Ravenor

Rating:
Summary: On Par with the Eisenhorn Series
Review: I've read almost every Warhammer 40k novel out there, and I have to say that this ranks as the most in-depth experience a reader can ever take into the Warhammer 40k universe. Abnett has reached a new level in his writing style, making it virtually impossible to put this book down. It has all of the action of the Eisenhorn Trilogy and presents it in a way that makes the reader feel as if he or she is walking alongside the characters. For readers familiar with Abnett's previous Eisenhorn novels, Ravenor takes place several decades after Hereticus and follows the exploits of Inquisitor Ravenor as he investigates the spread of a new type of drug called 'flects'. Several favorite characters from the Eisenhorn series have also been included in this novel, which is a big plus. I suggest reading the Eisenhorn Trilogy before this novel but even first time readers can get an appreciation for this incredible tour through the Imperium of Mankind.

Rating:
Summary: On Par with the Eisenhorn Series
Review: I've read almost every Warhammer 40k novel out there, and I have to say that this ranks as the most in-depth experience a reader can ever take into the Warhammer 40k universe. Abnett has reached a new level in his writing style, making it virtually impossible to put this book down. It has all of the action of the Eisenhorn Trilogy and presents it in a way that makes the reader feel as if he or she is walking alongside the characters. For readers familiar with Abnett's previous Eisenhorn novels, Ravenor takes place several decades after Hereticus and follows the exploits of Inquisitor Ravenor as he investigates the spread of a new type of drug called 'flects'. Several favorite characters from the Eisenhorn series have also been included in this novel, which is a big plus. I suggest reading the Eisenhorn Trilogy before this novel but even first time readers can get an appreciation for this incredible tour through the Imperium of Mankind.

Rating:
Summary: Yet another Abnett success.
Review: In my opinion, Dan Abnett is far and away the most accomplished author in the current Black Library fold. He has an uncanny ability to whisk his readers away to futuristic, alien settings that are both delightfully wondrous and yet utterly convincing at the same time. A master of character-driven "low fantasy", Abnett never permits these exotic locales to either overwhelm his rich, three dimensional characters or to overshadow the captivating adventures upon which they lead us. Ravenor is yet another Abnett success.

Ravenor picks up some years after the events chronicled in the Eisenhorn trilogy and takes us along as Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his retinue investigate the spiraling use of a hallucinogenic drug with possible xenos origins. As the primary protagonist, Inquisitor Ravenor is perhaps even more compelling than his irascible mentor, Eisenhorn. Disembodied and entombed in a forbidding block of seemingly impenetrable ceramite armor, Ravenor is nonetheless eminently human and oftentimes strikingly vulnerable. Perceptive yet fallible, confident yet conflicted, compassionate yet unforgiving, Ravenor is the very best that humanity has to offer in a time of desperate struggle.

If the novel falls somewhat short of the author's best work, same is due in large part to the fact that the antagonists are for the most part not the ruthless, terrifying villains that we have come to expect from an Abnett offering. And while the elusive drug at the center of the story is nothing short of brilliant in terms of its nature and origins, its potential nonetheless remains largely unrealized. These two admittedly minor criticisms lead me to suspect that this book is but the first in a series that will further explore the full extent of the dangers posed by mankind's foolish attempt to harness xenos technology irrevocably corrupted by the pernicious effects of the Warp.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not Great
Review: Ravenor is a good effort by Dan Abnett who is, I would assume, the crowned king of Black Library and Games Workshop fiction. I did not find this one as good as his Eisenhorn series, however, simply because it was too choppy. Shifting point-of-views from character to character occurred too frequently for my tastes... sometimes 2-3 times per page. It was difficult for me to keep things in focus. But I'd say it's still a cut above many other 40k novels.

Rating:
Summary: Another Great "40K Universe" Story from Abnett
Review: This book is another great addition to the growing list of fiction set in the "Warhammer 40,000 Universe," the setting of the "Warhammer 40,000" miniatures game and other related games by Games Workshop. Dan Abnett does his usual great job with the story, as well, providing a good mixture of action and character development in the story line. Well worth reading, especially if you're a fan of the shadowy servants of the Imperium of Man known as the Inquisition!

