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Mass Effect Novels #1
Mass Effect: Revelation
Every advanced society in the galaxy relies on the technology of the Protheans, an ancient species that vanished fifty thousand years ago. After discovering a cache of Prothean technology on Mars in 2148, humanity is spreading to the stars; the newest interstellar species, struggling to carve out its place in the greater galactic community.
On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base hours before her colleagues were slaughtered?
Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can't trust and pursued by an assassin he can't escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won't live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks.
On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base hours before her colleagues were slaughtered?
Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can't trust and pursued by an assassin he can't escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won't live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks.
Audiobook
First published May 1, 2007
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About the author
Drew Karpyshyn
39 books2,071 followersDrew Karpyshyn is a Canadian author and game designer. After working at a credit union for some time, he eventually became a game developer. He joined BioWare towards the end of the Baldur's Gate series, and wrote the tie-in novel for Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. He stayed with BioWare, where he worked on Neverwinter Nights, and became the Senior Writer on the critically acclaimed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
This Star Wars connection gave him the opportunity to write Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, his first hardcover. Karpyshyn still works for BioWare where he is the lead writer for the Mass Effect series.
This Star Wars connection gave him the opportunity to write Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, his first hardcover. Karpyshyn still works for BioWare where he is the lead writer for the Mass Effect series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 943 reviews
April 20, 2008
Haiku Review:
I think I wrote this
Story in the seventh grade.
It stunk back then, too.
I think I wrote this
Story in the seventh grade.
It stunk back then, too.
January 18, 2012
I probably don't need to say that this book is only for Mass Effect fans, but I'll say it anyways. I doubt anyone who isn't already a fan of Mass Effect could get really invested here.
This book could be subtitled The Complete History of Why Anderson and Saren Hate Each Other's Guts. Yes, it's the full story of Anderson's failed Spectre attempt, and exactly how Saren screwed it up. It is interested to see a pre-Sovreign Saren, and see exactly how ruthless and morally bankrupt he already was. There wasn't far to go for him. It was also good to see a slightly younger Anderson in action. The storyline itself is fast-paced and, for the most part, engaging. There is one character who gets stuck with the Idiot Ball .
At times, the author (who did indeed write for the game) would get caught up in giving us loads and loads of background information. There are huge chunks of exposition in here. This is what makes the book fans only: only a fan would care to read through such detailed explanations. On the other hand, a fan has likely read these or similar descriptions in in the in-game journal entries. Lots of it was familiar to me, but I didn't particularly care. For an exposition dump, it was done rather well, and I'm personally pretty invested in this setting already.
For Mass Effect fans, this is a must-read. There's a lot of backstory revealed here, and it adds a ton of context to what we see happening in the games.
This book could be subtitled The Complete History of Why Anderson and Saren Hate Each Other's Guts. Yes, it's the full story of Anderson's failed Spectre attempt, and exactly how Saren screwed it up. It is interested to see a pre-Sovreign Saren, and see exactly how ruthless and morally bankrupt he already was. There wasn't far to go for him. It was also good to see a slightly younger Anderson in action. The storyline itself is fast-paced and, for the most part, engaging. There is one character who gets stuck with the Idiot Ball .
At times, the author (who did indeed write for the game) would get caught up in giving us loads and loads of background information. There are huge chunks of exposition in here. This is what makes the book fans only: only a fan would care to read through such detailed explanations. On the other hand, a fan has likely read these or similar descriptions in in the in-game journal entries. Lots of it was familiar to me, but I didn't particularly care. For an exposition dump, it was done rather well, and I'm personally pretty invested in this setting already.
For Mass Effect fans, this is a must-read. There's a lot of backstory revealed here, and it adds a ton of context to what we see happening in the games.
May 1, 2019
Part 2 of my long term cross-media project.
Original title: Mass Effect: Revelation
This video game tie-in is a prequel to the first Mass Effect game.
In 2148 humanity discovers a cache of very advanced technology on Mars. The Protheans, the ancient species that developed said technology, vanished fifty thousand years ago. The reasons for their disappearance unknown.
They left behind the mass relays, star gates that allow instantaneous intergalactic travel. We don’t understand the technology behind it, so we are not capable of building our own. But thanks to what we found on Mars we are able to use the existing mass relays.
And off to the stars we are.
We are a little late to the party, though. Several other species discovered the Prothean’s technology centuries or even millenia ago. And in 2157 First Contact War between humans and one of those other species (the turians) occurs. Those events are background info that is mostly to be found in the prologue of the book.
The main story of this novel takes place in 2165. The First Contact War is long past and humanity is the newest member of the greater galactic community, that contains a wealth of different species.
The center of political power is a gigantic space station, the Citadel, which had also been constructed by the Protheans. Lots of different species work and live together on the Citadel and it also serves as the Capital of the Citadel Council whose main task is to maintain law and order and to settle disputes between governments.
As humanity seeks to climb to a position of power within the community we ignore some of the rules set forth by the Citadel Council and conduct some experiments on dangerous (and banned) technology at a science facility on Sidon.
Things go horribly wrong of course and Lieutenant David Anderson and his crew pick up an S.O.S. signal from Sidon while on a cruise near the planet. As they arrive on Sidon they soon realize that the facility had been attacked. Though it is unclear by whom. And Anderson and his crew also know nothing of the experiments that took place there.
They can’t do much to salvage the situation, but Anderson gets assigned by the Alliance to investigate the incident.
Kahlee Sanders, one of the scientists, left Sidon one day prior to the attack. And that makes her a suspect. She’s on the run.
The Citadel Counsil meanwhile sends his own man to have a look at what the humans were doing on Sidon, the turian Spectre Saren Arterius. Spectre stands for Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. And as an entrusted agent of the Council Saren stands above the law and is allowed to do whatever he deems necessary to resolve the situation. And Saren is not one for holding back.
A game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Saren and Anderson are not the only ones in search of the scientist. Whoever was behind the attacks on the science facility needs to cover up their tracks and they send a killer after Kahlee Sanders. And then there’s also the question of the tech the humans were working on, as all the involved parties have an interest in that too.
The plot is fast-paced and full of action and also some violence. Especially Saren does not take any prisoners. With his uncompromising bad-assery he is the standout character of this book.
The two main human characters fall a little flat, though. Both were interesting enough in the beginning. But soon romantic attraction sets in and becomes the main motivation for Anderson, which makes him appear a little unprofessional. At the same time it demotes Kahlee to the role of love interest. That whole dynamic became kinda boring.
