Dark Imperium (Novel)
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This article is about the novel; for the other page, see Dark Imperium (disambiguation). |
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| Author | Guy Haley | |
| Performer | John Banks | |
| Publisher | Black Library | |
| Series | Dark Imperium | |
| Followed by | Dark Imperium: Plague War | |
| Released | June 2017 | |
| Pages | 432 | |
| Length | 12 hours 45 minutes | |
Dark Imperium is a novel by Black Library Publishing, covering the events after the Gathering Storm series.
Story Description
Fell times have come to the galaxy. Cadia has fallen, destroyed by the onslaught of Chaos. A Great Rift in the warp has opened and from its depths spew daemons and the horrors of Old Night. But all hope is not lost... A hero, long absent, has returned and with him comes the wrath of the Ultramarines reborn. Roboute Guilliman has arisen to lead the Imperium out of darkness on a crusade the likes of which has not been seen since the fabled days of the Emperor. But never before have the forces of Ruin amassed in such numbers, and nowhere is safe from despoliation. From the dreaded Scourge Stars come the hordes of the Plaguefather, Lord Nurgle, and their pustulent eye is fixed on Macragge. As the Indomitus Crusade draws to an end, Guilliman races to Ultramar and a confrontation with the Death Guard.
Second Edition
A second edition of the Novel was released in 2021 which included numerous changes to the original novel, including the names of minor characters. Moreover, the chronology was changed as that instead of taking place over 100 years after the commencement of the Indomitus Crusade, only 12 years have passed.[4]
Changes
A non-exhaustive list of changes from the 1st to 2nd edition:
- The chapters in the first edition are all given specific names like "Greyshield" and "Plaguebringer"[5] these are all dropped in the second edition.[6]
- Changing of specific words and phrasings, such as "Cathedral" in 1st edition[5b] to "Cathedrum" in the 2nd[5c] or "Heretic Astartes" in the 1st[6c] to "Traitor Astartes" in the 2nd.[5c]
- Units of measurement are given in the Metric System in the 1st edition rather than Imperial Units in the 2nd.[5]
- The Emperor of Mankind is described in 1st edition as having "the power of a god"[5a], whereas in the 2nd edition he is described as "god-like".[6a]
- The first edition of the novel makes several explicit references to it being M41[5a] with Chapter Two explicitly being titled "The 41st Millennium"[5i]; these are all either removed or changed to refer to the "Era Indomitus".[6a]
"A small mercy, in Guilliman’s opinion, was that the chamber was free of the gothic extravagance that encrusted everything else in the 41st millennium"
- In the 1st edition of the novel, Roboute wields the Gladius Incandor against Fulgrim in the Battle of Thessala[5b] and is only given the Emperor's Sword by the Captain General of the Custodes (presumably Trajann Valoris) after his awakening.[5m] In the 2nd edition, the Emperor's Sword was given to him by an unspecified Captain General at an as yet unspecified time during The Scouring.[6d]
- In the 1st edition Roboute describes the galaxy as "worse than ever before."[5c] This is removed in the 2nd edition.[6c]
- In the 1st edition, Roboute's private chambers aboard the Macragge's Honour are described as "practically untouched" between his mortal wounding and return.[5c] This is removed in the 2nd edition.[6c]
- In the 1st edition, Cato Sicarius is described as bearing the easy swagger of a master swordsman.[5c] In the 2nd edition, he is described as formerly having this, as the novel now takes place after Cato's experiences being lost in the warp (as depicted in the novel Knights of Macragge).[6c]
- In the 1st edition of the novel, Tullius Varens comes from Prandium II[5e] and he and trooper Bolus serve in the Prandium 30th Ultramar Auxilia Regiment.[5d] In the 2nd edition of the novel, he comes from Talassar[6f] and he and trooper Bolus now serve in the Talassar 30th Ultramar Auxilia Regiment.[6e]
- Numerous changes in the Battle of Raukos including:
- Shipmaster Brahe[5f] has been replaced by Fleetmaster Isaish Khestrin.[6g]
- A ship called the New Dawn[5f] is replaced by Battle Group Cerastus.[6g]
- A general upscaling of the size of the battle, for example "sub-fleets"[5f] are changed to "battlegroups".[6g]
- After the battle, in the 1st edition Uriel Ventris is there in representation of Marneus Calgar.[5j] In the second edition, he represents Severus Agemman instead.[6i]
- In the first edition of the novel, Mathieu hears that there were twenty primarchs and accepts this without question.[5g] In the second edition of the novel, Mathieu questions this, saying there were only eighteen (Roboute notes that most people of the era would not have heard of the Lost Primarchs).[6h]
- Significant changes surrounding Decimus Androdinus Felix including:
- He is described as using Aggressor Squad armour in the 1st edition[5k] and this is changed to "battleplate" in the 2nd edition.[6k]
- Mentions in the 1st edition that Roboute Guilliman had several Equerries prior to Felix. These went "went on to do great deeds" prior to his appointment.[5k] Their mention is dropped in the 2nd edition.[6l]
- Mentions that Calgar was not yet aware that Felix was promoted as the 11th Captain of the Ultramarines[5l] are removed in the 2nd edition.[6l]
New additions in the 2nd version not present in the 1st:
- The existence of the Officio Logisticarum embedded in Ultramar's government.[6c]
- Specific mention that the Indomitus Crusade has not yet entered Imperium Nihilus, thus the trilogy taking place prior to the Devastation of Baal.[6a]
- The Cawl Inferior present on the Macragge's Honour makes a reference to the Pariah Nexus.[6j]
- Mentions that Calgar had been away from Ultramar for too long, and being called back by Roboute, referencing his involvement in the War of Beasts on Vigilus.[6m][6n]
- Mentions of Fabian Guelphrain are added to a council meeting in Fortress of Hera.[6n]
- In the first edition of the novel, when Roboute recalls his meeting with the Emperor, he thinks that "something was different about Him. Something was very wrong."[6o]
See also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community
- 2: Dark Imperium on Black Library
- 3: Dark Imperium 2nd Edition on Black Library
- 4: The Warhammer Preview Online – Black Library (posted 12/05/2020), Interview with Guy Haley (last accessed 12/5/2020)
- 5: Dark Imperium (Novel) (2017 Epub Version)
- 6:Dark Imperium (Novel) (2021 E-version)
