Book Club #26: Fabius Bile: Primogenitor

Every two weeks we read a new book in the WH40k universe and discuss it on our podcast. We invite you to read along with us and join in on our conversation via comments, Twitter, email, or vox cast.

This episode we’re reading Fabius Bile: Primogenitor by Josh Reynolds. You can purchase on Amazon, Black Library, or Audible.

From the back of the book:

He is known by many names – Clonelord, Manflayer, Primogenitor. He is the epitome of deceit and perversion, and feared by man and monster alike. Once the Chief Apothecary of the Emperor’s Children, the madman known as Fabius Bile possesses a knowledge of genetic manipulation second to none. Now a renegade among renegades, he is loathed by those he once called brother, and even the most degraded of Chaos Space Marines fear his name. Exiled for his dark experiments, Bile has retreated deep into the Eye of Terror, leaving a trail of twisted abominations in his wake. But when a former student brings word of the ultimate prize for the taking, Bile is unable to resist being drawn once more into the cauldron of war. For in seizing this prize, Fabius Bile might yet discover the one secret his has been unable to unlock… the secret which will prevent his inevitable doom.

Questions to ponder during and after reading Fabius Bile: Primogenitor:

• Did you like the book?
• What parts stood out to you?
• Fabius Bile: Primogenitor is populated entirely by unlikeable characters. Did this make it hard to connect with the characters? How does this traitor book compare to reading Lords of Silence?
• Bile is a strange bird. He has little respect for his former legion, his primarch, or any other legion. Also, he abhors any religion or religious thought. Did this surprise you? Does it make him a compelling character?
• Bile casts aspersions upon Fulgrim and The Radiant for wanting to be demi-gods. Yet Bile wants to single-handedly reshape and reform humanity in his image, thus achieving god-like status. Do you think Bile is self-aware of this? Do you think he has “good” intent, or is this pure arrogance?
• Bile’s cohorts are very different from one another and from what we’ve seen of each legion. How do Oleander, Arrian, and Tzimiskes compare and contrast? What surprised you most about them?
• This is the first book club book we’ve read with the Harlequins. What did you think of them as foils? What did you think of their end game?
• Theory time! What did the Harlequins foresee to spur this performance?

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with Black Library or Games Workshop. A portion of sales from Amazon go to supporting our site and podcast.