Despite my enjoying this book immensely, I just couldn't bring myself to give it a full five stars, for two reasons:

First and foremost, I think it very likely that readers who haven't yet read Dan Abnett's "Eisenhorn" trilogy will be at least somewhat confused by this novel. There are many references to people and events that won't make much sense without the background provided in those three books. Not to say that readers won't enjoy "Ravenor" without reading the "Eisenhorn" books first.... just that they might enjoy it more if they do so.

Second, and less significantly, this book is clearly the beginning of a series: the ending of the book is a "very-near-cliff-hanger" that leaves much unsettled business hanging.... great for sales of the next installment, but pretty tough on readers left to impatiently await that next installment's arrival!

Some friends of mine who've read the book have mentioned the frequent cuts from scene to scene and changes in narration from first-person to third-person as being distracting or confusing. I myself didn't find them to be so, but then I've been known to read books by the likes of Tom Clancy, who not only is a master of the frequent scene change but writes a *much* longer book most of the time, as well!

All in all, a very enjoyable read..... but do yourself a favor, and read the three books about Inquisitor Eisenhorn ("Xenos," "Malleus," and "Hereticus") first!

Rating:
Summary: Right into the melee...
Review: This was my first Warhammer 40,000 book - I've been an off-and-on afficiando of the game for some time, and finally took the plunge back into the stand-alone fiction, after being turned off by some of the less-capable authors. Dan Abnett, however, delivers. While being a very fast read, it was quite satisfying; especially for someone familiar with the background material. As a caveat, someone coming into the WH40K setting for the first time might be a touch confused. Given what it is, and what Mr. Abnett set out to achieve, it's a superb book.
It -is- a violent book, but that's in line with the setting. It -isn't- just blood and gore, however; the depth he gives his characters far surpasses almost every other realm of 'game fiction'.

Rating:
Summary: Yet another Abnett success.
Review: Well, Dan Abnett has once again produced a winner. Ravenor contains the same great characterization as his many other Warhammer 40k novels, as well as a solid amount of carnage.

However, there are a few things I found to detract, unfortunately. The narrative viewpoint switches back and forth from third person to first (Ravenor himself). While not terrible, I think that a complete work in third person would have been acceptable. Also, as a number of the main characters also appeared in the Eisenhorn trilogy, there are allusions to some of their pasts which were detailed in that series but which will be unfamiliar to readers of just this book. There were a number of typos as well, not the usual case for Abnett's works in my experience.

Nevertheless, the story moves fast, with good action and progress. The plot revolves around Ravenor and company attempting to locate the source of a chaos-inspired drug in use on Imperium worlds. It leads them to lawless regions in which they are accosted by aliens, traitors, and renegades. It was clear pretty early on that this was to be the first book in a series, as there were a number of loose ends left unaddressed.

This was still a great book. It was really enjoyable to read again of some of the compatriots of Eisenhorn. There are some fond mentions of him from those who knew him, tying this new series to that one even more than the inclusion of returning characters. This book continues the high-quality that Abnett established in that trilogy, and I look forward eagerly to the next installment. This book was worth the hardcover price!

Rating:
Summary: Another good effort from Abnett
Review: Well, Dan Abnett has once again produced a winner. Ravenor contains the same great characterization as his many other Warhammer 40k novels, as well as a solid amount of carnage.

However, there are a few things I found to detract, unfortunately. The narrative viewpoint switches back and forth from third person to first (Ravenor himself). While not terrible, I think that a complete work in third person would have been acceptable. Also, as a number of the main characters also appeared in the Eisenhorn trilogy, there are allusions to some of their pasts which were detailed in that series but which will be unfamiliar to readers of just this book. There were a number of typos as well, not the usual case for Abnett's works in my experience.

Nevertheless, the story moves fast, with good action and progress. The plot revolves around Ravenor and company attempting to locate the source of a chaos-inspired drug in use on Imperium worlds. It leads them to lawless regions in which they are accosted by aliens, traitors, and renegades. It was clear pretty early on that this was to be the first book in a series, as there were a number of loose ends left unaddressed.

This was still a great book. It was really enjoyable to read again of some of the compatriots of Eisenhorn. There are some fond mentions of him from those who knew him, tying this new series to that one even more than the inclusion of returning characters. This book continues the high-quality that Abnett established in that trilogy, and I look forward eagerly to the next installment. This book was worth the hardcover price!