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Elite Dangerous: Premonition
The legacy of a centuries-old mystery. Disturbing encounters with unknown ships. Three great superpowers manoeuvre against each other. But are their destinies their own, or are they merely the puppets of some greater power? Since the loss of the Prism system in 3300, Lady Kahina Tijani Loren has operated on the fringes of Imperial society. Led by clues from a woman once thought dead, she is drawn into a conspiracy at the heart of humanity. To uncover the truth she must contend with dangerous enemies, navigate murky political waters, and – with the help of her friends – uncover the secret of the Formidine Rift. Premonition is the new story set in the Elite: Dangerous galaxy, shaped by player actions in the game.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
51 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Drew Wagar
40 books61 followersDrew Wagar is a science fiction and fantasy author, living in the UK. He is the author of the Hegira Series, the Shadeward Saga, The Midnight Chronicles, the Elect Saga and the official Elite Dangerous novelisations.
You can join a mailing list and discover more about Drew's books at his website.
www.drewwagar.com
You can join a mailing list and discover more about Drew's books at his website.
www.drewwagar.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2017
WARNING:
This book is relentless. Discipline yourself. Stop at the end of the chapter. Put it down. Breathe. Remember you have responsibilities in the morning. Don’t let the action sweep you away, or you will find yourself staring bleary eyed at the clock, trying to justify reading just a few more minutes with the sun threatening to come up in too few hours for a decent night’s rest.
If you think I’m being hyperbolic, don’t say I didn’t warn you when it happens to you.
If you’re not aware, this book is written in the fictional universe of the Elite game franchise, specifically for the game Elite Dangerous. Its pages feature some of the fruits of in-game activities by players within the game. It is also a sequel to another novel by the same author, Elite Dangerous: Reclamation. As someone who has both played Elite Dangerous and read Elite Dangerous Reclamation, this book was of particular interest to me. Regardless, readers with an interest in the science fiction / fantasy genre who are unfamiliar with the game or this book’s predecessor will likely devour this book with delight.
Players of Elite Dangerous will know many of the events that took place in-game, or at a minimum, in the in-game news feed. That said, even if you were a player who made the effort to be cognizant of and participate in the developments, there will be plenty to hold your interest. And I shall do my best not to spoil the discoveries to be made for yourself when you read the book.
Digging in… The positive first...
Character development:
Main character development is done very well. Each have distinct personalities and their own unique motivations, even if those motivations are deliberately concealed.
The main character, Kahina/Salomé, is forced to quite literally roll with the punches. Her understanding and perceptions of people and events turned upside down on numerous occasions, friendships tried in the crucibles of adversity, placing and misplacing trust in those around her. Particularly poignant moments surround her seeking forgiveness from others, and learning to forgive others who deeply wronged her. ...With a few notable exceptions.
The various powerful leaders encountered, including Admiral Patreus, Emperor Lavigny-Duval, Princess Aisling, President Hudson, Prime Minister Mahon, all had well-developed, distinctive character traits. Granted, Princess Aisling’s well-developed character amounted to assigning her the character of a bubblehead, but it worked.
I was particularly impressed by the nuance and cunning of Admiral Denton Patreus, an important, though not exactly “main” character. His introduction left my mind ringing with the Imperial March, and the expectation of James Earl Jones’ intimidating tones punctuated by deep breaths through scuba gear. Yet, as successive scenes layered on, he transformed into an endearing, almost benevolent, picture of a gentleman. A knight in shining armor, in some ways. A bit of a hedgehog - cold, hard and prickly on the outside, soft, warm and winsome on the inside. He was a character that demanded the reader pay attention when he was present, all the way through the epilogue...
Other main characters, like Tsu Annabelle Singh and Raan Corsen are both introduced and built up as characters in such a way that a reader can easily identify with them and hope for success in their objectives.
The deliberately mysterious characters are likewise well-crafted, ominous, and intimidating. They are anonymous, referred to by their roles rather than by their names, but each have distinct, disturbing personalities.
