kill Sagittar Slaith; the Chaos commander of the Blood Pact holding Ouranberg. Doing so will break the morale of the Chaos worshippers and enable the Imperial forces to recapture Ouranberg with greater ease. The task is made more daunting with the prospect of thousands of Blood Pact troopers and loxatl mercenaries standing between them and their target. However, the rest of the Tanith First face their own trials as they await deployment; a great unease is brewing between the Tanith and the Verghastite soldiers, and a crime case involving several Ghosts highlights this divide.
The Phantine XX Fighter Corps introduced in 'The Guns of Tanith' appear in a spin-off novel - titled 'Double Eagle', also by Dan Abnett.
The novel begins with the Tanith First training to take part in the airborne assault on Cirenholm, a dome-city perched above Phantine's toxic Scald. The archenemy's elite Blood Pact have captured the city, which the Imperial forces plan to use as a staging ground for their campaign to reclaim Ouranberg, one of Phantine's largest cities and a major source of promethium. After the Ghosts successfully infiltrate the Blood Pact's defences and prevent a distasterous loss for the Imperium, Lord-General Van Voytz re-considers his approach on the Ouranberg invasion.
A number of Ghosts are hand-picked to form specialist kill-teams, placed in a regime of additional jump-training and covertly deployed into Ouranberg prior to the invasion. Codenamed Operation Larisel, their mission is to kill Sagittar Slaith; the Chaos commander of the Blood Pact holding Ouranberg. Doing so will break the morale of the Chaos worshippers and enable the Imperial forces to recapture Ouranberg with greater ease. The task is made more daunting with the prospect of thousands of Blood Pact troopers and loxatl mercenaries standing between them and their target. However, the rest of the Tanith First face their own trials as they await deployment; a great unease is brewing between the Tanith and the Verghastite soldiers, and a crime case involving several Ghosts highlights this divide.
The Phantine XX Fighter Corps introduced in 'The Guns of Tanith' appear in a spin-off novel - titled 'Double Eagle', also by Dan Abnett.
December 22, 2021
By the 5th book in the series, it is pretty clear what you get from a Gaunt's Ghosts book. Dan Abnett writes a intense, and action packed story, that does an amazing job a weaving larger conflicts, but primarily through zoomed in, squad to squad action, which makes the fights feel cramped where every casualty counts.
The real strength of the series flows from the variety and spirit Abnett manages to give to individual Ghosts, this makes them more then just numbers, and each death hits hard.
In The Guns of Tanith we get some excellent exploration of the ways the Verghasts and Tanith are joining (or not joining) together. And characters create some tension and problems for Gaunt, beyond just the problems of combat.
A great read as always for Gaunt's Ghosts.
The real strength of the series flows from the variety and spirit Abnett manages to give to individual Ghosts, this makes them more then just numbers, and each death hits hard.
In The Guns of Tanith we get some excellent exploration of the ways the Verghasts and Tanith are joining (or not joining) together. And characters create some tension and problems for Gaunt, beyond just the problems of combat.
A great read as always for Gaunt's Ghosts.
January 7, 2013
My true nerdiness shows.
So, I've often said (to those who have listened to me nerding on about this) that this series is one of the best written bits of military sci-fi I've gotten my hands on. Furthermore, it's by one of the few Black Library authors actually worth reading. Dan Abnett has done some excellent stuff.
That said, this is one of the weaker Gaunt's Ghosts novels. The crime subplot takes up too much time for a minor subplot, and isn't developed enough for a major one. The opening battlezone is a bit light, and the main one is just meh. Also, some sadfaces. Still, a decent read.
So, I've often said (to those who have listened to me nerding on about this) that this series is one of the best written bits of military sci-fi I've gotten my hands on. Furthermore, it's by one of the few Black Library authors actually worth reading. Dan Abnett has done some excellent stuff.
That said, this is one of the weaker Gaunt's Ghosts novels. The crime subplot takes up too much time for a minor subplot, and isn't developed enough for a major one. The opening battlezone is a bit light, and the main one is just meh. Also, some sadfaces. Still, a decent read.
December 28, 2010
Entertaining. Intelligent writing. Too much of the same thing, for me -- Blood and guts and evil vs. good.
June 9, 2024
excuse me the last chapter????? i am screaming????
