40k Book Review: Flesh and Iron
Yet another new Black Library novel has made its way into my possession, and after reading it, I figured I might as well tell you folk what I think of Henry Zou’s latest.
Flesh and Iron initially appeared to be yet another book about some rough and tumble guard regiment that doesn’t play by the rules and is looked down upon by the other, “spit and polish” regiments. It also appeared to be another novel set in “space Vietnam” as the war in question occurs in a jungle against local insurgents. Even more, the primary plot showed immediate similarities to “The Guns of Navarone”.
In actuality, all of these things were true. As I read on, I readied myself for a slog. However, even though it started out as a story about a bunch of not-catachans in space Vietnam going to silence the Guns of Navarone, it stands up on its own two feet and demanded that I recognize it for its own quirks, details, and story. It really managed to take all of those elements and seamlessly integrate them into a story that is very much its own unique thing, and also very 40k. Its also very, very good.
Though at first I saw the protagonists as the not-catachans, over time, I began to see them as the 31st Riverine, and though at first I just saw it as space Vietnam, by the end of the book, it was inarguably the planet of Solo-Baston. And even though the primary character may seem like a wannabe Ibram Gaunt, Mr. Zou shatters that perception with the finality of a powerfist hitting a window.
All things considered, Flesh and Iron is 414 pages of top quality military science fiction, and also top quality 40k.
4.5 stars(out of 5)
~I don’t know if you can tell, but I liked this book a lot. Has anyone read the first Bastion Wars novel? I haven’t had the chance, and I’m curious as to what people thought. Now I’m going to have to go back and pick up a copy to compare.