Painting a scene:
The ships. The ships steal the show. Since the majority of the story takes place aboard ships, the energy spent describing them is warranted. Each ship the main characters spend any amount of time in is given the next best thing to a personality, mirroring its owner/operator. Luko’s Cobra MkIII, for instance, is much more than meets the eye. Old, yet full of surprises. The character Alesia’s battered and fuelless Imperial Clipper is a reflection of a woman who is tired of the drama going on in human space. The Old Woman’s Cobra MkIII, a similar vessel to Luko’s, including its vintage, but with a darker record, from its tarnished nameplate, to its scarred panels, to its corona-scored hull. Then there’s the capital ships… The luxurious yet tasteful attributes of the Majestic Class Interdictor owned by a certain powerful woman similarly match her quite nicely.
Clothing is another area that is well described. Ever asked yourself how a lady stays modest in zero-gee while wearing a dress? How about a portly man in a toga? What type of outfit does a secret agent wear in the 34th century? How do the rulers of powers dress in that day in age? All those questions and more will be answered. The descriptiveness of characters and their clothing aids in the construction of a mental image of the people involved in the story.
Swords carried by various characters were also lavished in descriptive detail. With their inlays and filigrees, hilts and scabbards, blade shape and methods of use, swords are probably the most well described of the weaponry employed by the characters. Sidearms followed by ship-mounted armaments are likewise given sufficient attention for the reader to generate a mental image amidst the action surrounding their use.
Emotional roller coaster:
One does not simply trust an author. If you read Premonition, you will likely become invested in the characters. Unless you are a graduate of the Vulcan Science Academy, Drew’s writing will invariably elicit an emotional response. That said, the book was not over the top in its use of emotion. It serves its purpose well, adding feeling appropriately, instead of employing it as a crutch. There are characters you will care about, characters you will hate, characters who provide much needed comedy relief, and characters who draw a range of emotional responses as your perceptions of them change. There will be characters you will miss after they come on stage, say their lines, then step off in a blaze of glory; those will make you reach for the nearest box of tissues.
A few opinions on what could have been better in this book:
While character development for the primary characters was fantastic, some ancillary characters noticeably suffered.
Yuri Nakamura, for instance, feels unnaturally grafted into the story. We don’t get much on his motivations, why he’s so willing to put his life on the line for the main character, Kahina/Salomé, beyond “I want a challenge.” There is also no relationship building between he and the other protagonists that might explain why he was suddenly entrusted with a huge secret, despite the intrigue that threatened their lives throughout the book. His sportsmanlike relationship with fellow “Close Quarters Combat - Melee Masters” pilot, Raan Corsen, is the only relationship that exists between Yuri and any other character in the book. If Yuri wanted a challenge, it might have made more sense to send him gunning after Raan for the bounty on his head. Frankly, considering everything Kahina/Salomé goes through, she has little reason to trust Raan either, so it’s unclear why she’d be so willing to trust Yuri. Including Yuri as part of Kahina/Salomé’s inner circle, without building a foundation of trust first, ends up feeling arbitrary and unnatural.
There are many others who are named, but not really introduced, who get a few words in, but are never heard from again. Some of those make sense, as their conversations or actions are wrapped up tidily, leaving no expectation they will be heard from more. Some of them leave the story without a clean conclusion, which left me with some expectation of their return. It took a while to become accustomed to how these disposable characters were used.
Storyline development and pacing:
The beginning of the book is wonderfully paced. The book begins nice and easy. Main characters and not-quite-main characters are introduced masterfully, settings described in detail, scenes transitioning meaningfully. As the book progresses, those transitions break down in places. Scenes are built to a level of detail that implies the reader should pay attention, as it seems a story arc is being prepared, only to leave the reader hanging, expecting more. For instance, pains were taken to introduce a character who discovered new fungal life in a far-flung area of the galaxy. Once the discovery was made, nothing came of it. The only character to interact with that fungus discoverer ends a chapter asking himself, “What the hell was all that about?” I found myself asking similar questions in these situations.
By the end of the book, the scenes changed nearly every other paragraph. This was very disruptive and difficult to read smoothly. This is a minor criticism, as I believe this seemingly haphazard method of telling the story was by design. It significantly heightened the tension and the feeling of chaos the characters were experiencing at that stage of the story. The reader, like the characters, is immersed in the melee. On second thought, this should probably be in the commendation section of this review. It could go either way. That said, I did crave some greater detail in the final chapter, with more character dialogue and scene description.
