Audio Review // Luna Mendax by Graham McNeill

We seem to be getting pretty close to the end of the Silent War collection, and what a collection it has been. I've really enjoyed working my way through these short Horus Heresy stories. While I'm sure the original book is just as good, I really enjoy getting these smaller stories as audio, combined with a healthy dose of Garviel Loken.

The Details

Title: Luna Mendax
Author: Graham McNeill
Series: The Horus Heresy – Silent War

The Blurb:

Scarred by betrayal and unsure of his place in the war that wracks the galaxy, Knight Errant Garviel Loken seeks sanctuary, but the ghosts of his past haunt him still...

Returning from a secretive mission to Caliban at the command of Malcador the Sigillite, Knight Errant Garviel Loken finds sanctuary in one of the abandoned bio-domes of Luna.

But the ghosts of his past haven't gone anywhere.

Haunted by everything he has lost, Loken is visited by the long-dead Tarik Torgaddon. Is this really the spirit of his old friend, or simply the fractured mind of a warrior who has been pushed too far?

The Review

Wow. This one hit hard. I'm still occasionally surprised when Warhammer Space Marines are allowed to be emotional, but Luna Mendax leans right into it. And honestly, I bloody loved that.

There is something about the Marines of the Horus Heresy that feels much more human than the Space Marines we generally see in the later setting. They have friendships, doubts, regrets, fears and genuine emotional connections. The Heresy has taken all of that and then systematically smashed it to pieces, and Loken is a fantastic example of that. It real shows how it was on the cusp of a golden age, but has now fallen back into a struggling cesspit of warfare.

Having failed at Caliban to discover the truth behind the Dark Angels' allegiance, Loken returns defeated. He's disappointed Dorn, he's failed in his mission, and he's struggling to understand exactly where he fits into this strange new galaxy. He's been through so much since Istvaan, he's lost brothers, he’s seen other allies fall to Heresy, he's lost his father Horus, and now he's essentially trying to figure out who Garviel Loken actually is.

That's a pretty heavy load for one genetically engineered super-soldier, but then he finds the garden…

The bio-dome is one of the things I really enjoyed about this story was the setting. Loken discovers an abandoned biodome on Luna, left to rot after the death of the Sister of Silence who once cared for it. Instead of being another battlefield, fortress or warship, we get this overgrown, decaying garden, and Loken starts trying to bring it back to life.

I thought that was a fantastic choice for the backdrop. There's something wonderfully symbolic about this broken warrior trying to restore something that has been left to die. The garden becomes this little pocket of life surrounded by a galaxy that has gone completely wrong, and in a this moment of calm things get even more interesting when Loken is visited by a ghost from his past: Tarik Torgaddon.

Loken and Torgaddon

I don't want to get too deep into what happens because I think the story works best when you simply experience it. But seeing Torgaddon again through Loken's eyes is genuinely emotional. This isn't some massive action sequence. There isn't a Primarch smashing through a wall or a fleet exploding in the background. It's Loken dealing with his trauma, and Torgaddon becomes part of that process of self reflection.

The story manages to use their relationship to remind us of just how much Loken has lost, while also giving him something he desperately needs: a reason to keep going. Considering how short Luna Mendax is, that's impressive. It packs a surprising emotional punch. It reminded me of some of those early Istvaan stories where the sheer scale of what had happened didn't really sink in, until you read what it did to the characters.

So What Comes Next?

Of course, I already know where Loken eventually ends up. I know he heads towards Vengeful Spirit. But knowing that doesn't really take anything away from this story. If anything, it makes me more interested in the journey between here and there. Loken has been through hell, and Luna Mendax feels like a small but important moment where he starts putting himself back together. He's not suddenly fixed; he’s no phoenix rising from the ashes. He's still broken and carrying the trauma of everything that has happened. But he's found a reason to keep moving, and I think that's what makes this such an important little story; it gives purpose to Gavin, it shows why he can’t just stop and hide from the war. I gives us someone to believe in.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed Luna Mendax. It's a surprisingly emotional Horus Heresy story that focuses far more on character than warfare, and it works incredibly well. Graham McNeill gives us a fascinating look at the fractured psyche of Garviel Loken and, more importantly, reminds us that underneath all that ceramite and genetic engineering, these characters were still capable of feeling loss, friendship, regret and hope. I loved the abandoned biodome setting, I loved the Loken and Torgaddon elements, and I really enjoyed seeing Loken get a chance to breathe for a moment. It's another short audiobook, but unlike some of the others in this collection, this one feels like it makes every minute count, and now I just want to know what's next for Loken.

Thankfully, I already know. But I'm looking forward to getting there all over again. A surprisingly emotional little Horus Heresy story and another excellent chapter in Loken's journey, and as we get closer to the end of Silent War, I'm already wondering what I'll listen to next.

For now though...more Loken, please.