The Emperor's Gift: Discussion

[Ragnarfan_12]

gotta say this was one aamazing book i wasnt a huge grey knights fan and i bought it because the space wolves were in it but i really enjoyed the book the only part i dont get is that if the grey knights cant be corrupted at all dosent this make the other grey knight series with alaric completley nonexistent because he gets possed by the demon in the 3rd novel?

[Hrogoff the Destructor]

gotta say this was one aamazing book i wasnt a huge grey knights fan and i bought it because the space wolves were in it but i really enjoyed the book the only part i dont get is that if the grey knights cant be corrupted at all dosent this make the other grey knight series with alaric completley nonexistent because he gets possed by the demon in the 3rd novel?

Being corrupted and being possessed are two different things.

[Ragnarfan_12]

but how can you be ppossed without a hint of corruption in you?

[stormblade]

Yes, even innanimate objects get possesed and they can't be corrupted. (I mean they can but that's just being filled with chaos energy)

[Lupe]

A better example would be Eldar Harlequins, who must allow themselves to be possessed by a daemon and then banish him, in order to become immune to further corruption. As part of their initiation ritual...

[malika]

Huh? Where did you get that bit from?

[Xisor]

I think Lupe's confusing Harlequin's odd binding with/protection from Cegorach with that of the Illuminati: they're illuminated by their immunity and perception that derives from surviving/fighting-off a daemonic possession. E.g. being possessed and getting rid of it produces someone worthy of joining the ranks of the Illuminati, those who've seen and fought (and won) against Chaos.

It's no coincidence it's a speculation for what the Exorcists do.

[Lupe]

A better example would be Eldar Harlequins, who must allow themselves to be possessed by a daemon and then banish him, in order to become immune to further corruption. As part of their initiation ritual...

@%^&!, what the Hell did I post?

Yeah, Xisor's got it right there. I really, really need to stop logging on to Warseer after 10 straight hours at the pub...

[Ozybonza]

Just finished this yesterday - a great read!

Can anyone who has read both this and the Grey Knights Omnibus give a comparison? Is it worth going back to read those older books, or will they leave me disapointed with Emperor's gift just being way better?

[shadowhawk2008]

Ben Counter's style isn't for everybody unfortunately. Hate to say it but he doesn't compare well to Aaron in terms of totally wowing you off the pages. For me, Ben is somebody who gets the freaky, weirdy, and often (somewhat) cthulhu-ish nature of Chaos. His prose can actually mess with your head, Hammer of Daemons being a prime example of this. I'd certainly recommend the novels because I enjoyed them, but having read Emperor's Gift first, you won't like them anywhere near as much.

[stormblade]

Ben Counter's style (...)

I've read only the one with dark mechanicum and

I think a computer actually becomes a deamon prince in it

So yeah, I guess it has one or two interesting tidbits.

[Private_SeeD]

I finished this book a couple of days ago and I loved it. Was surprised in a good way the banter between the GK's and the Inquisitor's henchman. Enjoyed it so much I'm tempted to buy a box of GK's and make my own squad castian and Inquisitor Jarlsdottyr and her henchman.

[shadowhawk2008]

I've read only the one with dark mechanicum and

I think a computer actually becomes a deamon prince in it

So yeah, I guess it has one or two interesting tidbits.

The Machine Spirit of a Titan actually, a previously lost design. It spent so much time in the warp - 1000 years - that it was thoroughly corrupted and Alaric convinces it that it is a daemonic thing.

[Xisor]

The Machine Spirit of a Titan actually, a previously lost design. It spent so much time in the warp - 1000 years - that it was thoroughly corrupted and Alaric convinces it that it is a daemonic thing.

Intriguing. It's been a while since I read it and I didn't examine too closely, but my understanding of it was: the Castigator became self-aware, sentient and a fully-blown Abominable Intelligence, which sprouted its own soul and then corrupted its own abominable/wrong/awful soul, using its prominence to corrupt everything else around it. It was the perpetrator, rather than the victim.

[khirsath]

Intriguing. It's been a while since I read it and I didn't examine too closely, but my understanding of it was: the Castigator became self-aware, sentient and a fully-blown Abominable Intelligence, which sprouted its own soul and then corrupted its own abominable/wrong/awful soul, using its prominence to corrupt everything else around it. It was the perpetrator, rather than the victim.

Xisor, that was my take of the events as well. Either way it shows that there are good reasons why AI are so discouraged.