I’m also not sure I’m supposed to like Saren and despise the role of humanity in this book, considering I’m about to become part of the Alliance in the Mass Effect game. On the other hand, the observations of human behaviour through the eyes of the other species is actually something that gives this novel a little more depth. Not that much though.
The first time around this book worked a little better for me, as the game was still fresh in my mind and I picked up on more of the references. As a prequel to the game series – written by the same author, btw – it mainly sets out to fill in the gaps and set up the characters of David Anderson and Saren Arterius for later events.
It can still be read without knowing the games. But don’t expect much more than an action-packed chapter out of much grander tale that’s only hinted at.
All in all an enjoyable read with some weaknesses on the character side and an ending that doesn’t resolve much, as we are only at the beginning.
Even though I decided to downgrade my rating on this one, the Mass Effect fever has already gotten hold of me once again and I’m looking forward to continue my journey.
Up next: Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best
Read so far:
Mass Effect: Evolution by Mac Walters (Comic)
Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn (Novel)
The timeline for the whole series: https://www.alltimelines.com/mass-eff...
Original title: Mass Effect: Revelation
This video game tie-in is a prequel to the first Mass Effect game.
In 2148 humanity discovers a cache of very advanced technology on Mars. The Protheans, the ancient species that developed said technology, vanished fifty thousand years ago. The reasons for their disappearance unknown.
They left behind the mass relays, star gates that allow instantaneous intergalactic travel. We don’t understand the technology behind it, so we are not capable of building our own. But thanks to what we found on Mars we are able to use the existing mass relays.
And off to the stars we are.
We are a little late to the party, though. Several other species discovered the Prothean’s technology centuries or even millenia ago. And in 2157 First Contact War between humans and one of those other species (the turians) occurs. Those events are background info that is mostly to be found in the prologue of the book.
The main story of this novel takes place in 2165. The First Contact War is long past and humanity is the newest member of the greater galactic community, that contains a wealth of different species.
The center of political power is a gigantic space station, the Citadel, which had also been constructed by the Protheans. Lots of different species work and live together on the Citadel and it also serves as the Capital of the Citadel Council whose main task is to maintain law and order and to settle disputes between governments.
As humanity seeks to climb to a position of power within the community we ignore some of the rules set forth by the Citadel Council and conduct some experiments on dangerous (and banned) technology at a science facility on Sidon.
Things go horribly wrong of course and Lieutenant David Anderson and his crew pick up an S.O.S. signal from Sidon while on a cruise near the planet. As they arrive on Sidon they soon realize that the facility had been attacked. Though it is unclear by whom. And Anderson and his crew also know nothing of the experiments that took place there.
They can’t do much to salvage the situation, but Anderson gets assigned by the Alliance to investigate the incident.
Kahlee Sanders, one of the scientists, left Sidon one day prior to the attack. And that makes her a suspect. She’s on the run.
The Citadel Counsil meanwhile sends his own man to have a look at what the humans were doing on Sidon, the turian Spectre Saren Arterius. Spectre stands for Special Tactics and Reconnaissance. And as an entrusted agent of the Council Saren stands above the law and is allowed to do whatever he deems necessary to resolve the situation. And Saren is not one for holding back.
"I have two rules to follow," Saren explained. "The first is: never kill someone without a reason."
"And the second?" Anderson asked, suspicious.
"You can always find a reason to kill someone."
A game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Saren and Anderson are not the only ones in search of the scientist. Whoever was behind the attacks on the science facility needs to cover up their tracks and they send a killer after Kahlee Sanders. And then there’s also the question of the tech the humans were working on, as all the involved parties have an interest in that too.
The plot is fast-paced and full of action and also some violence. Especially Saren does not take any prisoners. With his uncompromising bad-assery he is the standout character of this book.
The two main human characters fall a little flat, though. Both were interesting enough in the beginning. But soon romantic attraction sets in and becomes the main motivation for Anderson, which makes him appear a little unprofessional. At the same time it demotes Kahlee to the role of love interest. That whole dynamic became kinda boring.
I’m also not sure I’m supposed to like Saren and despise the role of humanity in this book, considering I’m about to become part of the Alliance in the Mass Effect game. On the other hand, the observations of human behaviour through the eyes of the other species is actually something that gives this novel a little more depth. Not that much though.
The first time around this book worked a little better for me, as the game was still fresh in my mind and I picked up on more of the references. As a prequel to the game series – written by the same author, btw – it mainly sets out to fill in the gaps and set up the characters of David Anderson and Saren Arterius for later events.
It can still be read without knowing the games. But don’t expect much more than an action-packed chapter out of much grander tale that’s only hinted at.
All in all an enjoyable read with some weaknesses on the character side and an ending that doesn’t resolve much, as we are only at the beginning.
Even though I decided to downgrade my rating on this one, the Mass Effect fever has already gotten hold of me once again and I’m looking forward to continue my journey.
Up next: Mass Effect: He Who Laughs Best
Read so far:
Mass Effect: Evolution by Mac Walters (Comic)
Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn (Novel)
The timeline for the whole series: https://www.alltimelines.com/mass-eff...
July 3, 2012
It's quite easy to like this book if you approach it with the correct attitude. Yes, it is based on a video game franchise, and the downside is that readers will not really know how the story unfolds from here unless they play the game. It's a pity that the story of the first Mass Effect game has not been novelized as a sequel to Revelation. There is a sequel (Mass Effect: Ascension), but it takes place after the events of the game. I would have loved to read a novel featuring Commander Shepard, and the story is so well done it wouldn't have hurt. On the other hand, it remains to be seen how this affects the overall story arc as I haven't yet read Ascension.
Anyway, as for Revelation itself. It is a prequel to the events that are set in motion in the first Mass Effect game, and it is quite an accessible Science Fiction novel. An amalgamation of light Space Opera and light Military Sci-Fi, this novel will likely appeal just as much to people who aren't normally readers of the genre. And that is perhaps the whole idea. The Mass Effect universe is extremely well realised and there is much to enjoy, to newcomers and regulars alike. Also, the writing is very competent.
It reads pretty fast, and doesn't get bogged down in too much detail. You could do worse than give this a try. Of course, if you have played the game and enjoyed it, this is mandatory reading.
