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.
REVIEW
I want more! It has been a while since I read the first book so it took me a while to remember the back story and get the names/history straightened out. By thattime, I was well into the story and enjoying it. And then it ended. Too soon and right when the momentum was really picking up. It is still a great read and I just wish that the story had gone further. Hopefully the next book will pick up where this left off and start pulling the story together between the two books. Add a Review
Every advanced society in the galaxy relies on the technology of the Protheans, an ancient species that vanished fifty thousand years ago. After discovering a cache of Prothean technology on Mars in 2148, humanity is spreading to the stars; the newest interstellar species, struggling to carve out its place in the greater galactic community. On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base–hours before her colleagues were slaughtered?
Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can’t trust and pursued by an assassin he can’t escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won’t live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks.
REVIEW
A better read for Mass Effect fans. Otherwise, average. I've played Mass Effect on the Xbox 360 twice through now and I'm a huge fan of the game, I enjoyed reading this a lot more than I think someone who was not familiar with the ME storyline would. The writing (and I agree with reviewers like MAW who claim this is very mediocre sci-fi writing) is very average (think junior high school), not very substantial (it doesn't have "teeth") and indeed does read like a cheap sci-fi novel that was written in a few days (very ordinary prose). Having trashed the book in this manner, I do have to say it was a fun and fast read. Don't read it for literary purposes, it was obviously not written with that intent. This is not Bradbury or Asimov. This is, however, a nice introduction to the ME storyline as we so far understand it to be based on the game itself and only the game. We are introduced to the characters Anderson and Saren (among others) and we learn about how it is that they arrived at the status they have by the time we've played ME (if you opted not to go through most of the extra questions in the game you'll miss a lot of background information).
Again, a fun and fast read, recommended for fans of the game. I don't think anyone else would really enjoy this as much or find that reading it was time well spent. Fans will likely find a few flaws/inconsistencies in the details of how certain characters were eliminated but this is not a perfect book. Add a Review
In the New York Times bestseller Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, Drew Karpyshyn painted a gripping portrait of a young man’s journey from innocence to evil. That man was Darth Bane, a twisted genius whose iron will, fierce ambition, and strength in the dark side of the Force made him a natural leader among the Sith–until his radical embrace of an all-but-forgotten wisdom drove him to destroy his own order . . . and create it anew from the ashes. As the last surviving Sith, Darth Bane promulgated a harsh new directive: the Rule of Two.
Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it.
Now Darth Bane is ready to put his policy into action, and he thinks he has found the key element that will make his triumph complete: a student to train in the ways of the dark side. Though she is young, Zannah possesses an instinctive link to the dark side that rivals his own. With his guidance, she will become essential in his quest to destroy the Jedi and dominate the galaxy.
But there is one who is determined to stop Darth Bane: Johun Othone, Padawan to Jedi Master Lord Hoth, who died at Bane’s hands in the last great Sith War. Though the rest of the Jedi scoff at him, Joshua’s belief that there are surviving Sith on the loose is unshakeable.
As Johun continues his dogged pursuit of the man who killed his master, Zannah, faced unexpectedly with a figure from her past, begins to question her embrace of the dark side. And Darth Bane is led by Force-induced visions to a moon where he will acquire astonishing new knowledge and power–power that will alter him in ways he could never have imagined. . . .
REVIEW
Great follow up. I'm hot for the next one I loved the first book. Its practically the darkside practitioners bible. The Rule of Two is a great follow up. The writing is awesome and even cinematic if thats possible. Theres great twists and moments through out and the writer does an awesome job tying it all together at the end. Interesting characters, but the most amazing part is the evil characters are actually believable, I feel like they have a reason for what they do. Something I don't usually get out of these kind of story's. Great riveting read. I'm hot for the next one. Add a Review
“Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it.” –Darth Bane, Dark Lord of the Sith
On the run from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel, a cortosis miner, vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, a far greater destiny awaits him. As an acolyte in the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side, Dessel embraces his new identity: Bane. But the true test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness, he must defy the most sacred traditions and reject all he has been taught. It is a trial by fire in which he must surrender fully to the dark side–and forge from the ashes a new era of absolute power.
“A solid space adventure [that] charts the evolution of an antihero almost as chilling as Darth Vader.” –Publishers Weekly
REVIEW
My favorite Star Wars book This book is my favorite Star Wars Novel because it is the only one I have read that really paints a sith as the plot hero. Usually you will find it written so that you root for some random jedi to 'win the day' as it is with both Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Darth Bane is a great character and is rightly the hero of this book. From start to finish you get excellent character development and really feel attached to him. Can't wait to read the sequel! Add a Review
Once the Sith order teemed with followers. But their rivalries divided them in endless battles for supremacy. Until one dark lord at last united the Sith in the quest to enslave the galaxy–and exterminate the Jedi. Yet it would fall to another, far more powerful than the entire Brotherhood of Darkness, to ultimately realize the full potential of the Sith, and wield the awesome power of the dark side as never before.
Since childhood, Dessel has known only the abuse of his hateful father and the dangerous, soul-crushing labor of a cortosis miner. Deep in the tunnels of the desolate planet Apatros, endlessly excavating the rare mineral valued throughout the galaxy, Dessel dreams of the day he can escape–a day he fears may never come. But when a high-stakes card game ends in deadly violence, Dessel suddenly finds himself a wanted man.
On the run from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army, and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, he is destined for a far greater role in the ultimate Sith plan for the galaxy–if he can prove himself truly worthy.