February 18, 2018
Volume 5 of the Gaunt's Ghosts series. This one starts with the Tanith 1st training for an airborne drop on Cirenholm, step one on the road to the main objective: Ouranberg.
The action is excellent, especially the spec ops mission to assassinate a Chaos warlord and fight through his Blood Pact troopers and xenos mercenaries.
The side story of the murder of a civilian and the ensuing legal drama is quite well done, though it has a tragic ending. This is the book were we start losing characters that we have loved since the beginning.
And it's the book we really learn to hate a certain character.
Well done, though admittedly this is perhaps the weakest of the entire series. Still damned fine military sci-fi.
The action is excellent, especially the spec ops mission to assassinate a Chaos warlord and fight through his Blood Pact troopers and xenos mercenaries.
The side story of the murder of a civilian and the ensuing legal drama is quite well done, though it has a tragic ending. This is the book were we start losing characters that we have loved since the beginning.
And it's the book we really learn to hate a certain character.
Well done, though admittedly this is perhaps the weakest of the entire series. Still damned fine military sci-fi.
January 21, 2025
Este és el meu “plaer culpós”, per tant cap comentari es pot fer, perquè de vegades l'únic que et fa evadir-te del món és la meditació i l'autodescobriment, però d'altres sols vols veure com s'assoleixen objectius impossibles, amb l'ús de la força desproporcionat i una violència en la frontera del genocidi, on els "menys dolents" són els turbofeixistes-ultrareligiosos del futur.
"Y la espera. Eso era la muerte de la mente. Esperar a la acción. Esperar ese momento permitía que los miedos crecieran. Le daba tiempo a un soldado a preocuparse por el combate. La lucha podia ser infernal, pero era contra enemigos de carne y hueso, algo contra lo que podias disparar. Los enemigos de aquel momento eran el miedo y el tiempo.
"Y la espera. Eso era la muerte de la mente. Esperar a la acción. Esperar ese momento permitía que los miedos crecieran. Le daba tiempo a un soldado a preocuparse por el combate. La lucha podia ser infernal, pero era contra enemigos de carne y hueso, algo contra lo que podias disparar. Los enemigos de aquel momento eran el miedo y el tiempo.
March 10, 2019
This book is about aerial warfare, paratrooper drops, and ends with a stealth paratrooper assassination mission. Some more character development, and this one ends a bit quickly but is a good ride all the way through.
May 1, 2022
Another brilliant read. Really do care about all the characters and theirs plenty of tense moments in this along with laugh out loud ones mixed in.
June 11, 2017
Nalákal mě článek v Levelu, kde se rozebírala historie Warhammeru a zmiňovali zajímavé tituly. A samozřejmě, taky to, že do Warhammeru přispívá Dan Abnett. Chlápek, který za dobu, co já napíšu hodnocení jeho titulu, napíše dvě nové knihy a tři komiksy. A fór je v tom, že ty věci nebudou špatné.
Jasně, není to nic víc než čtivo, ale je to dobře napsané čtivo. V jeho románech je vždycky nějaký zajímavý detail, něco, kvůli čemu člověk nelituje stráveného času. Nehledě na to, že umí popsat akční scénu tak, aby na vás opravdu zapůsobila.
Nejsem expert na Warhammer, ale rozhodně jeho verze působí správně masivně a masakrálně. Válečná vřava je opulentní, postavy brutálně umírají a vůbec to je jako začátek Vojína Ryana zasazený do budoucnosti a pořádně vyzbrojený. Kniha jsou v podstatě dvě velké akce a mezi nimi krátká přestávka. Postavy nejsou nijak extra prokreslované a jak jsem naskočil uprostřed jízdy, tak jsem se v tom chvílemi docela ztrácel. Ale ono to stejně nehraje moc roli, protože většina postav umře, a v těch zbylých se člověk zorientuje.
Základní problém Warhammeru pro mě je, že je to statický vesmír, který se příliš nevyvíjí. Přes všechna vítězství je celkem jasné, že se vlastně nic nezmění... protože pak by museli přestat vyrábět figurky. Ale je to dá překousnout. Koneckonců, v Midsomeru se taky nikdy asi vraždit nepřestane.
Jasně, není to nic víc než čtivo, ale je to dobře napsané čtivo. V jeho románech je vždycky nějaký zajímavý detail, něco, kvůli čemu člověk nelituje stráveného času. Nehledě na to, že umí popsat akční scénu tak, aby na vás opravdu zapůsobila.
