Quantum Storytelling

Review

Rating: 6

Video game developer Bioware’s foray into a new media franchise via this prequel novel written by lead game writer Drew Karpyshyn.

After finding Prothean technology buried underground on Mars the human race makes its way into space with the help of the ancient alien advancements. Before we get very far we discover a whole host of other aliens. Our first meeting is not a good one, aptly titled the First Contact War. Peace is negotiated by a high council of different alien species, and humans agree to the terms.

The story of this video-game prequel takes place a decade or so later. A human research base is attacked and war hero David Anderson is sent to investigate. A conspiracy quickly ensues.

The heroes don’t seem to have much at stake until the last 3/4 of the book, where they suddenly develop bonds and connections to one another. Up until that point, most of the characters in the story are just performing their jobs.

There are the high council special investigative units called Spectres, who operate outside the law. There are hulking muscular species called Krogan, who make Terminator-like warriors for their difficulty to kill. There are criminal kings, and ambassadors. Most of the characters in the story have an official mission to fulfill. There is nothing wrong with this, except that the characters are lacking in personal motivation. They are following orders.

Without much personal at stake, much of the story feels a little lifeless. The characters are hard to bond with because they express little except the desire to complete the job.

On the bright side, the story does take some interesting twists towards the end, with a few unexpected happenings.

Overall, for a sci-fi story this is merely average. It is an adequate setup for the Mass Effect game, and like the characters it does its job.