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StarCraft #8
Starcraft: I, Mengsk
Sixty-thousand light-years from Earth, the corrupt Terran Confederacy holds the Koprulu sector tightly in its tyrannical grip, controlling every aspect of its citizens' lives. One man dares to stand up to this faceless empire and vows to bring it to its Arcturus Mengsk -- genius propagandist, tactician, and freedom fighter.
A monstrous act of bloody violence sows the seeds of rebellion in Arcturus, but he is not the first Mengsk to rail against such oppression. Before Arcturus grew to manhood, his father, Angus Mengsk, also defied the Confederacy and sought to end its brutal reign.
The destiny of the Mengsk family has long been tied to that of the Confederacy and the Koprulu sector, but as a new empire rises from the ashes of the past and alien invaders threaten the very existence of humanity, what will the future hold for the next generation...?
A monstrous act of bloody violence sows the seeds of rebellion in Arcturus, but he is not the first Mengsk to rail against such oppression. Before Arcturus grew to manhood, his father, Angus Mengsk, also defied the Confederacy and sought to end its brutal reign.
The destiny of the Mengsk family has long been tied to that of the Confederacy and the Koprulu sector, but as a new empire rises from the ashes of the past and alien invaders threaten the very existence of humanity, what will the future hold for the next generation...?
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
54 people are currently reading
810 people want to read
About the author
Graham McNeill
339 books903 followersHailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 9, 2017
Arcturus Mengsk is a 2nd-tier villain in the world of Starcraft; a series of popular video-games. Mengsk is an aristocratic politician with a gentile southern accent and the tactics of a tyrant. He is not a popular character, but in the name of expanding Starcraft's archive of lore, the bosses at Blizzard Entertainment commissioned a novel commemorating Mengsk's rise to power.
But while no one asked for this story, Graham McNeill crafts competent science-fiction in telling it. Arcturus Mengsk feuds with his father, commands zombie-like 'brain-panned' soldiers and turns himself into an interstellar prospector. And all the while he displays the kind of bravado, calculation and restlessness you'd expect from a megalomaniac-in-training. If the point of a back-story is to explain how a character got to where they are, this does the job. Alas, the task of shuttling Mensk to his inevitable role in the larger narrative drag down the individual episodes and McNeill is content in guiding us along this predictable path with only mild surprises.
But the problem isn't so much the familiarity of the story, but its insignificance. Nearly every major character introduced in this novel is killed by the end. And while some of the individual episodes are entertaining, none of them stray outside the lines established by earlier stories. If the primary goal of novelizing Starcraft backstory is to expand the Starcraft universe, why write a novel that makes that universe feel small?
Edited 9-9-2017
But while no one asked for this story, Graham McNeill crafts competent science-fiction in telling it. Arcturus Mengsk feuds with his father, commands zombie-like 'brain-panned' soldiers and turns himself into an interstellar prospector. And all the while he displays the kind of bravado, calculation and restlessness you'd expect from a megalomaniac-in-training. If the point of a back-story is to explain how a character got to where they are, this does the job. Alas, the task of shuttling Mensk to his inevitable role in the larger narrative drag down the individual episodes and McNeill is content in guiding us along this predictable path with only mild surprises.
But the problem isn't so much the familiarity of the story, but its insignificance. Nearly every major character introduced in this novel is killed by the end. And while some of the individual episodes are entertaining, none of them stray outside the lines established by earlier stories. If the primary goal of novelizing Starcraft backstory is to expand the Starcraft universe, why write a novel that makes that universe feel small?
Edited 9-9-2017
November 18, 2024
I’ll be honest I went into this with basically zero expectations, never really cared that much for Mengsk as a character when playing the games or in some of the other Starcraft books I have read. But I honestly enjoyed learning about his past and what made him into the man we know from the games.
I liked this but it's hard for me to tell if this is actually good or if it's just that hint of Starcraft nostalgia hitting me. First time reading a book by McNeill and I liked his style and thought he did a decent job pacing it, except for towards the end there were some jarring timeskips and some references to events only someone who has played the games can understand.