Overall
The book as a whole is fantastic. Yes, there are some minor elements that could be tightened up, but they are minor distractions when everything is taken together.
If you are an Elite Dangerous player, this book is simply a must read. It will greatly enhance your gameplay in the galaxy-sized sandbox universe.
If you are a pleasure reader, with an interest in space, science fiction, and fantasy, know this book is a pleasure to read. If one review can tip you over in your decision to purchase this book, I hope it's this one. Leave a comment on this review if that ends up being the case. ;)
If you are a book junkie, flitting from novel to novel for your next fix, put this book on your TBR list. I take no responsibility for how much sleep forgo while reading.
In short, this book was a good read.
This book is relentless. Discipline yourself. Stop at the end of the chapter. Put it down. Breathe. Remember you have responsibilities in the morning. Don’t let the action sweep you away, or you will find yourself staring bleary eyed at the clock, trying to justify reading just a few more minutes with the sun threatening to come up in too few hours for a decent night’s rest.
If you think I’m being hyperbolic, don’t say I didn’t warn you when it happens to you.
If you’re not aware, this book is written in the fictional universe of the Elite game franchise, specifically for the game Elite Dangerous. Its pages feature some of the fruits of in-game activities by players within the game. It is also a sequel to another novel by the same author, Elite Dangerous: Reclamation. As someone who has both played Elite Dangerous and read Elite Dangerous Reclamation, this book was of particular interest to me. Regardless, readers with an interest in the science fiction / fantasy genre who are unfamiliar with the game or this book’s predecessor will likely devour this book with delight.
Players of Elite Dangerous will know many of the events that took place in-game, or at a minimum, in the in-game news feed. That said, even if you were a player who made the effort to be cognizant of and participate in the developments, there will be plenty to hold your interest. And I shall do my best not to spoil the discoveries to be made for yourself when you read the book.
Digging in… The positive first...
Character development:
Main character development is done very well. Each have distinct personalities and their own unique motivations, even if those motivations are deliberately concealed.
The main character, Kahina/Salomé, is forced to quite literally roll with the punches. Her understanding and perceptions of people and events turned upside down on numerous occasions, friendships tried in the crucibles of adversity, placing and misplacing trust in those around her. Particularly poignant moments surround her seeking forgiveness from others, and learning to forgive others who deeply wronged her. ...With a few notable exceptions.
The various powerful leaders encountered, including Admiral Patreus, Emperor Lavigny-Duval, Princess Aisling, President Hudson, Prime Minister Mahon, all had well-developed, distinctive character traits. Granted, Princess Aisling’s well-developed character amounted to assigning her the character of a bubblehead, but it worked.
I was particularly impressed by the nuance and cunning of Admiral Denton Patreus, an important, though not exactly “main” character. His introduction left my mind ringing with the Imperial March, and the expectation of James Earl Jones’ intimidating tones punctuated by deep breaths through scuba gear. Yet, as successive scenes layered on, he transformed into an endearing, almost benevolent, picture of a gentleman. A knight in shining armor, in some ways. A bit of a hedgehog - cold, hard and prickly on the outside, soft, warm and winsome on the inside. He was a character that demanded the reader pay attention when he was present, all the way through the epilogue...
Other main characters, like Tsu Annabelle Singh and Raan Corsen are both introduced and built up as characters in such a way that a reader can easily identify with them and hope for success in their objectives.
The deliberately mysterious characters are likewise well-crafted, ominous, and intimidating. They are anonymous, referred to by their roles rather than by their names, but each have distinct, disturbing personalities.
Painting a scene:
The ships. The ships steal the show. Since the majority of the story takes place aboard ships, the energy spent describing them is warranted. Each ship the main characters spend any amount of time in is given the next best thing to a personality, mirroring its owner/operator. Luko’s Cobra MkIII, for instance, is much more than meets the eye. Old, yet full of surprises. The character Alesia’s battered and fuelless Imperial Clipper is a reflection of a woman who is tired of the drama going on in human space. The Old Woman’s Cobra MkIII, a similar vessel to Luko’s, including its vintage, but with a darker record, from its tarnished nameplate, to its scarred panels, to its corona-scored hull. Then there’s the capital ships… The luxurious yet tasteful attributes of the Majestic Class Interdictor owned by a certain powerful woman similarly match her quite nicely.
