Salvation

by C S Goto

Review by James R.Cain

'Salvation' is a Necromunda novel, penned by C S Goto, author of the Black Flame title Dawn of War.  Goto has penned numerous items of short fiction in Inferno! magazine. 

For those unfamiliar with Necomunda, the story is set in an industrial Hive city housing millions of people.  The Hive city is a colossal spire, best described as a human 'termite mound', and prestige and wealth dictate how high in the spire you live.  In the lower, more brutal regions of the Hive, the gangs rule.  

The gangs of the various houses fight for position and superiority over the other gangs in their region.  We have the gangs of House Escher, whose members are almost exclusively women.  The gangs of House Delaque, known for their double-dealing and espionage.  The gangs of the House of Cawdor, religious fanatics, compelled by their beliefs.  Finally, there is House Goliath, the gangs of which occupy the deeper regions of the Hive.  House Goliath gangers are muscle-bound brutes, barbaric, with their combat prowess proven in the fighting pits. 

In 'Salvation', we meet Zefer Tyranus, a lowly curator, who'se dedicated the past few years of his life studying an ancient tome, titled Paradoxes of the Spire.  Zefer discovers two pages of the ancient book stuck together, and on those pages he learns of an ancient artefact hidden in the depths of the underhive.  This artefact links his aspiring family with the founding fathers of Necromunda, and if found, may upset the balance of power in the hive.  

It's here the tale begins.  Zefer's discovery does not go unnoticed by the spies of the various houses watching the KoŽiron librarium, and as Zefer sets out on an expedition to reclaim the item, the gangs set out to claim the artefact as their own.         

C S Goto has done a great job of capturing the claustrophobia of the Necromunda world.  As an old gamer, I felt the novel was a faithful adaption, but it's equally enjoyable by those unfamiliar to this universe.  I really enjoyed the Ratskin characters.  Ratskins are Indian-like mutants that live in the underhive, known for wearing the skins of mutant rats.  They were a refreshing addition to the story.  The ending was a little neat for my tastes, but it was a good ride.  I would recommend the book to Necromunda fans, or beyond that, to fans of the cyber-punk genre.

Publisher: Black Flame

ISBN: 1-84416-189-7 - Paperback (251 pages)