The Flight of the Eisenstein
by James Swallow
The Horus Heresy Novels (4), The Horus Heresy (IV), Warhammer 40,000 (fiction) (Horus Heresy novel #4)
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Having witnessed the terrible massacre of Imperial forces on Isstvan III, Death Guard Captain Garro seizes a ship and sets a course for Terra to warn the Emperor of Horus's treachery. But when the fleeing Eisenstein is damaged by enemy fire, it becomes stranded in the warp - the realm of the Dark Powers. Can Garro and his men survive the depredations of Chaos and get his warning to the Emperor before Horus's plans reach fruition?Tags
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Member Reviews
I gave it the four stars only because the pace did slow down a bit in the middle, and the ending did leave a lot of things open. Then again, leaving things open is part of setting up for the rest of the series. So, it's more like 4 1/2 stars for me. Overall, this novel is a strong entry in the series, and I think fans will certainly like it. I did enjoy that I got to see some events from the previous novel from a different point of view. It is a long journey, a journey with a lot of risks and sacrifices, for the Astartes and crew of the frigate Eisenstein as they make a jump to warn the Emperor of Horus' treachery. Will they make it? Will they survive in the warp, especially with warp storms and a battle-damaged ship? And if they make show more it to Terra, will they be believed? All these questions and more will be answered as Captain Garro leads the Eisenstein on its flight. A solid read, and I will definitely be looking for the next book in the series. show less
Having been very rude recently about James Swallow's Faith & Fury, which I found unreadably bad, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this one so much. In fact, this a mostly a great read. The action moves nicely along, the characters are mostly well-rounded and believable, and there are no absurdities along the way to destroy the illusions! I especially enjoyed the Jorgall Bottle Ships scenes, and the denouement on the Eisenstein as Garro and his crew attempt to prevent the baddies dropping their virus bombs. The last third starts to get a bit slow and contrived though, although I enjoyed Rogal Dorn's emo tantrum, and by the end I was hoping to finish it that night so that I could start something else. Garro's religious awakening is show more particularly underpants gnomes. So a solid three and a bit. show less
I genuinely feel ashamed about ever talking about the opening trilogy as the phenomenal first founding of this saga. It truly is the the opening quadrilogy with Flight of the Eisenstein closing the initial chapter of the Horus Heresy spectacularly that is essential and exquisite. I often think many of the things that break me on Isstvan III are only in Galaxy in Flames, but it is Huron Fal and Temeter in the middle of this book that has had me absolutely bawling every (at least four) times I've read this.
This book is bloody brilliant and seriously one of Swallows crowning achievements of his great, if vacillating in quality, work with Black Library. It's incredible how many things are still just being introduced and expanded upon, which show more are handled wonderfully. Swallows dynamic writing in dramatic and action moments is impressive, as is his ability to get really weird and gross with the Nurgle stuff without going too far.
This continues to be a mythic foundational narrative with avatars of archetypes playing their parts, but with a level of individuality and immediacy that I love from these kinds of works.
I had planned to go back and give False Gods, Galaxy in Flames, and this a more in depth look as I did with Horus Rising, as well as taking a break to catch up on some other reading, but I am absolutely on the grips of the worst pain, fatigue, and conversion symptoms flare up I've had in years, so I can barely think or move a lot of the time.
Plan is to charge on with the saga using the suggested order from https://www.heresyomnibus.com, tackling each omnibus in order which, means I have a few stories to catch up with before getting to Fulgrim.
If you've made it this far, yeah you've read some of the best books in this series and from Black Library and the quality might start to vacillate quite wildly from here on, but there is so much more phenomenal stuff here and I'm excited and determined to cross the Rubicon. show less
This book is bloody brilliant and seriously one of Swallows crowning achievements of his great, if vacillating in quality, work with Black Library. It's incredible how many things are still just being introduced and expanded upon, which show more are handled wonderfully. Swallows dynamic writing in dramatic and action moments is impressive, as is his ability to get really weird and gross with the Nurgle stuff without going too far.
This continues to be a mythic foundational narrative with avatars of archetypes playing their parts, but with a level of individuality and immediacy that I love from these kinds of works.
I had planned to go back and give False Gods, Galaxy in Flames, and this a more in depth look as I did with Horus Rising, as well as taking a break to catch up on some other reading, but I am absolutely on the grips of the worst pain, fatigue, and conversion symptoms flare up I've had in years, so I can barely think or move a lot of the time.
Plan is to charge on with the saga using the suggested order from https://www.heresyomnibus.com, tackling each omnibus in order which, means I have a few stories to catch up with before getting to Fulgrim.
If you've made it this far, yeah you've read some of the best books in this series and from Black Library and the quality might start to vacillate quite wildly from here on, but there is so much more phenomenal stuff here and I'm excited and determined to cross the Rubicon. show less
The best of the four I've read so far in this series. Well-written, this one combines the right mix of technical detail with human elements that make the reader easily able to follow, and identify with, the main characters. Nathaniel Garro, Astartes from the Death Guard, commandeers the ship Eisenstein in a desperate effort to bring word to the Emperor of Terra of Horus' treachery and betrayal described in the last book. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat, and sets up well for continued novels along this storyline.
