Endgame: The Complete Zero Line Chronicles

Endgame: The Zero Line Chronicles #1-3

by James Frey

Several decades before the Players of Endgame met at the Calling, an earlier generation of Players is learning the rules. Each has been chosen as the one to save their ancient bloodline - and win Endgame.

But not everyone wants to see Endgame take place.

A group of conspiracy theorists called the Zero Line will do whatever it takes to stop Endgame from happening.

Their plan: Kill the Players before Endgame even begins.
Their mission: Save the world.

Endgame is real.
Endgame is coming.
But the Zero Line will win.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Novella, Aliens

258 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

James Christopher Frey is an American writer and businessman. His first two books, A Million Little Pieces (2003) and My Friend Leonard (2005), were bestsellers marketed as memoirs. Large parts of the stories were later found to be exaggerated or fabricated, sparking a media controversy. His 2008 novel Bright Shiny Morning was also a bestseller.
Frey is the founder and CEO of Full Fathom Five. A transmedia production company, FFF is responsible for the young adult adventure/science fiction series The Lorien Legacies of seven books written by Frey and others, under the collective pen name Pittacus Lore. Frey's first book of the series, I Am Number Four (2010), was made into a feature film by DreamWorks Pictures. He is also the CEO of NYXL, an esports organization based in New York.

Reviews

[Mohammed Arabey · Rating 4 out of 5]

ماذا إن قيل لك ان 12 شاب وفتاة، يمثلون 12 سلالة بشرية مختلفة موزعة بالكرة الأرضية كلها، سيلعبون لعبة قتالية ما يحددها قوي عليا

من سيفوز بها هي السلالة الوحيدة التي سيقدر لها ان تعيش..بينما يفني باقي سكان العالم..تماما
انها لعبة النهاية

ماذا إن علمت بهذا المخطط العجيب؟ ألن تفعل كل مابوسعك لوقف الاثني عشر لاعبا عن هذه اللعبة؟
حتي وإن أضطررت للقتل؟
اهلا بك في السبعينات...حيث فوضي عدائية تجتاح العالم

حرب ظالمة بفيتنام...إرهاب وقضية إحتلال في أولمبياد ميونخ

يتضافر معها مجموعة شباب مو "السلالة صفر"...الذين يريدون أيقاف "لعبة النهاية" ، بينهم جنود من حرب فيتنام هاربين...ومدرب للاعبي لعبة النهاية بنفسه..واحداث مثيرة بين امريكا ، تركيا ، العراق وتنتهي ذروة الأحداث في ألمانيا واولومبياد ميونخ 1972 الكارثي

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**** الحكاية ****
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الحكاية تعتبر قصة منفصلة سابقة للثلاثية "لعبة النهاية"، وتدور حول أول نشأة للجماعة "السلالة صفر" التي حاولت أيقاف اللعبة..والتي ظهر منها اعضاء بالعصر الحديث في أحداث الجزء الثاني
مراجعة الجزء الاول من الثلاثية الاصلية

القصة مقسمة لثلاث نوفيلات، الثلاث متصلين معا

تبدا بشاب "مايك ستافروس" الذي يترك العمل مع ابيه كمندوب مبيعات اثاث، بعد مشاكل مع أسلوب وطباع ابيه الفظة، ليلتحق بالجامعة
ليتعرف بالصدفة علي تلك الجماعة...وحكاية لعبة النهاية والتي تشبه يوم القيامة او يوم الحساب المتشابهة في جميع الأديان والحضارات في العالم

ينتهي الجزء الاول بتورطه جزءا منه رغبة في تغيير العالم وحماسة لانقاذ البشرية، وجزء اخر بسبب وقوعه في الحب، وجزء اهم هو تورطه جنائيا وتلك الجماعة صارت ملاذه الاخير

بينما الجزء الثاني تحضيرات لكيفية جمع اللاعبين الاثني عشر...بتزييف "نداء" للعبة كما حدث بالجزء الاول من الثلاثية الاصلية لجمع اللاعبين...واختيار جمعهم في اولمبياد ميونخ لانها الحدث الاكبر في وقتها

ثم ينتهي الجزء الثالث بمحاولة وقف اللاعبين عن المشاركة اذا ماتم حدث "نداء" حقيقي....لكن الاحداث تتحول للكثير من الدماء والفوضي سواء بالاحداث التاريخية الحقيقية -استهداف الفلسطينيين للاسرائيلين للفت انتباه العالم للظلم الواقع علي القضية الفلسطينية- او بالأحداث الخيالية ، محاولة وقف لاعبين لا يتورعون علي الدماء والقتل من اجل سلالتهم وحضارتهم ولعبة هي كل حياتهم