Nejsem expert na Warhammer, ale rozhodně jeho verze působí správně masivně a masakrálně. Válečná vřava je opulentní, postavy brutálně umírají a vůbec to je jako začátek Vojína Ryana zasazený do budoucnosti a pořádně vyzbrojený. Kniha jsou v podstatě dvě velké akce a mezi nimi krátká přestávka. Postavy nejsou nijak extra prokreslované a jak jsem naskočil uprostřed jízdy, tak jsem se v tom chvílemi docela ztrácel. Ale ono to stejně nehraje moc roli, protože většina postav umře, a v těch zbylých se člověk zorientuje.
Základní problém Warhammeru pro mě je, že je to statický vesmír, který se příliš nevyvíjí. Přes všechna vítězství je celkem jasné, že se vlastně nic nezmění... protože pak by museli přestat vyrábět figurky. Ale je to dá překousnout. Koneckonců, v Midsomeru se taky nikdy asi vraždit nepřestane.
August 4, 2011
Felt a little rushed in the resolutions moments of the plot. So rushed that the major character developments that happen in the last 10 pages leave the weight of the moment feeling underdeveloped. Guns takes the lives of more than one main character, and Abnett does it coldly and quickly.
Maybe I just wanted more for the end of one of the bigger names in the book than what I got. I was filled with the same rage that filled me at a lot of points in the Heresy series where one character would be killed by another in a fit of unabashed evil. If I wasn't so close to the end of the book I would have had to put it down for a bit to deal with it.
All of this is a testament to Abnett,s ability to make the reader truly care about the Ghost's the way Gaunt does, and each loss is felt keenly and deeply.
Guns is a quick read, and I hope Straight Silver continues the pace.
Maybe I just wanted more for the end of one of the bigger names in the book than what I got. I was filled with the same rage that filled me at a lot of points in the Heresy series where one character would be killed by another in a fit of unabashed evil. If I wasn't so close to the end of the book I would have had to put it down for a bit to deal with it.
All of this is a testament to Abnett,s ability to make the reader truly care about the Ghost's the way Gaunt does, and each loss is felt keenly and deeply.
Guns is a quick read, and I hope Straight Silver continues the pace.
May 30, 2016
Doktor Dorden držel dřevěnou špachtli se stejnou jistotou, s jakou Neskon vládl plamenometem. „Řekni ‚ááááá‘,“ přikázal.
„Gloog –“ vypravil ze sebe Milo.
„Ne, hochu, ‚ááááá‘… ‚AAAAA‘… jako když tě ork bodne bajonetem.
„Aáááá! “
-- co dodat.
„Gloog –“ vypravil ze sebe Milo.
„Ne, hochu, ‚ááááá‘… ‚AAAAA‘… jako když tě ork bodne bajonetem.
„Aáááá! “
-- co dodat.
August 9, 2019
Jsem nakletá. A vůbec ne čtenářsky uspokojená. Co to mělo být? Jen další vsuvka, jak zrakvit pár dobrých chlapů bez větší péče? Safradrát. A eště navrch málo Ibrama v akci...
Nemít po ruce další díl, tak nevím... U Fetha, toto...
Nemít po ruce další díl, tak nevím... U Fetha, toto...
July 25, 2015
An interesting addition to the series. Part brutal war, part mystery, and part assassination story. This one started to lose my interest a bit past the halfway point but regained it very soon after.
April 27, 2023
Rating of 4.5.
After having such a great time reviewing the previous Gaunt’s Ghosts novel, Honour Guard, in my last Throwback Thursday, I immediately read the fifth fantastic entry in the series, The Guns of Tanith, which proved to be just as awesome and exciting.
As the massive Sabbat Worlds Crusade continues to pit the forces of the Imperium of Man against the foul forces of Chaos, the battlelines extend across multiple planets and systems, drawing in millions of soldiers. The latest phase of the crusade has severely stretched the supply lines of the Imperial assault and the Chaos foes are quick to take advantage, threatening to cut off and surround the main Imperial force. To stave off disaster, Warmaster Macaroth, needs the Tanith First-and-Only to recapture the vital promethium producing planet of Phantine so the crusade can be resupplied and continue.