Anyway, as for Revelation itself. It is a prequel to the events that are set in motion in the first Mass Effect game, and it is quite an accessible Science Fiction novel. An amalgamation of light Space Opera and light Military Sci-Fi, this novel will likely appeal just as much to people who aren't normally readers of the genre. And that is perhaps the whole idea. The Mass Effect universe is extremely well realised and there is much to enjoy, to newcomers and regulars alike. Also, the writing is very competent.
It reads pretty fast, and doesn't get bogged down in too much detail. You could do worse than give this a try. Of course, if you have played the game and enjoyed it, this is mandatory reading.
August 18, 2009
I am a fairly large fan of the Mass Effect game, but I have to admit that I certainly wasn't expecting Tolstoy (or insert any other good novelist here) when I got my hands on this book. It sold itself on a few things, that it was a prequel to the game. It would tell us how Saren came to hate humans so much, and why Captain Anderson failed as a Spectre.
If you're boggled already then that sort of shows you a little of how the book is. As a stand alone novel, it's a fairly throw away read set in a vaguely interesting world that we never really get to see in any depth. The characters are all pretty cardboard as the action nips along. The only real surprisingly development comes with Anderson's divorce from his wife.
If you already know the world of Mass Effect you're probably a little better off, but still have to wade through a lot of explanation as to what things are and why they are like that. And seriously, the reasons why Saren might hate humans, and why Anderson failed at being a Sceptre are pretty stock standard. There's not a lot of imagination with either revelation.
All in all a very quick read, and vaguely entertaining.
If you're boggled already then that sort of shows you a little of how the book is. As a stand alone novel, it's a fairly throw away read set in a vaguely interesting world that we never really get to see in any depth. The characters are all pretty cardboard as the action nips along. The only real surprisingly development comes with Anderson's divorce from his wife.
If you already know the world of Mass Effect you're probably a little better off, but still have to wade through a lot of explanation as to what things are and why they are like that. And seriously, the reasons why Saren might hate humans, and why Anderson failed at being a Sceptre are pretty stock standard. There's not a lot of imagination with either revelation.
All in all a very quick read, and vaguely entertaining.
September 13, 2015
I'm starting to really like Drew Karpyshyn. After reading his first Star Wars: Darth Bane book and now this, I'm convinced this is a guy who can write a concise novel without rushing the story.
Revelation was a pretty short book, yet I was surprised at how much I was able to get out of it. There was some strong character building, great action sequences, and even some background information into the technology and inhabitants of the Mass Effect World.
Like most novels in the video game tie-in genre, there were a few forced plot points that you just kinda have to make yourself go with. Despite that, I thought this was a great book, especially for lorehounds like myself, and it was a pleasure to read a game book that doesn't follow the typical "bunch of adventurers go on a quest" pattern. If you're interested in the story from the first Mass Effect game about how Anderson *almost* became a Spectre, Revelation has all the details.
Revelation was a pretty short book, yet I was surprised at how much I was able to get out of it. There was some strong character building, great action sequences, and even some background information into the technology and inhabitants of the Mass Effect World.
Like most novels in the video game tie-in genre, there were a few forced plot points that you just kinda have to make yourself go with. Despite that, I thought this was a great book, especially for lorehounds like myself, and it was a pleasure to read a game book that doesn't follow the typical "bunch of adventurers go on a quest" pattern. If you're interested in the story from the first Mass Effect game about how Anderson *almost* became a Spectre, Revelation has all the details.
January 18, 2008
Mass Effect: Revelations is a truly phenomenal science fiction text. From the very first page you are hooked by this book's compelling and suspenseful nature. Mass Effect: Revelations follows the path of Lieutenant Anderson, an alliance space officer who is investigating the destruction of a human research base. During his exploration, he eventually uncovers a malicious plot of chicanery and corruption. However, he becomes shocked when he finds out that this activity was happening under his very nose among people close to him. On top of this riveting story line, this text also sports some very intense and dramatic battle scenes with other alien races to satisfy the sci-fi nerd in us all. Although this book may seem like just another piece of fiction on the surface, a closer analysis reveals that it is actually a fairly in-depth study of human nature. In this book, through utilizing comparisons between the human and alien races, author Drew Karpyshyn tries to convey the ideas that by nature, humans are competitive and driven. Throughout the book, Alien races are constantly questioning and abasementing the risky choices made by the human race. However, what these alien races don’t understand is that human’s are risk takers; it’s in our nature. This is the main message about human nature that the author Drew Karpyshyn is trying to get across. In summation, considering the numerous elements that this book has to offer, it is well worth a read. Even if you’re not a fan of science fiction, the widely applicable themes conveyed in this book are enough to you immersed in this fantastic book.
September 11, 2010
If I had to give my review a title, it would be "WHAT HAPPENED?!" Yes, in capslock.
I really loved the first part of the book, the introduction of the various races, of the universe in general, of the characters, especially of Grissom and Anderson, the attack on Sidon and the attempted rescue mission - all that was amazing. But then, something happened. And suddenly, I disliked everybody in the book.
The humans conducted illegal research with such a sense of appropriateness, as if they had the right to do it and everybody else was in the wrong. Anderson turned into a love sick puppy, bumbling around with his heart on his sleeve, doing rookie mistakes. Kahlee turned out to be just another woman who screamed in very inappropriate moments, who whined and moaned despite the fact that she had gone through a rigorous training as we were told at the very end. And Saren? The diabolical maestro to top everybody else playing the game? Everything he did - one inexcusable mass murder after another - he got away with it despite glaring evidence of his inappropriate behavior. Bad, just bad.
So I have to ask again: "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
I really loved the first part of the book, the introduction of the various races, of the universe in general, of the characters, especially of Grissom and Anderson, the attack on Sidon and the attempted rescue mission - all that was amazing. But then, something happened. And suddenly, I disliked everybody in the book.
The humans conducted illegal research with such a sense of appropriateness, as if they had the right to do it and everybody else was in the wrong. Anderson turned into a love sick puppy, bumbling around with his heart on his sleeve, doing rookie mistakes. Kahlee turned out to be just another woman who screamed in very inappropriate moments, who whined and moaned despite the fact that she had gone through a rigorous training as we were told at the very end. And Saren? The diabolical maestro to top everybody else playing the game? Everything he did - one inexcusable mass murder after another - he got away with it despite glaring evidence of his inappropriate behavior. Bad, just bad.
So I have to ask again: "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
July 30, 2018
This is a great addition to the Mass Effect universe. The story revolved around David Anderson, Kahlee Sanders, and how SPECTRE Saren Arterius acquires a reaper artifact. This is set before the events of the first Mass Effect game. The three novels by Drew Karpyshyn are great complements to the MEU.
