So I started reading/ listening to Age Of Darkness and decided to review eaxh story as I read or listen to them because it feels productive and I can do it lying dowb in bed.

Age of Darkness

Rules of engagement by Graham McNeil 2.5/5

Meh. A glimpse of Robute Guilliman penning the Codex Astartes followed by a number of engagements clogged with lists of companies and well written, but yet somehow stilted action as the traitors direct their attetion to Ultramar and the Ultramarines direct their attention to sticking to the letter of the codex despite their immediate situational trepidations. This is closed with a Kobiashi Muru-esque exercise and Guilliman having his Jerry’s Final Thoughts moment telling the Ultramarines to use common sense and gut insticts as well as the codex, as well as hinting at a darker plan he has yet to action.

Not the greatest way to kick off a short story collection, but acceptable. We all know Graham McNeil is a genius who can do OK easily on an off day, and this was conceived on an off day. The glimpse of the codex and the whiff of the subterfuge to come are all that really cause any attention. There are no stand out characters to take interest in and we’ve all read about fighting, and sadly we accept these mediocraties because when the Heresy is good it’s wonderdul.

I nearly feel I deserve this after the hideous beauty of The First Heretic and great skajld’s tale that was Prospero Burns. Let’s hope the rest are better!