Salvation's Reach plot *spoilers*

[ORKY ARD BOYZ]

Hey, there's something I don't quite understand about the ending of Salvation's Reach, when the the Imperials broadcast messages in blood pact combat code. Don't the Sons of Sek only have to lookat the Tanith to know it's all a ruse? I thought the point was there would be some left alive to tell the tale because the Guard didn't intend to destroy Reach completely.

I wish they fleshed out Sar Arf's character more. After Prospero Burns I was hoping for a similar treatment for the Scars, after the side comments about their battle craft in Little Horus in Age of Darkness. I understand the focus is on the Ghosts, but I have to admit the Space Marines were a big draw when I heard they were in the strike force.

[PaladinKnight62]

I'm not sure how I feel about the book, I kind of felt like it was just mostly a filler book like nothing too exciting happened in the Book at no point was I really caught off guard or surprised, (ghost go in, lots of ghost die, mission is still accomplished)I think I've just gotten used to him killing off named characters too, (I cried real tears when Cobrec died ) the space marines were a nice addition but they didn't do much for the story except show off their mad skillz.

overall I would rate it on the low end of the spectrum when it comes to Gaunts ghosts books.

[Dogface]

I'd echo what PaladinKnight62 said except that I thought it was good filler. It's worth a casual perusal and I had no problems with the novel. My favorite part was

the more in-depth look at Gaunt's career and how he may have been in the running for Warmaster

and my least favorite part was

Gaunt's son coming out of left field

.

[Sai-Lauren]

Don't the Sons of Sek only have to lookat the Tanith to know it's all a ruse?

And any bodies remaining - however, whilst troops can wear any uniforms, but from the Sons of Sek point of view, would Imperial troops really know Blood Pact codes?

Of course, if there's any survivors that can be interrogated, then the ruse goes completely.

I don't think Dorden's dead - meeting him again would rip Gaunt's heart out, especially if he has to mercy-kill him.

I kind of felt like it was just mostly a filler book like nothing too exciting happened in the Book at no point was I really caught off guard or surprised,

Agree, it's pretty much setting up the plot threads for the rest of this arc, and probably some future arcs.

Dogface, your first spoilered text was already pretty heavily covered in Blood Pact, and I've a feeling that's the real thread for this arc. The second one I felt was coming, but I hoped DA wouldn't do it - it's probably going to tie in with three of the other threads (the three closely related ones), and they'll all get sorted out in the last book of the arc.

And I think the Marines were characterised really well, they're not really social beings anymore, especially with normal humans, and having them aloof, arrogant and more often than not dislocated from the Tanith really helped play that up IMO.

For instance, Sar Arf wasn't being social, or even kind, when he was helping Merrt, he was making sure the mission had the highest chance of success.

[johnnyrumour]

The point of the code broadcast is that the Sons of Sek weren't the target, it was intended to antagonise the Sons and the Pact who were already having 'tension'.

Automated messages set to loop wouldn't have any identifiable 'source' as such, and a message in Blod Pact code going 'don't get so uppity' would rile the Sons up and regardless of any investigation incidents would begin to occur.

I thought that the whole thing was really well done. It felt like a critical part of an operation which, ultimately, wasn't of key importance but which could yield rich results.

Plus the 'breach' scene with the Caestus was ace