Schizophrenic’s Guide: 40k Novels

I, Dalton Lewis, am reading several novels set in the Warhammer 40k universe. I recently finished reading one, Storm of Iron, which was written by Graham McNeil. It was about the Iron Warriors, a group of Chaos Space Marines trying to take down the innocent Space Marines and their heroic space empire, the Imperium. I like both sides — I like to think of the Chaos marines as worshiping daemons because they like to worship someone they can meet and believe in and talk to. I like the idea of worshiping daemons who are not all bad.

In the novel the Iron Warriors show up to attack a planet defended by the Imperial Guard, aka the Astra Militarum, the normal dudes in the year 40,000 who fight ridiculously powered people with little lasguns and a lot of hope and faith. They are attacked by the Iron Warriors over and over, and many bases are overrun, and many people die on both sides. The story shows both sides as fairly sympathetic instead of having heroes stopping the mindless and nefarious villains. I appreciate the depth of the 40k universe in that any side has popularity and followers.

The villains face problems getting along and trusting each other, and of course the heroes face trouble convincing people to stay for an increasingly grim defense. A lone hero, Guardsman Hawke, is asked to scale a mountain for a secret mission with surprising results. The battle also involves a young slave girl try to rebel against a berserker and try to take his armor and position in the Chaos Space Marines.

All in all I like the 40k books. They aren’t the deepest of books in terms of literary significance, but they are well-written, deep and entertaining.

I like reading. I like the fact that reading is something deep and interesting. I write novels because i feel like i have some things to say about life and our reality.

My novels reflect who i am — a mentally ill man in america. I write about todays america and the race issues, sexual tensions, and gender politics we face today.

I just need to continue to show the world a piece of myself in my books. I am writing this novel, impressions of suburbia, about the lives of people in suburban america. I write all year long and sell books for three dollars. That is not much.

Thanks, and take care, friends.