The chaos warlord Titan section is something I found so genuinely terrifying, I feel like Abnett really captured the existential dread of them so well. Also RIP Maxilla you were the best of us

I really feel that the slow slide of Eisenhorn from traditionalist to radical inquisitor, his refusal to accept where his actions are leading and what he does to his colleagues & friends while denying it, is the core of the entire series. The events themselves are just dressing on a wonderful description of one man's descent into a personal hell and how he justifies it to himself. Wonderful writing from Dan Abnet.

Sometimes I feel like the Warhammer community is a dark, depressing collection of meanspirited weirdos, but then channels like this instantly destroys that feeling and revives my faith in the community. Intelligent, self-aware, fun and just over all the nicest seeming people ever. Mira being giddy about Titans is really contagious, and incidentally one of my favorite books so far has been Titan Death, and I think Mira should have a gander at it!

Gotta vote for Ciaphas Cain, I can't remember how I came across the stories but it was so refreshing and I think they will be the perfect palate cleanser. For the Emporer has many of the same lore elements, Inquisitors, Guardmens etc. so I don't think Mira will get bogged down with those aspects, therefore allowing her to focus on and enjoy the brilliant humour.

The design and lore of Gregor Eisenhorn was devised first for the Inquisitor wargame, where his model depicts him as an ancient radical accompanied by Cherubael, so the conclusion of Hereticus is mainly establishing how he appeared in the wargame.

If you’re looking for palette cleanser in the Eisenhorn series, I would recommend the short story ‘Backcloth for a crown additional’ as it’s basically an Agatha Christie story with Eisenhorn and Bequin.

Toby Longworth’s voicing of the Eldar Seer was bloody scary when I first heard it in the audiobook. Very sinister and cool though!

Also intersting to note is that the trilogy is essentially the backstory that brings Eisenhorn and Cherubael to where they are when we see them first in the Inquisitor tabletop game. Basically, the models you put on your table have been through that story, and the games you play are what happens to them next. Which I find rather neat for this kind of RPG-like game. On the other hand, the trilogy has lived much longer than the game and even concluded after the game went out of production and official support.

Thank you Ian and Mira, you inspired me to pick up my first 40k novels. I finished Hereticus last week and agree with most of your observations. I think Dan Abnett is a brilliant writer as far as creating intriguing backgrounds and spectacular scenes are concerned. The final act of Xenos and the Imperial parade on Thracian might be some of my favorite scenes ever written. I also greatly enjoyed Eisenhorn's transformation throughout the trilogy. At the same time, I was rather disappointed with all the pacing issues in the novels, characters like Ravenor appearing out of nowhere to explain the plot and get it where the author needs it to be or crucial characters like Bequin getting sidelined because her inclusion would have complicated parts of the story. I didn't care for most of the action in the novels, Eisenhorn narrating his sword duels in alien terms was straight up parody. The final battle against Pontius was very underwhelming as well. Pontius was a fascinating villain in Xenos and Malleus, him being reduced to a cartoony robot supervillain in Hereticus was not quite the final act I would have wished for. Overall, I liked the trilogy despite all its shortcomings and I am eager to find out more about the setting. What are some good recommendations? I think I'll get the Bequin novels next but I wonder what else the Black Library has got in store.

I have learned a lot from this channel and have so far read; Xenos, Ravenor, Pariah, and now am 10 chapters in on Penitent. (This sporadic order is mainly due to wanting to only purchase from my local used book store which surprisingly has a nice 40k section) I just wanted to throw a positive comment in the mix since you mentioned the trolls in the video. I'm sorry for the but heads online but I would like to see Ravenor as your next venture into the world. Sorry I can't contribute to your patreon.. Dig the channel all the same and keep up the superb content!!!

I'd love to see the short stories from the Omnibus, Missing in Action and Backcloth a Crowne Additional - one for the impact it has on Eisenhorn's disposition, and one just a great "small British village fayre" story!

Love these chats, didn't think I would but they're really enjoyable. I like Ciaphas Cain, one thing that's good about those books is you get to see more different kinds of Xenos.

This bookclub inspired me to re-read the trilogy. I’ve really enjoyed listening to both your thoughts on the books, especially as you both have very different perspectives on the 40k universe

Just finished this one so interested in your thoughts. Thanks again for helping me start in black library

Mira if you are interested in the relationships between man and machine in 40K, you are going to love it when you get to the Horus Heresy novel Vengeful Spirit. Much of the book centers around the noble family House Devine, whose members pilot Imperial Knight war machines. The family is dysfunctional to say the least and it's a highlight in the HH series IMHO.

I'd really love to see you do Magos after the Revenor books

Love this channel, one of the few which I watch every upload as soon as it pops up in my feed.

Thanks for this fun and good recap of this old series. I've been tempted to reread, but so many new books to read 🙂

I always like to picture Ravenor's Vox voice as a dalek. I would maybe recommend the first Gaunt's ghosts book because of Heldane being in it but the Ghosts series is quite extensive now

I like this format of discussion, keep it up!

Oh you definetly must read the Magos, its a great read. Some of the short storys are really interesting, and the main story is really sets up the Bequin books.

Does Mira know that there are 40k role playing games? ;)

Another excellent episode! Great as always to hear the two of you talk about the 40k universe. I look forward to learning what you read next!

Will you do Magos. It’s the fourth Eisenhorn book. It collects some Eisenhorn short stories and another novel that ties it all together and leads into Pariah.