Led by the heroic Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, the Tanith First-and-Only engage in a deadly airborne assault on several of the planet’s domed cities. Relying on their unique skills of navigation and infiltration, the Ghosts prove to be vital to the operation and soon take the key city of Cirenholm. However, holding the city proves to be harder than expected. While preparing for the next assault, the vile murder of a freed Cirenholm civilian places a Ghost on trial and opens up the festering cultural divides within the regiment.
As Gaunt attempts to get to the bottom of the crime and ensure that the innocent are left alive, the Ghosts are given a vital mission to undertake. A dangerous Chaos warlord has taken command of the final occupied city, Ouranberg, and his lethal command threatens to devastate an attack by the Imperials. To ensure a successful invasion of this Chaos stronghold, a specialised team of Ghosts is tasked with infiltrating the city and assassinating the enemy leader in advance of the main assault force. Featuring some of the best the Ghosts have to offer, the assassination squad will be forced to walk through hell to achieve their objective and not everyone will be coming back.
In this fifth entry in this amazing series, Abnett continues to impress with another powerful and captivating character-driven read that takes the Ghosts through a gruelling round of battles, tragedy and growth that proves near impossible to put down. The Guns of Tanith was a pretty strong entry in the series, expanding on some of the interesting storylines from the first novel while also introducing a new dark scenario for the characters to deal with.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/04/27/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
After having such a great time reviewing the previous Gaunt’s Ghosts novel, Honour Guard, in my last Throwback Thursday, I immediately read the fifth fantastic entry in the series, The Guns of Tanith, which proved to be just as awesome and exciting.
As the massive Sabbat Worlds Crusade continues to pit the forces of the Imperium of Man against the foul forces of Chaos, the battlelines extend across multiple planets and systems, drawing in millions of soldiers. The latest phase of the crusade has severely stretched the supply lines of the Imperial assault and the Chaos foes are quick to take advantage, threatening to cut off and surround the main Imperial force. To stave off disaster, Warmaster Macaroth, needs the Tanith First-and-Only to recapture the vital promethium producing planet of Phantine so the crusade can be resupplied and continue.
Led by the heroic Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, the Tanith First-and-Only engage in a deadly airborne assault on several of the planet’s domed cities. Relying on their unique skills of navigation and infiltration, the Ghosts prove to be vital to the operation and soon take the key city of Cirenholm. However, holding the city proves to be harder than expected. While preparing for the next assault, the vile murder of a freed Cirenholm civilian places a Ghost on trial and opens up the festering cultural divides within the regiment.
As Gaunt attempts to get to the bottom of the crime and ensure that the innocent are left alive, the Ghosts are given a vital mission to undertake. A dangerous Chaos warlord has taken command of the final occupied city, Ouranberg, and his lethal command threatens to devastate an attack by the Imperials. To ensure a successful invasion of this Chaos stronghold, a specialised team of Ghosts is tasked with infiltrating the city and assassinating the enemy leader in advance of the main assault force. Featuring some of the best the Ghosts have to offer, the assassination squad will be forced to walk through hell to achieve their objective and not everyone will be coming back.
In this fifth entry in this amazing series, Abnett continues to impress with another powerful and captivating character-driven read that takes the Ghosts through a gruelling round of battles, tragedy and growth that proves near impossible to put down. The Guns of Tanith was a pretty strong entry in the series, expanding on some of the interesting storylines from the first novel while also introducing a new dark scenario for the characters to deal with.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2023/04/27/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
December 12, 2017
The Sabbat Worlds Crusade's proud advance into enemy territory has overreached itself and is now under a vicious and determined counter-offensive. Gaunt and his troops are redeployed to the industrial world of Phantine, where the surface has been lost under a seething fog of chemical poison, leaving the remaining cities and vapour mills clinging to the tops of tall mesas and mountains. The survival of the Crusade now depends on Phantine and several other fuelling worlds being liberated to open new supply lines to the fleet.
The lack of usable surface area on the planet rules out a conventional mechanised assault, leaving only one option to take the vital settlements of Cirenholm and Ouranberg: a massive airborne assault, something the Ghosts have never done before. As they prepare for battle, the murder of a civilian, apparently by a Ghost, unleashes a storm of suspicion and dissent within their ranks which Gaunt must quickly resolve before it damages their morale.
