Grunts

by Mary Gentle

Book Overview

An orc is a fireplug of a fighting machine made of muscle, hide, talon, and tusk, with a villainous disposition and a mean sense of humor. And, of course, an orc is a poor dumb grunt--the much abused... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451454537
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.2" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

A look inside the Marines, With a twist!

This is probably my favorite book. I have read it at least 5 times. The level of humor, though dark, is excellent. If you are expecting the usual high fantasy, you will get it, but you will see it from the other side. All around great book! Not for kids as the language is typical marine and there really aren't any heros you would want your kids to emulate. Excellent stuff. It is compared to Harry Harrison's "Bill the Galatic Hero". Well, sort of except this isn't as silly and is much, MUCH better!

How to destroy convetional fantasy in 5 easy steps.

I stumbled on this book in my library, and got confused because I skipped back and forth throughout the book. What are orcs doing acting like marines? The forces of Light and Dark are holding an election? The ruler of a hafling duchy is an S & M Queen? And she's married to an orc? This isn't right. Well after deciding to read forwards to back, like it is supposed to be, I really did like it. Mary Friend is obviously an academician, because at times you feel like your reading a textbook, but then you get so delighted by the twists and turns she throws into the normal fantasy formula that you have to forgive her. It is broken up into 4 'books' and these books, like short stories, do stand in their own right, but like most serial novels, read it front to back, its less confusing that way. If you like politics and economics, as well military works, you will especially love this novel.

AHA! At last we see what the Bad guys life is like......

one of the funniest books I've ever read.... I love the courtroom scene... and the idea of a 3ft ork firing a grenade launcher had me in tears..... if you like Prachett or your fed up with the ood guys winning all the time.... read this!

One of the Funniest books I've read, and I read a LOT

They're orcs. They outnumber the enemy thousands to one, have superior leadership and tactics, and are absolutely certain they're gonna loose; because they're up against "The Good Guys." These Orcs know all the cliches we do.All that changes when the Orcs finaly get their hands on some real firepower, and the dogs get their day. This book is funny, it takes every cliche and universal assumption of the fantasy genere and kicks it in the shins. Good taste is never a consideration, this one is NOT for kids.Harsh, Rowdy, But always funny.Similar in many ways to Terry Prachets' Disk World series. One way way to compare them is (Disk World = The Simpsons, Grunts = South Park.)

bares sf/fantasy cliches, then slices,dices and explodes 'em

Orcs as sympathetic protagonists and "good" isn't very, aptly conveys the message. A well written and amazingly well edited book, you won't be harassed by either typos or good taste here. The orcs are violent and nasty- but then, so is everyone else. It borders on watching someone else's video arcade shoot-em-up. The action never stops, the good taste never begins. Just lots of bad, dirty, fun! Emphasis is on fun. An excellent read.