B
B
July 10, 2021
The prose is prosaic, but I thought it did a very nice job of filling in some of the near past history of ME1. The action certainly sped along, and the worldbuilding was just as strong as in the game itself.
If all tie-in novels are this good, I may be in serious trouble.
If all tie-in novels are this good, I may be in serious trouble.
April 15, 2016
Drew Karpyshyn’s purpose for writing the sci-fi thriller Mass Effect: Revelation is strictly to entertain and inform. Karpyshyn is the lead writer for the Mass Effect video game series, so the introduction of Revelation as prequel material garnered support for the novel from the already established fan base. However, the novel is so good they need not have bothered. The book is told with a third-person omniscient viewpoint, with dialogue falling into first-person with respect to the speaker. Karpyshyn clearly intends for the book to be an extension of the Mass Effect universe, as it seamlessly melds into the story. In the game, Cpt. David Anderson mentions his failed mission as a human SPECTRE candidate. In the novel, that mission is explored in greater detail. The book provides an interesting insight into the backstory of the game, which in Mass Effect, is crucial.
Author Karpyshyn pens a theme of struggle, growth, and truth. The protagonist and company repeatedly grapple with enemies, diplomacy, and each other. This thematic point acts as a reference in the game, where humanity is struggling to gain a foothold as a major power in the universe. Likewise, the diplomatic pieces of the novel show rash, passionate decisions met with brutal amounts to patience, resolve, and tact. This theme of choices and paths becomes more evident in the game as the protagonist navigates the storyline. Another way to view the novel is as a window into truth and deception, as Cpt. Anderson must champion a truth that is ultimately negated, losing his opportunity in the process. The ruthlessness of the SPECTRE working parallel to Anderson, Saren, drives the plot and provides a foil to Anderson.
Karpyshyn’s style is narrative, as he aims to tell a story. The novel reads well and easily, as the diction and language are modern. The author writes about single or close moments in time from multiple personas and points of view, classifying the novel as a thriller. Providing multiple angles on the story enables the reader to discover plots and traps before the characters do, creating an emotional connection to the characters. Karpyshyn also utilizes effective description and imagery, illustrating a lush and vibrant culture as the setting for parts of the novel while providing a dreary and dull locale in other parts.
I loved this book; I thought it was well written and told a story worthy of the Mass Effect name. I have only recently bought and played the first game, so I am quite new to the story. I immediately liked the game, and then immediately liked the book. My favorite parts were the pieces of foreshadowing present due to it being a prequel. I mildly disliked how the book ended, with a rapid series of events with a small resolution. Even though I had played the game before I read the book, I know I would have enjoyed the book as much regardless of the game. For science-fiction fans of the Star Wars and Halo books and universe, I strongly recommend Mass Effect: Revelation and the Mass Effect universe.
Author Karpyshyn pens a theme of struggle, growth, and truth. The protagonist and company repeatedly grapple with enemies, diplomacy, and each other. This thematic point acts as a reference in the game, where humanity is struggling to gain a foothold as a major power in the universe. Likewise, the diplomatic pieces of the novel show rash, passionate decisions met with brutal amounts to patience, resolve, and tact. This theme of choices and paths becomes more evident in the game as the protagonist navigates the storyline. Another way to view the novel is as a window into truth and deception, as Cpt. Anderson must champion a truth that is ultimately negated, losing his opportunity in the process. The ruthlessness of the SPECTRE working parallel to Anderson, Saren, drives the plot and provides a foil to Anderson.
Karpyshyn’s style is narrative, as he aims to tell a story. The novel reads well and easily, as the diction and language are modern. The author writes about single or close moments in time from multiple personas and points of view, classifying the novel as a thriller. Providing multiple angles on the story enables the reader to discover plots and traps before the characters do, creating an emotional connection to the characters. Karpyshyn also utilizes effective description and imagery, illustrating a lush and vibrant culture as the setting for parts of the novel while providing a dreary and dull locale in other parts.
I loved this book; I thought it was well written and told a story worthy of the Mass Effect name. I have only recently bought and played the first game, so I am quite new to the story. I immediately liked the game, and then immediately liked the book. My favorite parts were the pieces of foreshadowing present due to it being a prequel. I mildly disliked how the book ended, with a rapid series of events with a small resolution. Even though I had played the game before I read the book, I know I would have enjoyed the book as much regardless of the game. For science-fiction fans of the Star Wars and Halo books and universe, I strongly recommend Mass Effect: Revelation and the Mass Effect universe.
May 5, 2016
Buddy read with Sorina at Buddies Books and Baubles.
Was Mass Effect: Revelation a revelation?
It was, and it was not.
As a prequel to the game, it was about a young Anderson on a mission to investigate whatever little was left of an Alliance secret research station, about how Anderson first met Kahlee Sanders, intergalactic politics, the galaxy's point of view on the human species at that point in time and on AI, and it let's its reader accompany Saren through part of his life as a spectre.
While the book, and that was to be expected, came of course nowhere near the game experience, I felt entertained at all times and I learned a few interesting or fun facts about the whole Mass Effect universe and what it was like before the first game started, for example there were
►fun insights on the different species
Batarians had a habit of looking at you with all four orbs simultaneously, making it difficult for a binocular species to know which pair to focus on during conversation. The inability to maintain eye contact was disconcerting for most other species, and the batarians always tried to exploit this advantage in situations involving bargaining and negotiations and
►on the galactic time system
On human colonies and out on patrol the Alliance still used the familiar twenty-four-hour clock based on Terran Coordinated Universal Time, the protocol established in the late twentieth century to replace the archaic Greenwich Mean Time system. On the Citadel, however, everything operated on the galactic standard of a twenty-hour day. To further complicate things, each hour was divided into one hundred minutes of one hundred seconds … but each second was roughly half as long as the ones humans were used to. The net result was that the twenty-hour galactic standard day was about fifteen percent longer than the twenty-four-hour day as calculated by Terran Coordinated Universal Time.
Two characters stood out for me in the book apart from Anderson and Kahlee:
►One of them was Saren.
"I have two rules to follow," Saren explained. "The first is: never kill someone without a reason." "And the second?" Anderson asked, suspicious. "You can always find a reason to kill someone."
I felt like Karpyshyn (yes, I copy-pasted that name ) wasted some potential on Saren's part of the story.
