19 réponses à ce sujet

[zandara]

So any good books for Mass Effect one or two.

[MegaIllusiveMan]

I actually reccomend them all. (except for Deception, of course, since it's considered non-canon)

 

Mass Effect: Revelation takes place before Mass Effect 1, in the shoes of Admiral Anderson, describing the whole Saren, Spectre, Politics and how he got involved in all of it. (That nasty Spectre Business involving Saren that Anderson mentions)

 

Then, Mass Effect: Ascension that moslty focuses on the Grissom Academy Project for the Biotic Kids. It takes place before ME2 (TBH, after Shepard's supposed Disappearence)

 

And Mass Effect: Retribution that completes the Previous Novels Stories. It mostly deals with a Cerberus Operative going rogue, the same that participates in the Ascension Novel, and how the Illusive Man, Kai Leng and the Cerberus Folks pursue him. It takes place before the events of ME3

 

So, take your pick. With the minimum of Spoilers possible!

[Para9on So1dier]

Have read them all, Revelation is by far the best imo, now I actually know what Anderson is talking about when he mentions his past with Saren.

[Matt VT Schlo]

first two for sure, third one was decent - was that the one that had a lot of facts or details wrong? Supposedly the book was getting corrections

[MegaIllusiveMan]

first two for sure, third one was decent - was that the one that had a lot of facts or details wrong? Supposedly the book was getting corrections

 

Nah, the third is Mass Effect: Retribution. (*Check my previous post for better details)

 

The one that had was the only one that wasn't written by Drew Karpyshin... Mass Effect: Deception. And it's not getting corrections anymore... A long time ago this was said, but untill today, we only get radio silence when asking about it.

 Too many errors, perhaps they gave up on trying to correct it and just considered not cannon.

[Matt VT Schlo]

Nah, the third is Mass Effect: Retribution. (*Check my previous post for better details)

 

The one that had was the only one that wasn't written by Drew Karpyshin... Mass Effect: Deception. And it's not getting corrections anymore... A long time ago this was said, but untill today, we only get radio silence when asking about it.

 Too many errors, perhaps they gave up on trying to correct it and just considered not cannon.

ok, thanks for the clarification. Yeah, when the book debacle hit, they made it clear that corrections were inbound......but not the end of the world. Book wasn't that great. Now Drew's books were awesome, though I prefer the first of the two 

[aoibhealfae]

Honestly, the Mass Effect Revelation is best read before playing Mass Effect. It introduce the world better than the game, you get more in-depth story on Anderson, Saren and the council. Especially why the council behave exactly the way they are. The game is fast paced and isn't meant for a lot of exposition. 

 

Mass Effect Ascension is an awesome book to read while you're before or while you're playing Mass Effect 2. Its set a few weeks (months?) after the end of ME1 and before the beginning of ME2. You gain better perspective on Quarians, human biotics and some parts, Cerberus.

 

I'm still unsure about Mass Effect Retribution. It was written almost immediately after Shepard destroyed the Collector Base but I felt Karpyshyn wrote the book without knowing the rest of the story post-ME2 (Arrival DLC and Mass Effect 3). It felt like a filler created just to introduce Kai Leng............. sigh...... but the book is canon, so.. read it if you want... feel free to skip Kai Leng part....  honestly, the book gave me more ammunition against that emo bastard... sorry Booker, I love you but not this insipid *$!&@($^*(#

 

And just skip Deception. Read a fan fiction. 

[MrFob]

I'm still unsure about Mass Effect Retribution. It was written almost immediately after Shepard destroyed the Collector Base but I felt Karpyshyn wrote the book without knowing the rest of the story post-ME2 (Arrival DLC and Mass Effect 3). It felt like a filler created just to introduce Kai Leng............. sigh...... but the book is canon, so.. read it if you want... feel free to skip Kai Leng part....  honestly, the book gave me more ammunition against that emo bastard... sorry Booker, I love you but not this insipid *$!&@($^*(#

 

To be fair though, Kai Leng was kind of a cool character (and really badass) in Retribution. It was only in the game, when he went from a very capable sadistic xenophobic assassin to over the top space ninja with stupid lines and plot armor.

 

There are a few discrepancies in Retribution, such as Udina being picked for councilor or the fact that (small spoiler warning) by the end of the book Anderson and Sanders are starting a Reaper research program which is never heard of in ME3. But all in all, I thought most of it fits pretty well and it's a fun read, plus it has some very interesting chapters, written from the perspective of someone who is being indoctrinated by the reapers (although it's a special case).

 

Agree with you on Revelation, Ascension and Deception though.

 

Oh, one more general comment, if anyone wants to read the books, I suggest to read them in order. Otherwise, you may get confused since there are a number of recurring characters you will not really know form the games.

[Cheviot]

All of the books have previews on Amazon I think, so give them a try and see if you like the writing style.  I didn't like the style that much, but you may be different.

[sortiv]

The books by Karpyshyn are the trilogy of novels that correspond to the trilogy of games, in my opinion. Revelation takes place before ME1, Ascension before ME2, and Retribution before ME3; all of them clue you into more of the lore and plot around the games' trilogy. 

 

None of the books are astonishingly well written. I like Drew Karpyshyn as a writer, I think he tells decent stories and writes characters at least mildly well. His prose is pedestrian at best. But if you like the Mass Effect universe, you will enjoy the books and they will make you a bigger fan. He really is better at world building than anything else, and probably doesn't receive as much credit as he should for building the ME universe (as evidenced by how Mac Walters and Casey Hudson lost their way once Drew left). 

[Rosstoration]

None of them are really examples of literary genius, but the first one Mass Effect: Revelation is somewhat interesting, it sheds some more light on Saren and who he was before the indoctrination. The others are ok, if not a little bland. They are worth reading more to get to know some of the locations, such as the Migrant Fleet, a lot better rather than for the storylines, which are all pretty predictable and cliche riddled.

 

I had fun counting the amount of times Karpyshyn writes the word "haphazard(ly)".

[Cyberstrike nTo]

I actually reccomend them all. (except for Deception, of course, since it's considered non-canon)

 

Mass Effect: Revelation takes place before Mass Effect 1, in the shoes of Admiral Anderson, describing the whole Saren, Spectre, Politics and how he got involved in all of it. (That nasty Spectre Business involving Saren that Anderson mentions)

 

Then, Mass Effect: Ascension that moslty focuses on the Grissom Academy Project for the Biotic Kids. It takes place before ME2 (TBH, after Shepard's supposed Disappearence)

 

And Mass Effect: Retribution that completes the Previous Novels Stories. It mostly deals with a Cerberus Operative going rogue, the same that participates in the Ascension Novel, and how the Illusive Man, Kai Leng and the Cerberus Folks pursue him. It takes place before the events of ME3

 

So, take your pick. With the minimum of Spoilers possible!

 

This I would also recommend the graphic novels: Redemption which deals with Liara trying to get Shepard's body back from the Shadow Broker and explains a lot of details that explain her massive character change and pays off in Lair of the Shadow Broker.The second one is: Evolution which is basically TIM's origin story and explains what happens to Saren's brother and his hatred of humanity that novel only hints at. It's very predictable but if you read the prologue in Revelation then read Evolution then read the rest of the novel you get most of Saren's backstory. 

[iM3GTR]

I read Revelations. I would recommend reading it online for free as a PDF. I couldn't get into the second book, but it's on the internet so just find it there and try it for yourself.

[capn233]

The first two are probably the best, and I actually liked Ascension a little more than Revelation.  Retribution was ok, and Deception was just not very good even ignoring in universe mistakes.

[Loufi]

As many others, the first two are my favorite, they're certainly worth reading for any big ME fan (even more that they can be found at cheap prices and can be quickly read). I think the third is good too, but I simply liked less the story, which was more focused on a character and contained less elements related to the whole ME universe iirc.

 

By the way there are also a lot of comics about ME. I don't like much the drawing in those books but at least they put in images and give more details certain some events that are just mentioned in the games.  

 

 

The first two are probably the best, and I actually liked Ascension a little more than Revelation.  Retribution was ok, and Deception was just not very good even ignoring in universe mistakes.

Was a list of those mistakes ever compiled by someone ? I'm curious about that because, to be honest, the mistakes didn't jump to my face. Well, maybe because I read it in english, which is not my native language...  

[Alfonsedode]

Are they written by Drew "Kapiskin" or whatever is his name ? I started an audiobook in some spaceflight with 3/4 chars in it including killers on a job, well, that was poor ...

[Loufi]

Are they written by Drew "Kapiskin" or whatever is his name ? I started an audiobook in some spaceflight with 3/4 chars in it including killers on a job, well, that was poor ...

Drew Karpyshin, yes, for the first three. The fourth is written by William Dietz. This one has been considered so bad that it wasn't released in many countries, I had to import it from England.

 

None of them shines in terms of writing style but they are quite interesting to learn info about Saren, Anderson, Kahlee Sanders and Kai Leng mainly. You can find them in pocket format for around 8€, I think they're worth the money.

 

In the comics you learn many informations about Rasa (Maya Brooks in the Citadel DLC, the girl who fight with Shepard's clone at the end), notably. 

[Alfonsedode]

Drew Karpyshin, yes, for the first three. The fourth is written by William Dietz. This one has been considered so bad that it wasn't released in many countries, I had to import it from England.

 

None of them shines in terms of writing style but they are quite interesting to learn info about Saren, Anderson, Kahlee Sanders and Kai Leng mainly. You can find them in pocket format for around 8€, I think they're worth the money.

 

In the comics you learn many informations about Rasa (Maya Brooks in the Citadel DLC, the girl who fight with Shepard's clone at the end), notably. 

Drew Karpyshin obviuosly has talent for sci fi conception, but i guess he sucks a bit at writing . I ll put them audiobooks on my phone

[fraggle]

I enjoyed the first two and am currently reading the 3rd. So far I like the 3rd most because of how the Reapers work inside Grayson. It fascinates me to learn a bit more about their method, it is really cool to read.

I admit I'm tempted to read Deception. I didn't buy it yet because another user a while back recommended to just not buy it, but I'd like to see why it's considered that bad.

[MrFob]

@fraggle: I strongly recommend you try and find one or two free sample chapters of Deception online and decide afterwards. That was enough for me to forego buying it and it's really best not to give them money for that sort of thing IMO.