David Gunn is a London-based English novelist from a military background. His first novel Death's Head borrows from the tropes and cliches of military Science Fiction. (Prison planets, fascist uniforms, complicated weapons.) His protagonist Sven is an ex-sergeant in the legion (a cross between the United States Marine Corps and the French Foreign Legion).

The writer's style is basic, the characterisation simple - except for Sven, who is created around a couple of contradictions - and the plotting exclusively linear. Unusually the story is told in the first person present so everything is seen as it happens and only through the eyes of the main character. Most first person narrative, particularly in the UK, is told in the past tense. UK SF also lacks a tradition of hard military SF, with publishers usually buying rights to American books. This makes Death's Head unusual for a UK science fiction novel.

Kirkus Reviews has called it, "The finest military science fiction debut in years..." SFX magazine disagreed, dismissing it as 'bravo two zero in space.' Most of the critical debate to date has centered on the check boxing the influences behind David Gunn's novel. Among the more obvious is Starship Troopers, the film rather than Robert Heinlein's original story.

References

Shur'tugal – Book Review - Death's Head (David Gunn)

Bobulous – Death's Head by David Gunn – A book review by Bobulous

UK SF Book Club interview with David Gunn

SFF World Book - Review - Death's Head

External links

David Gunn's Myspace page