I take it back, Warhammer's Horus Heresy would be perfect for TV

Like many Warhammer fans, I've long thought that a Warhammer TV show would be a great idea. I also thought that a Warhammer TV show about the most famous and complex story of the 41st millennium (technically the 31st, but you know what I mean) the Horus Heresy would be awesome.

This is a series that consists of 64 books, I found out when I started this series and thought of starting a book club to understand the complex reading sequence. How do you judge it? How do you squeeze such an epic story into a few ten-hour seasons?

I was always of the mindset that it made sense to adapt the Eisenhorn series. Mark Strong as the titular Inquisitor, obviously. It has the epic battles and grimdark gothic atmosphere of the 41st millennium, but the characters are more interesting and engaging than the obscure space marines of the Adeptus Astartes.

However, I have recently changed my mind.

The best Horus Rogue characters aren't Space Marines

I have almost finished Horus Rising, the first book in the Horus Heresy series. It follows Garviel Loken, captain of the Luna Wolves, as the Emperor's Crusade wreaks havoc through the stars. But where the Space Marines are mostly dull, we see deep into Loken's mind, we see how the seeds of heresy are sown, and we see a lot of ordinary people to put the Astartes into perspective.

We hear a conversation between Loken and Kirill Sinderman, a repetition that spreads Imperial propaganda across the galaxy. He acts as a mentor (read: therapist) to Locken and provides a more human perspective on the events of the novel, as well as being a vehicle for channeling or reassuring Locke's doubts and concerns.

I also love those who remember. Somewhere between war photojournalists and Imperial bards, their job is to document the Crusades. Seeing the battles, and the Space Marines themselves, regularly, from the perspective of Terran-born humans, gives the main characters a gravitas befitting their ranks.

Before starting the series, I was worried that it would be a generic supersoldiers story. Thankfully, it's the opposite.

How do you adapt 64 novels?

Reading the Horus Heresy books has me thinking about starting an Imperial army for the first time in a decade. It's a very dangerous thing and, as marketing (which is the basis of all Warhammer stories), it's extremely effective. I want to start a 30K army. I've always loved the Mk 3 armor, and this book may have been the tipping point for me to pull the trigger.

I'm hoping to hold on to my cash until at least the Emperor's Babies come out next year, and read Fulgrim while painting them.

I don't know how you got around to adapting 64 novels into a TV series, though. You'll obviously have to skip some books entirely, and pick the most important characters to follow. I also recommend that we follow regular people more than primarchs. Obviously Horus should be the focus of the story, but seeing him through Loken's eyes would be more interesting than watching a demigod tear through the galaxy.

The internal politics are reminiscent of Game of Thrones, and I could envision an episode told entirely from the perspective of the Remembrancer. Maybe it will show the horrors of war from a new perspective, maybe it will be shot like Fly from Breaking Bad.

Either way, Horus is one way to do a hypocritical TV show. It has the scale of Game of Thrones, the characterization of The Expanse, and legions of fans will tune in. Does that mean I think it will? no I don't think we'll even get Eisenhorn, for what it's worth. We'll get a show selling toy soldiers, and Warhammer 30K is a side game and Eisenhorn can sell a team of models.

I can see Space Marine 2 following Lt. Titus into battle as we will in the secret level – that game undoubtedly sold Space Marine. But if you want to get fans on board, there's only one series to adapt. Consider yourself a convert. Get Amazon on Blower. All that's left to do is fancast Loken. I vote for Christian Bale.