Anyways this was good and re-ignited my love for Starcraft a bit, and I’m gonna read a few more of the books I haven't read yet and replay some of the games.
A nostalgic 4 for me.
I liked this but it's hard for me to tell if this is actually good or if it's just that hint of Starcraft nostalgia hitting me. First time reading a book by McNeill and I liked his style and thought he did a decent job pacing it, except for towards the end there were some jarring timeskips and some references to events only someone who has played the games can understand.
Anyways this was good and re-ignited my love for Starcraft a bit, and I’m gonna read a few more of the books I haven't read yet and replay some of the games.
A nostalgic 4 for me.
October 8, 2010
This book is simply too long. I think it could have been half of its length to be tolerable.
As much as I like the Starcraft Universe, I couldn't like this book. Yes, I tried. I tried to read it all, to be interested in what was written, but no chance. This book drags all the way to the end, with too much descriptions, uninteresting action and long dialogues.
The core of the story is good, because this is Starcraft after all, but too much time is spent getting from one point of the story to another.
Anyway, after trying to like this book, I have to say I kind of lost my interest in reading Starcraft novels. Maybe the other ones are better.
As much as I like the Starcraft Universe, I couldn't like this book. Yes, I tried. I tried to read it all, to be interested in what was written, but no chance. This book drags all the way to the end, with too much descriptions, uninteresting action and long dialogues.
The core of the story is good, because this is Starcraft after all, but too much time is spent getting from one point of the story to another.
Anyway, after trying to like this book, I have to say I kind of lost my interest in reading Starcraft novels. Maybe the other ones are better.
June 15, 2020
I think this is the best Starcraft book out of the whole franchise. But there isn't much competition at the top.
The main way it a success is fleshing out the character of Arcturus Mengsk, a man who we saw only though cutscenes until now that was just an average authoritarian dictator. This book makes us care for him, makes us see what has he gone through to become the person he is when we see him last.
It as it's shortcomings: Arcturus in his young adult life is a rebel with a cutting edge mind to back it up but after the time skip to his 30s, he has become more alike to the person he resented the most, his father. The change is so abrupt that it's almost comical. But seeing him try to bond with his son really makes me believe he can be an actual person.
Really loved how the story was not focused as usual on the events we already know happened and instead chooses to shine a light on the characters.
Main idea the book has left me:
You can have good intentions and be one of the smartest people in the galaxy, but you could still end up being a shitty person.
The main way it a success is fleshing out the character of Arcturus Mengsk, a man who we saw only though cutscenes until now that was just an average authoritarian dictator. This book makes us care for him, makes us see what has he gone through to become the person he is when we see him last.
It as it's shortcomings: Arcturus in his young adult life is a rebel with a cutting edge mind to back it up but after the time skip to his 30s, he has become more alike to the person he resented the most, his father. The change is so abrupt that it's almost comical. But seeing him try to bond with his son really makes me believe he can be an actual person.
Really loved how the story was not focused as usual on the events we already know happened and instead chooses to shine a light on the characters.
Main idea the book has left me:
You can have good intentions and be one of the smartest people in the galaxy, but you could still end up being a shitty person.
March 15, 2009
Who, that is a teenage boy today hasn't heard of starcraft, anyone? didn't think so, i myself love the game with a passion and when i got the starcraft archive (also including 3 other starcraft stories, shadow of the xel,naga, speed of darkness, and one other i cant place.) i couldn't stop reading the dang thing i mean it already had good story but this supplies an even longer part in starcrafts great storyline.
December 5, 2012
A surprisingly-compelling and deep portrayal of the old adage "like father, like son", McNeil's chronicle of the grand enemy of Blizzard's universe is a page-turner. The book deftly zips through generations and decades in telling the tale of three great rulers of a single lineage, helping to fill in some of the details around one of the series' most well-conceived characters. I quite enjoyed it.
November 13, 2021
I was really surprised by this book. Most other Starcraft novels I've read are also good, but feel more like novellas whose chapters have been packed with more words than necessary to convey the premise.
This one I thought finally delivered what you expected it to. For once, the story is actually conveyed (mostly) from the POV of the character we expect it to focus on, which is a breath of fresh air from the weird approach by novels like Queen of Blades.
The first two thirds of the novel show a breathneck pacing in the story that doesn't sacrifice character impact like Dietz's Heaven's Devils did. We see a great singular focus on how a man like Arcturus Mengsk starts out with understandable adolescent dreams that quickly turn into gritty nightmares. If the whole novel had been like this, this would be five stars easily.
Unfortunately, the last third of the novel switches to Valerian. And while I am curious about him, I feel like his section is mostly that whole montage/summary section that most last parts of tie-in novels seem to be guilty of doing. Rather than give us a great awesome punch at the end, it feels like we get a series of sorta interesting vignettes of Valerian's life that deserve to be a companion novella to the novel rather than its concluding phase.
Not to say that this section is completely bad. I think it actually serves one purpose in showing how Arcturus' actions ultimately become detrimental to the people he loves. Also some interesting parallels in how "The Sins of the father can become the son's" if a little condensed.
Ultimately it still feels like that last section is there to fulfill the obligatory "Must set up the next video game" phase that are present in a lot of tie-ins that really doesn't need to be there. I'd rather we'd just stayed with Arcturus through the start of the war with the Confederacy, even if that meant going over similar ground as the Uprising novella.
This one I thought finally delivered what you expected it to. For once, the story is actually conveyed (mostly) from the POV of the character we expect it to focus on, which is a breath of fresh air from the weird approach by novels like Queen of Blades.
The first two thirds of the novel show a breathneck pacing in the story that doesn't sacrifice character impact like Dietz's Heaven's Devils did. We see a great singular focus on how a man like Arcturus Mengsk starts out with understandable adolescent dreams that quickly turn into gritty nightmares. If the whole novel had been like this, this would be five stars easily.
Unfortunately, the last third of the novel switches to Valerian. And while I am curious about him, I feel like his section is mostly that whole montage/summary section that most last parts of tie-in novels seem to be guilty of doing. Rather than give us a great awesome punch at the end, it feels like we get a series of sorta interesting vignettes of Valerian's life that deserve to be a companion novella to the novel rather than its concluding phase.
Not to say that this section is completely bad. I think it actually serves one purpose in showing how Arcturus' actions ultimately become detrimental to the people he loves. Also some interesting parallels in how "The Sins of the father can become the son's" if a little condensed.
Ultimately it still feels like that last section is there to fulfill the obligatory "Must set up the next video game" phase that are present in a lot of tie-ins that really doesn't need to be there. I'd rather we'd just stayed with Arcturus through the start of the war with the Confederacy, even if that meant going over similar ground as the Uprising novella.
April 3, 2023
I remember reading this one many years ago, but the memory of it is still quite fresh in my mind. This is obviously aimed at Starcraft Lore fans, and especially those who want an in-depht look at some of the characters that populate this world. I, Mengsk is, in my humble opinion, much better than what Blizzard themselves did with the Starcraft story, and especially with the character of Arcturus Mengsk, one of the best villains in this universe. This book tells his backstory, his rise to power and his perceptions of the world he lives in. He is, of course, more of a dark anti-hero at first, and that's what makes him so incredibly compelling.
'Fate dances to my tune'.
Quote may not be entirely accurate, but it stuck with me for over ten years, so hey. This book was so inspiring to me when I read it that I actually took the time to do a little Power Point presentation about him for my friends (who neither had any idea what Starcraft was, or what Mengsk was, but they were lovely enough to listen to me rambling).
Among all the cross-media books I've read (WoW, Starcraft, Diablo, Dragon Age), this one is, I think, still very high up in terms of quality and character development. I went into Starcraft 2 expecting to see this Mengsk from this book here, but unfortunately whoever wrote that storyline clearly had not read McNeill's book and proceeded to utterly ruin one of Starcraft's best characters and villains.
I think if you're a fan of Starcraft lore and good anti-hero characters, you'll really enjoy this.
'Fate dances to my tune'.
Quote may not be entirely accurate, but it stuck with me for over ten years, so hey. This book was so inspiring to me when I read it that I actually took the time to do a little Power Point presentation about him for my friends (who neither had any idea what Starcraft was, or what Mengsk was, but they were lovely enough to listen to me rambling).
Among all the cross-media books I've read (WoW, Starcraft, Diablo, Dragon Age), this one is, I think, still very high up in terms of quality and character development. I went into Starcraft 2 expecting to see this Mengsk from this book here, but unfortunately whoever wrote that storyline clearly had not read McNeill's book and proceeded to utterly ruin one of Starcraft's best characters and villains.
I think if you're a fan of Starcraft lore and good anti-hero characters, you'll really enjoy this.
October 31, 2020
I think this is the best Starcraft book out of the whole franchise. But there isn't much competition at the top.
The main way it a success is fleshing out the character of Emperor Arcturus Mengsk, a man who we saw only though cutscenes until now that was just an average authoritarian dictator villain. This book makes us care for him, makes us see what has he gone through to become the person he is when we see him last in the games.
It as it's shortcomings: Arcturus in his young adult life is a rebel with a cutting edge mind to back it up but after the time skip to his 30s, he has become more alike to the person he resented the most, his father. The change is so abrupt that it's almost comical. But seeing him try to bond with his son really makes me believe he can be an actual person.
Really loved how the story was not focused as usual on the game events we already know happened and instead chooses to shine a light on the characters.
Main idea the book has left me:
You can have good intentions and be one of the smartest people in the galaxy, but you could still end up being a bad person.
The main way it a success is fleshing out the character of Emperor Arcturus Mengsk, a man who we saw only though cutscenes until now that was just an average authoritarian dictator villain. This book makes us care for him, makes us see what has he gone through to become the person he is when we see him last in the games.
It as it's shortcomings: Arcturus in his young adult life is a rebel with a cutting edge mind to back it up but after the time skip to his 30s, he has become more alike to the person he resented the most, his father. The change is so abrupt that it's almost comical. But seeing him try to bond with his son really makes me believe he can be an actual person.
Really loved how the story was not focused as usual on the game events we already know happened and instead chooses to shine a light on the characters.
Main idea the book has left me:
You can have good intentions and be one of the smartest people in the galaxy, but you could still end up being a bad person.
May 21, 2022
La storia della dinastia Mengsk.
Arcturus osservò i volti delle persone che applaudivano nella sala del Senato e di quelle riunite intorno a lui nella galleria. Era meravigliato che potessero essere tutti così affascinati da suo padre. Non riuscivano forse a vederlo per quello che era: un uomo ordinario, caparbio, incapace di ascoltare? In quell'istante Arcturus ebbe una sorta di illuminazione.
Non importava quello che uomo fosse realmente, ma quello che mostrava al mondo. Le persone di Korhal, non conoscevano il vero Angus Mengsk; conoscevano la realtà che lui gli forniva, la maschera creata ad arte per conquistarle alla sua causa. Non importava che suo padre fosse umano e fallibile come tutti; importava solo quello che egli significava per loro e ciò che aveva loro promesso.
Arcturus aveva sempre saputo che la gente comune era facilmente manipolabile, ma vedere uomini e donne che avrebbero dovuto possedere ben altra istruzione, lasciarsi influenzare così facilmente, fu una vera rivelazione.
Arcturus osservò i volti delle persone che applaudivano nella sala del Senato e di quelle riunite intorno a lui nella galleria. Era meravigliato che potessero essere tutti così affascinati da suo padre. Non riuscivano forse a vederlo per quello che era: un uomo ordinario, caparbio, incapace di ascoltare? In quell'istante Arcturus ebbe una sorta di illuminazione.
Non importava quello che uomo fosse realmente, ma quello che mostrava al mondo. Le persone di Korhal, non conoscevano il vero Angus Mengsk; conoscevano la realtà che lui gli forniva, la maschera creata ad arte per conquistarle alla sua causa. Non importava che suo padre fosse umano e fallibile come tutti; importava solo quello che egli significava per loro e ciò che aveva loro promesso.
Arcturus aveva sempre saputo che la gente comune era facilmente manipolabile, ma vedere uomini e donne che avrebbero dovuto possedere ben altra istruzione, lasciarsi influenzare così facilmente, fu una vera rivelazione.
December 3, 2020
Hey, look at this! An actually good StarCraft book. Pleasantly surprised.
This is a book that I actually think I could recommend to non-StarCraft fans. And it has mainly to do with the character of Arcturus Mengsk.
From the outside, it's easy to judge all of his actions, and the evils he perpetrates in the name of justice - especially knowing what he will do and become one day - but Graham McNeill does a great job of putting us in Mengsk's shoes, and making clear the logic of all his decisions, showing us an internal view of how he becomes the person we have externally seen and judged.
Also, a little more info on Valerian, Mengsk's son, was greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
Ultimately, if you enjoy stories with anti-heroes, or troubled, divided characters, this is a good read, even if you're not into StarCraft lore.
This is a book that I actually think I could recommend to non-StarCraft fans. And it has mainly to do with the character of Arcturus Mengsk.
From the outside, it's easy to judge all of his actions, and the evils he perpetrates in the name of justice - especially knowing what he will do and become one day - but Graham McNeill does a great job of putting us in Mengsk's shoes, and making clear the logic of all his decisions, showing us an internal view of how he becomes the person we have externally seen and judged.
Also, a little more info on Valerian, Mengsk's son, was greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
Ultimately, if you enjoy stories with anti-heroes, or troubled, divided characters, this is a good read, even if you're not into StarCraft lore.
February 12, 2021
So, I'm definitely reading these out of order. They seem to be ok to read in that way. I wasn't very aware of this personality when I played the game. The family was very well biographied in this text. In general, I don't like stories that have to explain the motivation behind every evil person. For me, some people are just evil and choose to do bad things consitently. Others may be more complex or having mixed outcomes for their efforts. Typically, the attempts to play psychologist after the fact via books falls far far short of feeling real or being something I'd care about. Reading this book, I focused on the things around the character. Did the technology and situations make sense in the world I knew. The author did very well with that. Mengst did come to life. So, I guess I liked the book.
November 2, 2022
Weak even for the genre
It's a starcraft book, you don't come here for excellent writting or deep philosophy. Even grading on that curve though this has issues. The biggest one is that Mengsk doesn't come across as himself. In the first game he's Lenin meets Stalin with shades of Osama bin ladin. He could be portrayed as a napoleon or caesar in a pinch, but in this he's a beautiful destined hero who's slightly cocky. It's so boring and wrong. Mengsk should be a narcissist sure, but he shouldn't be a war hero, or wise prospector. His power is speaking and being in power, and that never once comes up. It's just frustrating. Also, every woman is dead at the end of this, and in the entire book there's one total character that Arcturus and valerian have to share. Not worth it.
It's a starcraft book, you don't come here for excellent writting or deep philosophy. Even grading on that curve though this has issues. The biggest one is that Mengsk doesn't come across as himself. In the first game he's Lenin meets Stalin with shades of Osama bin ladin. He could be portrayed as a napoleon or caesar in a pinch, but in this he's a beautiful destined hero who's slightly cocky. It's so boring and wrong. Mengsk should be a narcissist sure, but he shouldn't be a war hero, or wise prospector. His power is speaking and being in power, and that never once comes up. It's just frustrating. Also, every woman is dead at the end of this, and in the entire book there's one total character that Arcturus and valerian have to share. Not worth it.
March 1, 2019
One of the things that Graham McNeill usually does really well are his characters. The plots might be very formulaic, not necessarily in a bad way, but sometimes yes. That said, the characters are his strongest writing point. And in this book, it is no exception. The Mengsk family and their conflicts with each other and the various factions at play is stirring and shows both the strengths and weakening deficiencies of personal character that Angus, Arcturus, and Valerian eventual end up showing, while also showing that the sins and actions of the father may be visited and extended upon by the next generation.
February 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book as you get some insight into Mengsk’s upbringing, military life, skills and convictions.
Though the book is not a ‘wow’ book, it was well written and a very enjoyable read.
Though the book is not a ‘wow’ book, it was well written and a very enjoyable read.
May 20, 2022
Интересно было узнавать персонажей
В игре не было возможности узнать лучше что за люди эти Менгски, так что с огромным удовольствием прочитала книгу!
Рекомендовала бы ее всем фанатам серии игр StarCraft.
В игре не было возможности узнать лучше что за люди эти Менгски, так что с огромным удовольствием прочитала книгу!
Рекомендовала бы ее всем фанатам серии игр StarCraft.
September 6, 2024
It was fine. Nothing really special. One thing that struck me as odd is that Mengsk is supposedly genius level intellect, a d yet doesn't realise that he is exactly like his father.
But largely enjoyable.
But largely enjoyable.
March 19, 2019
Narrazione della vita di Mengsk, comandante umano del gioco di Starcraft. Non certo un capolavoro per profondità e dialoghi, è comunque scritto in modo piacevole. Un buon libro di evasione pura.
March 23, 2021
Moderately good read, follows Mengsk's rose to power as emperor
June 18, 2021
full of Arcturus bs
May 12, 2024
This book is sooo boring...
September 13, 2025
If you are a StarCraft
Fanboy who likes reading about tyrants you will enjoy this book
Fanboy who likes reading about tyrants you will enjoy this book
March 25, 2018
The changes in perspective made this a fun book to read, not just in a recreational manner, but to a small extent as an intellectual activity. Being able to occasionally ask "who is speaking" and having to think back through multiple transitions and narratives shifts provided a sense of pleasure that I did not expect to find in a game-inspired fiction. While the structure of the book made the pacing a little awkward, and had me wondering whether it was worth being emotionally invested in any character at any particular time period in the book, the overall effect was admirable.
January 1, 2013
Full review can be read over at The Founding Fields: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/12/...
Eroldren reviews I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill, set within the universe of Blizzard Entertainment’s bestselling computer RTS series, StarCraft.
“A delightful SF masterpiece laden with memorable characters and vivid storytelling that’s bound to leave anyone satisfied whose mildly interested should they pick it up.” – The Founding Fields
For StarCraft newcomers beware there’s a spoiling topic elaborated upon, otherwise, those already familiar with the background story of Arcturus, the review nothing of being spoiling.
I, Mengsk without a doubt the one title which that I most thoroughly enjoyed and standby as the top dog out of StarCraft’s entire collection of fiction. If I were the part of UNN, I would've ran instead Dominion propaganda with the post headline claiming it was “An incredible firsthand account of the Mengsk Dynasty’s development throughout their many endeavors, hardships and sacrifices all done for the good of humanity!” I genuinely love it. And in some degree, maybe even over Graham’s work for Black Library.
The fictional universe of StarCraft holds an assorted range of characters, lore, engaging singleplayer campaigns and gameplay it’s no wonder why StarCraft been the one game franchise I've been following steadfast for the past 12 years or so. Furthermore, it defined my love for the lore of games. As both a video game player and reader lore always has been since then been my bread-and-butter, no matter what sort of medium or scale it’s presented as.
