Product Description

Having witnessed the events on Istvaan III, Deathguard Captain Garro seizes a ship and heads to Terra to warn the Emperor of Horus' treachery. But the fleeing Eisenstein is damaged by enemy fire, and becomes stranded in the warp. Can Garro and his men survive the depradations of Chaos and get his warning to Terra in time?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9488 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 416 pages

About the Author
London-based author James Swallow has written about science fiction, games and oriental media for more than sixty different publications, and has written scripts for the TV show Star Trek: Voyager.

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Masterpiece
Like every novel published so far in the Horus Heresy series by the Black Library (whose reputation is rising due to the popularity of these books, which are not considered mere merchandise anymore), the Flight of the Eisenstein recites the epic and tragic events in the Isstvan System, as Horus's treachery is finally revealed. Billions perish as the planet is razed with virusbombs and then literally set afire.

Although this plot seems strangely familiar, the fourth novel of the Horus Heresy still makes the - more or less - re-read of the last chapters of its prequel (from the Death Guard Legion's point of view) still worthwhile.

We encounter yet another alien race in the opening of the book, and the actions undertaken by the XVI. Legion remind of the more glorious days of the Great Crusade. Yet events after the termination of the alien 'world-ship' make the reality of the Warmaster's betrayal all too real.

In comparison to the previous novels of the Horus Heresy, 'The Flight of the Eisenstein' focuses more on character development rather than on the action. Needless to say, this book is packed with action, but this time, James Swallow brings the characters of the book closer to the reader, as one expects on a book based on an Age of brotherhood, honorable heroes and dark powers starting a series of events that would change the fate of humanity for the next ten thousand years.

Although the "Flight" of the Eisenstein itself does not envelop the majority of the book, the intense dialogues between characters who stand at the edge of total desperation after they witness the unspeakable horrors of the warp, with their ship stranded in starless space, reminds me of Solaris.

All in all, this book is very well written and prepares us for the inevitable coming storm when the legendary Horus Heresy will truly unfold in all its malice.

A clever crossover
As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a crossover linking the first part of the Horus Heresy sequence to the second. It picks up the tale of a captain in one of the other Legions, weaving it into the end of the Galaxy in Flames and then taking it forward as he escapes the massacre at Istvaan.

This makes it sounds like it starts awkwardly, but in fact it is very nicely done, describing events and battles we've already seen from a different perspective. Swallow is able to give Garro some individuality and a bit of history which I hadn't noticed (until now) the previous novels had skipped out. He inherits the mantle of the loyalist hero and is responsible for getting the news of Horus's betrayal back to the Emperor, taking the surviving minor characters from Galaxy in Flames along with him. However, not everyone wants to hear his message and the author convincingly portrays the difficulties he encounters on his way back to Earth.

In covering this journey he also introduces characters and concepts for future novels, and indeed for the Warhammer 40,000 universe in general.
A well paced novel with good characterisation, making the transition from one phase of the Heresy to the next very neatly.

Excellent!
This must have had an early release as I bought a signed copy last Saturday. The Horus Heresy series continues with another excellent title. Interestingly, the actual flight itself doesn't take place until chapter 9. The previous chapters cover 'Galaxy in Flames' from the viewpoint of Garro and the Death Guard. But don't expect unncecesary repitition, it's a brilliantly executed crossover and very well written.