Novels focusing on non-combat-oriented branches of the IoM

[b1soul]

I think these are really rare, right?

 

The Guard/Navy, Inquisition, Arbites, SoB, Astartes, Custodes/SoS, Assassinorum, etc. are all in the business of killing.

 

Rogue Traders are supposed to be primarily traders, but seem to engage in a lot of combat, either ship to ship gunnery, repelling boarders, or armed parties fighting off hostiles planet-side.

 

Still, surprising that BL has never released a Rogue Trader series.

 

Astropaths, Navigators, Ecclesiarchy, Administratum...would love more delving into these branches.

 

Come to think of it, a long-running Rogue Trader series set during the Great Crusade would be awesome, focusing more on exploration and less on combat.

 

Just sharing some thoughts.

[Xisor]

Rogue Traders are supposed to be primarily traders, but seem to engage in a lot of combat, either ship to ship gunnery, repelling boarders, or armed parties fighting off hostiles planet-side.

 

Still, surprising that BL has never released a Rogue Trader series.

 

It would be surprising if it were true.

 

https://www.blacklibrary.com/authors/andy-hoare/rogue-trader-omnibus-ebook.html

 

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Though, in fairness, I did enjoy the novels, but they're also a touch lacklustre. Helluva creepy & memorable scenes here and there though.

 

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It's for that reason I also love Matt Farrer's Shira Calpurnia trilogy - fighting only happens when it's either a bust, or an unhappy disaster. Combat is stuff getting in the way, not a solution or a principle focus of the story.

 

The same applies for Brooks' Rites of Passage. It's Navigator heavy and very civil-side of the Imperium in its viewpoints, and works great for it.

 

There's plenty of fighting, but it's all "getting in the way" (deliberately) and so driving the plot; the protagonist has the correct attitude to combat too, to paraphrase: she cannot be having with that foolishness. ( <3 )

Edited October 8, 2019 by Xisor

[b1soul]

Yep, Rites of Passage seems to be a step in the right direction.

 

As for Hoare's Rogue Trader, was that a series or one-shot?

Nvm, looks to be a duology plus Savage Scars in one omnibus?

[Lord Marshal]

Requiem Infernal's two main characters are a Sister Hospitaller and an Ecclesiarchal 'Priest'. There's PoVs from Guard characters and still action, but it's definitely on the less boom-boom pact side of things (though no less dramatic). 

Edited October 8, 2019 by Lord Marshal

[DukeLeto69]

Hello!

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/358240-away-from-the-battlefield/

 

Just saying ;-)

[Kelborn]

Thank you, Duke. ;)

 

I was about to link the same.

 

Even if "this" one here was started to talk about certain "non-combatant" factions, I dare to say that it basically has the same mindset. I'd say let us use the "Away from the battlefield" link.