Review of Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter

Galaxy in Flames is my third step into the MASSIVE universe of Warhammer fiction. (Is there a bigger universe?) The first two books in the Horus Heresy series (Horus Rising and False Gods) were shocking surprises for this jaded reader. I'd never encountered franchise fiction of that quality. But a series penned by multiple authors seems to be innately susceptible to dips in quality. Let's see how the third Heresy book penned by a third author, Galaxy in Flames (2006) by Ben Counter, pans out.

As False Gods did for Horus Rising, so too does Galaxy in Flames pick up in the aftermath of its predecessor. Having made a miraculous recovery from being tainted by chaos, Horus is riding high on the power and admiration of his Luna Wolves, now christened the Sons of Horus. A rebellion is brewing on the planet Isstvan III, a rebellion that Horus decides is the perfect place to establish dominance and start a Sons of Horus campaign. Bringing together some of the most violent Imperials the universe knows—Word Eaters, primarchs, the Death Guard, and Emperor's Children, they bring a serious fight to the planet. Trouble is, Horus has much more in plan for Isstvan III.

Galaxy in Flames, as the title advertizes, is big screen space marine battles. Two-thirds+ of the book is utter destruction. An entire planet is turned upside down, alliances are dropped and re-forged, and major characters die. It's a bloodbath of epic scale. Counter perhaps does not give these two-thirds the ups and downs it needed to avoid monotony, but the events which do transpire, from big to small, keep the eye glued to the page as the next step in Horus' treachery plays out.

In that vein, Counter writes solid prose that carries the story in relatively (enough) consistent form. Abnett and McNeil remain the better writers technique-wise, but Counter holds his own. There is not a massive dip in quality, just a slight one. Nobody will be putting the book down, say, in the same way they might look askance at Ian Watson's fevre dream stylings of Space Marine.

In the end, there is not much more to say about Galaxy in Flames without getting deeper into plot. The book carries the series forward positively, having covered a major event in the timeline while setting up the next book. I prefer Abnett and McNeil's style and technique over Counter's, but they are close enough that many readers will not notice. In terms of action and major character events, it's hard to beat Galaxy in Flames. It's napalm in a bottle. For me personally, I'm afraid the book pushed me over the edge. I may now be in the Horus Heresy for the long haul... The hook has been set.