paulopaperbooksonly's review
3.0
This novel was the first alongside CS Goto Salvation about Necromunda. The most famous Hive planet in the galaxy. It's here that the Imperial fists draw their recruits.
This tale is composed with 11 named chapters and each one divided with memories from our protagonist which added depth and history to her.
This tale we follow the adventures of Mad'Donna Ulanti, a hive noble living in the underhive to escape a past. From the beginning of our tale we begin to learn about the life in the Underhive and the schemes of the Hive City. We learn about the Houses and gangs and how are they related albeit superficially. We follow her as she tries to uncover who his after her and why. We visit plenty of sites in the Underhive as Glory Hole, Cliff Wall, Dust Falls, Two Tunnels and then Downtown. The end is near the Sump. There is plenty of confrontations, battles against ratskins, scavies and other strange beings. There is also a huge battle against scavies led by Mad'Donna with the help of all the gangs and enforcers. Quite interesting.
If you want to read about the Necromunda life or Mad'Donna, or the game itself then go ahead. Or if you want to read each and every book Black Library printed, as I, then go straight ahead. Andy Chambers wrote a interesting tale but at times it was a bit confusing. The characters besides the main characters are blank and weak. There are also some typos (Delaque, Delauqe and such) but nothing that make you wanna stop.
This tale is composed with 11 named chapters and each one divided with memories from our protagonist which added depth and history to her.
This tale we follow the adventures of Mad'Donna Ulanti, a hive noble living in the underhive to escape a past. From the beginning of our tale we begin to learn about the life in the Underhive and the schemes of the Hive City. We learn about the Houses and gangs and how are they related albeit superficially. We follow her as she tries to uncover who his after her and why. We visit plenty of sites in the Underhive as Glory Hole, Cliff Wall, Dust Falls, Two Tunnels and then Downtown. The end is near the Sump. There is plenty of confrontations, battles against ratskins, scavies and other strange beings. There is also a huge battle against scavies led by Mad'Donna with the help of all the gangs and enforcers. Quite interesting.
If you want to read about the Necromunda life or Mad'Donna, or the game itself then go ahead. Or if you want to read each and every book Black Library printed, as I, then go straight ahead. Andy Chambers wrote a interesting tale but at times it was a bit confusing. The characters besides the main characters are blank and weak. There are also some typos (Delaque, Delauqe and such) but nothing that make you wanna stop.
trackofwords's review
4.0
Andy Chambers’ classic 2005 Necromunda novel Survival Instinct is the story of spire-born noblewoman turned underhive legend D’onne Ulanti, otherwise known as ‘Mad’ Donna. After receiving a message which dredges up ancient history, Donna finds herself on a danger-filled journey that leads ever-deeper into the underhive, and the dark corners of her past.
It’s very much a child of its time, so it’s not particularly sophisticated; the plot is simple but effective, the writing is very readable if not technically outstanding, and the supporting characters aren’t especially well developed…but everything is so well rooted in the setting that it just doesn’t matter. While it’s harsh to call those flaws considering the nature of this book – its objectives at the time were surely to sell Necromunda and tell an entertaining tale – those…characteristics…rather bely the fact that this is actually a pretty well-constructed story. It’s all just great fun – a bit silly, and hardly original, but hugely entertaining all the same.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/01/29/survival-instinct-andy-chambers/
It’s very much a child of its time, so it’s not particularly sophisticated; the plot is simple but effective, the writing is very readable if not technically outstanding, and the supporting characters aren’t especially well developed…but everything is so well rooted in the setting that it just doesn’t matter. While it’s harsh to call those flaws considering the nature of this book – its objectives at the time were surely to sell Necromunda and tell an entertaining tale – those…characteristics…rather bely the fact that this is actually a pretty well-constructed story. It’s all just great fun – a bit silly, and hardly original, but hugely entertaining all the same.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2018/01/29/survival-instinct-andy-chambers/
nooker's review
5.0
This is really Wicked for the Underhive and since it was published 5 years after Wicked, it really could be an influence. I really didn't like Wicked, couldn't even get though it, as I really don't care for the world of Oz and really just wanted my wicked witch to be wicked & not troubled, but I did like Survival Instinct. I do love all things Necromunda, but didn't really care where Mad Donna came from. Still don't really and can't understand GW's infatuation with people fleeing the spire into the Underhive, but I did like the story here. I did find it weird that there was a ekranoplan on the sump (Google it, it's weird vehicle). The author must have seen a picture of it and just decided that a contraption that weird needed to be in the story. Really good description of The Sump at the end that was practically worth the price of admission alone. Nice to see some of our old standbys of Escher, Delaque, the Goliath Dog Soldiers gang, Pit Slaves and Guiders.
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