I would have loved to read SOMETHING about him to make me feel conflicted about his whole character as a villain, something to make me feel bad for him if only for a moment, but there was only black and white.
Once it was mentioned that Saren had lost a brother in the first contact war as a reason why he hates humans. And that was it. If that was supposed to add more depth to his character, this didn't do it for me. I missed his personal reason(s) for having become what he has become, a tragic past for example. This had so much potential.
►The other one was Skarr.
I just have a thing for powerful assassins in stories, and I loved how even in a warehouse full of armed mercenaries pointing their weapons at him, rather than getting intimidated, he turned the whole situation to his profit through his guts and through his wits. I would have loved to read more about his life.
Now, I'll definitely also read the other books in this series, too - well worth it imo.
Recommended to fellow Mass Effect fans.
Was Mass Effect: Revelation a revelation?
It was, and it was not.
As a prequel to the game, it was about a young Anderson on a mission to investigate whatever little was left of an Alliance secret research station, about how Anderson first met Kahlee Sanders, intergalactic politics, the galaxy's point of view on the human species at that point in time and on AI, and it let's its reader accompany Saren through part of his life as a spectre.
While the book, and that was to be expected, came of course nowhere near the game experience, I felt entertained at all times and I learned a few interesting or fun facts about the whole Mass Effect universe and what it was like before the first game started, for example there were
►fun insights on the different species
Batarians had a habit of looking at you with all four orbs simultaneously, making it difficult for a binocular species to know which pair to focus on during conversation. The inability to maintain eye contact was disconcerting for most other species, and the batarians always tried to exploit this advantage in situations involving bargaining and negotiations and
►on the galactic time system
On human colonies and out on patrol the Alliance still used the familiar twenty-four-hour clock based on Terran Coordinated Universal Time, the protocol established in the late twentieth century to replace the archaic Greenwich Mean Time system. On the Citadel, however, everything operated on the galactic standard of a twenty-hour day. To further complicate things, each hour was divided into one hundred minutes of one hundred seconds … but each second was roughly half as long as the ones humans were used to. The net result was that the twenty-hour galactic standard day was about fifteen percent longer than the twenty-four-hour day as calculated by Terran Coordinated Universal Time.
Two characters stood out for me in the book apart from Anderson and Kahlee:
►One of them was Saren.
"I have two rules to follow," Saren explained. "The first is: never kill someone without a reason." "And the second?" Anderson asked, suspicious. "You can always find a reason to kill someone."
I felt like Karpyshyn (yes, I copy-pasted that name ) wasted some potential on Saren's part of the story.
I would have loved to read SOMETHING about him to make me feel conflicted about his whole character as a villain, something to make me feel bad for him if only for a moment, but there was only black and white.
Once it was mentioned that Saren had lost a brother in the first contact war as a reason why he hates humans. And that was it. If that was supposed to add more depth to his character, this didn't do it for me. I missed his personal reason(s) for having become what he has become, a tragic past for example. This had so much potential.
►The other one was Skarr.
I just have a thing for powerful assassins in stories, and I loved how even in a warehouse full of armed mercenaries pointing their weapons at him, rather than getting intimidated, he turned the whole situation to his profit through his guts and through his wits. I would have loved to read more about his life.
Now, I'll definitely also read the other books in this series, too - well worth it imo.
Recommended to fellow Mass Effect fans.
November 22, 2014
I have tried reading books based on popular video game series before, including World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness by Aaron Rosenberg and Starcraft: Liberty's Crusade by Jeff Grubb. Both books were very poor. They're more concerned about maintaining a fast pace than developing characters and providing action set pieces than intriguing plot. It really is a shame because both of those books come from mythologies which are robust and interesting. I wasn't expecting A Canticle for Leibowitz when I read either one, but I was hopeful they wouldn't be written strictly for an audience which just hit puberty. When I finally decided to read Mass Effect: Revelation I did so with my previous experiences in mind and with hope the book would be a little bit better than the others which share a similar sub-genre.
The greatest praise I can give to Mass Effect: Revelation is that it's not terrible. I loved the Mass Effect series of games. Their storylines, their characters, and their lore rival some of the greatest science fiction tales ever created. I wanted to get back into the universe, and with the next game's release date still under wraps, and more than likely quite a ways off, reading Mass Effect: Revelation, which is a prequel to the original Mass Effect game, seemed like a perfect way to do it. The book doesn't in anyway match the game seriers's incredible experience, but it's a mildly entertaining addition to the overall universe nonetheless.
Like any prequel, Mass Effect: Revelation spends most of its time providing insights into characters the reading audience, who have most definitely played the games, already know about. Anderson, Sanders, Saren, these are names the readers will already be familiar with. Saren is the most compelling to read about it in the book, albeit mostly one-sided and uncomplicated. Anderson and Sanders follow unsurprising character tropes, and their relationship is largely uninteresting.
The story itself has the requisite science fiction mystery and mercenaries. Again, no real surprises to be found. The book's biggest asset isn't its story or characters but its setting. The Mass Effect universe, as I mentioned previously, is incredibly robust, which I love spending time in. As seems to often be the case for many books, there is a mad rush toward the end to bring the plot to a close. It felt like the author was working under a rigid deadline; I don’t know if that’s actually true.
There is no reason to read Mass Effect: Revelation unless you've played the game series and loved it. I enjoyed the book as much as I did mainly and mostly for that reason. I do think the book is better written than World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness and Starcraft: Liberty's Crusade, but it doesn't exactly stand head and shoulders above them. I'm prone to read the other Mass Effect books which have been published in hopes they'll also not be terrible as I bide my time before the next Mass Effect game releases.
http://thethousanderclub.blogspot.com/
The greatest praise I can give to Mass Effect: Revelation is that it's not terrible. I loved the Mass Effect series of games. Their storylines, their characters, and their lore rival some of the greatest science fiction tales ever created. I wanted to get back into the universe, and with the next game's release date still under wraps, and more than likely quite a ways off, reading Mass Effect: Revelation, which is a prequel to the original Mass Effect game, seemed like a perfect way to do it. The book doesn't in anyway match the game seriers's incredible experience, but it's a mildly entertaining addition to the overall universe nonetheless.
Like any prequel, Mass Effect: Revelation spends most of its time providing insights into characters the reading audience, who have most definitely played the games, already know about. Anderson, Sanders, Saren, these are names the readers will already be familiar with. Saren is the most compelling to read about it in the book, albeit mostly one-sided and uncomplicated. Anderson and Sanders follow unsurprising character tropes, and their relationship is largely uninteresting.
