Mass Effect discussion

The thoughts yes, the actions yes. But in the game you have to think, they dont really show much of his work outside what sheapard runs into. This could be an entire new side of the character that was not revealed in the game.

Personally I liked Saren in the novel more than I did in the game. I didn't really see him as evil in the novel. This is because, to me at least, he came off as a just a Lone Wolf... considering his Status it was not at all unexpected to see him as a Lone Wolf, was Nihilus any different in the first Mass Effect game? No, he even states how he prefers to work alone.

You should also note that Saren did in fact help when he could, he just maintained his "hard on the outside" personality. He was indoctrinated because his curiosity got the better of him upon discovering a Reaper, not because he was wholly "evil."

Calling Saren evil is such a deep misinterpretation of who he is and how he works. He's lost his humanity, so to speak, but not his rigid sense of justice and duty.
In the first game, when Jenkins enthusiastically details his boyish worship of the Spectres, and Chakwas laughingly tells him off for romanticizing them too much, the ideal Spectre he describes is Saren in this book.

I feel the same, that Saren was a bit too evil-natured in this book. I know he's ruthless and does what needs to be done for the success of the mission. However, some parts of the story seem a bit conflicting to me regarding his thoughts and actions (brothel vs hospital).