Clothing is another area that is well described. Ever asked yourself how a lady stays modest in zero-gee while wearing a dress? How about a portly man in a toga? What type of outfit does a secret agent wear in the 34th century? How do the rulers of powers dress in that day in age? All those questions and more will be answered. The descriptiveness of characters and their clothing aids in the construction of a mental image of the people involved in the story.
Swords carried by various characters were also lavished in descriptive detail. With their inlays and filigrees, hilts and scabbards, blade shape and methods of use, swords are probably the most well described of the weaponry employed by the characters. Sidearms followed by ship-mounted armaments are likewise given sufficient attention for the reader to generate a mental image amidst the action surrounding their use.
Emotional roller coaster:
One does not simply trust an author. If you read Premonition, you will likely become invested in the characters. Unless you are a graduate of the Vulcan Science Academy, Drew’s writing will invariably elicit an emotional response. That said, the book was not over the top in its use of emotion. It serves its purpose well, adding feeling appropriately, instead of employing it as a crutch. There are characters you will care about, characters you will hate, characters who provide much needed comedy relief, and characters who draw a range of emotional responses as your perceptions of them change. There will be characters you will miss after they come on stage, say their lines, then step off in a blaze of glory; those will make you reach for the nearest box of tissues.
A few opinions on what could have been better in this book:
While character development for the primary characters was fantastic, some ancillary characters noticeably suffered.
Yuri Nakamura, for instance, feels unnaturally grafted into the story. We don’t get much on his motivations, why he’s so willing to put his life on the line for the main character, Kahina/Salomé, beyond “I want a challenge.” There is also no relationship building between he and the other protagonists that might explain why he was suddenly entrusted with a huge secret, despite the intrigue that threatened their lives throughout the book. His sportsmanlike relationship with fellow “Close Quarters Combat - Melee Masters” pilot, Raan Corsen, is the only relationship that exists between Yuri and any other character in the book. If Yuri wanted a challenge, it might have made more sense to send him gunning after Raan for the bounty on his head. Frankly, considering everything Kahina/Salomé goes through, she has little reason to trust Raan either, so it’s unclear why she’d be so willing to trust Yuri. Including Yuri as part of Kahina/Salomé’s inner circle, without building a foundation of trust first, ends up feeling arbitrary and unnatural.
There are many others who are named, but not really introduced, who get a few words in, but are never heard from again. Some of those make sense, as their conversations or actions are wrapped up tidily, leaving no expectation they will be heard from more. Some of them leave the story without a clean conclusion, which left me with some expectation of their return. It took a while to become accustomed to how these disposable characters were used.
Storyline development and pacing:
The beginning of the book is wonderfully paced. The book begins nice and easy. Main characters and not-quite-main characters are introduced masterfully, settings described in detail, scenes transitioning meaningfully. As the book progresses, those transitions break down in places. Scenes are built to a level of detail that implies the reader should pay attention, as it seems a story arc is being prepared, only to leave the reader hanging, expecting more. For instance, pains were taken to introduce a character who discovered new fungal life in a far-flung area of the galaxy. Once the discovery was made, nothing came of it. The only character to interact with that fungus discoverer ends a chapter asking himself, “What the hell was all that about?” I found myself asking similar questions in these situations.
By the end of the book, the scenes changed nearly every other paragraph. This was very disruptive and difficult to read smoothly. This is a minor criticism, as I believe this seemingly haphazard method of telling the story was by design. It significantly heightened the tension and the feeling of chaos the characters were experiencing at that stage of the story. The reader, like the characters, is immersed in the melee. On second thought, this should probably be in the commendation section of this review. It could go either way. That said, I did crave some greater detail in the final chapter, with more character dialogue and scene description.
Overall
The book as a whole is fantastic. Yes, there are some minor elements that could be tightened up, but they are minor distractions when everything is taken together.
If you are an Elite Dangerous player, this book is simply a must read. It will greatly enhance your gameplay in the galaxy-sized sandbox universe.
