46 réponses à ce sujet

[Dragoncloud]

Afaik, the 3 books (ascension, retribution, revelation) and the liara comic (redemption) are canon, not sure if the other comics that are being released are seen as canon. (as i've never really seen them being advertised by bioware itself..)


edit: Content wise they're good enough for me, they were an entertaining read.

Modifié par Dragoncloud, 16 juin 2011 - 04:02 .

[Ahglock]

I'd say the story is canon, but not everything in them. The lore on certain subjects contradicts other canon sources like the games or the comics. Like biotics only being used once or twice before a biotic is totally spent.

[JockBuster]

Casey Hundson stated, "There is NO canon story, only YOUR Shepard's version!"

Modifié par JockBuster, 16 juin 2011 - 04:30 .

[Slayer299]

CaptainZaysh wrote...

@Slayer299

i·ron·y
noun ˈī-rə-nē also ˈī(-ə)r-nē

1.  the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

color me embarrassed

[marshalleck]

If you understand what the word canon means, then you'll know they are in fact canon.

[aksoileau]

They are quick short reads. They arent exactly Hugo Award worthy but they're fun and expand o the universe. I recommend.

[Krimson_Wolf]

I'd like to think so, other wise I'm reading them for no reason.

[mulder1199]

they are all events that are unchanged in ME lore, regardless of what your shep does, so basically they are cannon....

about the only issue of note i found with them is the the dates of revelation possibly being a bit off from the start of ME1, but maybe i was just missing something...

[The Twilight God]

ForumPortal wrote...

I really like the Mass Effect universe and would like to explore it more. Also, are the books available in audiobook form and, if so, are they competently read? For that matter, are the books well written? 

Yes. But they don't involve Shepard and barely impact the game other than the Migrant Fleet's hostility toward Cerberus.

[Sphynx118]

Medhia Nox wrote...

@Ieldra2 - in the game, he's a villain made of cheap cardboard.

Just because you may or may not be enamored with mysterious bad people - doesn't mean some of us are fooled by his smoke and mirrors.

This^.Evil TIM in ME2 is about as obvious as a hammer to the face. Srsly. "Ooooh hes so suave he must hide a good person somewhere inside" Rofl. Some people.

[InvaderErl]

I think Ieldra2 is spot on. I really wanted to like the books, more ME is a plus in my book but the first one was written pretty badly to the point that I felt like I had to stop about 50-75 pages in. It was just this very blunt expositiony style of writing without any flair or pulse of its own at all. I peeked in one of the later one's and the writing didn't seem much better.

Writing a video game is not the same as writing a novel and it showed that Karpyshyn is not versed in the latter. I wish they could get someone like Peter David to write a Mass Effect book, that would be great.

Modifié par InvaderErl, 16 juin 2011 - 06:56 .

[Lunatic LK47]

Eradyn wrote...

I wouldn't recommend buying the books. Try to check them out at a library or something, because they aren't worth wasting money on (the writing is atrocious).  I find it hard to forgive the bastardization of the characters, especially those I liked from the games -- Anderson specifically -- and the introduction of some of the worst Sues I've seen in "professional literature."  You will find better-written fanfiction and at least that is free.  As for expanding the universe, they really don't bring much, that is new, to the table.  I'd recommend just perusing the wiki if you just want to see what they introduced.

This, and I prefer Eric Nylund's Halo novels over this, and they're better than the Halo games.

[Images]

Eradyn wrote...

  I find it hard to forgive the bastardization of the characters, especially those I liked from the games -- Anderson specifically -- and the introduction of some of the worst Sues I've seen in "professional literature." 

Oh God you're right on the mark with that one. Kahlee Sanders for example is a walking pain in the ass and the biggest Mary Sue ever.

Firstly Kahlee has her blonde hair, which, as a genetically recessive
trait, has become a rarity by the 2100s, she's got the mysteriously unknown mother who's died and an Admiral father. She's a genius with a bizzare variety of topics and oh yes she seems to be attractive to almost every guy. She's pouty, self important and generally irritiating. Pretty much a how  to guide on how not to write a female character.

The books in general are pretty badly scribed. The plotting is fine and the action set pieces are pretty strong. The dialogue and descriptions are absolutely dreadful though. Don't get the audiobook. The reading is pretty weak, which isn't the narrators total fault with what he has to work with. The written version is superior enjoymentwise. But really its pulp fiction. Broad strokes. To the Nth degree.

[snowfox522]

yes the books are cannon I've only listened to the first one, you can get all the mass effect books on audio unabridged at Tantor.com

I can only speak for the first one but it was very well written and I'm starting on the second right now.

