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Death's Head #3
Day of the Damned
Fueled with high-octane testosterone and noteworthy for a kill rate more customary in computer games than in works of literature, David Gunn’s novels take no prisoners and make no apologies. Like war itself, they are raw and violent, horrifying yet mysteriously moving. These qualities also characterize Gunn’s hero and narrator, Lt. Sven Tveskoeg, a killing machine whose DNA marks him as less–or perhaps more–than human. Whatever he is, he is always as enthralling as he is lethal.
Sven has survived everything a hostile universe can throw at him. But he’d be the first to admit that it isn’t smarts that have kept him alive for so long. And it’s not luck, either. Because luck wouldn’t have seen him plucked out of obscurity to serve in the army of Emperor OctoV, a machine-human hybrid who appears to be a teenage boy but is actually immeasurably older. Maybe Sven has survived out of sheer orneriness–although his artificially intelligent, unmistakably sarcastic, and more or less sociopathic sidearm might argue otherwise–but Sven isn’t one to ponder such questions.
In Day of the Damned, Sven and his band of misfit auxiliaries have arrived at Farlight, capital of the Octavian Empire, for a little well-earned rest and relaxation. Sven visits his old friends Debro and Anton, whom he liberated from the prison planet of Paradise, and their teenage daughter Aptitude, whose husband he assassinated and who now has a major crush on him.
But what begins as a respite quickly turns into a bloodbath as civil war erupts. And behind the double crosses and Byzantine betrayals threatening to topple OctoV from the throne he has held for thousands of years are the United Free, a galaxy-spanning empire with the technology of gods and the morals of schoolchildren.
As usual, big trouble seems to be following Sven. Which is all right with him. He isn’t that fond of vacations, anyway.
Sven has survived everything a hostile universe can throw at him. But he’d be the first to admit that it isn’t smarts that have kept him alive for so long. And it’s not luck, either. Because luck wouldn’t have seen him plucked out of obscurity to serve in the army of Emperor OctoV, a machine-human hybrid who appears to be a teenage boy but is actually immeasurably older. Maybe Sven has survived out of sheer orneriness–although his artificially intelligent, unmistakably sarcastic, and more or less sociopathic sidearm might argue otherwise–but Sven isn’t one to ponder such questions.
In Day of the Damned, Sven and his band of misfit auxiliaries have arrived at Farlight, capital of the Octavian Empire, for a little well-earned rest and relaxation. Sven visits his old friends Debro and Anton, whom he liberated from the prison planet of Paradise, and their teenage daughter Aptitude, whose husband he assassinated and who now has a major crush on him.
But what begins as a respite quickly turns into a bloodbath as civil war erupts. And behind the double crosses and Byzantine betrayals threatening to topple OctoV from the throne he has held for thousands of years are the United Free, a galaxy-spanning empire with the technology of gods and the morals of schoolchildren.
As usual, big trouble seems to be following Sven. Which is all right with him. He isn’t that fond of vacations, anyway.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 2, 2011
23 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
David Gunn
25 books114 followersSmartly dressed, resourceful, and discreet, David Gunn has undertaken assignments in Central America, the Middle East, and Russia (among numerous other places). Coming from a service family, he is happiest when on the move and tends not to stay in one town or city for very long. The author of Death’s Head and Death’s Head: Maximum Offense, Gunn lives in the United Kingdom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 9, 2012
I loved this book, I love this series, when the hell are we getting book 4? I want to know what the hell happens next. David Gunn PROMISED me it would all be explained, 3 damned years ago.
To be honest I read the first book when I wasp regnant and my brain wasn't at full capacity and I was a bit confused, but I got myself up to speed and I desperately want the next instalment.
I mean for goodness sakes, what's going to happen with the Sig?!?!?!!?!?
To be honest I read the first book when I wasp regnant and my brain wasn't at full capacity and I was a bit confused, but I got myself up to speed and I desperately want the next instalment.
I mean for goodness sakes, what's going to happen with the Sig?!?!?!!?!?
