BOOK REVIEW: Thunder's Edge: Echoes of Memory

THUNDER'S EDGE: ECHOES OF MEMORY
by Sarah Cawkwell
Available now

My housemate is more of a board game expert than I am. And the first time I read a Twilight Imperium tie-in book, they described the base game as something that "takes half the day to set up and half the day to play." At first flush, it looks like one heck of a wargaming experience... but not really my thing personally. However, I've found that I like the books, even independent of much knowledge about the games themselves. It's a sprawling sci-fi setting with a massive and ever-changing history, and that appeals.

What I've found I like most about Twilight Imperium novels, and indeed any story based in a sandbox setting, is digging out the human (or personal) stories happening amidst the backdrop of historic events. It's why Honor Among Thieves worked so well as a Dungeons & Dragons movie; and it's why Thunder's Edge: Echoes of Memory works so well as a Twilight Imperium novel.

Our central character is Harrugh Gefhara, a retired leader of the lion-like Hacan race. While trying to escape his war-torn past, he is confronted by a strange being who presents him with a rare artifact. Now, a patchy prophecy leads him to take on a heavy duty that could mean the literal end of the universe should he fail. With help from a variegated crew made up of beings from across the setting's many societies, Harrugh travels to the strange world of Thunder's Edge, where he discovers what the Nekro have in store for the universe — and what he can do to stop it.

Like just about any Twilight Imperium media, Thunder's Edge: Echoes of Memory is heavy with detail; but it's not nearly as dense as previous installments that sought to outline the primary history of the game setting. This volume serves as a prequel to the upcoming Thunder's Edge expansion, which drops on October 24. But even if you don't plan to play, this is still a fun read. This story shines because of its core characters, especially the weary Harrugh and the naive and friendly Titan known as "Junior." We care about these characters, who would otherwise be tiny pieces against a vast backdrop. That zoom-in is what makes this story, and others in the Twilight Imperium series, extra special.

TEA PAIRING: Spice Chai Mélange
The Hacan hail from a desert world and are highly regarded as traders. This spicy caffeine-free rooibos feels like the perfect fit for Harrugh's intergalactic adventures.