الاحداث كانت متسارعة في اغلب الوقت ، يمكنك قراءة الحكاية حتي قبل الثلاثية الاصلية او حتي الحكاية السابقة "ملفات التدريب"، حيث أنها تشرح من البداية حكاية لعبة النهاية وعلاقة الفضائيين بالارض

الدراما ايضا لم تكن سيئة، ولكنها اطول للاسف-سنعرف في جزء الشخصيات- ربما ازعجني جدا النهاية ...شعرت بمنتصف الجزء الثالث والاخير من الكتاب انني لا اكترث حقا...من كثرة الدماء والقتل
لكن بينما اكتب المراجعة..وامامي ماحدث في ميونخ وماحدث بعدها ايضا...وحرب فيتنام...كل هذا يجعلك تشعر ان النهاية ملائمة لجنون العالم وقتها
وحتي الان

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**** الشخصيات ****
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بعكس الحكاية السابقة المنفصلة عن الثلاثية الاصلية "ملفات التدريب" ، والتي تروي حياة ال12لاعب قبل النداء
الحكاية هنا متركزة فقط علي شخصية واحدة، مايك، الذي يجد نفسه متورطا
خطوة بخطوة ستتابع معه الخطة الخطرة ، وتحول شخصيته ايضا بشكل جيد جدا

ربما الدراما كانت اكثر ، وليست بجمال وتنوع "ملفات التدريب"، لكن أسلوب جيمس فراي يجعلك تنهي القراءة بسرعة من سلاسته

فقط يعيب الحكاية هنا انك لن تتعاطف كثيرا مع اغلب الشخصيات كما حدث في قصص اخري... لكن بالتاكيد صدمت بالنهاية، ربما شعرت فعلا بالاشفاق عليهم


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**** الهدف ****
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لا انكر انني حتي الان لا افهم ماذا يريد المؤلف بالظبط ان يقوله
رمزية الفضائيين وخلق البشر ولعبة النهاية وتشبيهها بالقيامة مزعجة بالتأكيد دينيا...لكن يظل كمية المعلومات واسرار العالم والحضارات امرا غريبا فعلا
ماذا يريد ان يقوله المؤلف؟
إن لم تكن هناك تلميح للاحداث السياسية الدموية الحمقاء في خلفية احداث تلك القصة ، لقيمتها بنجمتين ونصف فقط
لكن تماشي هذا مع الفوضي التي حدثت من ابطال "السلالة صفر" تظل محل تفكير


وربما سنفهم اكثر ما يريد ان يقوله المؤلف بكل هذه الرمزية العجيبة، والمثيرة في نفس الوقت، بنهاية الثلاثية الاصلية


محمد العربي
من 11 اكتوبر 2017
الي 13 اكتوبر 2017

[AJ (the.booknerd.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good trilogy of novellas to give more background to the ones who tried to stop Endgame. I wish there wasn't quite as much love drama, but good nonetheless. Super excited for the third novel in the main trilogy.

[Aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

First part of the trilogy was way better than this prequel (yes, I have read the beginning of the series first, since I wasn‘t aware that this even existed lmao)




One would expect that this would be some epic introduction to the world where humans descending from different lineages (age ranging from 12/13-21/22 if I remember correctly *probably not*) are fighting for their survival till their last breath, being mercilessly slaughtered by their peers, who have been training the art of killing since as young as 5-6 years old

This literally sounds like an amazing premise, right??



WELL




LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING




The topic itself is great, but DAMN did the execution suck





Too much romance-y (love at first sight kind of thing *ew*) and not as much of the apocalyptic vibe that I have anticipated, which I have found to be quite annoying - because what even??



The first 80 pages were a pain to get through, well, basically the whole first volume ohmYGOOOOD-

The second one was more or less the same to be honest aaand the third was anticlimacting so there‘s that



I just couldn‘t help but find our main character annoying. His whole personality was build around his 'love interest's'. That‘s the only thing I will be mentioning about him, and of any other characters as well, since not single one of them deserves any further mention, 'cause they have all been b l a n d




Honestly, I‘m feeling like I had just wasted my time reading this book, could have literally gone on with my life without reading it




Since I have already finished reading the first part (which I have found to be quite good), I am more than happy to continue reading the second part of the trilogy✨

So yes, a small recommendation -> if you plan on reading this series, PLEASE go straight for the actual books and DO NOT read this prequel; save yourself some time🍀

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Endgame: The Complete Zero Line Chronicles was good but I thought that it was focused on Mike's relationship problems a little too much. All of the action was packed into the last two chapters so the rest was lacking any substance. I guess it just wasn't for me.

