jackdoud's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
themorbidcorvid's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
manthespace's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
trackofwords's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Denny Flowers’ second Black Library novel Outgunned takes to the skies with a tale of picts, propaganda, underestimated xenos and the aerial might of the Aeronautica Imperialis. On the agri world of Bacchus – famed for its wine production – an infestation of orks has rapidly progressed from a minor irritation to all-out war, and Imperial forces are making slow progress. When Imperial Propagandist Kile Simlex arrives on Bacchus, tasked with recording a motivational pict to inspire confidence and aid recruitment, he finds little as he expected. His intended subject – Flight Commander Lucille von Shard – proves not quite the dashing hero he imagined, while the orks are far from the mindless wretches portrayed in the picts he’s seen. As he wrestles with questions of how to capture his pict and how to craft a suitable narrative, the war for Bacchus becomes increasingly desperate.
There’s no question that this is a 40k story in its setting and overall tone, and there are some great moments of airborne action that will please Aeronautica fans, but don’t expect wall to wall dogfights or constant breakneck action. It would be a stretch to call this ‘domestic 40k’, but it’s definitely more measured in pace, and very much revolves around the strained relationship between Simlex and Shard. As Simlex gradually sees through his initial naivety Shard’s character comes into greater focus, and her attitude to life (and odd tendency to talk about herself in the third person) starts to make a little more sense to him. There are also splashes of dark, mildly absurd humour here and there, with hints of Ciaphas Cain in Shard’s bleak, sharp wit and Simlex’s slightly hapless naivety. On top of its close focus on these two characters and a single, relatively small-scale war though, it also does a brilliant job of depicting the Imperium in microcosm – no glory, no heroics, just sacrifice and ignorance and desperation and sheer bloody-mindedness. In short, it’s a breath of fresh air and a welcome new take on a 40k war story.
Read my full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/21/outgunned-denny-flowers/
There’s no question that this is a 40k story in its setting and overall tone, and there are some great moments of airborne action that will please Aeronautica fans, but don’t expect wall to wall dogfights or constant breakneck action. It would be a stretch to call this ‘domestic 40k’, but it’s definitely more measured in pace, and very much revolves around the strained relationship between Simlex and Shard. As Simlex gradually sees through his initial naivety Shard’s character comes into greater focus, and her attitude to life (and odd tendency to talk about herself in the third person) starts to make a little more sense to him. There are also splashes of dark, mildly absurd humour here and there, with hints of Ciaphas Cain in Shard’s bleak, sharp wit and Simlex’s slightly hapless naivety. On top of its close focus on these two characters and a single, relatively small-scale war though, it also does a brilliant job of depicting the Imperium in microcosm – no glory, no heroics, just sacrifice and ignorance and desperation and sheer bloody-mindedness. In short, it’s a breath of fresh air and a welcome new take on a 40k war story.
Read my full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2022/08/21/outgunned-denny-flowers/
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