If you are a pleasure reader, with an interest in space, science fiction, and fantasy, know this book is a pleasure to read. If one review can tip you over in your decision to purchase this book, I hope it's this one. Leave a comment on this review if that ends up being the case. ;)
If you are a book junkie, flitting from novel to novel for your next fix, put this book on your TBR list. I take no responsibility for how much sleep forgo while reading.
In short, this book was a good read.
July 22, 2018
Drew, I really hope you read this. I just wanted to say you did a fantastic job with Reclamation, but I just finished Premonition and absolutely loved it.
This book is amazing. I love that almost every detail from the game has been included and told in some way in the book. The fuel rats, explorers, bounty hunters, traders, engineers, different player factions in game. All that was included. Seeing character’s interaction with engineers I actively go to and use today in game was also cool. Describing the inside of their bases. Small stuff like fuel scooping or buying cargo at a station. Even though we don’t see our ships being loaded with cargo, you brought to life what that experience could be like. The inner parts of a space station that we’ll never see, you brought that to life in a way that seemed real. The description of the insides of the ships, the cabins, the cargo decks, all the stuff we’ll probably never get to see in Elite, you brought to life. So now when I play and pilot certain ships, I can almost visualize what other parts of the ship may look like from the book.,The way you described combat and being interdicted, sort of actually portrayed the real feelings we get when we actually do those things in game. And I think you portrayed all those things really really well. The feelings of being out in the void in long expeditions, “space madness”, seeing that portrayed in the book with different characters just brought the game to life in a cool way when reading the book. I found myself reading the book, and getting hyped up to actually play the game!
I really liked seeing a system name listed in the story, and I’d get on my galaxy map and go search it to see where it’s at, a lot of times I’d go search around systems from the book to check out stuff, put myself in the system where the story was taking place to immerse myself. Which. I thought was cool.
We all knew how the book was going to end, due to the infamous event that took place. But I enjoyed reading through Salome’s adventure, how she got to that point, and the events that lead up to everything and the impact it would have on our galaxy and the inevitable conflict with the Thargoids. You’ve given us lore and story in Elite that Frontier could never accomplish. You’ve given a sort of life to this game and mystery that I don’t think even existed before you wrote these two books.
Few books really leave an everlasting impression on me. But your Elite books have. Salome is a character I’ll always remember and cherish. I’ve even renamed my ship to Remember Salome. I’ve even had players compliment me on my name and spark up conversation about the books.
I really enjoyed your Elite books. I think you’re a very talented author. Idk if you have any plans on continuing the Elite Dangerous books, or anything like that, but you’ve made a fan out of me. Whatever you do Elite wise, I’ll definitely be following. If there’s ever another book in the series, I’m definitely buying it. I know this is a long post, but I just wanted to say thank for contributing to this game, the lore and bringing all the things we experience in game, to life on pages in a very cool way.
o7 Drew
This book is amazing. I love that almost every detail from the game has been included and told in some way in the book. The fuel rats, explorers, bounty hunters, traders, engineers, different player factions in game. All that was included. Seeing character’s interaction with engineers I actively go to and use today in game was also cool. Describing the inside of their bases. Small stuff like fuel scooping or buying cargo at a station. Even though we don’t see our ships being loaded with cargo, you brought to life what that experience could be like. The inner parts of a space station that we’ll never see, you brought that to life in a way that seemed real. The description of the insides of the ships, the cabins, the cargo decks, all the stuff we’ll probably never get to see in Elite, you brought to life. So now when I play and pilot certain ships, I can almost visualize what other parts of the ship may look like from the book.,The way you described combat and being interdicted, sort of actually portrayed the real feelings we get when we actually do those things in game. And I think you portrayed all those things really really well. The feelings of being out in the void in long expeditions, “space madness”, seeing that portrayed in the book with different characters just brought the game to life in a cool way when reading the book. I found myself reading the book, and getting hyped up to actually play the game!
I really liked seeing a system name listed in the story, and I’d get on my galaxy map and go search it to see where it’s at, a lot of times I’d go search around systems from the book to check out stuff, put myself in the system where the story was taking place to immerse myself. Which. I thought was cool.
