Ian Watson's Space Marine.

Softback. £4.99. Boxtree

Sharecropped from Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, this one's an imaginative interpretation of an imaginative gaming system - if a departure from Watson's normally sober style of scribbling.

 As example, take this OTT tongue-firmly-in-cheek extract:

"So Lex hurled the head at the Zoat (the head of Lex's decapitated friend - Ed). Biff's helmeted head struck the Zoat's skull with all the force of power toss - and bounced away, to roll against the wall, where glossy jelly-tentacles hastened to invade it.

No doubt it was fully dead by now. But how appropriate that Tundrish should biff to the last. His brain - and braincase - may well have been reduced to their original simple destiny as a nutting, head-butting instrument... Yet he was honoured too; for even in his death-throw, he had butted for Regal Dorn."

Very much writing to order - especially if the orders come from Games Workshop, this is the story of three young hoodlums who come to join the monastic-like order of the space marines. After suitable genetic enhancements and brainwashing, the three heroes go on to challenge chaos-inspired heresies and rebellions in a strange gothic stylee future.

If we have any quibble with the premises behind Warhammer 40,000, it's the one which says because all of humanity is being horrendously threatened by an array of dark and hidden forces, everyone has to suffer from this fanatical bleak poverty of the soul: even the heroes would think nothing of snuffing their granny and eating babies should occasion - or plot - demand it. And it does comes pretty close to it in Space Marine.

But manana, the uniqueness and imagination of this one's universe still sets it miles above the formulatic drivel of rival gamester novels from yankie TSR.

Back to the top of the book review archive

The latest Ian Watson Books

Seen any good fantasy films? Read any good SF books? Bring pleasure to millions. Email Hologram Tales with your reviews today for inclusion in the next issue at stephenhunt@easynet.co.uk!