Rogue Star (Warhammer 40,000)
by Andy Hoare
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Book Summary Information
Author: Andy HoareEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-09-12
ISBN: 184416375X
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Games Workshop
Book Reviews of Rogue Star (Warhammer 40,000)
Book Review: Jumping into the World of Rogue Traders
Summary: 5 Stars
Rogue Star by Andy Hoare is an interesting entry in the 40k canon. It doesn't follow any of the major playable factions in the 40k miniatures game. It isn't represented by any of the GW board games. It'd be a stretch to say it was represented in any of the specialist games (though the argument could certainly be made for Battlefleet Gothic). Before the Rogue Trade RPG, there was little in the way of information about the namesakes of the original Warhammer 40k universe. With all that being said, Rogue Star is easily one of my favorite books in the 40k universe.
The first thing you really have to understand going into Rogue Star is that it is a far different book than any other 40k books you've probably read. It is more about political intrigue and misdirection than direct conflict. There are no Astartes. Hell, we barely get a glimpse of the Imperial Guard. It is the story of Lucian Gerritt, his daughter Brielle, his step-son Korvane, and the fragile hold they retain on their Rogue Trader dynasty. Lucian, simply put, is low on funds, and his dynasty (I gather this as a trade title via name similar to the Medici and Strozzi family names of the renaissance) is in jeopardy of crumbling.
Enter Culpepper Luneberg, Imperial Commander of Mundus Chasmata-- a backwater Eastern Rim planet--with visions of trading grandeur. Luneberg has come into technologies that could potentially swing the Gerritt trading fortunes into the profitable. Thus the tale begins down a road of political intrigue, betrayal, and the unexpected.
The strength of Hoare's writing comes in his ability to develop his characters. Lucian, Brielle, and Korvane are real characters, fleshed out with their strengths and weaknesses. Their familial dysfunction is something easy to relate to, though Hoare counterbalances this with the obvious affection the three have for each other. Lucian is a man of utmost strength, yet of tender weakness, particularly for his children. Brielle is a woman of untamed rebelliousness, yet unwilling to usurp her brother's place in the dynasty. Korvane is moneyed and worldly, yet naïve and ignorant. The dichotomy Hoare shows in the characters is also reflected in the worlds they visit, and done particularly well.
And though political intrigue and maneuvering makes up the bulk of the novel, the action sequences are tense and exciting. We see both the traditional hand-to-hand combat, as well as involved space warfare that seems to remain true to its maritime past. While these scenes are spaced sparingly throughout the book, they are purposeful, and more importantly, meaningful to the exposition.
If Hoare has any faults in Rogue Star, it is that his early pacing may be a bit slow for some. I've started to read the book three times before I finally got through the first three chapters, though after finishing the novel, I find it forgivable. There is requisite setup time that Hoare uses at the beginning to establish his world, and though it begins slowly, it is again with purpose, and overall, the betterment of the story.
Rogue Star is a well written, well paced, and unique addition to the 40k canon. The Gerritts, with all their warts and foibles, are incredibly interesting characters that certainly warrant more attention. Andy Hoare has spun a fun, intriguing yarn that, while not of typical 40k fare concerning Space Marines and Orks, should certainly not be overlooked by any fan of the grim darkness of the 40,000 century.
The Good
+ Great characters. The Gerritts are fleshed out and interesting.
+ Intriguing plot that takes place in unique setting.
The Bad
--Pacing can be slow at times, making some parts susceptible to skimming.
--Action is sparse and not as violent as other 40k books.
Summary of Rogue Star (Warhammer 40,000)
Rogue Trader Lucian Gerrit learns the true meaning of profit and loss! Andy Hoare presents an epic adventure in his debut novel for the Black Library. Lucian Gerrit is a rogue trader - a starship captain granted ancient trading rights along the Eastern Fringe of Imperial space. But his family's fortunes have been steadily declining for many generations and his inheritance amounts to little more than a pile of debt and misery. In a final desperate gamble to restore his family's former glory, Gerrit strikes a deal on a forgotten Imperial world to aid its commander in a long-standing war with his rival. As Gerrit commits his family's assets to the escalating conflict, he may lose more than his livelihood!War Books
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