For The Emperor: A Ciaphas Cain Novel

by Sandy Mitchell

Book Overview

Black Library presents the Masterworks - a curated collection of novels celebrating the very best science fiction and fantasy set in the worlds of Warhammer. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1844160505
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Black Library
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 1.3" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Im am now a huge Commisar Cain fan!

Im a huge Gaunts Ghosts fan,i was use to the quote"normal"commisar view of commisars,Cain has not only made me laugh but also shows versitilty in characters and writing styles.Hes another special type hero of the emperor,he might not want to be a hero,but fate has it to make him one. Also im a fan of Jurgen,how can you not be:) All the books are written well,im waiting for more ofc,i also like how they are written as from a view of a Librarian of the emperire. All i can say is relax and enjoy these novels,they read easy and are enjoyable.

Great Novel

This was a great novel - it was witty, fast-paced, and action packed. The author, Sandy Mitchell, scored a real winner with this novel. I really liked the way he developed the main characters - Cain, Amberly, etc. His irreverent treatment of the Commissariat is wonderful. We're so used to the fear inducing Commisars that Cain's self-deprecating manner, the way he critiques himself is like a cold splash of water. It really makes you sit up & say, "What?!?" Even though Cain is continually belittling his own abilities & justifies his action by his "cowardice," he always seems to end up in the right place; at the right time; with the right equipment & people to get the job done.

Book 1

Commissar Ciaphas Cain asks to be transferred to a regiment - any regiment. Cain thought he would be safer with all the people he could pull rank on and put them between himself and the ammo. Needless-to-say, Cain thought wrong. The reluctant hero is sent to a Valhallan regiment. Problems occur from the instant he sets foot on the hangar bay of the Righteous Wrath. Two Valhallan regiments have been consolidated from the survivors of 301st and 296th. One is a female regiment, one is a male regiment, and each believe themselves better than the other. Cain has his hands full keeping them from each other's throats and eventually welding them into a single cooperating regiment (597th Valhallan). This is barely accomplished before they are sent to help maintain order on an outpost world on the borders of Tau space. But when the alien ambassador is murdered and the situation quickly spirals out of control, Cain and his new regiment find themselves in the middle of a war. ***** This is the first of a series reporting the archived memories of Commissar Cain. Each is told as written by Cain, after his retirement. It also describes the first time Cain meets Amberley Vail, an agent of the Ordo Xenos, and the Valhallan regiment he spends most of his career with. Vail is the one putting Cain's archives together for her fellow inquisitors to read if they so wish. She has annotated several sections to fill in Cain's gaps. As the reader, I found many of these footnotes interesting, as they made Cain's campaign seem more realistic; however, some of these footnotes are pointless. This novel covers the Gravalax campaign and will be referred to often in the upcoming books of the series. All-in-all, I believe this novel to have succeeded in creating a solid foundation for the Cain series to build upon. ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

An excellent change of pace.

Mitchell's main character Commissar Cain is one of the most unique, original and thoroghly entertaining in the 40k books I have read so far. This self proclaimed scoundrel's knack for looking out for himself while somehow managing to end up looking like one of the Imperiums mightiest hero's is, while a stretch, quite enjoyable. plenty of action and 40K goodness for all you hard core fans and just a good enjoyable fast paced read for any sci-fi fan.

Other awesome 40k novel.

To tell the truth I didn't want to like this book. You see, I am a Imperial guard player and the idea of a commissar not wanting to be commissar just didn't sit well with me, but I sucked it up and gave the book a try. I then opened the book and was even more irritated because the book was written in a first person point of view, which I obviously don't like, but then again I sucked it up and read it. And I am glad I read it too! This book is such a wonderful book, filled with action, humor, mystery and the most usually commissar, Commissar Cain. Being a guy who is supposed to instill morale and courage when in the mists of battle, doesn't ever want to be there and will do anything to get out of action makes a pretty usually character. For the Emperor, is a must read for fans of the 40k range in the black library. It's one of my favorites, right up there with Gaunt and his Ghost!