Chem Dog

[sitnam]

A Commissar and his men sent on a suicide mission, facing Xenos dangers

Spoiler

and treachery

 

This synopsis doesn't describe just Chem Dog but also the recent Death Rider by Rhuairidh James. In many ways these novels parallel each other, but the characters and end results feel very different.

 

This novel really impressed me, and I think reading this alongside Death Rider makes for a great unintentional duology. The lead Commissars are both very different men, with very different companions. It almost feels like both authors were given the above synopsis as a starting point and worked from there.

 

Rasp leads a kill team of Chem Dogs with both sides despising each other. He is a harsh disciplinarian, zealous in his faith to the God Emperor. His journey leads him to evaluate his beliefs on about the convict killers he despises.

 

Hesh leads a squadron of riders on a mission to find the Death Korps. Hesh is a far more forgiving morale officer, using persuasion and charisma as a tool.

 

Hesh would likely be seen as weak by Rasp, whereas the DkoK Commissar would see Chem Dog leader as a brutal fanatic.

 

Highly recommend Chem Dog especially if you liked Death Rider. Callum Davis, with this and his Iron Lords short story, really has potential. I thought the ending was a bit weak and anti-climatic, but that's my main issue with the novel. Now I'm off to eBay to peruse bits for a Chem Dog kitbash I have all sudden urge to make

[Felix Antipodes]

I had pretty much the same thoughts.  Really enjoyed it up until the last few chapters, when it seemed to lose its way.  Davis goes on my author watch list after this.

[The Scorpion]

I loved Death Rider, the hype was justified. Imma try Chem Dog

[grailkeeper]

Interesting that the commissar is portrayed as a commissar. I get that facist disciplinarians aren't sympathetic protaganists, but it seems every other black library protagonist commissar is a super special commissar who doesn't want to be nasty to people. If they're raised from Childhood for the job, they can't all be secretly decent.

[The Scorpion]

56 minutes ago, grailkeeper said:

Interesting that the commissar is portrayed as a commissar. I get that facist disciplinarians aren't sympathetic protaganists, but it seems every other black library protagonist commissar is a super special commissar who doesn't want to be nasty to people. If they're raised from Childhood for the job, they can't all be secretly decent.

Hard agree. It is why I liked Severina Raine: she's not evil, but that doesn't mean she's a guardsman's friend.

 

I liked Valian Hesh too. It takes the concept of the "unique" comissar and flips it into a negative. He's unique sure, but that is whay makes him defective. His mentor on the other hand, is a deranged and fanatical woman that gives us this gem:

Quote

‘Valian. I’ve let you down. You were too weak. I’ve crushed you. I’ve made a mouse out of a Commissarial candidate. Every cadet who’s served with me is dead, a Hero of the Imperium, or both. You are neither.’

She placed her bolt pistol on the table between them. 

‘I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’ve pulled some strings. I’ve written some very generous commendations. But I can’t bring myself to put you in charge of men under arms. I’d be sentencing them all to death by cowardice.’

 

[sitnam]

I agree, a character like Cain works best when Commissars are supposed to be bastards. Yet I felt like if every Commissar was written as a mindless brute it would ruin the interesting bits about them. They are supposed to be disciplinarians, but they are supposed to also navigate the intricacies of different regiment cultures, acting almost as interpretors or diplomats in some cases. The Attilans-attached Commissar in Death Rider who had "gone native" comes to mind.

 

It stands to reason that different Commissars would be suited for different regiments. A man like Hesh is  actually quite suited to reigning in the Krieg when they are self destructive whereas a harsh man like Rasp would be needed to corral hardened criminals

 

@Felix Antipodes I enjoyed it right up the the epilogue, that was the only thing that felt a bit rushed imo.

Edited July 14 by sitnam

[Felix Antipodes]

You are right.  I went back and re-read the last few chapters and they were okay.  It was the epilogue that I was half remembering as off-putting.