Legacies of Betrayal: Let the Galaxy Burn (Horus Heresy)

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However at the end of the book there are two short stories written by Karen Traviss, one of the best Star Wars writers I've seen in a long time. A collection of previously available short stories, novellas and text versions of audio dramas. A good way to catch some of the stuff you may have missed whether you don't enjoy the audio dramas, haven't gotten hold of the "exclusives" or refuse to pay the outlandish prices charged for the micro short stories. A few of them are bit out of place though, Lone Wolf and Lucius the Eternal Blade Master are bit farther in the future than anything previously published as Horus Heresy, into the Scouring for Lone Wolf perhaps and even further for Lucius. I especially enjoyed Honour to the Dead as it brought a human level of emotional toll that the incessant wars were having for inhabitants of the worlds as well as show a gentle and human side to the space marines.

The actual “Betrayal” as the title refers too seemed to take SOOOO long to happen. But it’s Jacen Solo’s story, the son of Han Solo. This takes place roughly around the time the new movies COULD have happened, so I choose to see this story as alternatives to what we received. Legacies of Betrayal is the thirty-first book in the Horus Heresy Series. It is was published in October 2014.One man may hold the key to finding out. Tennent “Pete” Bagley was once a rising star in America’s spy aristocracy, and many expected he’d eventually become CIA director. But the star that burned so brightly exploded when Bagley—who suspected a mole had burrowed deep into the agency’s core—was believed himself to be the mole. After a year-long investigation, Bagley was finally exonerated, but the accusations tarnished his reputation and tainted his career. The Solo plotline wasn't as interesting, except when it came into the politics of how they are essentially for both the Corellians and the GA. The problem comes at the very end when the Jedi Knight Jacen Solo is tempted by the Sith to the Dark Side because his ability to see the future says that this is the best course of action to prevent death on a massive scale. The idea of the protagonist doing a bad thing to prevent a worse outcome isn't an uncommon occurrence but the way its done here is completely wrong. I Horus Rising • II False Gods • III Galaxy in Flames • IV The Flight of the Eisenstein • V Fulgrim • VI Descent of Angels • VII Legion • VIII Battle for the Abyss • IX Mechanicum • X Tales of Heresy • XI Fallen Angels • XII A Thousand Sons • XIII Nemesis • XIV The First Heretic • XV Prospero Burns • XVI Age of Darkness • XVII The Outcast Dead • XVIII Deliverance Lost • XIX Know No Fear • XX The Primarchs • XXI Fear to Tread • XXII Shadows of Treachery • XXIII Angel Exterminatus • XXIV Betrayer • XXV Mark of Calth • XXVI Vulkan Lives • XXVII The Unremembered Empire • XXVIII Scars • XXIX Vengeful Spirit • XXX The Damnation of Pythos • XXXI Legacies of Betrayal • XXXII Deathfire • XXXIII War Without End • XXXIV Pharos • XXXV Eye of Terra • XXXVI The Path of Heaven • XXXVII The Silent War • XXXVIII Angels of Caliban • XXXIX Praetorian of Dorn • XL Corax • XLI The Master of Mankind • XLII Garro • XLIII Shattered Legions • XLIV The Crimson King • XLV Tallarn • XLVI Ruinstorm • XLVII Old Earth • XLVIII The Burden of Loyalty • XLIX Wolfsbane • L Born of Flame • LI Slaves to Darkness • LII Heralds of the Siege • LIII Titandeath • LIV The Buried Dagger Only from out of great conflict can true heroes arise. With the galaxy aflame and war on an unimaginable scale tearing the Imperium apart, champions of light and darkness venture onto countless fields of battle in service to their masters. They ask not for remembrance or reward – simply to meet their destiny head-on, and only by embracing that destiny will they come to learn what the unseen future may yet hold for them...

Years following the devastating Yuuzahn-Vong War, the galaxy once again is in a state of turmoil. The Galactic Alliance is dealing with a planetary uprising that could come to full-scale conflict and everyone, including the Skywalker and Solo families are caught in the middle. Corellia is Han Solo’s home planet. He is “technically” a retired war veteran and former smuggler who is married to a Jedi Knight who is sworn to uphold the laws of the Galactic Alliance. Corellia has a single central government that manages all 5 planets in its solar system, with Corellia proper being the primary seat of power. Corellian’s populace, like Han’s nature as a Corellian, are inherently independent. As a member of the G.A., they receive certain benefits and are expected to contribute to the G.A. as well. In exchange for doing certain things that benefit the G.A. and its member worlds, Corellia receives protection from outside threats via the G.A. military. But Corellia has been speaking out of both sides of its mouth and are building an army to prepare for a potential conflict in which they will seek to separate from that alliance... This is because they don’t want to lose the benefits of membership. Think Brexit, except with spaceships. And this was written in 2006. So Corellia would be like a stand-in for modern-day Britain wanting to break from the E.U. (in this case the G.A.).

