From left to right: Euphrati Keeler, Ollanius Persson, Mersadie Olliton As they scramble to survive and shape the conflict in any way they can, the human elements evolve beautifully throughout the narrative, their mortal threads woven into the treacherous tapestry of the Heresy, some finding influence and shaping events more than they could have bargained for. From the Rembrancers – artists, journalists and orators assigned to the fleets of the Great Crusade – to the un-augmented human Imperial Army troops, page space is often dedicated to the most relatable characters in the series. Whilst the physical and spiritual battle between Gods, Demi-Gods, Angels, Demons and super-human Space Marines rages on, focus is also given to the human characters surrounding the conflict.
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The series often feels so addictive to read due to its masterful character development. There are explosions and blood & guts aplenty in the 31st Millennium, but these only serve to add gruesome flare to the brilliance of the storytelling and the scope of subject matter within the Horus Heresy, rather than define it. From science and religion to politics, social hierarchies, colonisation and familial relationships, as much thought is given to the reasons and motivations behind the conflict as there is to the conflict itself. Newcomers to the series will find that whilst set against a foreboding backdrop of war and violence, the novels manage to dip their heavily armored toes into many philosophical subjects. The longevity and lasting appeal of the series stem in part from its willingness to explore a broad spectrum of subject matter. Another well-known writer, Dan Abnett of Marvel, DC and 2000AD fame has contributed 6 novels, including the first title in the opening trilogy, ‘Horus Rising’. Graham McNeill, a Black Library veteran and the current narrative writer for Riot Games and League of Legends has contributed 8 novels to the series. Specific authors within the series have also written what could be considered candidates for any longest novel collection via Horus Heresy titles alone. The story and vision are linked, however, as one long narrative and tell a consistent story, rather than being individual, stand-alone pieces. It could be argued that due to its collaborative nature, the series should not be considered a contender for any longevity crown. Whilst this huge amount of material may sometimes feel a little daunting for new readers wanting to immerse themselves into a series, from the very first title, the atmosphere, excitement and intrigue is tangible and it doesn’t take long before the reader is swept up in the secrets, schemes and subtleties that foreshadow heresy. In total, these supplements push the combined total of publications well into the 200’s. That saga currently stands at 59 novels, which doesn’t include the vast amounts of original novellas, short stories, and audio dramas that supplement it.
The series differs from other major franchises in that it is penned by multiple authors, each contributing their work towards the saga. Many years later in 2006, the Black Library – the publishing arm of Games Workshop – decided to expand this short story into an ambitious novel series that hugely elaborated upon the original premise. The bare bones of heresy were assembled in 1987 as little more than a short back-story to add flavour to a Games Workshop campaign setting. Set 10,000 years before those events, the start of the series finds the Emperor at the height of his power, ushering in a golden age for mankind dubbed ‘ The Great Crusade ‘. The Horus Heresy foreshadows the dystopian, war-torn narrative of Warhammer 40,000, where the immortal Emperor of Mankind sits clinging to life as a mangled and broken corpse upon the Golden Throne of Terra (an archaic device powered by constant human sacrifice). It doesn’t register on most radars but manages to dwarf the aforementioned in terms of longevity and scale.
There is one series however, that is often overlooked, despite having multiple books frequently hit the New York Times bestseller list over the years. The above share the fact they are long-running narratives, describing beautiful and immersive worlds, steeped in lore and character development. Perhaps the collected high fantasy works of Tolkein or Robert Jordan’s epic Wheel of Time saga might spring to mind. If you were to contemplate the most prolific novel series of all time, you might consider the eccentric tales of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld or Stephen King’s Dark Tower multiverse. DISCLAIMER: This article details key plot points within the Horus Heresy and as such may contain spoilers. Starting life as an expansion of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the tale of the Horus Heresy has grown vastly since its inception in 1987.
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