The Guns of Tanith is where the Gaunt's Ghosts series takes a much darker turn. Whilst we've lost a few minor characters along the way, this is where major, fan-favourite characters start biting the dust and an insidious presence makes itself known amongst their ranks. The Ghosts now have an enemy within and the twists and turns the plot goes through before revealing who it is are impressive. The final few pages of the book are a truly heinous gut-punch of a twist that will leave the reader fuming and shocked.
However, that is the subplot. The main story is about the two airborne assaults. The first is a full-on, all-out attack whilst the second is an infiltration making use of the Tanith's specialised stealth capabilities (the first time they've actually been used properly). Whilst Abnett makes a good job of differentiating the two battles as much as possible, there remains a feeling of repetitiveness. The secondary guest characters are less memorable this time around as well, with the sole exception of the eccentric Van Voytz, Gaunt's new commanding officer who manages to be an effective general and appreciates the Ghosts' abilities despite being also somewhat bonkers.
The book's weaknesses are more than made up for by the excellent twist that the new internal threat to the unit presents and also some crowd-pleasing moments in the book's finale (such as one where a character is invited to look under a table).
The Guns of Tanith (****) is where we start to say goodbye to some of the series' longest-established characters and where events take a darker and more interesting turn. The book is available now as part of The Saint omnibus in the UK and USA.
The lack of usable surface area on the planet rules out a conventional mechanised assault, leaving only one option to take the vital settlements of Cirenholm and Ouranberg: a massive airborne assault, something the Ghosts have never done before. As they prepare for battle, the murder of a civilian, apparently by a Ghost, unleashes a storm of suspicion and dissent within their ranks which Gaunt must quickly resolve before it damages their morale.
The Guns of Tanith is where the Gaunt's Ghosts series takes a much darker turn. Whilst we've lost a few minor characters along the way, this is where major, fan-favourite characters start biting the dust and an insidious presence makes itself known amongst their ranks. The Ghosts now have an enemy within and the twists and turns the plot goes through before revealing who it is are impressive. The final few pages of the book are a truly heinous gut-punch of a twist that will leave the reader fuming and shocked.
However, that is the subplot. The main story is about the two airborne assaults. The first is a full-on, all-out attack whilst the second is an infiltration making use of the Tanith's specialised stealth capabilities (the first time they've actually been used properly). Whilst Abnett makes a good job of differentiating the two battles as much as possible, there remains a feeling of repetitiveness. The secondary guest characters are less memorable this time around as well, with the sole exception of the eccentric Van Voytz, Gaunt's new commanding officer who manages to be an effective general and appreciates the Ghosts' abilities despite being also somewhat bonkers.
The book's weaknesses are more than made up for by the excellent twist that the new internal threat to the unit presents and also some crowd-pleasing moments in the book's finale (such as one where a character is invited to look under a table).
The Guns of Tanith (****) is where we start to say goodbye to some of the series' longest-established characters and where events take a darker and more interesting turn. The book is available now as part of The Saint omnibus in the UK and USA.
April 26, 2021
Between a 4 and 5 here, as another solid entry in the Gaunt's Ghosts series. It doesn't have some of the external political issues that some of the prior books had, removing some angst, but does go into the internal politics of the regiment well, as they are still dealing with the fallout of Necropolis, and uncertainty about whether certain sections are more favoured than others.
To begin with, less emotional investment in the story due to some of this than the prior two entries, making it in some ways a more enjoyable, but less powerful read.
However, towards the end we get a real gut punch. It was enough of a one in Honour Guard when I thought Bragg may have been killed, but then was okay, but here he is actually killed, and by one of their own, in the form of the utterly dislikable Cuu. A sign of a well written bad guy, when a reader really dislikes / hates the character, and Cuu is certainly one of those. But even on a reread, still a scene that hurts here, as Bragg feels like (and may not be the case) the first death of one of the major characters - the ones that tend to last more than one book in being featured, and certainly one that had his own story in Ghostmaker, showing that any of them really can die.
Outside of that, lots of good action and suspense, and the last part of the story, where we deal with the insertion, is really well told, with the highs and lows of the differing teams and their various successes and failures on their mission behind enemy lines, all feeling quite realistic.
***Spoilers for future novels****
One good thing here, being a reread, is that at least I know Cuu isn't around forever, not sure I could have reread beyond Necropolis, or potentially Honour Guard, if he did last quite a while.
To begin with, less emotional investment in the story due to some of this than the prior two entries, making it in some ways a more enjoyable, but less powerful read.
