Mike Brooks’ first Necromunda story for Black Library, released before his novella Wanted: Dead, the short story A Common Ground is a tale of pit fighters and blood-sport brutality, but also of careful planning and lasting legacies. Jaxx is a member of House Goliath, and has chosen to make a name for himself fighting in the arena of impresario Drost Khouren rather than work in the foundries. Shortly after discovering that Khouren rigged his last contest, costing him a shot at a lucrative fight, Jaxx is offered an opportunity to claim one last paycheck, but at a high cost.
You might expect a story about pit fighters to be non-stop action, but while there’s some spectacularly violent moments (albeit with a hint of scripted wrestling about them) this is, overall, a character story. In the space of three scenes Brooks tackles income inequality, caring for family, deeply dubious business practices, and the nature of life for a Goliath in the underhive, all seen through the perspective of an unusual character fundamentally shaped by his environment. It’s cleverly done, combining thought-provoking observations with powerful and entertaining action, and it’s a great example of the different sort of stories that can be told in the underhive.
A Common Ground is available in Inferno! Volume 1, the Underhive anthology, or as a standalone e-short.
Click here to buy A Common Ground.
