Mass Effect: Ascension

By Drew Karpyshyn

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B007CFKX7Q
• ISBN13: 9780345498526
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Random House Worlds
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

An excellent companion to the Mass Effect Universe of fiction.

I think this novel stands up pretty well on its own, but if you're a fan of the Mass Effect video game(s) you'll be hooked by the setting and characters featured within. I read "Revelation" first, but found this follow-up to be much more enjoyable overall.

Another great book for the Mass Effect series

Mass Effect: Ascension takes place after the end of Commander Shepard's adventure in the game. And it appropriately expands upon the Mass Effect universe introducing new locations while giving more background to what followers of series may already know. Reading Mass Effect: Revelation or playing the game isn't necessary to enjoy this book. The story can stand by its self but not being familiar with the rest of series before reading it could mean missing a few references and misinterpreting a couple of events in the story. The biggest difference between Ascension and Revelation is that in this book it feels like Karpyshyn has refined the style of writing he first used in Revelation. The characters are far more fleshed out and defined in terms of both behaviors and attitude. Locations are better described visually, including the population of the locations,and even action sequences are easier to follow. If you are a fan of the Mass Effect series or like a good Sci-Fi space opera you will enjoy this book.

Excellant!

An excellant read. Explained much, much more about the Quarians and explained a lot about how Cerberus is. Who knows what else they are up to in the universe.

Wonderful book.

Awesome read. I enjoyed how Karpyshyn dealt with the changes that the player might have caused in Mass Effect. A truly interesting story.

Yes it Does! Yes It Does!!!

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.