January 19, 2019
Well it's all over, or is it?
I sincerely hope not.
The killing, screwing, bloodletting, gore splatter and page after page action can not be at an end.
Sven and his Aux up against it, again!
The excrement comes into contact with the spinny, metal bladed cooler of the air, as always.
Lots of action, some plot and Sven thinking about thinking and being mocked by his kill crazy sentient gun.
Popcorn military sci-fi for the hoi-poloi and I liked it.
All good things come to an end................. but why?
The end is ambiguous and there is definitely another book to be mined out of this universe of Svens'
Here's hoping.
I sincerely hope not.
The killing, screwing, bloodletting, gore splatter and page after page action can not be at an end.
Sven and his Aux up against it, again!
The excrement comes into contact with the spinny, metal bladed cooler of the air, as always.
Lots of action, some plot and Sven thinking about thinking and being mocked by his kill crazy sentient gun.
Popcorn military sci-fi for the hoi-poloi and I liked it.
All good things come to an end................. but why?
The end is ambiguous and there is definitely another book to be mined out of this universe of Svens'
Here's hoping.
July 1, 2022
2.5/5
My least favourite entry in what I thought was a great series. It is a shame the story ends here and we will never see it’s full evolution. I found this book a bit confusing at times - too many things were implied and skipped over for my liking.
My least favourite entry in what I thought was a great series. It is a shame the story ends here and we will never see it’s full evolution. I found this book a bit confusing at times - too many things were implied and skipped over for my liking.
August 6, 2015
For me this is probably one book too far for Sven. While the initial books where a rush of action and ruthlessness, in this one Sven develops a bit more and that takes away from his charm for me. It would be ok if his development allowed him to continue along the warpath with added depth but he moves away from it sadly. If he were to live long enough and continue this way he could become an elder statesman!
A minor niggle is that he loses his prosthetic at one point but then uses it in a sex scene before it disappears again.
Love to see Sven back in all his unfettered glory.
A minor niggle is that he loses his prosthetic at one point but then uses it in a sex scene before it disappears again.
Love to see Sven back in all his unfettered glory.
November 3, 2021
Umm, is that really the ending? Really?
This book’s storyline constantly eludes to some huge underlying machiavellian scheme Sven is supposed to do something about/with and then it just stops in the middle of some unexplained battle. Literally. It. Just. Stops.
This book is rushed, tries to do too much, hints at too many meta-plots, and ends up tripping itself up. It seems like the author ran out of steam and just quit. Which is sad because otherwise, this is one of the most compelling series of this genre I’ve ever read.
This book’s storyline constantly eludes to some huge underlying machiavellian scheme Sven is supposed to do something about/with and then it just stops in the middle of some unexplained battle. Literally. It. Just. Stops.
This book is rushed, tries to do too much, hints at too many meta-plots, and ends up tripping itself up. It seems like the author ran out of steam and just quit. Which is sad because otherwise, this is one of the most compelling series of this genre I’ve ever read.
Read
August 4, 2011346 pages. Borrow it don't buy it. Its a standard super solider book. This is 3rd of 3 books so far. I picked this one up by accident. The writer doesn't give you much help in terms of back story. Yet after 25 pages or so I wasn't lost. The book is violent . It is well written. It is funny.
I was disappointed with the ending. I may read 1st two books in the series to understand the characters better. Overall a decent read. Yet not worth of a purchase. Get this from your library.
I was disappointed with the ending. I may read 1st two books in the series to understand the characters better. Overall a decent read. Yet not worth of a purchase. Get this from your library.
May 16, 2023
FREAKING AWESOME 3
May 22, 2021
It's been a long time since I read, Day of the Dammed. Likely a week or so after it came out. So I didn't remember a lot about the book.
Sven and the Death's Head Aux are at it again. This time the Aux are not involved in most of the action. Most of the Action takes place in the Capitol of OctV's Empire Farlight. There are multiple intrieges, the U/free are involved with Paper Marou (Svwn's old lover) Trying to call the shots.