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As an author of licensed material myself, I can understand the thin line an author walks when working with characters that are not only beloved but have a complex history that has existed oftentimes long before you had the chance to put pen to paper. Tahle knížka není pro sklerotiky. Ačkoliv se považuju za fanouška Warhammeru 40.000, tak se mi v paměti drží tak maximálně velké legie, hlavní primarchové a pár důležitých hlavních postav. Tahle kniha je spoustu dílků rozsypané stavebnice, pro lidi, kteří mají paměť jako slon… nebo si dělají poznámky. I když tady jsou i delší věci, které nabízí i nějaký samostatný příběh, tak dost z toho jsou spíš jen střípky do mozaiky, popisující, jak hrdina dostal rukavici, jak mu definitivně hráblo, co dělal mezi dvěma velkými příběhy, jak se dali tyhle postavy dohromady… nebo prostě jen jak kdo uvažuje. Pro mě tahle kniha byla seznamem informací, které by byly určitě zajímavé, kdybych si je do doby čtení další knihy zvládl zapamatovat. Plus, další nevýhoda téhle knihy – žádný Abnett. Ten celkově z Horus Heresy vymizel, což je dost mrzuté. Only from out of great conflict can true heroes arise. With the galaxy aflame and war on an unimaginable scale tearing the Imperium apart, champions venture onto countless fields of battle in service to their masters. The trio end up meeting a mysterious woman named Brisha Syo who wants Jacen to travel to her home on a remote asteroid near Bimmiel. Revelations ensue. Turns out, Brisha Syo is actually the Dark Lady Lumiya, who appeared in the Marvel Star Wars comics that were released between 1977 and 1986. Lumiya was originally a young Rebel woman named Shira Brie who had a sort of romance with Luke Skywalker, and then was shot down by Luke because the Force told him that she was an enemy. And surprise, she had been an Imperial spy all along! She was saved by the use of cybernetics and trained in the dark side of the Force by Darth Vader, she wants revenge on Luke Skywalker, and she has a very distinctive outfit complete with a lightwhip instead of a lightsaber. The rerelease of Brotherhood of the Storm is also available in an updated edition of the Legacies of Betrayal anthology, featuring 18 short stories of the Legions that fought in the Horus Heresy. Scourge of Fate (MP3 Audiobook)

Many stories in the Star Wars expanded universe seem to be in sets of 3’s, like the trilogies we see in theaters. If the novels had been made into movies (they should have been), then the “Thrawn Trilogy” could have been episodes 7, 8, and 9. Then there were several story arc’s leading to this current book. The novel tells a story of political intrigue, a murder mystery that leads the investigators into questionable territory, and a member of the G.A. about to split off into a potential mini-civil war. But it serves the purpose of prepping us for what feels like a massive epic that obviously will span 8 more books. Does it successfully achieve this goal? Yes and no. I’ve read and listened to this story so many times, it’s definitely one of my all-time favorites. A great addition to the book Betrayer, we get a very clear description of how those nails actually affect the Red Angel, there’s a lot of foreshadowing, a change in Lorgar’s character compared to The First Heretic. AND the fierce Lotara Sarrin, hands down one of the best human characters in HH! It’s fascinating to see the relationship between Angron and Lorgar, knowing what happens next. The dynamic between Kharn and Argel Tal, who is already going through his unfortunate transformation, is the best thing. And then even the Eldar add some good flavor to this story. Love it.Something of a rogue himself, Jacen is nevertheless duty bound as a Jedi to stand with his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, on the side of the Galactic Alliance. But when the wary Corellians launch a counterstrike, the Alliance’s show of force–and a secret mission to disable Corellia’s crucial Centerpoint Station–give way to an armed skirmish. Once the smoke clears, the battle lines are drawn. Now the specter of full-scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire. And even as both sides struggle to find a diplomatic solution, mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threaten peace efforts at every turn. Amazing. Following the events of the Shadow Crusade, we see Kharn in the fighting pits. Can’t say much without spoiling it for you. I will only repeat, Kharn is one of the most interesting characters in HH/40k and every piece featuring him is a pleasure to read. Legacies of Betrayal is the thirty-first volume of the The Horus Heresy series of novels and is an anthology collection of short stories and a novella. The main influential characters in Betrayal are as follows: Han Solo (Corellian, married to Leia Organa Solo), Leia Organa Solo (Jedi, Han’s wife, Luke Skywalker’s sister), Jacen Solo (Jedi, son of Han and Leia), Jaina Solo (Jedi, daughter of Han and Leia), Luke Skywalker (Jedi Grand Master, married to Mara Jade Skywalker, Leia’s brother), Mara Jade Skywalker (Jedi Master, Luke’s wife), Ben Skywalker (Jedi, son of Luke and Mara, Jacen’s Padawan), Wedge Antilles (Corellian, retired war hero for the GA, current military advisor for Corellia). The Corellians, Han and Wedge, have great citizenship toward their world, so they are siding with Corellia in the not quite war. Leia is siding with Han because she was committed to him before she became a Jedi. Luke, Mara, Jaina, Jacen, and Ben are sided with the Galactic Alliance because they are Jedi and so are sworn to protect the Galactic Alliance. A wonderful prequel to the Damnation of Pythos, intense and full of action. As short as it is, this story throws you onto the Veritas Ferrum ship and there is nowhere to run.

Betrayal introduces the two main conflicts of the Legacy of the Force series: the beginning of a civil war between the Galactic Alliance and some of its member systems, as well as the beginning of Jacen’s fall, courtesy of the Dark Lady Lumiya. There are also big revelations about Vergere’s nature that will have ramifications for everything to come (although your mileage may vary what you think of those). I did feel that Betrayal was trying to do too much at times—that in trying to set up both Jacen's downfall and this galaxy-wide war, the book ended up with a bunch of exposition about long-standing tensions that have been simmering below the surface, without actually showing us many concrete examples of these tensions before the Galactic Alliance vs Corellia standoff.

Objectively, this is a great book full of some really, really good stories; they vary widely in terms of subject matter, time frame and story length, but they all work well and are absolutely worth reading for anyone who isn’t fully caught-up with the Heresy. If you haven’t read Riven, Kryptos or The Divine Word, or if you’ve missed any of the audio dramas, then this will be an absolute treasure trove of new material shedding light on various aspects of the Heresy and linking in with the full-length novels. It’s also an absolute treat to get some of the best audio dramas in prose version, especially Honour to the Dead and Censure (perhaps some of the best stories in the whole series to date), and more than anything the overriding impression upon completion is how strong the storytelling is getting with the audios.