I was a little disappointed with this one.....the first half of this book is simply a retelling of the events in the last book from a different perspective....something I personally find completely unessesary. I found myself so impatient to finally get to something new that I had to stop myself from skipping ahead.
The second half was pretty good.....but, the ending left tons of unanswered questions.
The second half was pretty good.....but, the ending left tons of unanswered questions.
The fourth book in the Horus Heresy series is a great addition to the Black Library’s ongoing saga. And not since the first book have I been so absorbed by the characters and intricacies of the Heresy. To those uninitiated to the Warhammer 40,000 world, the name Eisenstein means a great deal. And to fully appreciate this chapter one should have read, or at least be familiar with, the other three volumes. Eisenstein just won't have the same "punch" if you just jump into the story at this juncture. Nevertheless, Eisenstein is full of some great action, suspense and writing. I was truly impressed that Mr. Swallow wrote this novel. Especially considering that I did not enjoy his previous foray into the 40K universe with the “ho-hum” show more Faith & Fire. Therefore, I anxiously await the next chapter in the ongoing Heresy. show less
Story of group of Space Marines fighting to survive the treacherous Warp on their way to Earth in order to warn the Emperor of impeding Horus' betrayal.
Being the only survivors that managed to escape from Istvaan system they have to fight their own battle brothers (now traitors) both in space and with guns in hands, suffer the rage of Primarch when they inform him of situation and finally be put under scrutiny of Ordo Xenos when they reach Earth - everybody wandering can they be trusted.
But from them new valiant orders (Inquisition or maybe Grey Knights) will rise to fight the creatures from Warp.
Interesting story, good characters.
Recommended.
Being the only survivors that managed to escape from Istvaan system they have to fight their own battle brothers (now traitors) both in space and with guns in hands, suffer the rage of Primarch when they inform him of situation and finally be put under scrutiny of Ordo Xenos when they reach Earth - everybody wandering can they be trusted.
But from them new valiant orders (Inquisition or maybe Grey Knights) will rise to fight the creatures from Warp.
Interesting story, good characters.
Recommended.
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The Horus Heresy Novels
54 works (4)
The Horus Heresy
55 works (IV)
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- Canonical title
- The Flight of the Eisenstein
- Original title
- The Flight of the Eisenstein
- Alternate titles
- The Flight of the Eisenstein: The heresy unfolds
- Original publication date
- 2007-03-05
- People/Characters
- Horus Lupercal (Warmaster and Commander of the Sons of Horus Legion); Rogal Dorn (Primarch of the Imperial Fists); Mortarion (Primarch of the Death Guard); Nathaniel Garro (Battle-Captain of the 7th Company, Death Guard); Ignatius Grulgor (Commander of the 2nd Company, Death Guard); Calas Typhon (First Captain, Death Guard) (show all 29); Ullis Temeter (Captain of the 4th Company, Death Guard); Andus Hakur (Veteran Sergeant, 7th Company, Death Guard); Meric Voyen (Apothecary, 7th Company, Death Guard); Tollen Sendek (7th Company, Death Guard); Pyr Rahl (7th Company, Death Guard); Solun Decius (7th Company, Death Guard); Kaleb Arin (Housecarl to Captain Garro); Saul Tarvitz (First Captain of the Emperor's Children); Iacton Qruze ('The Half-Heard', Captain, 3rd Company, Sons of Horus); Sigismund (First Captain, Imperial Fists); Maloghurst ('The Twisted', Equerry to the Warmaster); Amendera Kendel (Oblivion Knight, Storm Dagger Witchseeker Squad); Malcador (The Sigillite, Regent of Terra); Kyril Sindermann (Primary iterator); Mersadie Oliton (Remembrancer, documentarist); Euphrati Keeler ('The New Saint', remembrancer); Baryk Carya (Shipmaster of the frigate Eisenstein); Racel Vought (Executive officer of the frigate Eisenstein); Tirin Maas (Vox officer of the frigate Eisenstein); Angron; Fulgrim; Eidolon; Fabius
- Important places
- Isstvan III; Isstvan Extremis; The Moon (Luna); Imperium of Man
- Important events
- Horus Heresy; Battle of Isstvan III
- Epigraph
- 'If the sole trait these Astartes share in common with we mere mortal masses is their bond of brotherhood, then one must dare to ask the question – if that were lost to them, what would they become?'
– attribut... (show all)ed to remembrancer Ignace Karkasy
'We are the voice and the clarion call;
We are tyrant's ruin and rival's fall.'
– from the battle mantra of the Dusk Raiders
'As with men so it is with silk; it is difficult to change their colours once they have been set.'
– attributed to the ancient Terran warlord Mo Zi - Dedication
- With thanks to Lindsey Priestley, Marc Gascoigne, Alan Merrett, Steve Horvath, John Gravato, Matt Farrer and the GW Bromley crew, and especially to Dan, Graham and Ben for lighting the way.
- First words
- Mighty heroes battle for the right to rule the galaxy.
Introduction: The Horus Heresy / It is a time of legend.
In the void, the vessels gathered. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Beneath the light of Terra, the two of them, soldier amd saint together, looked to the birth world of their species; and as one, they began to pray.
- Original language
- English
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- ISBNs
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