Hey Mira! You don't have to buy the huge Forge World model to play a Warlord Titan. You can buy the "mini" Warlord Titan from Games Workshop for £65 to play in the Titanicus game (or just paint & put on your shelf alongside the Eisenhorn: Hereticus book)

So excited to see this pop up on my Friday night ❤

For a palette cleanser, i would recommend brutal kunnin. Great mix of orks and the mechanicus which means you get to explore more of 40k, while keeping it all quite light in tone

are we gonna read talon of Horus and Mechanicum?

I greatly enjoyed the Eisenhorn trilogy. Similarly, the Ravenor trilogy is also epically enjoyable. I am curious whether the announced "Eisenhorn" television show will actually happen, and if it does, whether it can capture the essence of Abnett's fantastic story.

ah Ciaphas Cain, the Blackadder of 40k

Love the chat and discussion about the book! I really want to see more of it, no matter which book you choose (maybe you can add the link to the patreon in your links in the description)

Thank you for these Book Club videos! I am quite enjoying them! Might I suggest you do a video on Abnett's attempt on Space Marines, namely Brothers of the Snake?

If this was next week I’d be finished the book, I decided to reread them following your the Malleus book club. The video will have to wait, but let’s appease the almighty algorithm.

These have been great, it's been fun re-reading this series.

I really enjoyed Atlas Infernal by Rob Sanders. Classic Inquisition novel with more Pyrrhic victories but loads of ideas for conversions, terrain, etc.

Titan by Dan Abnett is a graphic novel Mira may enjoy if she loves Titans.

Cain, cain, cain! Love the cain novels; light hearted fun in the 40k universe. Great for beginners too as it's a not too serious introduction to the universe. Would love to see your guys take on them. Oh and Ian get The Magos read, it's a great book (suprised you haven't already given your intrest in the series) ties up a few loose ends and fleshes out characters back story. Intresting and enjoyable discussion as ever, thanks for the listen.

Titanicus was fun!

Ciaphas Cain is basically Blackadder, fantastic choice.

You can still find Squats in Necromunda, so they still exist, they're just rare.

The Infinite and The Divine world be so fun great y'all talk about.

Yes

haven''t red Eisenhorn for years, but as I remember the limitter for the Pariahs was not a thing in the books yet and only showed in Ravenor, right? Always wondered, how it was invented and what it would have changed for Eisenhorn and Bequin.

Something that came to mind after finishing the trilogy.. Eisenhorn is part of the Ordo Xenos, but apart from the Saruthi in .. well Xenos .. he does not battle with any other kind. I mean, even his stories about past adventures don't deal with any aliens. Why don't you just switch ordos and stop saying you are part of the Xenos ordo.

I love both your broad nerd-palets, using star trek and d&d references in your discussion :)

These reviews are as great as the archive videos. Would love for you to do a few Gaunts Ghosts books but subjecting Mira to Sharpe in space may be a little cruel.

Caphias Cain is the bomb. Peak 40k in a way. Hornblower-esque.

Great talk! I hope you do the Fabius Bile trilogy.

Go the titanicus! Give it a burl and we’ll compare notes, cheers Ian and Mira

Can't believe Ian hasn't read Magos!! Soooo much back story in there!! PS.. DEFINITELY read the Ravenor books first tho...

You need to talk Titans vs Knights, because it is really hard to get a Titans on the table, I also think the variety of Knights is supper interesting, and the scorpion paintjobs on some them is lovely. ...still, Battltech mecha > 40K mecha 😜

Kara Swole = Natasha Romanov in my mind :)

Was waiting for this ^^ !

i vote for Ciaphas Cain

Rave or trilogy next please

Ciaphas Cain is my favourite series :D

Any chance of the 40k book club reading the Ian Watson books (Space Marine, Inquisitor, Harlequin and Chaos Child)?

You know you've gotta read Titanicus!!!

The thing that really bugged me about this book was how Bequin, his soul mate, forever together but forever apart gets attacked, Gregor thinks she may well be dead or in an unknown location still in a coma she may never come out of and he just shrugs his shoulders and renews a relationship with his old flame! There is no grief in the slightest for this woman he's spent many years in love with! I know 40k isn't big on romance bit this seemed a bit far fetched!

I would love to hear you guys react to the gaunts ghosts books

next book? ... I'd really be interested to hear your reactions to Watchers of the Throne and Regent's Shadow. ... move away from the Inquisition a bit.

I'd love you to review Blackadder in Space, I mean Ciaphas Cain. Heading over to your Patreon. Woof woof. EDIT: Sorry, I'm not the sharpest tool in the box, I can't find your Patreon, please sir, can I have a link?

Lovely nice people having lovely nice chats about the depressing grim dark universe of the 41st millennium. Totally works for some reason:)

Are you gonna read Dune at any moment? I would love for a read/discussion of that from the perspective of 40k

Do Titanicus

RIP AEMOS

Will you guys be reading the next book The Magos too? I read it resently and really enjoyed it. But of a pallet cleanser I think Ciaphas cain: death and glory is a very fun book

huh? ... the magos made the force staff. the sword is from one of his dead retinue. the lady from carthae, that's why he keeps talking about all the carthae combat moves he does.

Two quid a month to spout vitriol? Bargain!

I think you got mixed up between Heretic and Radical

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorsai%21?wprov=sfla1 "new dorsai" is a reference to this classic military scifi series about super mercenaries by the way. A bit Robert Henlein in political implications if you know what I mean...

Didn't even mention Aemos' last words... Most perturbatory...