Caiaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium

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Caiaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium; Warhammer 40K Series
Topic Started: May 26 2007, 12:19 AM (291 Views)
Specialist290	May 26 2007, 12:19 AM Post #1
Admin-type Guy Posts: 8,750 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: October 1, 2005	Well, it finally happened: I decided that I was tired of hearing other people talk about this whole "Warhammer 40,000" genre and decided to check out one of the books myself. I was originally going to go for one of the "Gaunt's Ghosts" books, but I couldn't find the first one in the series, and I like to read them in order. Therefore, I just checked the rest of the Warhammer 40K books until I came upon one that particularly interested me. Anyway, I'm really enjoying the book so far, although I've only read a very small portion of it. It's written in a style I particularly enjoy--a first-person narrative by a guy w/ a dark, dry, ironic sense of humor So, who else has read this thing, or any of the books / short stories that originally composed it? (It's technically an "anthology" of existing works rather than a book in and of itself.)
	AK-47? Check Fedora? Check Fur coat? Check Sunglasses? Check Good to go...


Lachryma	May 26 2007, 02:22 AM Post #2
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	Actually, there's a series of books about Ciaphas, the first one is called 'For the Emperor'. The collection of short stories are probably gathered from Inferno magazine. Also, you have to read 'Gaunt's Ghosts' in order, otherwise it'd really, really, really suck and make no sense. He builds up his characters so well that jumping in midway wouldn't draw you in, and you wouldn't feel sad if/when said characters/people die. Anyway, the Ciaphas books are really funny...one of the best lines involves him talking about liking being in the artillery, while his other artillery friend is all about close combat: "As usual, he seemed to be relishing the prospect of combat, which is easy to do when you're kilometers behind the front lines chucking shells into the distance, but not so much fun when you're facing an enemy close enough to spit at you. And if that's all they got in mind think yourself lucky, unless they're one of those Emperor-forsaken xenos that come equipped with venom sacks." (For the Emporer, pg. 71)
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Specialist290	May 26 2007, 02:29 AM Post #3
Admin-type Guy Posts: 8,750 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: October 1, 2005	Actually, "For the Emperor" is in fact one of the three books that's included in the "Hero of the Imperium" volume, and the story I happen to be working on right now. Also, my favorite quote (so far) is actually a two-parter--half main text, half footnote. The first part is: Quote: Bribery and threats are always popular, but generally to be avoided, especially if you're likely to attract inquisitorial attention as they're better at both and tend to resent other people resorting to their methods. And the footnote (which makes the whole thing funny): Quote: This is, of course, entirely untrue. As His Divine Majesty's faithful servants, we're most definitely above such petty emotions as resentment. Classic
	AK-47? Check Fedora? Check Fur coat? Check Sunglasses? Check Good to go...


Lachryma	May 26 2007, 02:37 AM Post #4
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	That's cuz the narrator or whatever is that awesome Inquisition lady...Vail, right? She's so cool... Anyway, that series is the only light-hearted one in WH40K...though Gaunt's Ghosts has some hilarious moments...there's one involving an elaborate betting scheme to rip off soldiers, and another involving that old quote about keeping your enemies close and all that... Anyway, most of WH40k are all grim and stuff.
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Specialist290	May 26 2007, 02:42 AM Post #5
Admin-type Guy Posts: 8,750 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: October 1, 2005	Yeah, from looking at the descriptions (and some of the text) of the others I saw, that was the general impression I got of the genre. Still, I've read some pretty intense game fanfics in my time, and I might recommend one of them to you if I can dig it up (via PM; don't want to spam this thread up w/ links to unrelated things). And yes, it's Amberley Vail, or at least that's the name from the intro.
	AK-47? Check Fedora? Check Fur coat? Check Sunglasses? Check Good to go...


Lachryma	May 26 2007, 02:50 AM Post #6
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	Well, I was just warning you, in case you thought WH40K was all roses and one-liners... Still, I hope you get into 'em.
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 26 2007, 09:59 AM Post #7
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	The Ciaphas Cain novels are truely some of the best 40k fiction out there. They're definitely the most humorous and I love the little footnotes. I'd say that GG is the only series that's better than the Cain series.
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Lachryma	May 26 2007, 04:57 PM Post #8
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	'Eisenhorn' and the Soul Drinkers stuff are both pretty cool. You could read Eisenhorn as stupid, gory scik-fi, or you can read it as a Nietzsche-esque series about bewaring of turning into a monster when you fight monsters...watching Inquisitor Eisenhorn began to rationalize using...things that he would have burned in the first book is absolutely intriguing. And the Soul Drinkers bring a whole new light to the question of how oppressive the Imperium is...
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 26 2007, 05:21 PM Post #9
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	Yeah, the soul drinkers series is friggin crazy! I mean, how is there anyone left in the chapter? They're constantly taking losses and yet they always have more guys
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Lachryma	May 26 2007, 05:48 PM Post #10
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	I think they are down to just a few hundred now, after that stupid uprising or whatever. It's the magic of the geneseed! Anyway, Spec should check them out too.
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 26 2007, 09:01 PM Post #11
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	I'm a Tau guy 'cause they're really the only side in 40k besides maybe the eldar that I can morally support... too bad they've only been featured in like 4 books.
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Lachryma	May 27 2007, 12:34 AM Post #12
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	I don't like the Tau cuz they can't take Chaos. I like the Imperium, for they are just like us. And they let woman fight.
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 27 2007, 11:38 AM Post #13
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	Lachryma May 26 2007, 11:34 PM I don't like the Tau cuz they can't take Chaos. I like the Imperium, for they are just like us. And they let woman fight. Hell, they make kids fight, you turn like 16 I think it was on cadia and you're conscripted.
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Lachryma	May 27 2007, 07:07 PM Post #14
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	Cadia is insane. They have live firing exercises with their Youth Armies, civilian fashion in the cities is urban camo, they built said cities as confusing as possible...
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 27 2007, 09:24 PM Post #15
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	Yeah, that'd suck. The main reason I like Tau though is that they're the only race who's ideology is somewhat comparable to my morals and the fact that they aren't psychic makes them all the better due to their relative incorruptability. I like humans too it's just that they're being ruled by a facist/communist government who has a worse civil rights record than China and seems to be in a state of sluggish decay. Basically: Tau=optimistic and Imperium=depressing
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Specialist290	May 27 2007, 09:50 PM Post #16
Admin-type Guy Posts: 8,750 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: October 1, 2005	I kinda noticed that as well from what I read. Obviously any political system that has political commissars appointed to "oversee" military operations and that runs an Inquisition of any kind falls under immediate suspicion. The xenophobia, unflinching (and literally religious) devotion to the Emperor, and the supreme belief in the righteousness of the human cause pretty much point straight to indoctrination, and the military's willingness to stand by and allow civilians (and citizens of the Imperium, no less) to be destroyed by an opposing empire's military because it wouldn't be "politically expedient" to interfere says quite a bit about their priorities. Even behind the humor in the Ciaphas Cain series, I'm finding a lot that strikes me as quite amiss about the Imperium. ...And, before I forget them, I might as well say something about the "historical" inserts between chapters, too. I know that some of those are a bit overdone for the added humorous effect, but the very fact that a work which so obviously tries to present the "servants of the Imperium" as blameless and its enemies as utterly loathsome and honorless is allowed to be called "An Impartial Account" is a pretty good indicator of the general state of affairs as far as censorship goes.
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Lachryma	May 28 2007, 12:32 AM Post #17
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	Bob 121 May 27 2007, 08:24 PM Basically: Tau=optimistic and Imperium=depressing Um...well, the eldar are even more depressing! Anyway, Spec, the Inquisition exists because no one else can deal with a galaxy of hate like they do. And the commissars are around to shoot anyone that, you know, tries to eat their comrades because of Chaos-induced madness or whatever. In essence, the Imperium has such serious feth to deal with that it has to clamp down. But yes, it does seem stagnant and horrible. You do seem some hope occasionally, like with Crusades and stuff...
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


Bob 121	May 28 2007, 12:47 AM Post #18
Librarium Adept Posts: 837 Group: Members Member #16 Joined: October 16, 2005	Don't get me wrong, I do realize that most of that stuff is out of necessity like the Inquisition and stuff but the amount of in-fighting between the Imperial Guard alone is a serious cause for alarm as well as the horrendous lack of organization with the Adeptus Munitorum. I mean, entire regiments are forgotten after operations for sometimes decades at a time!
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Specialist290	May 28 2007, 12:53 AM Post #19
Admin-type Guy Posts: 8,750 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: October 1, 2005	Actually, on further reflection, it kinda sounds like the late Roman Empire, especially w/ the whole "infighting in the military" thing going on.
	AK-47? Check Fedora? Check Fur coat? Check Sunglasses? Check Good to go...


Lachryma	May 28 2007, 01:55 AM Post #20
The Czarina Posts: 571 Group: Members Member #133 Joined: March 7, 2007	There are also many similarities to the Dark Ages or early Medieval times. From the extensive use of close combat weapons to the high value of faith to the lack of interest in technology (for the most part), it certainly bears a lot of similarity to Ye Olde Days. But the late Roman Empire analogy works too. Oh, and bob, the Tau aren't all squeaky clean either. There was some renegade commanders and infighting amongst them in the second Last Chancers book...which is a seriously fethed series, I might add.
	"Let them shoot on the spot every tenth man guilty of idleness." --Lenin


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