Part of Black Library’s Space Marine Conquests series, Josh Reynolds’ Apocalypse is the first in the range to not focus on a single specific Chapter of Space Marines. Instead, it features a mixed Imperial force defending an isolated system against Word Bearers intent on conquest. As Amatnim Ur-Nabas Lash leads his fractious forces towards the Ecclesiarchy world of Almace, Lieutenant Calder of the Imperial Fists plans the loyalist defences with the aid of Suboden Khan of the White Scars and Raven Guard Lieutenant Karros. If he’s to succeed Calder knows he must play to his forces’ unique strengths but also get the most out of Almace’s Ecclesiarchy overlords.
On the surface it’s essentially a siege played out across a whole system, but there’s more to it than that, as Calder gradually comes to understand the complex politics at play on Almace while Amatnim wrestles with treachery and backstabbing within his ranks. To say more risks spoilers, but suffice to say secrets and motivations are gradually revealed as the story progresses. It also covers a lot of ground, both literally and figuratively, from space battles to city fighting, and from the strategies on either side of the siege to the practical realities of getting a frightened populace engaged in the defence. Such a wide variety of set-pieces should be enough to satisfy readers looking for action and excitement, but it’s balanced out by plenty of interesting themes and quieter, characterful moments too.
The narrative rotates through an impressive range of characters on both sides of the conflict, giving at least as much attention to the Word Bearers as to the loyalists (who also include Sisters of Battle and various interesting Ecclesiarchy characters); despite taking centre stage on the cover, this is absolutely not a dedicated Imperial Fists story. On the loyalist side what it lacks in a single consistent sense of identity it gains in opportunities for interaction, both between the Chapters and also the different generations of warriors, with a mixture of Primaris and ‘original’ Marines. The integrated command structure gives Reynolds the chance to explore how the various contingents view themselves and each other in light of the current state of the galaxy, as well as some great dialogue between them – Calder in particular is very dry but gets some brilliantly cutting lines.
Meanwhile the Word Bearers feel much more coherent in terms of identity, albeit deeply riven by rivalries and competing schools of both theological approach and warfare. While Lorgar, Erebus and Kor Phaeron aren’t literally present in the story, their presences loom large in the rivalry between Amatnim and his ally/enemy Lakmhu – a Dark Apostle who’s as much hindrance as help – and provide intriguing context for these characters’ actions and choices. Reynolds mentions in the foreword to the LE hardback that he wanted “to explore the culture of the Word Bearers, post-Gathering Storm”, and he does a great job of exactly that. Fans of his Fabius Bile novels will recognise a little of Saqqara in this depiction, extrapolated out across a wider selection of this divided Legion.
It’s a long book, with a lot going on and plenty of variety and excitement to maintain the reader’s interest. It’s perhaps not quite to the grand scale that the title Apocalypse might imply, but then Reynolds sneakily inserts in-universe references to a specific meaning of the word (which applies in the real world too) – involving revelation or prophecy. Semantics aside, narratively it sits at an interesting intersection of faith, politics and warfare which aptly reflects the Imperium as a whole. In particular there’s an ongoing theme of the contrast between faith as espoused by the Imperium and the Word Bearers, largely shown through Amatnim’s eyes, as well as some tantalising glimpses of a different age of the Imperium via Calder’s occasional recollections of his pre-stasis youth. Overall it’s a typically Reynolds sort of story, combining conventional Space Marine action and adventure with wry observational humour and satisfying storytelling. If it doesn’t quite conform to expectations of what a Space Marine Conquests novel called Apocalypse is going to offer, that actually makes for a more compelling story.
