Soul Drinkers - Ben Counter

As the title says, this thread is about Ben Counter's other series, "Soul Drinkers" which follows the tales of a renegade space marine chapter that doesn't choose to side with Chaos. Basically their completely on their own, looking for a piece of the galaxy that they can call theirs.

Ben Counter, as we know has an interesting, relatively fast paced style that normally follows lots and lots of action in his books. This style also goes from one character to another, even if they do hold a significant impact in the story or not and is simply there to be a killed in a brutal manner. The focus of the stories (Five Novels) is the Soul Drinkers Librarian turned Chapter Master Sarpedon, and the trials he goes through to ensure true freedom for his brothers.

I've read pretty much all of the books in the series with the exception of the last one, "Hellforged," and I can say that these books are fun to read. I'm almost done with the last one, but it's leaving me to question as to how rushed was the book, I've found a few issues such as, "Wait a minute, at one moment, he was there, and now that guy is there?" and, "Wait a minute, how did he get down there by Sarpedon's side when he was all the way up chilling on there ship?" A few things, not much, but it leaves to me question Counter a bit. I've never really came across any editing problem like this in some of the other novels that he's worked on (Grey Knights, and Galaxy in Flames).

Anyway, I've been enjoying it more then these errors in that Counter or even the editor over at Black Library should have picked up on. So enough about me talking about the series, why not some of you build upon this and share your thoughts on the series at hand.

I have also read all but the latest souldrinker novel.
I enjoyed the series, but found my interest waning towards the end of the second to last novel, so much so that I am not really interested in reading the latest one.

I guess that with the exception of reading about Word Bearers I enjoy good guy stories more. I know that the Souldrinkers are just "misunderstood" and are good guys at heart, but..............after disgracing the Crimson fists (A LONG time favourite chapter of mine),

Spoiler:

(not sure how far you are, so don't read the spoiler ), I have lost any empathy that I may have had for them. There is no hope that they will be accepted back to the Imperium, and as such they will continue to be hunted and tie up valuable resources that could be better used elsewhere. Sarpedon needs to man up and turn his mutated self and shattered chapter in for judgement.

Story aside though, I thought the novels themselves were well written and enjoyable

I've finally finished the last one about 1-2 hours ago, it was left pretty wide open for a sequel but I highly doubt that. And killing both Crimson Fists and Howling Griffons is a blight that the Soul Drinkers will never be able to cleanse (Even though the other chapters started the fight).

DarkRonin wrote:(Even though the other chapters started the fight).

That's debatable. If you were a marine and you saw a chapter that was being led by a Librarian with spider legs, and had beserker marines with chainswords for hands, what would you do?

Oh that one is easy, I'd PURGE THE TRAITOROUS MARINES WITH MY HOLY STORM BOLTER! FIRING BOLTS OF THE EMPERORS WRATH UPON THE THESE FOUL TRAITORS FOR THEY ARE NO LONGER A BROTHER OF MINE!!!

Honestly though, in the case of the Crimson Fists, I all for them going to war with the Soul Drinkers, but with the Howling Griffons, they went right into it with armored support.

I've actually read the omnibus and then the one after that. Like Brother Constantine, my interest waned as I progressed. It was an enjoyable read but that's it. I wouldn't read it again.

Ben Counter is good but he is nowhere near (at least IMHO) Dan Abnett or Graham McNeill when it comes to realism, action flow and character depth

I actually enjoyed Graham McNeill's portrayal of Grey Knights in his Ultramarines book better than I did Ben Counter's trilogy

Rivan wrote:I actually enjoyed Graham McNeill's portrayal of Grey Knights in his Ultramarines book better than I did Ben Counter's trilogy

Here, Here!!!!!!!!!! That was an AWESOME portrayal.
He should definatly write the next GK novel.

C

Aye, author of Eisenhorn is bloody fantastic. Ravenor was good, but Dan's work on first person in Eisenhorn was just perfection Only mentioned Grey Knights in one line though in the 2nd book of the omnibus.