Andy Chambers’ classic 2005 Necromunda novel Survival Instinct is the story of spire-born noblewoman turned underhive legend D’onne Ulanti, otherwise known as ‘Mad’ Donna. After receiving a message which dredges up ancient history, Donna finds herself on a danger-filled journey that leads ever-deeper into the underhive, and the dark corners of her past. Braving the attentions of merciless bounty hunters and all the many and varied dangerous inhabitants of the underhive, and with a little help from friends in low places, she uses her wits, charm and copious weaponry to blaze a trail from Glory Hole (ahem) to the sump.
Alongside Kal Jerico, ‘Mad’ Donna (complete with blatant name pun and a model to match) was one of the best-known characters in the Necromunda game, and makes for a hugely entertaining protagonist. Survival Instinct is essentially a quest story, with a fun and fast-paced plot that leaves plenty of room to dig into Donna’s backstory, which is gradually revealed as the book progresses. The ongoing narrative is interspersed with a series of fairly standard but well done flashbacks providing effective glimpses into first her childhood, and then eventually the events which led to her leaving the spire for a life of danger in the underhive. Those glimpses of young, naive D’onne contrast cleverly with the hard-bitten, intense woman that she’s grown into, and while she’s hardly a realistic character in real terms, she’s both decidedly likeable in an action (anti)hero sense and surprisingly well-drawn in respect to her motivations and choices.
Between the flashbacks and the main narrative we get a fascinating journey through Hive Primus, almost a 360 degree view of the Necromunda setting which shows just how involved Chambers was with the whole thing. Throughout the book there are detailed, vivid descriptions of the locations, inhabitants and dangers of life all across the hive, with lots to learn about and enjoy for new readers, and a strong nostalgia factor for long-term fans. Thankfully there’s enough to appreciate in the narrative and in Donna’s character for the world building to never dominate, but rather support the story. It’s very much a child of its time (in Black Library terms), so it’s not particularly sophisticated; the plot is simple but effective, the writing is very readable if not technically outstanding, and the supporting characters aren’t especially well developed…but everything is so well rooted in the setting that it just doesn’t matter.
While it’s harsh to call those flaws considering the nature of this book – its objectives at the time were surely to sell Necromunda and tell an entertaining tale – those…characteristics…rather bely the fact that this is actually a pretty well-constructed story. In particular the flashback structure proves to nicely tie Donna’s past in with the wider plot, emphasising and complementing what’s going on rather than serving just to flesh out her character. Ultimately it’s all just great fun – a bit silly, and hardly original, but hugely entertaining all the same. Don’t be surprised if, having finished this, you’re tempted to dust off your old Escher gang or pick up some of the new models. Job done, over ten years later!
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