tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post569697210049866658..comments2023-09-01T10:14:30.179+01:00Comments on Graeme's Fantasy Book Review: ‘Courage and Honour’ – Graham McNeill (Black Library)Graeme Floryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15411505049326440010noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-7181509912723145922010-11-01T09:28:50.542+00:002010-11-01T09:28:50.542+00:00this is the way a blog should be! thanks!this is the way a blog should be! thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-39418322464768767282010-09-21T00:27:16.231+01:002010-09-21T00:27:16.231+01:00While I agree the novel was very good plot- and ch...While I agree the novel was very good plot- and character-wise, I just wish to say that if you are even remotely a Tau enthusiast, do not buy this book. As soon as you start reading the Tau codex and compare it to this novel, there are so many blatant disregards to the Tau it is almost insulting. Here are three things that the author should have known before writing:<br />1) Tau do not hold their ground. It is consistent in every other novel except this one. They will disengage and ambush pursuing forces rather than pointlessly lose lives.<br />2) Tau do not make frontal assaults and charge up through the no-man’s land. For all the tactical idiocies we see in this novel, it might as well be orks disguised as Fire Warriors. Tau either systematically destroy their ennemie’s defences at long range BEFORE surging in for the killing blow, or they will simply go around the uber-strong fortifications, attack something else, and draw the defenders out of their static positions.<br />3) Tau value their sodier’s lives. They do not send them marching up a killing field, neither will they throw their soldier’s lives away. The attack on Brandon Gate smacked of idiocy. If you just pause for a minute, the whole attack was pointless. It was stated the Tau did not have enough forces to attack on a wide front, but they apparently had enough for a useless and suicidal mission, since they lost everything they sent at Brandon Gate. The author calls it a diversion from Olzetyn. However, as stated in the book, the Tau are very fast at moving armor, yet they leave plenty of time for a Dreadnought to walk all the way from Brandon Gate to Olzetyn? Essentially, the whole attack on Brandon Gate did abslutely nothing except give the Space Marines a chance to butcher the Tau.<br /><br />If you do not know Tau or do not care about them, you will like this novel.If you like Tau, you will hate the novel. So this is a warning for all those Shas out there who want to know more about Tau. Do not buy this book.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-66343969634473857882009-11-26T00:52:35.303+00:002009-11-26T00:52:35.303+00:00Am looking forward to reading it. Ive always loved...Am looking forward to reading it. Ive always loved Storm Of Iron (also by Mcneill) much more than the Ultrasmurf series. In case anyone didnt know, in the the Black Libary catalogue it mentions the next book in the Uriel Ventris series.."The Chapter's Due".<br />And its going to involve Honsou! Im so excited ;)Karimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-9785845502256834472009-11-04T01:20:49.659+00:002009-11-04T01:20:49.659+00:00I just finished reading Courage and Honour and tho...I just finished reading Courage and Honour and thought it an immensely good read. Uriel Ventris is the epitome of a perfect warrior and Pasanius is just a whole heap of good fun. Graham McNeil is a great author and should win some kind of award for his books.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-74577460394767798302009-11-04T01:20:47.771+00:002009-11-04T01:20:47.771+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-77104508950877548792009-08-13T19:28:37.241+01:002009-08-13T19:28:37.241+01:00I absolutely love this series, I cant wait for the...I absolutely love this series, I cant wait for the next installment. In response to the things said here about Dan Abnett, I can agree that he focuses a whole lot more on character development and tension (Horus Rising was amazing in that department) but Legion did this far too much - it became stale and boring very quickly with virtually no action whatsoever. That's why I love Graham - he doesn't let up on the brutality of war (especially war in the 41st millenium) and there is action and excitment all through the books - I still can't wait to see where the cliffhanger at the end of Dead Sky, Black Sun is going :P.<br /> Having said all that, I respect the opinions of others and the people here have made some valid points. Thanks for listening ^^.Sam Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-23269301798739979472009-04-29T13:00:00.000+01:002009-04-29T13:00:00.000+01:00I've read one of Abnett's 'Horus Heresy' books but...I've read one of Abnett's 'Horus Heresy' books but haven't yet read his 'Gaunt's Ghosts' novels which are supposed to be very good. I might have to find myself some copies of these...Graeme Floryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15411505049326440010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679457768571800783.post-38224389582909008512009-04-29T03:00:00.000+01:002009-04-29T03:00:00.000+01:00Personally, I find McNeill to be a fun war-author ...Personally, I find McNeill to be a fun war-author to read from the Black Library stable, but I prefer the Abnett works - they have the war down pat but are better at individual characterisation and actual tense moments, as well as being willing to kill popular characters, whilst making such deaths meaningful to the plot and development of the story. So whilst McNeill is decent "fluff", Abnett's a better bet.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889062478282277247noreply@blogger.com