As an acolyte in the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side at the feet of its greatest masters, Dessel embraces his new Sith identity: Bane. However thetrue test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness one must fully surrender to the dark side through a trial by fire that Bane, for all his unquenchable fury and lust for power, may not be strong enough to endure . . . especially since deception, treachery, and murder run rampant among the Sith disciples, and utter ruthlessness alone is the key to survival. Only by defying the most sacred traditions, rejecting all he has been taught, and drawing upon the long-forgotten wisdom of the very first Sith can Bane hope to triumph–and forge from the ashes of that which he must destroy a new era of absolute dark power.
REVIEW
Why to Buy (I am Holly's son Gabe Jonas) I am Gabe, Holly's son. I think that the book is everything you would expect is star wars, but more. I used to not like to read. I would keep dozing off. In the end I would only finish two 300 word pages in 20 minutes, then I would never pick up the book if I was not forced to read. When I pick up this book I coulden't keep my eyes off of it. Now I read 50 to 200 pages of this book almost everyday when i have the chance. I love how the story play out you are always suprised. I think that Bane's relationsip with Githany is very stange, but very interesting. Like in one scene Bane was sitting on a shore of a beach. Then Githany's ship shows up and they have kind of an argument. The argument seems like Bane was kind of flirting with her in a way. Once in the scene Githanys says "You don't seem particularly devoted to the cause." Then it says the "Bane reaches out and grabs her by the waist and pulls her close for another savage kiss." I just think it is an interesting love. I like the charater Kas'im. He is one of the sith lords. He was kind of like Bane's mentor. For some time in the book he is the only master that still beleved in Bane. He show that sith are not always mean. He has kind of a soft side. Over all the balance between the action and everything else is very well done. The book to me shows me the the dark side has love, happyness and the feedom of love. This would make One mabey even the best star wars movie. I hope you like the book.
Gabe Jonas Add a Review
Among the dark streets of the city move thieves and cutthroats. And they don't like independent operators like Lhasha Moonsliver. But when she hires the town drunk as a bodyguard, she gets more than she bargained for. Together they'll have to battle the thieves' guild, the Cult of the Dragon, and other, darker foes. And a fallen man will have to remember the proud warrior he once was.
REVIEW
Enjoyable pure adventure Hokay, this is one book where the readers would not feel like grabbing the major characters by the throat, shake them blue and yell "GET OVER IT...!".
Set in Eversult, a city built by smugglers, the tale revolved around 2 fairly experienced characters; one was Lhasa, a thief/burglar of human-elven descent, marked by the Purple Masks for her refusal to join THE thieves' guild of the city, the other was Corin, a washed-out fighter who lost his sword arm in the last assignment which caused his White Shield company to disband. Watching over the pair was Fendel, a gnomish tinker priest of Gond.
While on the run from the Purple Masks, Lhasa crossed paths (and more) with Corin. The latter had bankrupted himself after two years of unsuccessfully trying to restore his sword arm at the Temple of the Morninglord. Somehow, though drunk most of the time, he managed to keep himself in good shape enough to tackle a patrol of the Maces, the ruthless enforcers of order in the city. Lhasa persuaded him to be her bodyguard, holding out the hope that her mentor Fendel would be able to provide him with prosthetic arm.
To finance the replacement arm, and to flee from the Masks, Lhasa took on a dangerous assignment, not knowing it was from a traitor who betrayed the White Shields two years before. Corin and Lhasa soon found themselves embroiled in an underworld war between the Cult of the Dragon and an shadowy independent syndicate led by someone known only as Xiliath. Xiliath's top lieutenant Graal was the one who had taken Corin's arm.
No stilted dialogue, excessive self-pity or tedious passages, this book went right into the action. Both Lhasa and Corin acted well for their situations, and no wasteful time nor words that would make the readers feel impatient with the characters.
The book also gave a good introduction to Eversult, which had not been covered in any other FR novels - a city built by smugglers, highlighting its unique flavour, distinguishing it from being just another city with underground mazes. Add a Review
On the run and hunted by everyone in Faerûn, Bhaal’s offspring are being wiped out. Instead of ridding the land of evil, each kill gives more power to a vicious group of Bhaalspawn intent on returning their father to the world.
Follow the ultimate battle of the children of Bhaal in this thrilling novel based on the computer game from BioWare and Interplay!
REVIEW
Even a new author could not save this series The novelization of the popular RP computer game Baldur's Gate is perhaps one of the worst series I have ever managed to read. The first two books of the series were written by Philip Athens. The intricate story line of the game itself as well as the many interesting characters that populate the game all went missing in Mr. Athens' books. I could find no redeeming value in the first two books. The main character was poorly conceived and never fleshed out. Subplots and any thoughts on what it means to be the child of a dead God are brushed aside without a second thought. Given the mangling of the story in the first two books one has to wonder if Mr. Athens even bothered to play the game itself before tossing off his forgettable stories.
Athens was thankfully replaced as author for the third book by Drew Karpyshyn. Sadly the destruction was so complete that there was little left to salvage. Mr. Karpyshyn's writing is several steps up from Athens. The problem of this third book is not the talents of Mr. Karpyshyn rather it is the horrible and incoherent mess of first two books of the series. The very fact that Mr. Karpyshyn could continue the story and bring the tale to its conclusion speaks very well of his talents.
It is very sad that it is only in the last half of the last book of the series that some of the themes ofthe game actually make an appearance. The nature of good and evil, the possibility of redemption finally get some thought put to them. The notion that what makes an individual a hero are not things one is born with but arise out of the choices we make. Unfortunately this attempt to redeem the series comes far to late.
Chose to play the game and don't bother with the books. Add a Review
