Angels of Darkness (Warhammer 40,000 Novels) | 
 enlarge | Author: Gav Thorpe
Publisher: Games Workshop
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy New: $3.15
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 23730
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1
ISBN: 1844165701
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9781844165704
ASIN: 1844165701
Publication Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Product Description
After over 3 years of being out of print one of our most requested books returns with a brand new look. The secrets of the Dark Angels are revealed in this much-loved classic Warhammer 40,000 novel.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 "Knowledge is Power, Guard it Well..." September 21, 2008
I picked up this book as I have been a fan of 40K and the mythos of the Dark Angels since Rogue Trader days. Once I heard about this book in 2003, it was out of print. I picked up this book as soon as I found that it was once again available. For most of the book, I found it a page turner and finished it in approx. 2-3 days
The book is broken down into chapters, called Tales, surrounding the two main protagonists: Astelan: a captured Fallen and Boreas: an Interrogator Chaplain. At first I was skeptical of and annoyed by this layout, but having just finished the book, it makes total sense as both of the Tales evolve parallel. The building of the characters appears slow, but the material to be gleaned from each 'Tale' is subtle... and as you read this you may find yourself on the path of Heresy. ;)
Gav Thorpe appears to have a firm grasp of the 40K universe and is able to portray it quite adequately and appears to be an average writer with a few flaws in story flow and character persona. Most of the battles are somewhat mediocre while some shine. The Interrogation sequences are quite interesting as they tell the tale and fill in gaps in the Dark Angels mythos.
There are however some editorial errors I have found:
^ On Pg. 46, A young Initiate, Sanis was killed, but mysteriously reappears on Pg. 55.
^ Pg. 81, Boreas questions his own statement regarding 'whining priests' on Tharsis; I believe this should be Astelan's statement Boreas was questioning.
^ Pg. 192; Boreas makes a personal comment regarding Luther; this I believe should be Astelan speaking.
Overall, Gav has done the Dark Angels justice in this book; it is solid Dark Angels material and captures the depressing and desperate feeling of the 40K universe quite well. This book should be required reading for Dark Angels aficionados as it provides details, persona and background essential to understanding them. However, those not interested in the Dark Angels chapter or looking for grand battle scenes can skip this book as it solely deals with them and has a limited scope in the 40K Universe.
An Essential Piece of the Canon February 20, 2008
When one first steps into the Warhammer universe, there is essentially a fog of war. Who and what are these creatures? What is their history? How do they live, grow, fight? Where do they live? Who is who?
In a burgeoning fantasy world, subject to many hands (i.e. minds), someone has to take the laboring oar and write the history. I think Gav Thorpe and Graham McNeill were given those assignments. Angels of Darkness is an essential book to anyone who wants to understand Space Marines. Yes, it is a bit preachy and the Space Marines sometimes pontificate like dime store altar boys but all in all the book is worth the effort if-you are interested in Warhammer. If not, I cannot imagine this book being for you.
With that said, I would like to defend the narrative structure of the book. I thought the two marines juxtaposed against one another was an effective generative device to delve deeply into the psyche of the ageless marines, the history of the warhammer universe, and the psychological chaos of the universe.
If you read the work closely you will find it chock-a-block with arcane details that are essential to rabid Warhammer fans.
Final note to the publishers. This book should be in print.
 Not Worth Reading. February 20, 2005
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book has one bit of information about the Dark Angels that is revealing. But it's lost in an utterly unbelieveable and contrived story. The innterogation scenes were menotonus and repetative. The actual action was nothing but average. The plot is simplistic and contrived and the "twist" at the end is laughable. Instead of trying to stun us with a "shocking" ending Thorpe could have actually developed characters and stuck to material in the first chapters about recuitment etc it would have been much better. Instead we get The "Emperor's Finest" playing Keystone cops. The Dark Angels in this book are portrayed as overly emotional, short sighted, rash and basicly stupid. If Thope's Dark Angel's are indicative of the finest The Imperium has to offer then I'm heading for the nearest Eldar craftworld.
 Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe December 14, 2004
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Ok, any Warhammer 40k player will love this book, and Dark Angels players like myself wont be able to put it down. Gav Thorpe in this book just makes these characters come to life, I found myself reading this book for three hours at a time. This books battle scene's are amazing! And the talking scenes as well are very well done. This book is my favorite Blace Library novel of all time. Pick this book up, 5 stars.
Like the Dark Angels? You'll like this... October 28, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Cast forward in time 10,000 years, force commander Astelan of the Dark Angels has been branded a heretic and condemned to death by torture. Switching back and forth between Astelan and his torturer, chaplain-inquisitor Boreas, this novel describes the history of the Dark Angels chapter back to the days before the Primarchs were rediscovered. The events taking place in Angels of Darkness are of secondary importance. What is interesting here is the conflicting points of view of the two main characters, Astelan and Boreas, as they argue in the interrogation chamber. These two marines showcase the change in attitude and psychology of the Dark Angels following the cataclysmic Horus Heresy. Also revealed is the terrible secret which the Dark Angels chapter has kept hidden from the Imperium for 10,000 years. The story keeps good pace, and delivers its intrigue at a measured rate which keeps things interesting.
This is a good book for 40k fans who are looking for a decent story with great background information. BUT if you haven't read all of Dan Abnett's books, definitely go read those first. The Eisenhorn trilogy and Gaunt's Ghosts series are the Black Library's best stuff! In comparison, Angels of Darkness is a bit clunky, and the space marines act like emotionally-disturbed teenage boys.
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