However, towards the end we get a real gut punch. It was enough of a one in Honour Guard when I thought Bragg may have been killed, but then was okay, but here he is actually killed, and by one of their own, in the form of the utterly dislikable Cuu. A sign of a well written bad guy, when a reader really dislikes / hates the character, and Cuu is certainly one of those. But even on a reread, still a scene that hurts here, as Bragg feels like (and may not be the case) the first death of one of the major characters - the ones that tend to last more than one book in being featured, and certainly one that had his own story in Ghostmaker, showing that any of them really can die.
Outside of that, lots of good action and suspense, and the last part of the story, where we deal with the insertion, is really well told, with the highs and lows of the differing teams and their various successes and failures on their mission behind enemy lines, all feeling quite realistic.
***Spoilers for future novels****
One good thing here, being a reread, is that at least I know Cuu isn't around forever, not sure I could have reread beyond Necropolis, or potentially Honour Guard, if he did last quite a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2022
GG is tolerable miltiary SciFi (despite the absurdity of W40K) but this one is a pretty big letdown from the other books.
- So much melodrama. Both with Kolea and the murder subplot. I usually respond to this kind of thing, but the plot developments here are just so transparently written to try and evoke emotion that it leaves me cold.
- Named characters introduced so that they can be quickly killed off.
My biggest problem with the books are Gaunt, though, who is a poor pastiche of Sharpe. While the quality varies, Sharpe has both courage and talent. Gaunt pretty much just has courage - if it can even be called that. Is what you have courage if you don't feel fear? But worse than that, is that Gaunt's victories are generally unearned. Of five books, so far, three have deus ex machinae endings. Apart from that, Gaunt usually wins because he does whatever is told to him. I guess it's appropriate to the setting that Gaunt's faith in the emperor is what wins the day, but it makes for a very uninteresting character and robs the affected battle scenes of tension (since the resolution has been telegraphed far ahead of time). In this book you get one such battle + a battle where Gaunt is pretty much irrelevant as a character. On top of that, Gaunt isn't much of a character. Or rather, he is whatever character the story requires. Need him to be a drunk? He becomes one. Strict disciplinarian. He's your man. Not one? He's that too. He's totally malleable to the needs of the story. When the story in addition doesn't have a real antagonist (unlike the first trilogy), one is left with a profoundly uninteresting character.
- So much melodrama. Both with Kolea and the murder subplot. I usually respond to this kind of thing, but the plot developments here are just so transparently written to try and evoke emotion that it leaves me cold.
- Named characters introduced so that they can be quickly killed off.
My biggest problem with the books are Gaunt, though, who is a poor pastiche of Sharpe. While the quality varies, Sharpe has both courage and talent. Gaunt pretty much just has courage - if it can even be called that. Is what you have courage if you don't feel fear? But worse than that, is that Gaunt's victories are generally unearned. Of five books, so far, three have deus ex machinae endings. Apart from that, Gaunt usually wins because he does whatever is told to him. I guess it's appropriate to the setting that Gaunt's faith in the emperor is what wins the day, but it makes for a very uninteresting character and robs the affected battle scenes of tension (since the resolution has been telegraphed far ahead of time). In this book you get one such battle + a battle where Gaunt is pretty much irrelevant as a character. On top of that, Gaunt isn't much of a character. Or rather, he is whatever character the story requires. Need him to be a drunk? He becomes one. Strict disciplinarian. He's your man. Not one? He's that too. He's totally malleable to the needs of the story. When the story in addition doesn't have a real antagonist (unlike the first trilogy), one is left with a profoundly uninteresting character.
April 30, 2018
Number five in the Gaunt's Ghosts series of Warhammer 40k military sci-fi - and they start dying. Darn it, Dan. Why do you have to be such a good writer that when you start killing off the characters we've followed for the previous four books, it really hurts? I suppose it wouldn't really count as military sci-fi if people didn't get killed, and I reluctantly admit that the people killed will sometimes include main characters but I'll be gosh darned if I agree to Abnett killing off the ones I like.
Right, it's time for some reader empowerment. Are you with me? I say that writers of military sci-fi, at least the really good ones like Dan Abnett, agree to subscribe to the new code of conduct to safeguard their readers: they are only allowed to kill off main characters after putting the death to a plurality of their readers. Death is only allowed when the readers okay it.
