Book Review // Mechanicum by Graham McNeil
Adventuring onto the sands of Mars and watching the Forgeworlds crumble to rebellion! The priesthood of Mars has always captured my imagination, and I have enjoyed many Graham McNeil novels over the years, so I am sure this will be a treat!
Book Details
Title: Mechanicum
Author: Graham McNeil
Publisher: Black Library
Type: Paperback
Page Count: 416
Fluff: As the flames of treachery spread throughout the Imperium, Horus plots to subvert or destroy all those who would stand against him.
On Mars, home world of the Mechanicum priesthood, the great manufactory-cities have long produced much of the weaponry required for the expeditionary fleets across the galaxy - making the world invaluable to whoever controls it in the coming war.
Now, the Warmaster's agents begin to stoke the fires of rebellion, turning the loyalist forges and the mighty Titan Legions against one another. And, with whispers spreading of an ancient terror lurking beneath the Red Planet's surface, the Dark Mechanicum rises...
Review
Let us start by saying Mechanicum is a stand-alone novel. It has no link to previous novels beyond the wider rebellion. As usual, McNeill writes a tale great at world-building, and we are treated to realistic characters with genuine depth.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the Mecanicum is playing both sides. While remaining "loyal" to the Imperium, they are shorting them of equipment while at the same time favouring the Warmaster's forces with all the new equipment. This is starting to cause a lot of friction between the different factions, and anger and aggression are rising. The tension keeps building until conflict finally happens.
I don't want to spoil too much, but we learn about the Dragon of Mars and a secret order that protects the truth. This was a different pace compared to the other novels, and though it doesn't contain many Space Marines, it definitely helps move the story on. I do hope we revisit the Red Planet once again.
Let me know your thoughts below.
