Mass Effect: Ascension (Mass Market Paperback)

by Drew Karpyshyn (Author)
Key Phrases: biotic abilities, trading deck, mass relay, Illusive Man, Migrant Fleet, Ascension Project (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

About the Author
Drew Karpyshyn is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and its sequel Star Wars: Darth Bane: Rule of Two, as well as several other fantasy and science fiction novels, including Mass Effect: Revelation. He is also an award-winning writer/designer for the computer game company BioWare, where he was lead writer on Mass Effect and the popular Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game. He can be contacted through his website at www.drewkarpyshyn.com–it’s all Drew, all the time!

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345498526
• ISBN-13: 978-0345498526
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,984 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really good read!, July 30, 2008

By	D. D. D. Perez (Vieques, PR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

But for those wanting to continue where the game left off, you will not find it here. Any reference to the ending of the game is done in the first chapter and vague at that, not in detail as you see it since the game allows for multiple choices and events to occur depending how you played.

This book tells another story, but there is a returning character from the first book, which you end up wondering what ever happened to her after Revelation. The book revolves around the extremist band of Cerberus and their recent project. Readers who played the game and completed most of the side missions might have tangled with this group and may know of and what they are capable of.

I don't like to spoil stuff in reviews and like to keep them short. Ascension is a great read, and even though you might want to continue where the game dropped off with Shepard, it is worth you picking up and reading. I read it in 2 days because it really hooks you in with the plot and you can't help but wanting to devour it asap. If you liked Revelation, you will like Ascension, and if you only played the game and never read the novels, I recommend you do so.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written, but doesn't add to Mass Effect series, August 1, 2008

By	Zeph Greenwell (Decatur, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're a fan of Mass Effect then you're probably picking up this book hoping for some insight on what's next for the series. In that regard, this book fails to deliver. Though it is a well written and enjoyable story, it doesn't give any information on our favorite Mass Effect characters. Commander Shepard is only mentioned briefly once, and Captain Anderson is brought up on a couple of occasions. Ambassador Undina is also mentioned once. The main character the book focuses on is Kahlee Sanders, who was the prominent character in the first book.

As much as I was disappointed to gain no new information on Shepard, I was still enthralled by the book. Like the first Mass Effect novel, there is plenty of action and its exhilarating to read. The story never feels flat or boring so I should be any easy book to finish, for even the less than avid reader. Another thing the book does really well is developing its characters. Given the lack of familiar faces the book makes a lot of introductions and does so well. Every character fits into the story and is developed to a level where you understand their motivation.

As well written as the book is, it is still hard to recommend. Its hard to imagine that anyone looking to buy this book have not had some other encounter with the Mass Effect Universe. If you had only read the first novel then it would be better to take the money you would spend on this title and put it towards the PC or 360 game (if you don't have a 360 or a nice PC I'm sorry). For people who have played through the game and are undoubtedly looking for clues to Mass Effect 2, the only insight you gain is that Mass Effect 2 will focus a lot on the criminal organization Cerberus. Don't be waiting for an appearance of Wrex, Garrus, Liara, or even Tali (despite the fact the book focuses on the Quarians), they're not even in there in cameos.

Its possible that this could be more of an introduction to Mass Effect 2 than I realize. Obviously it is hard to tell since the game isn't out yet. The book fails to live up to ending of the game though, and really fails to live up to the ending of the first book. Unlike those stories, it doesn't leave you wanting more. That was the greatest success of the first two stories, their ability to close out open plot-lines while leaving us knowing there's more to come. Its obvious this book was released to tide fans over until the next game and it does not do that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Further expanding the Mass Effect univers, August 8, 2008

By	Macneto (usa) - See all my reviews

Like i said when reviewing the first novel i love anything and everything Mass Effect so this review might be a little biased.

First let me just say that this book is written by the same author who wrote the first one. This book however takes place place after the events that had taken place in video game. I have seen a few people complain that this book doesn't further the story of the characters in the video game. While this can be a valid grip i think its important to point out that the video game can be played many different ways with many different out comes. For instance one person may have played Shepard as a female as opposed to a male. Or depending on how the played the game some characters may not still be alive.

But i Digress, so back to the book

As i said before the book takes place shortly after the the events of the video game and stars one of the main characters in the first book. Kahlee Sanders. i wont give away to much of the story but Biotics and the group Cerubus plays a huge role.

Overall i can't really recommend this book to people who are not familiar with the game because it wont make any sense. However if your a fan of the video game then pick it up and enjoy what might be a preview of part of the Mass Effect 2 story line........maybe