| Title | : | The Last Council (Black Library Advent Calendar 2018 #12) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1780307799 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781780307794 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 28 |
| Publication | : | First published December 12, 2018 |
Advent Calendar 2018: Day Twelve
As the Traitor fleet nears Terra, the Council that rules the Imperium must be disbanded so the defence of thr Throneworld can come first – but some will not reliquish power easily…
READ IT BECAUSE
It's a look at how the power of the Imperium was divided in the days before the Siege of Terra, and hints at how the fate of the post-Heresy Imperium would be decided.
THE STORY
As the Great Crusade came to a close, the power that had been vested in the Emperor and his War Council, made up of primarchs and generals, was transferred to civilian authorities – the great Council of Terra. Now, as the Warmaster and his armies approach the Throneworld, it is time for that council to be dissolved and the warriors to once again take command as the eve of battle looms. But no one gives up power easily, and even an assemblage of three primarchs may find trouble waiting…
The Last Council (Black Library Advent Calendar 2018 #12) Reviews
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May 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XVIII Omnissiah II End of Empires (
https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy series and extras.
I listened to the fantastic amateur narratioj of Rovac Reads (
https://youtu.be/-Cw-r0o092w?si=rLR-g...)
This is a fascinating story that reminds me of The Last Church by Graham McNeill in that it is a story which holds up the mirror and admittance of hypocrisy and falsehood at the very core of the Imperium, as the characters and events within hold up or turn away from the mirror themselves, even as they attempt to grasp onto something noble.
Malcador convenes the Council of Terra for the last time to discuss, among other things how to go about moving refugees, both for their own safety and to allow for further defences and preparations for the coming siege, and reminisces about other times of great import in the council chambers...
I don't know if it's the ADHD or whatever, but there's something about a short story or novella with a relatively slow start that just builds and suddenly drops bombs on you that, without fail, leave me with the 'Oh, well. This is just going to be one of those, I supp...OH HELL YEAH!' feeling and it's one of the few things I can really appreciate about my addled brain.
It's hard to really discuss this without getting into spoilers as best I can, but this might be a story to avoid anything of if you are worried about that.
There's so much going on here, from the ancient, wondrous table that no artificer could remove an imperfection left by a colossal trauma that is as much a metaphor for the man who sits at its head as it is for ideal of the Imperium, to the confirmation of a significant reveal that was concealed in plain sight in a previous story, though I can't remember exactly which one.
There's the callousness of the, at least not significantly, unaugmented 'base' humans of the council, the alacrity and absoluteness with which authority creates a gulf between people that inconvenience compounds, which in turn reflects the superiority shown by many transhumans, particularly Astartes and Primarchs, shown in the loud, violent half of its apotheosis in Horus, as the absense of the Emperor in numerous ways throughout the story of the Imperium nonetheless represents the silent contempt for untold lives taken by his machinations and decrees--ADB really brings home the reality and weight of the psychic tribute in The Master of Mankind. The Imperium and council also cannot but be seen as the embodiment of banality of evil and the real world comparison. A friend on mine didn't call 40K 'Space Nazi Yhatzee' for no reason.
I can never put my finger on Malcador and have always hated him, but I'm not ready for First Lord of the Imperium, also by Goulding, which came out of left field and destroyed me the firs trine I heard it. Seeing him named and given context and a past almost says less about him than the way he believes, or hopes, that the Imperium and him can ultimately be redeemed, despite the sins of the past. He's just such a fascinating character and Goulding brings something special out of him that glimmer here, but really shines in First Lord.
Seeing Horus in the past as such a figure of uncontrolled violence and superiority raises even more questions about the Emperor, the Imperium, and the choices involved. There's no way Malcador, if not the Emperor, could have seen him becoming Warmaster ending in anything but some kind of disaster. I still don't know anything, but I'm cooking a possibility of a theory that one aspect of the Imperium that the Emperor may not have told anyone and possibly only having been a back up plan, but it seems like there is a possibility that the whole Imperium is an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine to bring about the Acuity... But I'm definitely in the gold foil hat territory there...
I just love these vignettes and flashbacks that add colour and detail, while maintaining and only growing the inscrutability of the Emperor, Malcador, and the Imperium. It's seriously impressive the way the Horus Heresy and authors like Goulding toe that line of, for want of a better word, humaninsing these unfathomable things, while keeljng the metaphysical mythological metaphorical mayhem of it all, and I love that!
I haven't read a lot of Goulding, but what I have I have thoroughly enjoyed and need to seek out more! As an editor for the Horus Heresy Series she is absolutely steeped in it and *gets* it, all of which is absolutely on display here.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (
www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 38 Horus Heresy novels (including 1 repeat and 4 anthologies), 22 novellas (including 2 repeats), 121 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats, but not including a number of additional repeats for clarity), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, All 17 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, 2 Characters novels, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and 1 short story...this run, as well as writing 1 short story myself (
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t...). I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.} -
As High Lords posture and bicker during the final Council of Terra, Malcador finds himself dwelling on the purpose of the Council and his role as Regent. While the debate continues, the Sigillite looks to both the past and future, his mind occupied by Horus of course, and also by buried secrets and unpalatable truths.
A little less mournful than First Lord of the Imperium, this nonetheless feels like a companion piece to that story. Goulding drops even more juicy snippets of lore this time around, once again tinged with just enough ambiguity to make you wonder, all mingled in with some incredibly topical subjects for debate.
Read the full review at
https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/12/... -
An excellent short story.
This story offers new information and fresh insights into several characters as well as new background lore regarding Horus, Malcador the Sigillite and the missing Primarchs. A well written tale that shows both Malcador and the High Lords of Terra in an unusually humanitarian way. Recommended! -
Read as part of Advent Calendar 2018.
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A very good story that strikes a balance between tantalizing lore-laden clashes of demi-gods and a boardroom drama about what makes us human.
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This short story is another of the Siege of Terra preludes and focuses on Malcador the Sigillite in the days before the Traitors enter the Sol System. This was a very interesting story that focuses on Malcador’s character and gives a little information about his past, as well as giving some hints about one of the missing Primarchs. There isn’t really any action in the story but the argument between the Sigillite and Horus in the flashback was very entertaining. As well as Malcador, the story also does a good job of portraying Jaghatai Khan. Overall, this was an entertaining story for those who like character and lore over action, and I enjoyed it very much.