The story itself has the requisite science fiction mystery and mercenaries. Again, no real surprises to be found. The book's biggest asset isn't its story or characters but its setting. The Mass Effect universe, as I mentioned previously, is incredibly robust, which I love spending time in. As seems to often be the case for many books, there is a mad rush toward the end to bring the plot to a close. It felt like the author was working under a rigid deadline; I don’t know if that’s actually true.
There is no reason to read Mass Effect: Revelation unless you've played the game series and loved it. I enjoyed the book as much as I did mainly and mostly for that reason. I do think the book is better written than World of Warcraft: Tides of Darkness and Starcraft: Liberty's Crusade, but it doesn't exactly stand head and shoulders above them. I'm prone to read the other Mass Effect books which have been published in hopes they'll also not be terrible as I bide my time before the next Mass Effect game releases.
http://thethousanderclub.blogspot.com/
January 25, 2011
I don't think this book will appeal to those who haven't played the Mass Effect video games. As it is, this book provides a good backstory to the events that unfold in Mass Effect. Those who choose to read this obviously shouldn't expect great literature; it's pulp science fiction. The pacing is good and the action keeps your attention. One could easily read the entire book in a few hours.
For those who are looking for a space opera told in several different media, I would recommend the Mass Effect series. Alone, this book isn't going to be very meaningful or engaging. It would be like reading a Star Wars novel without having seen the films. However, if you lose yourself in this universe, you will be rewarded with rich characters and a good story. The folks at BioWare know how to tell good stories; it's what they win awards for. This novel serves to enhance this particular storyline. BioWare allows you to delve as deep as you wish into their universes and this book exemplifies one of the many options they provide to accomplish that.
For those who are looking for a space opera told in several different media, I would recommend the Mass Effect series. Alone, this book isn't going to be very meaningful or engaging. It would be like reading a Star Wars novel without having seen the films. However, if you lose yourself in this universe, you will be rewarded with rich characters and a good story. The folks at BioWare know how to tell good stories; it's what they win awards for. This novel serves to enhance this particular storyline. BioWare allows you to delve as deep as you wish into their universes and this book exemplifies one of the many options they provide to accomplish that.
April 27, 2016
Buddy read with Layla at Buddies Books and Baubles.
Layla wrote a great review of the book, so I'll just keep mine short.
If I were to judge this book purely on a sci-fi genre merit, the story is lacking, and I did sometimes have the problem of not being able to connect the characters we saw on the page with the characters we experienced in the video game.
However, as I huge fan of the video games, I LOVED all the detail we got on the Mass Effect Universe. In fact, I wanted more. And yes, if colleges taught a course on the history of the ME Universe I would take it. I would even read a textbook of it! And ultimately that's what saved the book for me, the fact that it was part of the ME universe and the fact that we got to see some of the great characters that we loved from the games.
May 5, 2015
It scratches my itch for Mass Effect, but little else. I was intrigued by the author's attempts to make the character of Anderson a more complicated and reflexive character by having him ruminate on his own (and also humanity's) gender bias, but ultimately, the character development is starved and falls flat. Despite the fact that Anderson kind of recognizes that he's objectifying Kahlee, in the context of the novel, that's exactly what she ends up being: a damsel in distress whose unconvincing romance only serves to provide character development for the central male protagonist. Nothing groundbreaking here.
January 15, 2017
If you played the trilogy, this book is a must. You get to know Cpt. Anderson more personaly and his connection to Saren and how Saren fell under the Reapers influence. Before you read the book, I highly suggest that you read a short comic called "Mass Effect: Evolution" because it shows why Saren is acting the way he is acting in the book and it explains his "hatred" for humanity. I'm sure that, if you played the games, you've heard about Jon Grissom. Well, you also get to know him and his daughter who shows up in the third game and her connection to Anderson.
October 10, 2023
I love the Mass Effect universe and characters but this book, the writing style, made everything so uncool? 😅 Things are over explained and there's so much unnecessary words and whole paragraphs explaining things that don't need explaining.
It's a big departure from the cool slick dialogue in the games, this book is surprisingly slow and clunky. Shame because I really wanted to like it.
It's a big departure from the cool slick dialogue in the games, this book is surprisingly slow and clunky. Shame because I really wanted to like it.
October 19, 2023
Cool world-building and backstory but light on character or interesting plotting.
May 14, 2021
Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn is a video game game tie-in novel based off BioWare’s 2007 Sci-fi RPG Mass Effect 1. The story laid out in Revelations falls somewhere between humanity passing through their first Mass Relay, an artifact belonging to the long since vanished alien race, The Protheans, and the beginning of the Mass Effect video game proper.
The novel's narrative focuses on David Andrews, a young, battle-tested Alliance marine, and Saren, the mysterious Taurian Spectre, as they separately investigate an assault on a secret Alliance research outpost, and how it links to a secret alien artifact that could threaten all life in the Galaxy.
I found this novel very easy reading, absorbing it's entirety in less than a week. The writing is fluid, descriptively sparse, and very much to the point. It almost reads as a pitch for an actual novel of greater length and detail, which I hope the game covers for. The dialog is good, both in action and intrigue, politics and punches. This bodes well for the game itself since the novel is penned by none other than the game's main writer, Drew Karpyshyn.
Overall, The book is very well paced, taking the reader in and out of the action without ever stumbling over itself to reestablish momentum. The fights are fighty, the intrigue and mystery are mysteriously intriguing, even when the book deals with the hard politics between the Alliance and the Citadel, it flows with ease, never confusing. Over all the book succeeds in everything it tries to accomplish in the shortest amount of time, though leaves me with even more questions and an even deeper desire to replay the ME games.
The novel's narrative focuses on David Andrews, a young, battle-tested Alliance marine, and Saren, the mysterious Taurian Spectre, as they separately investigate an assault on a secret Alliance research outpost, and how it links to a secret alien artifact that could threaten all life in the Galaxy.
I found this novel very easy reading, absorbing it's entirety in less than a week. The writing is fluid, descriptively sparse, and very much to the point. It almost reads as a pitch for an actual novel of greater length and detail, which I hope the game covers for. The dialog is good, both in action and intrigue, politics and punches. This bodes well for the game itself since the novel is penned by none other than the game's main writer, Drew Karpyshyn.
