Bloody Books Review: Sigismund The Eternal Crusader (by John French)
Review By Dawfydd Kelly
The latest in Black Library’s series focusing on the “heroes” of the Horus Heresy continues the trend of fleshing out the pre-Heresy Imperium, whilst highlighting both the tragedy of what is to come and that even in this period The Imperium of Man is, frankly, a monstrous entity. All the more surprising to have this come from the lips of Sigismund himself.
It should come as no surprise that John French “gets” Siggy like no other author as the First Captain of the Imperial Fists has become something of a signature character for him over the course of the Heresy and Siege of Terra*. It’s actually fascinating to see Sigismund at his most human here, knowing full well what his transformation into a post-human Astartes cost him - one of the more affecting moments is his frank statements that he did not ask to become a Space Marine, would not have done then, and would not have done now.
The narrative structure is set as Solomon Voss interviewing Sigismund in the closing days of the Great Crusade after Ullanor. This means there are plenty of interlude chapters where Voss attempts to clarify, or Sigismund does clarify, something that happened or the meaning of it
There’s actually some lovely stuff throughout the book that helps re-contextualize what we have seen of Sigismund to date - his belief in the divinity of The Emperor, the cold, unflinching rage that fuels his spree as Emperors Champion during the Siege that even makes Kharn feel fear, his bonds with others within the VII Legion and without - which makes it an absolute joy to burn through if you are long-time reader of the Horus Heresy.
*side note, I find it kinda cool that Black Library are using this Horus Heresy: Characters series to let writers loose on