There, that solves it. Over to you now, Dan. Will you sign up?
Right, it's time for some reader empowerment. Are you with me? I say that writers of military sci-fi, at least the really good ones like Dan Abnett, agree to subscribe to the new code of conduct to safeguard their readers: they are only allowed to kill off main characters after putting the death to a plurality of their readers. Death is only allowed when the readers okay it.
There, that solves it. Over to you now, Dan. Will you sign up?
August 10, 2021
Отличная книга о гвардии, как они могут решать внешние и внутренние проблемы. В отличие от предыдущей, где были серьёзные проблемы со связанностью сюжета в конце, здесь вырисовывается ясная картина освобождения очередного важного мира от сил хаоса. Про хаоситов тоже довольно интересно, обычно люди-хаоситы это жалкая массовка на фоне космодесантников хаоса, пушечное мясо, которое только может погибать устилая путь своих повелителей. Здесь же силы Кровавого Пакта ведут, довольно успешно, войну без сверхчеловеческих повелителей. Хотя тут есть противоречие: с одной стороны это дисциплинированная армия, с другой стороны это армия хаоса, что не очень вяжется с дисциплиной, но кто-то же у них должен лазганы чистить? Интересно показан Гаунт, отмазывающий своих солдат, попавших под колёса имперского правосудия. Показана лагерная жизнь полка, который в духе старых армий имеет свой обоз с маркитантками и акробатами. Как жить в космической тьме далёкого будущего без обоза? Очень мило.
July 19, 2020
I find it impressive how - so far in the series, at least - Abnett was able to mix things up so that every book is a bit different in tone and pacing. This time it's action-action-action, some pretty interesting side stuff, and then back to action for a final push... which seems like it breaks off before it really ends. Almost as if the book wasn't finished, or was supposed to be longer but was cut for room. It's especially distracting because of something that happens on literally the last-but-one page and is a huge cliffhanger that I don't think is actually resolved in the next one (but I've yet to find out for sure).
Pulpy, full of gore and militaristic nonsense, this is still one of the best series for when I just want to turn my brain off and read as a solid, charismatic writer does his thing.
Pulpy, full of gore and militaristic nonsense, this is still one of the best series for when I just want to turn my brain off and read as a solid, charismatic writer does his thing.
January 9, 2024
This is my first review for Goodreads. I’ll edit it later. — Later: This was (obviously) my fifth foray into the Sabbat Worlds and Gaunt’s Ghosts. As usual, these are fun, action-packed escapes from reality. However, I find myself enjoying the character moments and the downtime scenes more as the series progresses. There’s some legitimately fun and interesting character work in these stories. It’s been a joy to read them alongside the Sharpe series (I’ve read two of those last year), as there are definite parallels even though they are vastly different takes on war fiction.
This book continues to keep the Tanith First action fresh by adding new elements - atmosphere combat / aerial troop drops in this one - while also doing some interesting character growth.
The surprising death “big deal” scene (if you’ve read it you know what I’m talking about) feels earned if a bit sudden. The series as a whole has a deus ex-y component to some of the endings of the books so far, but that’s an ok topping on your grimdark popcorn. Solid 4 stars.
This book continues to keep the Tanith First action fresh by adding new elements - atmosphere combat / aerial troop drops in this one - while also doing some interesting character growth.
The surprising death “big deal” scene (if you’ve read it you know what I’m talking about) feels earned if a bit sudden. The series as a whole has a deus ex-y component to some of the endings of the books so far, but that’s an ok topping on your grimdark popcorn. Solid 4 stars.
November 30, 2017
Abnett stepped forward again, hitting a great pace and catapulting Gaunt's Ghosts from a "want to read" to a "must read" for me. Don't get me wrong, it remains largely superficial sci-fi action. But it's just so damned readable and engrossing. I read this in basically a single sitting - work the next day was less than ideal.
4 stars might be a little generous if you're looking for amazing characterisation or something thought-provoking. But it's got action, fun, and adventure in spades and a little bit of emotion. And the world-building's awesome too. Sufficiently so that I'm finding it inspiring.
4 stars might be a little generous if you're looking for amazing characterisation or something thought-provoking. But it's got action, fun, and adventure in spades and a little bit of emotion. And the world-building's awesome too. Sufficiently so that I'm finding it inspiring.
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