[Pinja · Rating 2 out of 5]

Endgame-trilogian luin läpi mutta tuskin luen toista kertaa. Silti kiinnosti lukea tämäkin lisäosa. Tarina ei ollut mitenkään erityisen mielenkiintoinen ja loppuratkaisun pystyi arvaamaan. Faneille kuitenkin varmaan ihan mukavaa luettavaa.

[Hannah S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars


Too little action, too much focus on the Mike's relationship issues. Gave some good backstory of the world's lore, though.

[Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

[2.2]

[Jeffrey Nattania]

It was just OKAY, really I am not a fan of Novellas, but it was an interesting story

[Lewin Wu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Endgame: The Zero Line Chronicles is a very boring and dull piece of literature. The name was ripped off of Enders game but with one less syllable which makes it sound weird. The book was very predictable and I knew the ending when I was at chapter 6. It follows the common story-line of college boy finds secret organization and is then force to join said organization because of foolish incident. The main character of the book is Mike Starvos, a student who was going to Berkeley, but he was introduced to the Zero Line, a group of people who wants to save the world through convincing the twelve players, or people selected to kill each other, to not kill each other. If A player win, the world will end. After an incident, Mike was forced to join the Zero Line and began his training. The book brings up the issue of how people were created and why are we created, but in a really stereotypical science-fiction way. In the book, people were created by the "sky gods", or the "Annunaki", which are highly intelligent aliens that created humans for fun. This idea was used in many science fiction novels, making it dull and boring. This issue does not resonate me at all because I have heard too many reasons why humans were created that it all sounds the same.
The book started with "'So was that your first murder?' 'No. It was my first kill,' which no book should ever start with. First, without giving any background information is confusing to the audience, and that was what the book did. Second, the line was just weird and unnecessary for the plot and background. I felt stupid and wonder why I picked this book as my personal reading book.
I would not recommend this book to anyone unless they need burning material. This book is valueless in any other way other than the paper itself.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set decades before the Calling, the Zero Line Chronicles focuses on a new group of characters who recruit Mike Stavros to join their mission of stopping the Players from participating in Endgame. Another fast-paced story by James Frey with intense and creative action scenes. The novella, in my opinion, moved a bit too quickly though and it seemed like there was no real opportunity for Mike to expand on his thoughts and feelings of the events around him. Leading up to the end with implied death was a bit of a bummer since I thought he might live and come up again in the final book of the trilogy in some way but it just proves the fact that Endgame can't be stopped. Still a good read for a one-and-done story.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't crazy about the main character and the whole book felt a bit pointless. Anyone associated with a line would have to know that killing the players achieves absolutely nothing. I mean, just read Endgame: The Complete Fugitive Archives.
I did keep reading though and it was nice to be back in the Endgame universe. 3 stars.

[Jake Kropik · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars.

Read #1 of 2018.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. After the Training Diaries I thought this would just be another mediocre addition. I was wrong. This followed the Zero Line, a group of normal people trying to stop Endgame.... Given the actual series is a thing, the outcome of this story was known from the beginning, but it is still a fun, but deep part of the series. It really got into my feels.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not impressed with this one. It didn't tie in well enough with the rest of the series for me. Actually kind of pointless and without meaning. I think I will read The Fugitive Archives next in case that one isn't all that good either. Otherwise, I might not want to read it after I finish Rules of the Game.

[Nelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book! I have to admit it's almost better than the"original" Endgame trilogy, because there's more happening on less pages. I don't want to spoiler everything, but the end is so sad I literally cried!!!!

[Scott]

Couldn't finish. This is a sort of fantasy. Set in the 60s, a group believes that a higher alien being is having 12 family groups fight it out to the end to have only one family line standing. It was just too many conspiracies and lies. I couldn't enjoy it. I have up only about 20% through

[Crycry Cricrette · Rating 3 out of 5]

sympa

[Jay Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite of the series. It was alright but not nearly as good as the rest.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's quite difficult to rate a prequel when you read the sequel first. I struggled with reading this book as I found it to be quite boring and also very....obvious in its plot holes/points.

[Joaquin · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can check out the novellas: Incite, Feed, and Reap for their reviews separately.

[Ian Mellark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gusta ser honesto... Me gusto esta colección de novelas cortas, pero en parte me molesto un poco... Demasiado Drama para una historia de FREY y más para ENDGAME.
No esta mal... Pero hay muchos bemoles en el asunto.
Anuncio que este será mi regreso oficial a YouTube

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series so much! If you haven't read any of the Endgame series, what the hell are you waiting for?! Go pick it up ans read it Now!
5 stars all day long!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING SIDEBOOK TO THE SERIES

[Roma Mehta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I started out well but then petered out somewhere in the middle of the first novella. And it didn't pick up again after that. A little disappointing.