AS usual there is a lot of Brutal action. When the action involves the rioting and sacking of a city, it's not going to be nice. We also learn a bit more about OctV, Debro and Anton.
My complait is the ending seemed a bit forced. Like maybe it should have been explanned or left for the start of a another book. But it does leave me wanting a fourth volume. Which is not going to happen.
Sven and the Death's Head Aux are at it again. This time the Aux are not involved in most of the action. Most of the Action takes place in the Capitol of OctV's Empire Farlight. There are multiple intrieges, the U/free are involved with Paper Marou (Svwn's old lover) Trying to call the shots.
AS usual there is a lot of Brutal action. When the action involves the rioting and sacking of a city, it's not going to be nice. We also learn a bit more about OctV, Debro and Anton.
My complait is the ending seemed a bit forced. Like maybe it should have been explanned or left for the start of a another book. But it does leave me wanting a fourth volume. Which is not going to happen.
December 14, 2023
I’m giving the final book in the Death’s Head trilogy a solid 7/10 (I prefer “out of ten” over five), but feel that it could’ve scored higher had it not ‘carried on’ at points. I know this may sound inappropriate given how Mr. Gunn normally doesn’t expound, but in this final installment he at times would go into great detail, but just not on the things that I felt would have filled out the story. Very entertaining, but should not to be read out or sequence. I feel like the story could’ve easily been three 500-page books. Good stuff.
March 24, 2021
Really liked the series but the end of the last book ruined it
I have no clue why the author ended the series in the way he did. It made absolutely no sense and all it did was ruin the experience of reading what in the main were three great books. As the last book was written many years ago there isn’t a fourth book to try and make sense of this. Read the books as they are entertaining but be prepared for a very strange and I comprehendable ending.
I have no clue why the author ended the series in the way he did. It made absolutely no sense and all it did was ruin the experience of reading what in the main were three great books. As the last book was written many years ago there isn’t a fourth book to try and make sense of this. Read the books as they are entertaining but be prepared for a very strange and I comprehendable ending.
May 20, 2017
Such fun and less superhero stuff.
February 15, 2019
Slightly better than the previous one
Enjoyed this tome a bit more, as it was easier to follow where things were being killed.
However, couldn't figure out the ending.
Enjoyed this tome a bit more, as it was easier to follow where things were being killed.
However, couldn't figure out the ending.
June 9, 2020
The author clearly didn't finish this series. No real conclusion, just stops...pity.
September 11, 2020
Ending super stupid and didn't resolve anything. WTF?
February 3, 2021
Dark, violent, profane and great fun to read. Wish there were more than three in this series.
May 6, 2013
Sven est en vacances sur la planète capitale Farlight. Pour un guerrier tel que lui, les vacances, c'est l'enfer. Il a besoin d'action pour exister. Heureusement, la paix de la planète est toute relative et celle-ci ne va pas tarder à se transformer en champ de bataille...
Le jour des damnés est le tome 3 de la série Les Aux'. J'avais adoré le premier tome et bien aimé le second, je me suis donc lancé sans appréhension dans le troisième tome. Malheureusement, celui-ci ne tient pas toutes les promesses de ses prédécesseurs.
L'entrée en matière est prometteuse. On retrouve Sven avec plaisir. En ce début de roman, son obsession névrotique pour le combat est très bien exploitée par l'auteur. On sourit volontiers dans les 50 premières pages aux multiples situations cocasses résultant du repos du guerrier.
« - Alors, demande Debro, qu'est ce que tu en penses ? Elle veut dire : qu'est ce que je pense de son toit terrasse, avec ses dalles rouges et son muret blanc, avec sa vue sur une route sinueuse qui traverse le village vers l'enceinte de sa propriété.
- Bon endroit pour une mitrailleuse à bande.