Overall, The book is very well paced, taking the reader in and out of the action without ever stumbling over itself to reestablish momentum. The fights are fighty, the intrigue and mystery are mysteriously intriguing, even when the book deals with the hard politics between the Alliance and the Citadel, it flows with ease, never confusing. Over all the book succeeds in everything it tries to accomplish in the shortest amount of time, though leaves me with even more questions and an even deeper desire to replay the ME games.
July 24, 2025
Quelques années après la Guerre du Premier Contact, l'humanité tente de consolider sa place dans l'espace concilien. Quand le laboratoire secret humain de Sidon est attaqué, le lieutenant David Anderson est le premier sur place.
Un roman tout ce qu'il y a de plus banal en soi si l'on ne connait pas la licence. L'histoire est honnête, un petit space opéra militaire sympathique, mais rapide et oubliable quand on le compare à d'autres ténors comme The expanse. D'un point de vue strictement objectif, c'est un 3/5. Correct mais oubliable.
Maintenant... si vous êtes comme moi un énorme fan de la licence Mass Effect, le roman prend un tout autre aspect. Saren, Anderson ou bien Kahlee Sanders seront probablement des noms qui vous parleront, vous aurez exactement en tête l'image d'un Krogan ou d'un Butarien et vous en saurez enfin plus sur la fameuse mission qui devait évaluer les chances d'Anderson de devenir Spectre et qui était évoquée lors d'un dialogue rapide dans Mass Effect 1. De même, vous saurez comment Saren, déjà impitoyable dans ce roman, finira par découvrir Sovereign et imposer son autorité sur les Geths, menant aux événements bien connus de la trilogie. Et peut-être comme moi prendrez-vous plaisir à lire ce roman avec des musiques de la licence en fond sonore.
Je mettrais donc 3.5 à ce roman, tout dépendant de votre position de départ vis à vis de lui. Je ne le conseillerais évidemment pas pour découvrir la licence, le roman n'ayant rien de la profondeur de la trilogie vidéoludique qui vous occupera pendant 150 heures contre 5 pour ce roman. Goodreads ne permettant pas les demi-points, je vais rester neutre et donc rester sur 3.
Un roman tout ce qu'il y a de plus banal en soi si l'on ne connait pas la licence. L'histoire est honnête, un petit space opéra militaire sympathique, mais rapide et oubliable quand on le compare à d'autres ténors comme The expanse. D'un point de vue strictement objectif, c'est un 3/5. Correct mais oubliable.
Maintenant... si vous êtes comme moi un énorme fan de la licence Mass Effect, le roman prend un tout autre aspect. Saren, Anderson ou bien Kahlee Sanders seront probablement des noms qui vous parleront, vous aurez exactement en tête l'image d'un Krogan ou d'un Butarien et vous en saurez enfin plus sur la fameuse mission qui devait évaluer les chances d'Anderson de devenir Spectre et qui était évoquée lors d'un dialogue rapide dans Mass Effect 1. De même, vous saurez comment Saren, déjà impitoyable dans ce roman, finira par découvrir Sovereign et imposer son autorité sur les Geths, menant aux événements bien connus de la trilogie. Et peut-être comme moi prendrez-vous plaisir à lire ce roman avec des musiques de la licence en fond sonore.
Je mettrais donc 3.5 à ce roman, tout dépendant de votre position de départ vis à vis de lui. Je ne le conseillerais évidemment pas pour découvrir la licence, le roman n'ayant rien de la profondeur de la trilogie vidéoludique qui vous occupera pendant 150 heures contre 5 pour ce roman. Goodreads ne permettant pas les demi-points, je vais rester neutre et donc rester sur 3.
May 13, 2021
Video game tie-in novels can be very hit or miss. I was pleasantly surprised by Mass Effect: Revelation as it was not only a great introduction to the Mass Effect universe, but it was also a pretty fun read.
Mass Effect: Revelation couldn't stand on its own as a piece of science-fiction. While it gives a good introduction to some of the Mass Effect series' characters, its races, and Citadel politics, it doesn't do much world-building beyond that. It's a book created for people already interested in the series, and with that in mind, it does its job wonderfully. Having already played the series multiple times, reading Mass Effect: Revelation gave me a much deeper insight into the characters of Anderson and Saren.
Mass Effect: Revelation is a video game prequel and it does what it says on the tin. If you're interested in the world and lore of Mass Effect, then this is a really fun, well-written read.
Mass Effect: Revelation couldn't stand on its own as a piece of science-fiction. While it gives a good introduction to some of the Mass Effect series' characters, its races, and Citadel politics, it doesn't do much world-building beyond that. It's a book created for people already interested in the series, and with that in mind, it does its job wonderfully. Having already played the series multiple times, reading Mass Effect: Revelation gave me a much deeper insight into the characters of Anderson and Saren.
Mass Effect: Revelation is a video game prequel and it does what it says on the tin. If you're interested in the world and lore of Mass Effect, then this is a really fun, well-written read.
July 29, 2018
"I was invested in the story but it wasn't good."
"No one really had an arc?"
"Except the administrator: I'm good at my job! I'm not good at my job. I'm going to be better at my job."
"I really wanted to know why Saren became psychotic but he just was always psychotic I guess."
"It was really unnecessarily graphic in describing violence?"
"Yeah, not even the game is that violent."
(I mean, arguable, but yeah wow.)
"No one really had an arc?"
"Except the administrator: I'm good at my job! I'm not good at my job. I'm going to be better at my job."
"I really wanted to know why Saren became psychotic but he just was always psychotic I guess."
"It was really unnecessarily graphic in describing violence?"
"Yeah, not even the game is that violent."
(I mean, arguable, but yeah wow.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
For someone who played the games? A 5☆ for sure. The insight on Anderson meeting Saren, early Saren days. I enjoyed the book a lot. It's fast paced and easy to read. Im not sure how enjoyable it could be for someone not into the world of mass effect, but it could work as a nice introduction before playing (or watching a lets play) of the games.
Ah. Im not even done with my replay of the games (currently midway through 3rd game) and this book already made me want to replay it again
Ah. Im not even done with my replay of the games (currently midway through 3rd game) and this book already made me want to replay it again
April 15, 2020
Great backstory on one of my favourite characters from the gaming trilogy, but also an intriguing view into the story of Saren! Great writing an dplot, just furthering my love of the series!
July 12, 2024
A good intro to the world of Mass Effect. I’ve owned the game trilogy for awhile now but couldn’t get into it as the lore felt too big. The book does a good job at worldbuilding as well as introducing characters that will be important to the game. I’m excited to play!
