Book Review: The Greater Good

Sandy Mitchell, The Greater Good: a Ciaphas Cain Novel. Nottinghman, UK: Black Library, 2014.  ISBN: 9781849706650.

 

Genre: science fiction

Subgenre: military science fiction, Warhammer 40,000

Format: paperback

Source: I own this one. 

 

 

This is the ninth novel in the Ciaphas Cain series from Warhammer 40,000. "When the world of Quadravidia comes under attack by the insidious tau, only one man can defeat the aliens and save the planet in the Emperor's name: the legendary Hero of the Imperium, Commissar Ciaphas Cain" (from book description). The man who just wants to take it easy and make it to retirement gets into a new adventure. A tau invasion may seem like another day at the office, but when the tau ask for a truce, and they ask him to help mediate, things start to get interesting. Turns out there is a much larger threat to both sides, and the tau know that both sides need to come together for, as the tau say, the Greater Good. 

 

This novel has a very good premise, but the execution is not consistent. After the truce is established, we sort of forget the tau are even there. We see their emissary in some meetings, but after a while they disappear until close to the end of the book. The rest of the plot could have worked just fine without the truce element. I had hoped to see and learn about more about the tau but not in this novel. 

 

We do get some references to the previous novel, The Last Ditch (link to my review). While this one can stand on its own, you may appreciate some details if you have read the previous book. In addition, we get some intrigue as well from the Adeptus Mechanicum as a secret they've been zealously guarding is revealed. That was a pretty good part of the story. 

The book pacing varies as it can be slow at times, but then we get some fast pacing and action too in other parts. The humor of the series is still in place and works well. As always, Inquisitor Vail's footnotes and asides add to the humor of the novel. 

Overall, the novel maintains its formula, but it may feel at times a bit too close to previous works. Pacing is not consistent, which is why it took me a while to read it, but the humor is good. The book is entertaining, but it does not feel memorable, and there was an opportunity or two missed. I liked it, but I feel it could have been better. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2022 Reading Challenge: