Perfect Dark: Second Front

Perfect Dark #2

by Greg Rucka

The war between dataDyne and the Carrington Institute is heating up. Carrington offices around the globe are being systematically targeted and destroyed by unknown forces, and the casualties are mounting, and more importantly profits are dwindling.

Joanna Dark, fresh from her first mission--Codenamed INITIAL VECTOR--
and now operating as a full-fledged secret agent for the Carrington Institute, is assigned to hunt down and destroy those responsible for the attacks. But her search for the faceless enemy leads her not just into another bloody battle with hypercorp dataDyne--but headlong into a global conspiracy that's been shaping the world for decades.

Genres: Science Fiction

Paperback

First published October 17, 2006

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[Jared Delcamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to find a reasonably priced used copy of this since not too many are in circulation, but it was worth the effort. It’s a good book the buzzes along similar to Initial Vector. I think I like this one maybe even better. Joanna Dark is a favorite hero. I wish there more in the series.

[Chris The Lizard from Planet X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Dark: Second Front by Greg Rucka is a video game tie-in novel based on Rare Studios Perfect Dark game Franchise. PERFECT DARK: Second Fount, continues the story featured in the 2005 Xbox 360 game PERFECT DARK ZERO. It tells of a future world in which Mega corporations control everything and use their own military forces to fight each other without public knowledge. Joanna Dark is an ex-bounty hunter who has seen this war for herself: she finds herself in the center of a conflict which brings her face to face with corporate and personal evil in this riveting thriller. Taking place right after the events of Perfect: Dark Zero. Joanna Dark returns to the the Carrington Institute exhausted and injured. Only to learn that major CEOs of various Mega corporations are turning up Dead by an assassin looking like her. In order to clear her name and save the world from a shadowy force called the Continuity Joanne Dark goes rouge in hopes of stopping this new threat from her past. Showing improvement over the first book in the series (always a good sign), the second Perfect Dark novel by Greg Rucka is a classic example of what I like to call Cyberpunk-Lite: an action thriller set in a dystopian future similar to that of the Bladerunner cyberpunk genre but shorn of the extensive and often meandering ruminations on the nature of humanity that genre features. The story moves quickly with an overdose of action, suitably over-the-top villains, and enough background detail so that people who haven't played the Perfect Dark games (like me) can easily follow the plot without needing a reference guide. By avoiding pretention and sticking to presenting solidly defined characters and a fast-moving plot, Rucka presents a novel that's a pleasant read and a cut above the usual franchise-spinoff fare. Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to any fan of the games or cyberpunk genre.

[Will Man · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love novelizations and expansions of franchise into different media formats, because of all the extra layers of richness. (E.g: in adapting a graphic novel to a book, the visual detail in the description is finer than anything than could be achieved from the author's imagination alone; with new stories written for a ready-conceived universe and characters, half the workload is done for the author, allowing them to focus their energy and attention on providing a great read; and with movie novelizations you can get extra story and details that didn't make the final picture.) I am fortunate to have never been disappointed by Perfect Dark Zero on Xbox 360 - from what I hear the game departed from its N64 predecessor (which I was fortunate to have played and enjoyed), despite still being a good, solid game. The multiplayer is meant to be excellent, but the story in the single-player underwhelming in comparison to the high expectations raised by the original.

Would I recommend the book to absolute newcomers to the franchise? At first I couldn't give a definitive answer. But now I think about it, I don't see why not. If you happen to be in that position, give it a go. Will you enjoy it as much? Maybe not, however that is not to say it isn't still a solid read if you're into the thriller/spy/sci-fi genre.

If you like the world of shady organizations of the near-future, espionage and hi-tech, then this'll be right up your alley. Written in a third-person omniscient POV, I was kept engaged by the various characters' viewpoints in relation to the overall unfolding of the story. (However I am currently only a third of the way through so cannot give an honest, critical evaluation of the whole book, suffice it to say I am thoroughly enjoying it so far.)

[Greg Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pretty much unbeatable at the original Perfect Dark game, so when I came across this in a used book store I was stoked to say the least. I would have never guessed someone would make a book about it... well, sort of. I guess Macrosoft bought Rare and made a prequel game, which I guess this book is supposed to be a sequel to? Anyways, no matter, I dug in and enjoyed it thoroughly. I felt like the characters that I came to know so well through gameplay were portrayed perfectly. The story was very similar to video games of this ilk, in that the protagonist had very little control over where she was going, but instead would be forced into one situation or another and would have to deal with whatever came her way. That was cleverly done.

Another reviewer griped about how the book is painstakingly slow, didn't have enough time focusing on the protagonist, and didn't include enough action. I disagree completely. The story was paced well and held my attention well, although I'd definitely not call it a page turner. A good story has at least a few different people or people-groups that it changes focus between, and this book was no exception. Who wants to read a book based on a first-person shooter that sticks with one person the entire time just like you're watching someone else play an entire video game... yawn! I agree that the book could have used more action, but it wasn't necessary, and a lot of the action was intellectual. Chess is the best game ever. Most of it involves movement and posturing, with only the occasional deadly strike. This book follows suit.

I don't think I need to read this again, but I'm holding onto it just cuz I love Perfect Dark so much. I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed the game or just enjoys corporate espionage stories.

[Chrysalis_Blossom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough. Of course you will enjoy it more if you are a fan of the game series, however I would suggest it to everyone.
The plot, with its twists, feels fresh and original, which is something really difficult to find nowadays.
Greg Rucka describes the world surrounding the characters from their points of view so perfectly that you can't help but identify with them and even feel happy or sorry for them.
None of the character is flat or monotonous; each character is on the other hand well-characterised and most of the main characters get a full development through the story.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like Initial Vector, Second Front delivered a fast paced, action packed story that kept me on the edge of my seat. This sequel delves deeper into the hypercorporations and those who would seek to destroy them by any means necessary. I love how the story is told from multiple perspectives that seamlessly converge into the overarching theme of the book (which is based on a video game). I wish there were more installments of Perfect Dark to read.

[Matthew Siemers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good sequel. I enjoyed it even though it is based off a video game. Usually that makes the action in these books really cheesy and horrible. I don't see too many people reading this, but it's a pretty cool world that the story takes place. You probably need to be a Sci Fi fan for these books.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Perfect Dark: Initial Vector. For a book based on a video game, not bad. Rucka excels at writing powerful female characters and where this book excels is that he never succumbs to the pitfall of having Joanna Dark get entangled by romance.

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written and an uninteresting story line. What turned me off about the book was the flashback to Jo's father's death. It seemed awkward and unnecessary and came off as pure exposition. I couldn't get past chapter three.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good continuation of the story. You really feel for Joanna Dark as almost everyone is out to get her and the whole time she'e doing it wounded!