We all knew how the book was going to end, due to the infamous event that took place. But I enjoyed reading through Salome’s adventure, how she got to that point, and the events that lead up to everything and the impact it would have on our galaxy and the inevitable conflict with the Thargoids. You’ve given us lore and story in Elite that Frontier could never accomplish. You’ve given a sort of life to this game and mystery that I don’t think even existed before you wrote these two books.
Few books really leave an everlasting impression on me. But your Elite books have. Salome is a character I’ll always remember and cherish. I’ve even renamed my ship to Remember Salome. I’ve even had players compliment me on my name and spark up conversation about the books.
I really enjoyed your Elite books. I think you’re a very talented author. Idk if you have any plans on continuing the Elite Dangerous books, or anything like that, but you’ve made a fan out of me. Whatever you do Elite wise, I’ll definitely be following. If there’s ever another book in the series, I’m definitely buying it. I know this is a long post, but I just wanted to say thank for contributing to this game, the lore and bringing all the things we experience in game, to life on pages in a very cool way.
o7 Drew
November 26, 2018
As an Elite Dangerous Commander myself, I am biased, but I loved this book. The story is set in the early days of Elite Dangerous as the Empire, Federation, and Alliance struggle to deal with shadowy forces manipulating the galactic background story (BGS). As we know all too well, this was foreshadowing for the arrival of The Thargoids, an ancient alien race that eventually invaded inhabited space (known as "the bubble").
In Premonition, the echoes of Project Dyansty, a mysterious set of expeditions to the Formidine Rift cast a shadow over Salome, Hassan, Raas, Tus, and various well-known characters from the Elite Dangerous universe as they seek the truth to an approaching threat. Drew Wagar is an integral part of the Elite Dangerous community and his knowledge of the lore, the tech, and the people in the game shine across the pages of this story.
Despite my experience with the game that includes some of the locations, stories, and characters in the book, I think it would be easy for anyone to read this story and enjoy it. The action is fast-paced and has a very old-school space opera feel to it. Even if you're not familiar with the universe, Wagar's approach to introducing, developing, and sometimes destroying characters manifests in a way that should be pleasing to veteran science fiction readers, Elite Dangerous fans, and those who are looking to branch out and try something new.
Premonition is highly recommended! Fly safe. Fly Dangerous.
In Premonition, the echoes of Project Dyansty, a mysterious set of expeditions to the Formidine Rift cast a shadow over Salome, Hassan, Raas, Tus, and various well-known characters from the Elite Dangerous universe as they seek the truth to an approaching threat. Drew Wagar is an integral part of the Elite Dangerous community and his knowledge of the lore, the tech, and the people in the game shine across the pages of this story.
Despite my experience with the game that includes some of the locations, stories, and characters in the book, I think it would be easy for anyone to read this story and enjoy it. The action is fast-paced and has a very old-school space opera feel to it. Even if you're not familiar with the universe, Wagar's approach to introducing, developing, and sometimes destroying characters manifests in a way that should be pleasing to veteran science fiction readers, Elite Dangerous fans, and those who are looking to branch out and try something new.
Premonition is highly recommended! Fly safe. Fly Dangerous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
Sequel ot the Reclamation book... the main character continues into a new mystery, not just linked to the star system she lived in like last time. this time the plot concerns all of humanity. She searches out and discovers a plan and a threat being kept from civilization. This book is also connected to and exists in the game universe of "Elite Dangerous". Some of the storyline was actually determined by player actions in the multiplayer game. An exciting space opera style mystery for those who know the game and for those who do not.
March 10, 2018
The Thargoids are Coming
Nicely done. I'm not a big fan of the Imperials, but Drew pulled me in with an ever engrossing tale. My only critique is that the Thargoid story was under emphasized or maybe that's his next book in this series.
Nicely done. I'm not a big fan of the Imperials, but Drew pulled me in with an ever engrossing tale. My only critique is that the Thargoid story was under emphasized or maybe that's his next book in this series.
August 10, 2017
I liked it because of the backstory it added to the game. If a person is not playing Elite Dangerous the book would probably seem a bit pointless.
October 15, 2017
The latest instalment from Drew. Another great read!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews