Imperial Munitorum Manual (Warhammer 40, 000)

by Graham McNeill

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Edition: Hardcover

Publication Date: November 13, 2007

Publisher: Black Library

ISBN: 1844165027

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 226737

Average Customer Rating:

List price: ~~$19.99~~

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Reviews

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Great Read, perfectly matches the Uplifting Primer, September 6, 2008

I just got mine today (I was pleasantly surprised, it arrived five days early), and I've already read through it. It's a wonderfully written book, Graham McNeil is probably the best WH40K author out there. The garish, arrogent, over-the-top writing style is a perfect fit for the similarly styled Imperium of Man, and the pictures and codes add to the realism of a real requisition booklet. I'll be adding this to my collection of great WH40K books, and would encourage other avid fans to do the same!

Only for the die-hard W40K fans and possibly W40K authors too, May 14, 2008

Every now and then a W40K novel mentions the manuals. Normally it is during a narration, where Readers see (or "hear") an officer's thoughts as s/he dwells on duties or regulations. But have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what was in those manuals? Better yet, did you ever wish you could actually have one of them? Here is your chance. This is the "revised edition of the first published 945.M41". It begins with a preface by Seward Rosencraz, Chancellor of the Estate Imperium, followed by a Logistical Officer's Chain of Command. The contents of this manual, in my own words, are as follow:

Part One - History and procedures.

Part Two - Regiments, Raising and Structure, Supply Needs, Shipping of Equipment for the Cadian 91st (Sentinels).

Part Three - Requesting of Equipment. (This section even mentions "the wholesome and nutritious" victuals supplied.)

Part Four - Care and Maintenance of Equipment, Unauthorized Modifications, Procedures and Punishments for Laxity in Maintenance.

Part Five - Identification of the items for front line troopers.

Part Six - Identification of the weapons for front line troopers.

Part Seven - Identification of the items issued to support platoons and squads.

Part Eight - Identification of the items issued to senior officers and specialist personnel.

Part Nine - A selection of forms for the many and varied situations likely to arise and how to deal with them.

Of course, no Imperial manual would be complete without some extra sections to inform troopers about famous people (a few paintings are illustrated), badges and insignia (each clearly shown and told why there are given to select heroes), and even the guidelines for calling in a fire mission. More than once the manual stresses that the maps enclosed must not fall into unauthorized hands, so soldiers (uh, readers) must keep this manual safe. And above all remember the motto of the Departmento Munitorum: "Only the awkward question; only the foolish ask twice."

***** I really enjoy how realistic the author, Graham McNeill, made this manual. I would not be surprised at all to learn that most W40K authors keep this gem close by as they create their stories, for quick and easy reference. Littered throughout the manual are the quotes all W40K fans know by heart (and, I admit, use in conversations with family members and friends in the military) such as: "Ammunition isn't free - make your shots count!" Even the texture, color, and shape of the manual are realistic. (So much so that if you are in the military and have this in your locker, at first [and second] glance it looks like it belongs there.) Outstanding! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Fun but..., March 24, 2008

This was a fun little book, a great companion for the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifting Primer but I'm deducting stars because it lacked a coherent and authentic narrative voice. While much of it was as offious as I would have expected, some of it had the wrong tone for a Departmento Munitorum bureaucrat. One minute it would be providing a dispassionate run down of impossibly harsh punishments for the slightest infraction and the next talking about something completely unofficial that simply would not have made it into the final text (and would probably have resulted in one or more of the punishments previously described being performed on the author himself). The metals section was the worst with this.

Adding the "inside baseball" comments by way of marginalia (presumably added by an Imperial Guard supply officer with less respect for the rules laid out in the main text than the author of that main text) would have improved the authenticity of the book.

If you liked the Imperial Infantryman's Uplifitng Primer or just can't get enough Warhammer 40k fluff (and those categories almost certainly fully overlap) pick this up. There's no reason to buy it otherwise.

Good for a chuckle, but not much else, February 19, 2008

The munitorium manual, written in the style of an army field manual, is a dossier of the history of the Guard and the Imperial Army, and includes decent descriptions of a Guardsmans equipment and weaponry. Its a nice addition for fluff fanatics, and a good intro to the IG universe if you have a friend whos interested in playing a Guard in the new 40k RPG. Aside from those two niche groups, this book won't find much purchase anywhere else. The paperwork section and crimes and punishments are also entertaining.

Why?, January 9, 2008

Not a bad product, but really not something anyone who does Warhammer 40K needs or would really want, unless you are a fanatic. I probably will not keep it.


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							January 7, 2009


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