Anton rit :
- Elle te parle de la vue. »
C'est par la suite que ça se gâte. En effet, on rentre dans une intrigue politique qui permet également à l'auteur de développer le fonctionnement émotionnel de Sven. Malheureusement, ça ne fonctionne pas. C'est souvent brouillon et on finit par s'ennuyer.
Quand on aborde le dernier tiers du livre et la partie action, on se dit que l'on va retrouver cette action pure que a fait le succès de la série. Hélas, là encore ce fut la déception. Malgré quelques moments intéressants, le texte reste confus. Le style fluide et efficace de l'auteur a disparu. S'est-il perdu dans son histoire, ou le changement de traducteur a-t-il influé sur la version française ? Difficile à dire, mais le résultat est là...
Il faut également signaler que certains passages de la bataille de Farlight peuvent choquer les plus sensibles. L'auteur nous livre un récit cru et imagé des barbaries infligées aux civils innocents. Une réalité sans filtre, volontairement choquante qui nous rappelle la cruauté de la guerre.
En ce qui concerne le final de ce troisième tome, il m'a laissé sur ma faim. Les questions soulevées dans ce livre restent en suspens pour trouver de possibles réponses dans la suite de la saga.
Au final, Le jour des damnés est un livre décevant. Je l'ai lu sans déplaisir mais je m'attendais à beaucoup mieux. Je lirai tout de même la suite en espérant retrouver la qualité des deux premiers tomes.
Note : 5,5/10
Le jour des damnés est le tome 3 de la série Les Aux'. J'avais adoré le premier tome et bien aimé le second, je me suis donc lancé sans appréhension dans le troisième tome. Malheureusement, celui-ci ne tient pas toutes les promesses de ses prédécesseurs.
L'entrée en matière est prometteuse. On retrouve Sven avec plaisir. En ce début de roman, son obsession névrotique pour le combat est très bien exploitée par l'auteur. On sourit volontiers dans les 50 premières pages aux multiples situations cocasses résultant du repos du guerrier.
« - Alors, demande Debro, qu'est ce que tu en penses ? Elle veut dire : qu'est ce que je pense de son toit terrasse, avec ses dalles rouges et son muret blanc, avec sa vue sur une route sinueuse qui traverse le village vers l'enceinte de sa propriété.
- Bon endroit pour une mitrailleuse à bande.
Anton rit :
- Elle te parle de la vue. »
C'est par la suite que ça se gâte. En effet, on rentre dans une intrigue politique qui permet également à l'auteur de développer le fonctionnement émotionnel de Sven. Malheureusement, ça ne fonctionne pas. C'est souvent brouillon et on finit par s'ennuyer.
Quand on aborde le dernier tiers du livre et la partie action, on se dit que l'on va retrouver cette action pure que a fait le succès de la série. Hélas, là encore ce fut la déception. Malgré quelques moments intéressants, le texte reste confus. Le style fluide et efficace de l'auteur a disparu. S'est-il perdu dans son histoire, ou le changement de traducteur a-t-il influé sur la version française ? Difficile à dire, mais le résultat est là...
Il faut également signaler que certains passages de la bataille de Farlight peuvent choquer les plus sensibles. L'auteur nous livre un récit cru et imagé des barbaries infligées aux civils innocents. Une réalité sans filtre, volontairement choquante qui nous rappelle la cruauté de la guerre.
En ce qui concerne le final de ce troisième tome, il m'a laissé sur ma faim. Les questions soulevées dans ce livre restent en suspens pour trouver de possibles réponses dans la suite de la saga.
Au final, Le jour des damnés est un livre décevant. Je l'ai lu sans déplaisir mais je m'attendais à beaucoup mieux. Je lirai tout de même la suite en espérant retrouver la qualité des deux premiers tomes.
