The Damnation of Pythos cover art

The Damnation of Pythos

The Horus Heresy, Book 30

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The Damnation of Pythos

By: David Annandale
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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About this listen

In the aftermath of the Dropsite Massacre at Isstvan V, a battered and bloodied force of Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Salamanders regroups on a seemingly insignificant death world.

Fending off attacks from all manner of monstrous creatures, the fractious allies find hope in the form of human refugees fleeing from the growing war and cast adrift upon the tides of the warp. But even as the Space Marines carve out a sanctuary for them in the jungles of Pythos, a darkness gathers that threatens to consume them all.

©2014 Games Workshop Limited (P)2014 Games Workshop Limited Fiction Science Fiction
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As grim dark as it gets, a nice reminder that not every story has a happy ending. Also the emperors children are still degenerates.

The FLESH IS WEAK.

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Iron hands just keep getting hit, read if you want to get a bit of info on ruinstorm otherwise theres not much point but it's still a decent book.

They go to Australia

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I'm starting an iron hands army after this one.
there is no weakness when there is no flesh.

damnation

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I was hesitant to get this one based on others reviews but thought it would still be worthwhile and I was happy to be right

Much better then I thought

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I love WH40K and the Horus Heresy series, but I must admit, to my lasting shame, that I couldn't finish this one. Conflict or enmity between characters seemed pretty flimsy, and there's a lot of drawn out combat sequences in a story that ultimately doesn't seem to go anywhere fast. Fortunately it doesn't comprise part of the overarching Heresy story and so can be safely skipped over. Disappointing overall.

Not one of the best

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Great novel and content and Jonathan Keeble is one of the best narrators in the business.

Excellent

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There's a big gap between interpersonal drama and conflict between well-formed characters, and emo-poetry grade teen angst. This novel falls far too much towards the latter. Several chapters in, I found myself just not caring about what happens to any character. The continued reference to self-loathing and shame and closing regrets in pits of despair... you get the idea... had me disengaged from the story.
By the time dinosaurs started showing up, I was rooting for the lizards. I actually took a little glee in that scene, but after, lost interest.
This is far from Keeble at his finest. Given his writing on an average day is spectacular, the book still stands up against some of what passes for sci-fi action-adventure on Amazon. But it is a miss for me.
The performance is up to the regular Black Library stanard; world-class.
Fans of the HH will still a kick from the book.

Emo Space Marines vs Dinosaurs

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I saw an earlier negative review that I really have to disagree with. yes, they are a bit dramatic in their sorrow and it's true that you don't really get too attached to any character enough to care about them.
however, it is exciting. it's a great story that had me audibly gasping at points. there's also points that get you really up and about in some kind of sympathetic glory. what I really loved about it was how it goes into the life of the servs, not JUST the space marines. it's a great story of the common human just as much as its a epic on the deeds of space marines. I've got through every HH book before this one so far and it will easy be in my top 15 at least, if not; top 10.
might have to give it a bit. I wouldn't say it drags at the start but the tail end of the story is *chefs kiss* 🤌

HOWEVER, it is indeed one that can be skipped if you're selectively going though the HH.

Filler but surprisingly great. iron hands must.

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Whilst I enjoyed this audiobook it left me feeling perplexed. Other than having some survivors from Istvan 5 it has little to do with the Heresy series so far. Without an ending spoiler of what happens I feel a book written in this way was not needed. A short story would've sufficed. In any case it is fairly well written and narrated though it all felt pointless. I feel that some important parts were glazed over whilst other mundane parts given too much time. I wanted to like this book and feel its value; but I just didn't. I'm listening to the entire series in chronological order and this is one of my least favorite to date unfortunately. Even the amazing Jonathan Keeble couldn't save this one.
Maybe I'm being over critical as some of the other books are just so good.

An optional listen

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One of the weaker books in the series. Keeble does a great job as always.

Could be better

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