March 5, 2026
2,5⭐️
February 13, 2018
3.5 stars
not as good as I had hoped but I will still try listening to the other two. I did enjoy that this is leading up to Seren and his bit with Sovereign.
not as good as I had hoped but I will still try listening to the other two. I did enjoy that this is leading up to Seren and his bit with Sovereign.
May 21, 2021
A prequel to the first Mass Effect game, focusing on the backstory of Captain -- then Lieutenant -- David Anderson, and the famous Turian Spectre Saren. For better or for worse, it reads a lot like a novelization of some Mass Effect DLC that was never made -- in the opening chapter, Anderson leads his squad in an assault on an industrial facility on a distant colony after receiving a distress call, and ends up fighting a bunch of mercenaries -- there's even at least one lengthy elevator ride. Kept me entertained.
January 27, 2011
Okay I will admit, I played and beat the game before I read this book. I know that's not what it's intended for but the damage is done. In some ways I'm kind of glad that I did because it gave me a much better understanding of the imagery. This book is pretty well written in that regard, but having the image in your head of what it actually looks like adds so much more weight to it! Normally I wouldn't go for that kind of thing, but this is a video game based novel, so I prefer seeing the created world. Also I should point out that Shepherd isn't in here at all, remember the game develops that character FOR you, because it is you. Just in case someone wanted to know for whatever reason... I thought it was obvious.
If you've played the game then everyone will know what I mean when I say that this is really the story of Anderson and Saren. I think the author left out the development of Anderson's character quite a bit because you get to see him and interact with him a lot more in the video game, so the author didn't feel the need to be overly redundant, probably realizing most readers will play the game first anyway. Overall this book is a pretty quick read and I didn't find it overly technical in its explanations, rather it focuses a lot more on the adventure and intrigue. It does go into detail about some of the specific weapon systems, but it's by far not a majority of the book. I don't think it's any secret that this game's world is pretty obviously influenced by the world of Star Trek, and I would dare say it's more like "The Next Generation" with its political intrigue between species etc. Maybe a touch of Deep Space Nine with the story based around a space station, but that could easily be Babylon 5 influence as well. There is a heavy layer of warlike concepts in here, but that usually comes with any Science Fiction world so I really couldn't pin down an example very well for that.
I'll be honest; I wasn't truly engaged in this book till around page one hundred. This is when the story really came together. Unfortunately it was slightly predictable the way the characters met, but frankly, I loved it. I read that part with sheer anticipation and then when my wishes were granted I actually smiled. It's not often I actually enjoy this in writing, but Drew Karpyshyn did it beautiful in my opinion. From that point on I was absolutely hooked and couldn't put the book down.
I have to give Mass Effect praise for creating one of the best bad guy characters I've come across. He has this ruthless duality where he rationalizes all of his actions down to the smallest detail and really blurs good and evil concepts. I know this kind of character may have been done before, but the way it's culminated in Saren is just perfect and I really identified with him in a very odd way. I really don't want to go into anymore detail and ruin his character for everyone, but he is brilliantly methodical in his actions and that's something that really makes him interesting to read about.
Mass Effect deserves further praise for really tying in a novel correctly! It was a breath of fresh air for me after I had just finished reading the Star Trek: The Next Generation book debacle. The lead writer on the Mass Effect video game also wrote this book, so all the characters are presented correctly. Saren clearly being the most interesting one. It's pretty clear to me that the author is purposefully leaving the series very wide open, maybe to spawn more writers to write in this world, kind of like we have with Diablo and the other Blizzard releases or Halo. Mass Effect gives us a very specific time and it's a very small piece of a larger universe, so maybe another author will be commissioned to write the story of the Protheans for example. I get the feeling this author is specifically leaving that detail out to give us a more in depth tale much later. Again, if you enjoyed this video game you definitely have to read this book, especially since you'll want to know much more about Saren and Anderson by the time you finish the game!
If you've played the game then everyone will know what I mean when I say that this is really the story of Anderson and Saren. I think the author left out the development of Anderson's character quite a bit because you get to see him and interact with him a lot more in the video game, so the author didn't feel the need to be overly redundant, probably realizing most readers will play the game first anyway. Overall this book is a pretty quick read and I didn't find it overly technical in its explanations, rather it focuses a lot more on the adventure and intrigue. It does go into detail about some of the specific weapon systems, but it's by far not a majority of the book. I don't think it's any secret that this game's world is pretty obviously influenced by the world of Star Trek, and I would dare say it's more like "The Next Generation" with its political intrigue between species etc. Maybe a touch of Deep Space Nine with the story based around a space station, but that could easily be Babylon 5 influence as well. There is a heavy layer of warlike concepts in here, but that usually comes with any Science Fiction world so I really couldn't pin down an example very well for that.
I'll be honest; I wasn't truly engaged in this book till around page one hundred. This is when the story really came together. Unfortunately it was slightly predictable the way the characters met, but frankly, I loved it. I read that part with sheer anticipation and then when my wishes were granted I actually smiled. It's not often I actually enjoy this in writing, but Drew Karpyshyn did it beautiful in my opinion. From that point on I was absolutely hooked and couldn't put the book down.
I have to give Mass Effect praise for creating one of the best bad guy characters I've come across. He has this ruthless duality where he rationalizes all of his actions down to the smallest detail and really blurs good and evil concepts. I know this kind of character may have been done before, but the way it's culminated in Saren is just perfect and I really identified with him in a very odd way. I really don't want to go into anymore detail and ruin his character for everyone, but he is brilliantly methodical in his actions and that's something that really makes him interesting to read about.
Mass Effect deserves further praise for really tying in a novel correctly! It was a breath of fresh air for me after I had just finished reading the Star Trek: The Next Generation book debacle. The lead writer on the Mass Effect video game also wrote this book, so all the characters are presented correctly. Saren clearly being the most interesting one. It's pretty clear to me that the author is purposefully leaving the series very wide open, maybe to spawn more writers to write in this world, kind of like we have with Diablo and the other Blizzard releases or Halo. Mass Effect gives us a very specific time and it's a very small piece of a larger universe, so maybe another author will be commissioned to write the story of the Protheans for example. I get the feeling this author is specifically leaving that detail out to give us a more in depth tale much later. Again, if you enjoyed this video game you definitely have to read this book, especially since you'll want to know much more about Saren and Anderson by the time you finish the game!
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