In regards of characters, everybody in the original games, StarCraft and Brood War, has some sort of distinctive appeal about them whether they be the enigmatic alien Protoss or their ravenous kindred, the Zerg Swarm or those Terran castaways caught-up meddling in between. In Arcturus Mengsk’s case he was the stern yet charismatic leader to those all seeking out vengeance against the oppressive Terran Confederacy… that is before he showed himself having a treacherous side to him: manipulative, ruthless, power-hungry. Surely such a person is a dead man walking? Well that was the type of person Arcturus was and I liked him for it. Essentially, he was my favorite Terran character. So when word came spreading about that Graham McNeill, one of Black Library’s prolific authors was writing the life story of Arcturus Mengsk (not a novelization the events of the games retold), no questions were asked on my part; all I knew that it was most definitely a must-buy for me. Besides, it was something to help me ease out the long years of waiting for the release date of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
I, Mengsk divided into three segments, each showing us the troublesome events that which surround the most notable members of the family – Angus, Arcturus and Valerian – that would shape and define their characters and the Koprulu Sector. Korhal IV is the jewel world of the Core Worlds, an achievement in Terran history for all others to following in its example, however, Angus Mengsk’s vocal opposition against the corruption of the Terran Confederacy’s over Korhal drawing in unwelcome danger into the Mengsk household off the book on entertaining note.
Arcturus’ perspective takes up the majority of the book as our lead character and everything about his unraveling past told throughout the greater part of I, Mengsk derives from his old profile and segments of Terran background material from the original manual. Seeing trough Mengsk’s eyes firsthand as a rebellious teenager seeking to forge his own way proves to be a reward onto itself to behold as the events sparked by his father later come into fruition and intertwines into his life and overtake his former ideals. At time you can’t help but not hate the man; share and understand his side of things in which the world shaped him into, despite his vented arrogance and knowing full well that passing sympathy for him overshadowed by the future atrocities he would later commit.
Eroldren reviews I, Mengsk by Graham McNeill, set within the universe of Blizzard Entertainment’s bestselling computer RTS series, StarCraft.
“A delightful SF masterpiece laden with memorable characters and vivid storytelling that’s bound to leave anyone satisfied whose mildly interested should they pick it up.” – The Founding Fields
For StarCraft newcomers beware there’s a spoiling topic elaborated upon, otherwise, those already familiar with the background story of Arcturus, the review nothing of being spoiling.
I, Mengsk without a doubt the one title which that I most thoroughly enjoyed and standby as the top dog out of StarCraft’s entire collection of fiction. If I were the part of UNN, I would've ran instead Dominion propaganda with the post headline claiming it was “An incredible firsthand account of the Mengsk Dynasty’s development throughout their many endeavors, hardships and sacrifices all done for the good of humanity!” I genuinely love it. And in some degree, maybe even over Graham’s work for Black Library.
The fictional universe of StarCraft holds an assorted range of characters, lore, engaging singleplayer campaigns and gameplay it’s no wonder why StarCraft been the one game franchise I've been following steadfast for the past 12 years or so. Furthermore, it defined my love for the lore of games. As both a video game player and reader lore always has been since then been my bread-and-butter, no matter what sort of medium or scale it’s presented as.
In regards of characters, everybody in the original games, StarCraft and Brood War, has some sort of distinctive appeal about them whether they be the enigmatic alien Protoss or their ravenous kindred, the Zerg Swarm or those Terran castaways caught-up meddling in between. In Arcturus Mengsk’s case he was the stern yet charismatic leader to those all seeking out vengeance against the oppressive Terran Confederacy… that is before he showed himself having a treacherous side to him: manipulative, ruthless, power-hungry. Surely such a person is a dead man walking? Well that was the type of person Arcturus was and I liked him for it. Essentially, he was my favorite Terran character. So when word came spreading about that Graham McNeill, one of Black Library’s prolific authors was writing the life story of Arcturus Mengsk (not a novelization the events of the games retold), no questions were asked on my part; all I knew that it was most definitely a must-buy for me. Besides, it was something to help me ease out the long years of waiting for the release date of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
I, Mengsk divided into three segments, each showing us the troublesome events that which surround the most notable members of the family – Angus, Arcturus and Valerian – that would shape and define their characters and the Koprulu Sector. Korhal IV is the jewel world of the Core Worlds, an achievement in Terran history for all others to following in its example, however, Angus Mengsk’s vocal opposition against the corruption of the Terran Confederacy’s over Korhal drawing in unwelcome danger into the Mengsk household off the book on entertaining note.
Arcturus’ perspective takes up the majority of the book as our lead character and everything about his unraveling past told throughout the greater part of I, Mengsk derives from his old profile and segments of Terran background material from the original manual. Seeing trough Mengsk’s eyes firsthand as a rebellious teenager seeking to forge his own way proves to be a reward onto itself to behold as the events sparked by his father later come into fruition and intertwines into his life and overtake his former ideals. At time you can’t help but not hate the man; share and understand his side of things in which the world shaped him into, despite his vented arrogance and knowing full well that passing sympathy for him overshadowed by the future atrocities he would later commit.
February 19, 2018
Good book, except the fact that it is a bit too long. I really liked the story
March 22, 2016
It’s a quite decent book, especially in this genre.
Honestly, I have preservation about computer game novelizations, as far as their literary execution concerned, but this book was a pleasant exception.
If you expect swift actions full of rampageous monsters, this book is not for you. Although for those interested in eternal human conflicts, taking place in the Starcraft universe, I would highly recommend this novel.
I think the story is quite interesting, it spans three generations of the Mengsk family, so naturally
it unfolds at a slower pace what you may have been used to. In exchange you get life-like characters, whom you can symphatize with, despise, or even hate. You can follow the growth of an anti-hero, the clash of different generations and personalities, the loss of loved ones and the fight against the ever corrupt Confederacy.
Not that there’s no blood spilling, shouting-shooting actions in this book, but it’s marginal compared to other novels of its kind.
Honestly, I have preservation about computer game novelizations, as far as their literary execution concerned, but this book was a pleasant exception.
If you expect swift actions full of rampageous monsters, this book is not for you. Although for those interested in eternal human conflicts, taking place in the Starcraft universe, I would highly recommend this novel.
I think the story is quite interesting, it spans three generations of the Mengsk family, so naturally
it unfolds at a slower pace what you may have been used to. In exchange you get life-like characters, whom you can symphatize with, despise, or even hate. You can follow the growth of an anti-hero, the clash of different generations and personalities, the loss of loved ones and the fight against the ever corrupt Confederacy.
Not that there’s no blood spilling, shouting-shooting actions in this book, but it’s marginal compared to other novels of its kind.
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August 9, 2011In view of the bad reviews here, this book actually took me by surprise. It has some of the deepest character developments of all among the Starcraft books I have read. The focus on characters might cause some people to find this book slow-moving though. I didn't find Arcturus whiny; just fiercely independent, ruthless, proud and a bit immature. The writing's not very sophisticated - a common weakness in media tie-ins- but I appreciated the writer's effort to produce 'real’ characters. I would say that this book is important to the Starcraft universe considering the role Arcturus plays.
December 31, 2020
Uno dei libri che davvero non vale la pena leggere. Scritto in maniera piatta, non trasmette nessuna emozione, il protagonista è davvero troppo egocentrico e perfetto. Storia banale, alla fine ti rendi conti di avere solo perso tempo. Ed è davvero un peccato poiché l'ambientazione ha molti potenziali. Non lo leggerò mai più e non leggerò mai nemmeno il seguito (si, questo è il primo di una serie e qui non è segnato, il successivo è Starcraft II - I diavoli del paradiso) anche se forse, cambiando autore, è più decente.
March 25, 2011
The book was fairly well written but he isnt one of my favourite characters in the story so it was a little tedious trying to get through this book but was still keen to find out how he got there. Im also more keen to see how they develop his son's character Valerian from here and through the upcoming sequels to the game.
May 22, 2015
Das Buch war, soweit ich es noch weiß, ganz in Ordnung und über viele Strecken interessant und spannend. Man erfährt mehr über die Hintergründe von Mengsk und die Beziehung zu seinem Sohn. Dabei wird man an interessante Orte geführt und man erfährt warum Mengsk so ist wie er ist und Arcturus ebend nicht ist wie Mengsk.
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