Set in a chillingly realistic far-future world, and featuring a gritty antihero even more frightening than the evil empire he serves as soldier and...
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Apr 24, 2009
Bloggeratf
rated it: 
t might be much calling what follows a book, but Death's Head: Maximum Offense, by David Gunn (can you get a name better than that for military sci-fi?) is a quick and hugely entertaining read. The pace is break neck and it doesn't let up for a second. I found my self leaning forward in my chair, airline style, braced for impact. I finished this in one sitting, not because it was a must read but because its simple good honest fun.
The main character of this military science fiction no More...
The main character of this military science fiction no More...
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Sep 17, 2011
Alex
rated it: 
I never picked up a book that falls in the action sci-fi genre before, and wasn't really sure what to expect. Would I be reading about never ending battles between mercenaries? How much of that can you read before it starts to get tiring?
Well, if all books of similar genre are anything like this book, then it never gets tiring. But I doubt other books are anything like this author's style; told in the first person of a human killing machine who's inner thoughts, dry humor and brutal tactic More...
Well, if all books of similar genre are anything like this book, then it never gets tiring. But I doubt other books are anything like this author's style; told in the first person of a human killing machine who's inner thoughts, dry humor and brutal tactic More...
Jan 15, 2010
David
rated it:
This is definitely a guy's book. It hits the ground running and never looks back. Fast paced, no fat, and gets right to it. Total instant gratification.
It's set in some unknown time in the future and told first person style from Sven. Sven is a soldier, a nobody really. For some reason, the universe has a special fate for Sven. And we go along for the ride while he plows through battles, bars, and brothels from planet to planet.
We like Sven because he's unflinching, unfor More...
It's set in some unknown time in the future and told first person style from Sven. Sven is a soldier, a nobody really. For some reason, the universe has a special fate for Sven. And we go along for the ride while he plows through battles, bars, and brothels from planet to planet.
We like Sven because he's unflinching, unfor More...
Jul 03, 2010
Jay
rated it:
I picked up this book on a whim and I'm mighty glad I did! David Gunn writes fast and furious military sci-fi. Death's Head is the first novel in a series of books featuring the anti-hero Sven Tveskoeg, an ex-sergeant of a sci-fi version of the Légion étrangère. The book is narrated in the first person by Sven, who upon examination is revealed to be 98.2% human and 1.8% "something else" and is able to tolerate, and quickly recovers from major physical stress and damage. Add the fact th
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May 09, 2009
Yune
rated it:
This is probably one of my more biased reviews, seeing as how I read it after a string of unimpressive romance novels. I was ready for a military sf novel where the protagonist is very good at killing instead of fluttering eyelashes. Even if he's not the most intelligent guy, he gets things done (with a generous side helping of extraordinary abilities and, of course, a talking gun), to the point where he gets shuttled around from place to place on crazy missions. Each time he wins promotions
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Jun 05, 2010
Charles
rated it:
Overall I enjoyed it. I thought it read a bit like a first novel in places, particularly at the beginning. The story was a bit disjointed and the main character went from being a prisoner of one group to the next for about the first third of the book, which got somewhat old. Later, however, the plot started to get going and there were a lot of interesting revelations.
The writing was quite good, although the present tense was more of a distraction than it was a help. I also liked More...
The writing was quite good, although the present tense was more of a distraction than it was a help. I also liked More...
Mar 16, 2011
Catharine
rated it: 
What can I say about this amazing, violent, blood-curdling, masculine,
fast-paced, ocassionally foul-mouthed sci-fi tour de force? It's a hell of a read. But it's not for the faint hearted.
Sven Tveskoeg is the kind of hero who will fight anyone and anything and always come out on top. Left for dead in the desert, he survives; wits pitted against an unpredictable ethereal emperor, he manages to charm his way out of trouble. He is the ultimate, uber-masculine hero.
As such, the re More...
fast-paced, ocassionally foul-mouthed sci-fi tour de force? It's a hell of a read. But it's not for the faint hearted.
Sven Tveskoeg is the kind of hero who will fight anyone and anything and always come out on top. Left for dead in the desert, he survives; wits pitted against an unpredictable ethereal emperor, he manages to charm his way out of trouble. He is the ultimate, uber-masculine hero.
As such, the re More...
Dec 04, 2009
Shedrick
rated it:
While I consider myself a science fiction/fantasy fan, I must admit that, realistically, I’m more of a fan of fantasy. My taste in science fiction reading is fairly limited. I am not nearly as enamored of “hard” sci-fi: pages of realistic and scientifically feasible explanations of how the featured Mechawidget actually works. I’m really just into good futuristic yarns. This may be why I tend to watch more science fiction movies and TV than read science fiction books. That and it has been fa
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Apr 07, 2009
Jonathan
rated it:
I'm reading a lot of military science fiction, I guess it's work research... I generally enjoy the more heady hard-core science fiction (you know, the stories built around actual theories and scientific inspiration.)
The "Death's Head" series is an enjoyable read, but it's not really very deep nor is it very scientific. It's pulpy space fantasy, with a heavy military flair... very western, portraying the thug killer soldier headspace.
It's often compared to the More...
The "Death's Head" series is an enjoyable read, but it's not really very deep nor is it very scientific. It's pulpy space fantasy, with a heavy military flair... very western, portraying the thug killer soldier headspace.
It's often compared to the More...
Aug 15, 2011
Glitnir
rated it: 
Wow, talk about gratuitous sex. It's as if Gunn realized he can write details of the process to be shocking but give it a facade of a soldier who just doesn't care.
I had high hopes for the premise (an intelligent gun and symbiote), but it just devolved into an illogical world driven by machines (with elements of Warhammer 40k as a cheap knock off thrown in).
