The Sword and Laser discussion

(Spoilers for the premise and themes of both this book and Mass Effect, but no specific plot spoilers.)

A Fire Upon the Deep is the best Mass Effect story.

It's got a vivid, diverse cast of characters -- some almost human, some totally alien. It's got a galaxy-spanning danger, from beyond human experience. It's got action. It's got planet-hopping travel. It's got a romance sub-plot.

In fact, I would venture that it follows through better on the premise, with a dramatic climax and satisfying conclusion, something lacking from Mass Effect 3.

Now, if only Vinge had been able to work in a clunky morality system that split every decision into Paragon and Renegade...

I also thought The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was a pretty good Mass Effect story.

Tobias wrote: "I also thought The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet was a pretty good Mass Effect story."

There was less shooting in The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Which I appreciated as a soothing variance from the norm, but still. I really think anyone who likes space opera should read Long Way. And everyone who likes nifty aliens should read A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky.

Now I want to read this book this month because I love all things Mass Effect.

Now, I'm even more stoked about reading this.

Having finished it I see what you mean with the Mass Effect parallels. It seems really clear to me that the folks at BioWare borrowed quite a bit of stuff from this novel and mashed it up with the Force from Star Wars. Which doesn't bother bother me, since that's how all new things are made.

Fortunately, this book does what video games can't yet, by giving us a cool new alien race in the Tines and really getting into how they work.

Trike wrote: "Fortunately, this book does what video games can't yet, by giving us a cool new alien race ..."

I agree.

Mass Effect 1 had a few nods in that direction, with the non-humanoid Hanar and Elcor. Then ME2 and 3 didn't know what to do with them other than make Blasto and Shakespeare jokes. Fortunately, those jokes were funny, but it still felt like a missed a missed opportunity to really delve into those races. I always wanted to visit one of their planets, and see how they live, and how their societies and cities are different.

With the Tines, we get that, and I loved it.