Space Marine

space marine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Raymond

the first 40000 book that i ever read and still read to this day. when the 40,000 universe was a lot darker and chaos and the Horus Heresy where not talked about by anyone, even space marine chapters. Giving a amazing look at how the Imperial Fists chapter gains new marines. and there survival from boys to demi-gods. There fights not just with there own inner deamons but with most of the iconic ememies of mankind. If there is only war in the far future then this book comes fully loaded ready to kill and destroy.

Can't wait to get mine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Eric

Even though I haven't read this yet, I'm picking it up for sure. I've scoured the internet for a copy that was less than $100, but could never find one. Now, I can get it for under $20. Thanks BL!

Space Marine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Nat

still got an old copy ofthis book . Still a great read

At last!

Rated 5 out of 5 by Nazaradine

So glad that the BL have taken the decision to make this available again, after such a long time of seemingly wishing it never existed! Scrimshawing, brain-eating, pain-worshipping brilliance - who knew the Fists were ever this interesting?! Lexandro rocks!

Great Book - Review based on original rather than didital copy.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Gordon

This is the first 40k Book that I ever read (back when I was 10!) and have re-read it plent of times. It still holds a special place in my heart due to being from a time when the Warhammer 40,000 universe was much darker and "adult" than the current incarnation. Ian Watson has some fantastic ideas and this book (as well has his others - see The Inquisiton Wars triology) is cramed with details. Yes there are some conflicts with the current lore, but if you dont mind these, it provides a fantastic tale of 3 boys life in the Astartes - their begingings, and in some cases their endings as well.

Space Marine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Leigh

I echo Raymond's comments. Is iconic 40k background and totally inspiring.

Space Marine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Bart

This was the book that was got me into 40k. You can SAY that little plastic and metal men and beasties represent a dark and forbidding future. I never BELIEVED until Watson wrote it. He wrote it intense, he wrote it full of pain, growth, misery, challenge, death and triumph. After this book, I believed.

been waiting for this re-release for a while now

Rated 5 out of 5 by periklis

Thanks for making this book available once again!

Insulting

Rated 5 out of 5 by Mark

"Although the temptation was great to rewrite significant portions of this book to make it conform to current background..." -I find it incredibly insulting to one of our greatest SF authors that GW would even consider a 'rewrite'. Let's face it, every single one of the current GW authors combined couldn't beat the literary talent from one of Watson's nostril hairs. It's a text worth reading: bleak, savage, depressing, terrifying, like 40K itself. But better.

Space Marine

Rated 3 out of 5 by Matt

I definitely enjoyed the insight in to an authors view of the 40k universe before is was properly established. I also enjoyed reading about the squats (1st time for me)and the story line. The things that put me off the book however were the references to flatulence and excretia, which smacked of daydreaming of a relatively early initiate into a Slaaneshi cult. I held the Imperial Fists in higher esteem and each time I came across one of those references it briefly knocked my attention out of the free-flowing narrative. Apart from that, it is well written and fun.

Interesting....

Rated 3 out of 5 by Christopher

Not bad. I was curious about how it would be seeing as it was printed before a lot of the background that is around now was created. I didn't like the author's apparent obsession with buts and excrement, but it was still a very interesting book. All three of the main characters have very flawed characters that make them interesting to read and I wasn't really expecting the ending. I've got to say I really liked Biff. He was awesome. I wasn't a big fan of Lex for most of the book, but I liked him at the end. It's not my favorite 40K book, but it's worth a read.

Just Ordered

Rated 5 out of 5 by Nickolas

Curious, this is a dead tree novel right? And not an eBook?

Epic and a shame

Rated 5 out of 5 by Colin

I was readig it years ago, and got about half way through it before my apartment burned down while i was in Germany for the Army. But im deffentally going to pick anyother copy up. Thanks BL

Old School

Rated 5 out of 5 by omar

Quality read, i remember getting a hold of this book back at boarding school, only problem was the las 40 pages were missing so.......Great to finaly have my own copy and be able to enjoy such a great novel. Would love a follow up though!!!

Wow

Rated 5 out of 5 by Nickolas

This book is truly a 40k classic. All the differences and details that separate this book from the current canon don't detract from the experience but add to it. This book is deeper and darker and more artfully well done than any other 40k book since it was written.

Unique, in every way.