The story of an invincible soldier who has sex with anyone he wants to and can get away with insubordination against the most elite army More...
I had high hopes for the premise (an intelligent gun and symbiote), but it just devolved into an illogical world driven by machines (with elements of Warhammer 40k as a cheap knock off thrown in).
The story of an invincible soldier who has sex with anyone he wants to and can get away with insubordination against the most elite army More...
Dec 22, 2011
Matt
rated it:
I was really looking to read some military sci-fi and this really fits the bill. It reads like a comic book which suits me fine but beware - if you are expecting anything deeper than that - maybe look elsewhere.
The main character(Sven)is basically the hardest man in the universe an really gets thrown around the plot - often for no obviously discernable reason - being incredibly hard and violent.
It's the motivation and direction of the plot and of him that jars a little b More...
The main character(Sven)is basically the hardest man in the universe an really gets thrown around the plot - often for no obviously discernable reason - being incredibly hard and violent.
It's the motivation and direction of the plot and of him that jars a little b More...
Sep 24, 2007
Adam
rated it:
Military sci-fi is an interesting bag.
Lots of advanced weaponry and extraordinarily bloody or gruesome ways to kill people and other creatures. Chemically or robotically modified/enhanced soldiers.
Complicated politics of possible futures, and almost nonexistent morality at times.
Not necessarily something I'd like to read if I want to come away feeling as though the grass is always greener and there's good in everyone.
There's really no good reason outs More...
Lots of advanced weaponry and extraordinarily bloody or gruesome ways to kill people and other creatures. Chemically or robotically modified/enhanced soldiers.
Complicated politics of possible futures, and almost nonexistent morality at times.
Not necessarily something I'd like to read if I want to come away feeling as though the grass is always greener and there's good in everyone.
There's really no good reason outs More...
Nov 09, 2009
Stefan
rated it:
The action starts with a roar and never stops for a second. The action was intense, the plot is fast, and the main character is both fascinating and repelling. The settings are well developed, the characters engaging, the surprises are many, and the dialogue was sarcastic and humorous. This book is one of the most fun, most totally entertaining, and most gritty military science fiction books I have read of late.
Jan 03, 2011
Zozo
rated it:
David Gunn's going to be an excellent writer. Already this book is great. It's a page turner, a very fast and easy read, probably because most of it is action (action well written). But still he managed to insert some mistery into the story. Just enough. I loved the background story and "world order". The protagonist is not a nice guy, but he's not the usual "likable asshole" either, which makes it kinda interesting.
Gunn doesn't use the past tense, which at the same ti More...
Gunn doesn't use the past tense, which at the same ti More...
Jan 17, 2012
Nathan
rated it:
Obviously part one of a planned series. Grunt is put through his paces in a series of tests created by the galactic emperor for reasons to be revealed. Gunn goes for terse, unvarnished prose (a la Cook), but often comes out as confusing and too opaque. Not without merit, but not what one hoped it would be. Rated MA for frequent battle violence, coarse language and adult themes. 2.5/5
Feb 02, 2009
Don
rated it:
Sven is your standard military Sci-Fi badass who just so happens to be employed by the right kind of people who allow him to do his badass kind of things. There is some behind the scenes stuff going on the will probably be fleshed out in the next two books in the series. No great literature but a must for any military sci-fi fan
Jan 27, 2012
Casey
rated it:
It' ain't Shakespeare, but then again, it's not meant to be! Pure popcorn military scifi, but it's pretty fun to read. The actions scenes are well written and the characters are decent too. Lots of mystery around the main character Sven, but we're given a lot of great carrots to keep us going in hopes of finding out more about him.
This also seems very very close to being War Hammer 40k fiction, without actually being War Hammer 40k fiction! I'll definitely look up the follow up bo
This also seems very very close to being War Hammer 40k fiction, without actually being War Hammer 40k fiction! I'll definitely look up the follow up bo
Sep 05, 2010
Ann
rated it:
This is basic uber mercenary-of-the-future fare; it's a fun read if the fact that it's written in present-tense doesn't annoy you unduly. More character development would have ratcheted this up to four or five stars, but in the meantime it's a good quick airplane read.
Dec 24, 2007
Rolf
rated it:
This was a thoroughly enjoyable action adventure with just the right mix of humor and gore. If I had one complaint with this book it is the ease with which the main character gathers such a competent group of misfits around him, but they are all such interesting misfits that I am not going to complain too much. Sven is an interesting character as well, with some hidden depths obviously intended for a sequel or a series. The author’s straight forward approach is what really gives this book it’s h
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Apr 04, 2011
Alec
rated it:
Fast-paced, special-ops style uber-action. Certainly not high-brow literature, but it has reasonably well-drawn and consistently styled characters.
Jan 24, 2011
Brian
rated it:
It's violent, nasty and gritty sci-fi action. It's pretty solid and a real quick read, if you can stomach some of the rougher stuff.
Feb 04, 2012
Steven
rated it:
Airport fiction at it's finest.. If you're looking for military sci-first this is it.
May 25, 2011
Jess
rated it:
Action packed entertainment.
One of my favourite Anti-Hero's of all time :)
One of my favourite Anti-Hero's of all time :)
Aug 05, 2011
Great military Sc-Fi read. Passed it up a few times at B&N but saw it at the library and glad I checked it out. Kind of a mix of Buettner's Orphan series and Robert E. Howard's Conan. Nice.
Aug 06, 2010
Keith
rated it:
This was a fun read that reminded me of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series, but without the over the top camp of Harrison's work. The Rat series is one of my all-time favs, though, so I enjoyed this very much. I'll be continuing on with the series.