Modifié par snowfox522, 16 juin 2011 - 07:53 .

[Mathy16]

I've already listened to the first 2 and I'm busy with the last

[Ninjapino]

EJ107 wrote...

xIxDarkWolfxIx wrote...

The books are considered cannon and I do recommend them. However in the most recent book, Retribution, it refers to Udina as the Councillor and Anderson as an Admiral. I ignored it, but it was partially frustrating to hear "My Cannon Story" being effected. When we were told it would not be.

I was under the impression that an Anderson had stepped down from the position of councillor (if he had been made one) because he couldn't handle politics.

Anyway, to answer the OP's question, yes they are canon. I liked them personally. Not my favourite books of all time but i've read far worse.

I actually made a forum post about this a while back because it always bugged me.  But, like was stated before, there's a very easy explaination for it.  (ie: Anderson willfully stepping down or Udina getting voted in later)  Other then that, I have found nothing that could contridict the games in the books or comics no matter what decisions you made. 

[mineralica]

Images wrote...

Eradyn wrote...

  I find it hard to forgive the bastardization of the characters, especially those I liked from the games -- Anderson specifically -- and the introduction of some of the worst Sues I've seen in "professional literature." 

Oh God you're right on the mark with that one. Kahlee Sanders for example is a walking pain in the ass and the biggest Mary Sue ever.

Firstly Kahlee has her blonde hair, which, as a genetically recessive
trait, has become a rarity by the 2100s, she's got the mysteriously unknown mother who's died and an Admiral father. She's a genius with a bizzare variety of topics and oh yes she seems to be attractive to almost every guy. She's pouty, self important and generally irritiating. Pretty much a how  to guide on how not to write a female character.
<...>

Oh no, Kahlee. I'm afraid afrer reading what Anderson thinks about her and how behaves my opinion on him was FUBAR

[Sesshomaru47]

Considering there is a big fat reference to one in Mass Effect 2, yes. Read them, they're not too bad.

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

For those that want audio books, you might check Audible.com They have lots of books reasonably priced for audio books. While I don't recall for sure about the ME books, I know they have the Dragon Age books, so they probably have the ME books too. You can get one book free with a trial membership, then if you stay you get 2 credits each month for $14.95. 1 credit can purchase any book regardless of price. For example, with one of my credits I bought Gone with the Wind, which was $36 normally.

As for blonde hair being genetically recessive, sounds to me like the disproven claim that redheads will be extinct in two generations.  The reason it isn't happening is because recessive or not, the trait is still there and the basic genetics taught in high school science classes isn't the end all of genetics.

Modifié par AbsolutGrndZer0, 16 juin 2011 - 09:56 .

[Images]

AbsolutGrndZer0 wrote...

As for blonde hair being genetically recessive, sounds to me like the disproven claim that redheads will be extinct in two generations.  The reason it isn't happening is because recessive or not, the trait is still there and the basic genetics taught in high school science classes isn't the end all of genetics.

Ah, I wasn't saying Kahlee Sanders being a blonde was illogical but how it just added to her Mary Sue-ness in the books. You know how Sues usually have a unique or abnormal hair colour so they stand out? Blammo! They make a BIG deal about it in the books, pretty much restating the fact that its different that she's blonde each time they introduce her to the reader.

[sirgippy]

They are pretty much canon, as are the comics. In fact, there are cool nuggets about TIM in the last several comics, and his crazy google eyes. That said, the one thing I noticed in the books is that in the last one, Retribution, there is mention that Udina was humanity's council representative, and Anderson was the advisor. However that was the only thing which conflicted with possible game plot choices, and I was paying close attention.

edit: Sorry to Parrot you, DarkWolf. I had not read thru the thread completely.

Modifié par sirgippy, 16 juin 2011 - 11:57 .

[AbsolutGrndZer0]

Images wrote...

AbsolutGrndZer0 wrote...

As for blonde hair being genetically recessive, sounds to me like the disproven claim that redheads will be extinct in two generations.  The reason it isn't happening is because recessive or not, the trait is still there and the basic genetics taught in high school science classes isn't the end all of genetics.

Ah, I wasn't saying Kahlee Sanders being a blonde was illogical but how it just added to her Mary Sue-ness in the books. You know how Sues usually have a unique or abnormal hair colour so they stand out? Blammo! They make a BIG deal about it in the books, pretty much restating the fact that its different that she's blonde each time they introduce her to the reader.

Ah ok, yeah.