Rated 5 out of 5 by luke

Amazing. There is some parallel universe where the GW hobby is still aimed at 18-30 year olds and they still turn out books like this. There was an aborted attempt at a graphic novelization of this that sadly never came to fruition. If only they could make a film version of this book...

An excellent read

Rated 5 out of 5 by Mike

This was the first W40k book I read and it got me into enjoying W40k as literature rather than pure gaming. It might not strictly conform to current background but it's still an excellent read.

had high Expectations

Rated 2 out of 5 by john

I had very high expectations when BL re-released this book. I played 40K from the start and still have the 1987 rule book. I got out of the hobby before this book was released and based on the high ratings, couldn't wait to see how good this book was. Was really disappointed, some of the descriptive in the book just went on and on and I couldn't get a grasp on the main characters, which leaves you not caring what happens to them. It was tough to finish the book and whilst I recognize that this book was a necessary step to get to where we are now, I'm so glad with what BL is publishing now.

Stunning

Rated 5 out of 5 by Kris

In my opinion the best of the Warhammer 40k novels. A book I can proudly recommend to all fans of Science Fiction literature, not just Warhammer 40k fans.

Do a rewrite

Rated 3 out of 5 by Inquisitor

I felt the same way reading this as I did trying to reread The Inquisitor War by Watson. I could not get through 1/3 of Draco the 2nd time 15 years later. In order to truly appreciate this, and other novels like it, you need to flip though the original 40k artwork in Rogue Trader. After that everything makes perfect sense. I wonder if Forge World will make a figure for the Carnivorous Sand Clam. If we are really lucky BL is working on a novel to chronicle the adventures of Captain Lowbroe and Battle brother Quiff.

One of the greatest !

Rated 5 out of 5 by Phoenix

Space Marine was the first Warhammer 40K book I ever read and probably one of the best. Written by mastermind Ian Watson the story tells an extremely violent tale that delivers on every aspect. The book takes you through all the adventures of a trio of young boys who become Imperials Fists and give an excellent insight of the chapter with incredibly great characters and ennemies. Anyways I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Warhammer 40K fan, let alone a science-fiction fan. Even at a 20$ price tag it is definitely one of the greatest masterpiece to come out of the Warhammer univers

All Over the Place

Rated 3 out of 5 by Erik

The first part of the book, where the boys are becoming Imperial Fists, was good. The very end was good. But the middle left something to be desired. There did not seem to be an overarching plot to this book. Instead, it seemed a collection of short stories about the same 3 characters, one of whom seemed to have no personality beyond "must defend Lex." The relationship between the boys seemed very forced. The Fists picked up several recruits about the same time, so why force these three to be together? Why not let them find their own friends from their "class?"

great book

Rated 5 out of 5 by Aaron

I was given the original 1993 edition by a co-worker and I couldn't put it down. The background of the 3 main characters from their hives on Necromunda through their advancement to Space Marine Scout and finally full fledged Space Marine had me the whole way through. Very interested to read a book written almost 20 years ago about the 40k universe.

Space Marine

Rated 5 out of 5 by Larry

This book opened up my mind to how a mortal being becomes a Space Marine. The first 90 or so pages were GREAT as the 3 "brothers" go through all the training and testing to become Space Marines of the Imperial Fists. Their first adventure as Scouts was AWSOME! I would recommend this book to anyone old or new to the world of Warhammer 40K. Non-stop action from start to finish....

"Fluff in a state of flux?"

Rated 5 out of 5 by Javier

Ha! The fluff is always in a state of flux! Look at the new Necrons. This book is just as good now as it was in 1993. Zoats, Slann, Squats, cannibal marines, spyrers, the pain-glove, the subtle sexual stuff... did I mention Zoats? I love Zoats. If you like it, go get Barrington J Bayley´s "Eye of Terror".

Tthe first of the fists

Rated 5 out of 5 by Andrew aka portarious

This is the first 40k i ever read, and it got me hooked into the universe. The portrayal,of thr imperial fists recruiting froma hive world and their subsequent training on the phalanx is engrossing. By the end of this book you are cheering for the young fists as they engage in battle. Also, you see the introduction of another chapter which some 20 years later takes a big step into 40k world. A must read

Outstanding SF

Rated 5 out of 5 by Pat

I gave my copy away to a 'friend' who I never saw again. I always assumed it was not reprinted because of some of the slightly dodgy subtexts, and am very pleased they have done so and not censored it. Can't wait to get my copy!