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Outlander (Necromunda Novels) | 
| Author: Matt Keefe
Publisher: Games Workshop
Category: Book
Buy Used: $32.44
New (2) Used (5) from $32.44
Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 340834
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 184416411X
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN: 9781844164110
ASIN: 184416411X
Publication Date: December 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Excellent customer service. Order inquiries handled promptly.
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| Customer Reviews:
Decent Writing, So-So Plot May 14, 2007
Sean B. Schoonmaker (Oakland, CA, USA)
Outlander is M. Keefe's first novel for Black Library, though he has a number of game-writing credits for other companies. The stage is the massive Hive Primus of Necromunda, a science fiction setting in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 (W40K) universe. The plot follows an outlander who becomes part of a group of House Cawdor / Redemptionist gangs deep in the underhive of Necromunda. Sadly, saying much more would spoil elements of the plot.
While certainly decent for a first novel, M. Keefe fails to avoid a few of the pitfalls that entrap many authors of shorter works. There are portions that feel almost episodic, like they were shorter stories stitched together into a larger whole. Likewise, some of the plot twists required for the longer work fall short of believability. Strangers are taken into complete confidence for no better reason that it advances the story, characters charge or flee in odd directions so as to encounter evidence that would have otherwise never been found. There are several other forced plot twists, and as has been pointed out above, you see the ending coming a mile away.
This is not to say that the other aspects of the tale are without merit. M. Keefe has a good grasp of the established canon of previous Necromunda novels, and the writing skill to pepper it throughout without ever lecturing or seeming forced. His narrative flows well enough that if it weren't for the shortcomings above, this would be a good page turner.
Overall, it was an easy read, but somewhat shaky on plot. Fans of the other Necromunda books should enjoy it just fine, but there are better Black Library books for W40K.
Deadworld January 23, 2007
R. Howell (Medford, OR)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Nercomunda: Outlander takes place in the offshoot worlds of Warhammer 40K. This windswept wasteland has fallen to the desolation of the Hive cities and overrun by the multitude of gangs. A lone outlander shows up at the Unions dive of a bar and so the story begins. He's a wanted forging artist running from bounty hunters and gains entry into the Unions gang, headed by Lakatos. He quickly wins favor with the higher ups with his secretive form of passing messages and moves up in the ranks. Unfortunately, fellow message runners start dying out in the blasted lands.
Now for the overall... it's not a bad book but it's not a great book either. Everyone is a bit of a sleeze but most of the Necromunda setting is that way. You don't feel for any characters and the action is too slow until the end. You'll figure out what's going on pretty early on so the ending is a bit anti-climatic. It was worth reading but I probably won't read it again. Possibly the highest mark for the book is the cover art. I don't recommend paying full price for the book but you can get it cheaper on Amazon.com.
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