Mass Effect: Ascension
by Drew Karpyshyn
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Book Summary Information
Author: Drew KarpyshynEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-29
ISBN: 0345498526
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of Mass Effect: Ascension
Book Review: Yes it Does! Yes It Does!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, kudos to BioWare to making a landmark form of entertainment - producing two books that surround a video game. It's something that's never been done before.
I strongly dissagree that this book does not foreshadow the events of a sequel Mass Effect video game (originally intended to be created as a Trilogy of games.) Obviously this novel cannot come out and say "Here's what's going to happen in the next game!" That'd be a very poor method of story telling.
This book starts us off at the conclusion of the current game - the Citadel in ruins, the Alliance prominent in the eyes of the Council - at least what's left of it. Karpyshyn throws in some bad apples intent on using illegal operations to further advance the grip of humankind with some other characters from the prequel novel, and ends up creating a story that is much more streamlined and gripping than the Revelations novel. By the final page, I found myself extremely curious as to which of these new characters might become the next hero in the Mass Effect sequel. I also found myself wondering which of his new parallel conflicts might become the primary conflict in Mass Effect 2. Ascension accomplishes what all Sci Fi stories must do to survive - creates new splits in the story to allow parallel conflict.
Karpyshyn also does something unusual in story telling. Most novels seem to follow the bad guy, then follow the good guy, then suddenly the bad guy shows up and action ensues. Karpyshyn often follows the bad guy, starts the action, then reverses time, joining the good guy until the bad guy shows up "again." It's a unique strategy which helps to keep you in suspense just a little longer.
Lastly, be sure to know that this story starts with the Revelation novel, but cannot be appreciated without playing the Mass Effect video game, availalble on Xbox 360 and PC. There is simply too much storyline and technology to understand without the help of the game.
This novel was a great story, and I have never been more anxious to delve into the next Mass Effect game.
Summary of Mass Effect: Ascension
When they vanished fifty thousand years ago, the Protheans left their advanced technology scattered throughout the galaxy. The chance discovery of a Prothean cache on Mars allows humanity to join those already reaping the rewards of the ancients? high-tech wizardry. But for one rogue militia, the goal is not participation but domination.Scientist Kahlee Sanders has left the Systems Alliance for the Ascension Project, a program that helps gifted ?biotic? children harness their extraordinary powers. The program?s most promising student is twelve-year-old Gillian Grayson, who is borderline autistic. What Kahlee doesn?t know is that Gillian is an unwitting pawn of the outlawed black ops group Cerberus, which is sabotaging the program by conducting illegal experiments on the students.
When the Cerberus plot is exposed, Gillian?s father takes her away from the Ascension Project and flees into the lawless Terminus Systems. Determined to protect Gillian, Kahlee goes with them? unaware that the elder Grayson is, in fact, a Cerberus operative. To rescue the young girl Kahlee must travel to the farthest ends of the galaxy, battling fierce enemies and impossible odds. But how will she be able to save a daughter from her own father?
This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.
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