Note : 5,5/10
August 6, 2014
The third book in an amped up, testosterone driven action sci-fi series, Day of the Damned starts to wear out the novelty of some pretty darn novel notions from the first two books. Even an super intelligent, smart ass AI super gun and a tough-as-nails Foreign Legionnaire (IN SPACE!) start to lose some of their luster in a story that seems to have lost a lot of its momentum. Still, I enjoyed the book, right up to the very end, which (spoiler alert, sort of!) gave the reader yet another cliff hanger. I may or may not read the next volume, depending on my whimsey; this is much more likely if it actually ties up any sort of story line.
July 4, 2010
The continuing story of Sven takes some very odd twists and turns. I'm hoping the series continues, as I find that I do want to see where it goes next.
There's something about Gunn's writing that just holds my attention, and I find myself caring about the characters and what they're going to do next.
There's something about Gunn's writing that just holds my attention, and I find myself caring about the characters and what they're going to do next.
July 15, 2014
"spoiler alert". I really like Sven, but I must be dense as I did not get the end. Also after I finish I wonder if the author modeled Sven on Sten because there are just too many comparisons between the two series. Except the last novel in Sten series tied everything together. I was able to say "now that makes sense". I never had that understanding with this series.
January 30, 2013
Just as enjoyable as the others. It is a standard super soldier story but done well. Sven is an enjoyable, no shit taking man that you absolutely don't want to be on the wrong side of. It read well and was what I consider a gym book. It's something easy I could whip out on my nook and follow while running on the treadmill.
December 29, 2012
I liked this book, I would give it between 3.5 and 4 stars. Its entertaining and it has a nice flow with good twists. It makes for a nice follow to the first two and I always enjoy Sven and his ideals, actions and how he lives day to day. Overall I would have to say its not quite as good as the first or second book, but it was still a worthy read. Hope there will be another one or two!
October 4, 2010
Third in the series. More of the same but all taking place on terra firma. Same characters as the previous books, so if you like them you'll enjoy this. Sudden, somewhat unsatisfying ending that is setting up book four.
April 20, 2010
This was a fun, action-packed novel.I enjoyed the tense narrative, plot twists, sarcastic dialogue, and cynical characters. David Gunn, to a certain degree, continued to propel the series along. However, the sudden ending was somewhat disappointing.
December 23, 2010
I was a little disappointed with this 3rd part.
Gunn went a bit too far with his main character being a real asshole, always grinning when there's danger, everyone's always scowling (he uses this word a lot) and the story doesn't always make sense.
I didn't like it that much.
Gunn went a bit too far with his main character being a real asshole, always grinning when there's danger, everyone's always scowling (he uses this word a lot) and the story doesn't always make sense.
I didn't like it that much.
Read
July 24, 2011Third in the Death's Head series. Not as good as the first 2 but maybe it's just the evolution of the characters that make you miss their old personalities. Sven's progression in rank remind me of the Orphan's series. Good series none-the-less.
May 4, 2012
There's nothing whatsoever cultured or tasteful about this trilogy. Its 100% macho escapist bullshit and totally politically incorrect. In the same way that the movie Machete is - not that I liked the movie all that much. But I do love the trilogy.
October 20, 2012
The first two-thirds is standard main character is the baddest badass, but the final third starts to deal with interesting ideas including some from previous books. Occasionally the narrative is hard to figure out who is speaking.
December 14, 2013
Weakest of the series
I thought this book was the weakest off the three in the series. The plot is too convoluted, and the character of the Emperor leaves something to be desired. The book excels when Sven is being Sven...take no prisoners and ask no quarter.
I thought this book was the weakest off the three in the series. The plot is too convoluted, and the character of the Emperor leaves something to be desired. The book excels when Sven is being Sven...take no prisoners and ask no quarter.
January 4, 2015
Sven's at his best when his in the thick of the action & the Aux are behind him!!!!
We went a long time with no real action & no Aux...
I'm living in hope that future books will see Sven & the Aux doing what they do best ...
We went a long time with no real action & no Aux...
I'm living in hope that future books will see Sven & the Aux doing what they do best ...
July 23, 2014
This third installment of the series has been the best so far with many twists and turns, revelations, fights, girls, everything you expect in a Death's Head novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews