First few pages of the Horus Rising

[kojibear]

Can someone just give me a clearer picture of the beginning whereby there appears to be two Emperors? It kind of just threw me a little.

It says the ships of the 63rd expedition came upon the Imperium by chance. I then goes on to describe a parlay which failed and then the two forces going to war, each claiming to be fighting for their respective Emperor.

Cheers for any help putting me in the picture.

[Primarch]

The marines fight for The Imperium, they encounter another planet with it's own Emperor, also calling itself the Imperium. It's supposed to set the scene for the later civil war, but in that book at least, the marines are all still 'good guys'.

[me_in_japan]

It's one o dem books where the first few pages only make sense once you've read page 63, kinda thing

[AndrewGPaul]

Well, not really. By the time you finish the prologue, it's all fairly clear. In fact the opening line of the book, "Thi is the story of how Horus killed the Emperor" does tell you immediately that something's not right.

If you already know the backstory of 40K, that is. But then, the whole novel is written with historical irony in mind - building up Horus as this great Imperial hero when everyone knows that he's going to turn out to be the great antagonist of the series.

[me_in_japan]

If you already know the backstory of 40K, that is.

indeedy. Fine for us dabblers in the arcane, but maybe not for those In The Know.

[kojibear]

If you already know the backstory of 40K, that is.

indeedy. Fine for us dabblers in the arcane, but maybe not for those In The Know.

I not would be in the know, but I am now. Cheers guys.

And yes, by page 63 I did sort it all out. Little impatient ol' me I am up to page 80 or so now. Not a bad read.

Thanks again you guys.