Tallarn (45) (The Horus Heresy)

The single most engrossing Horus Heresy book I have read (and I have read many). Not only do we finally get a look at one of the single most iconic battles of the HH, but French does a phenomenal job of showcasing the determination and dread weighing on both the Iron Warriors and the Imperial Army soldiers, as they battle across the most bleak and ruined landscape in the 31st Millennium. A fitting homage to the futility and morbid allure of total war. And tanks. A planet full of tanks is as good as it gets!

This volume titled « Tallarn » is essentially made up of two already released short stories (Executioner and Ironclad) with a couple of additional stories (Witness and Siren) added to it. I am among those who had not read the previously released short stories. Even if I had, however, I do appreciate that bringing all four pieces together makes sense, especially since they are somewhat related and linked to each other. Regarding the stories and context themselves, this is about a massive invasion by the Traitor Legion of the Iron Warriors, specialists in siege and heavy armour warfare, against the strategic world and supply base of Tallarn, at times presented as one of the gates to Terra. In a variation of the attack against Calth, the Iron Warriors make use of biological warfare on a planet-wide scale, killing the whole world in an attempt to eradicate resistance as quickly and comprehensively as possible. However, the loyalist imperial forces put up a fierce resistance with many taking refuge in huge fortified underground complexes from which their heavy armoured units – the only ones which can still wage war on the planet and its poisoned and acid atmosphere – wage war brutal and merciless war against each other. However, the Iron Warriors and their Primarch have another reason from seeking to conquer the planet whatever it takes, a reason that they have not shared with Horus the Warmaster and that the spies of the Alpha Legion are keen to learn about even as they help them win the planet. However, while you will be treated to quite a few covert and subversive operations of the Alpha Legion, you will also read about Iaeo from Clade Vanus, an imperial assassin cut off from her own command, also infiltrated as part of the imperial forces and waging a secret and deadly war against the Alpha Legion cells that she is tasked to dismantle with maximum prejudice, largely by waging cyberwarfare which happens to be her specialty. So, what you essentially get with this collection is a story of total warfare, in the void and Tallart system and the Imperials and Iron Warriors both pour in increasingly resources to hold or reconquer lost ground, on the poisoned ground itself, as armies of machines of all sorts struggle against each other, but also underground and out of plain sight, where the secret war between spies, assassins and kill teams takes place. A great read worth four strong stars.

Awesome book. Highly detailed read. One of the few books in the Heresy thus far that gives an in-depth look at forces outside of the Astartes. Enormous battles fought between Titans and numerous tanks. Keep the wiki handy if you're unfamiliar with many of the different tank variations (Fellblade, Shadow Sword, Baneblade, Stormlord, etc).

A really strong collection of 3 grim stories of war on a dead world. Especially enjoy the activities of an Imperial assassin, as well as the WW1 style tanks.

Good reasons for why so many heretic forces were at lesser numbers for the actual siege

Good book

So many sub plots to keep up with but well told and some great twists. Well worth reading.

Great

Good read

Great story and timelines

A fan of the whole 40K Horus heresy story line I have found this a excellent chapter. It gives you a real idea of the scale of Imperial warfare and the human cost of the war.