Rolling on with book reviews, next is Gunheads by Parker. This relates the story of trying to reclaim Yarrick’s long lost Fortress of Arrogance from the Orks on Golgotha. Meanwhile, the Adeptus Mechanicus is using that expedition as cover to reclaim another artifact recently discovered by scouts in the same region of the planet. Manipulated by the Mechanicus, a large contingent of Imperial Guard assaults the planet, aiming to fight through to where the Mechanicus *swears* Yarrick’s legendary Baneblade is to be found. Recovering the vehicle of course turns out not to be as simple as planned, with the Guard embroiled in many heinous battles with the Orks that have overwhelmed the planet and become ginormous in their ceaseless fighting, and the Mechanicus throwing many curveballs and betrayals along the way.
This is a great example of a solid 40k book. It’s not high literature, but it is entertaining and fun to read. Primary characters are all reasonably interesting. Not super complex, but rounded just enough. Plot is suitably engrossing, with twists and turns throughout and compelling revelations, particularly of the Mechanicus, though there are some interesting notes on the Orks. The only really weak point of the plot is that it’s fairly obvious from the start that whatever the Mechanicus is looking for will be co-located with the Fortress of Arrogance, as it indeed turns out to be.
All in all, Gunheads is what I expect and hope for out of the median 40k novel. Nothing stellar, nothing earth shattering, but good solid science fiction military genre story telling. With chainswords.
