Mass Effect: Ascension (Mass Effect, #2)

by Drew Karpyshyn

The thrilling prequel to the award-winning video game from BioWare

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.

• ISBN10: 1299098177
• ISBN13: 9781299098176
• Publish Date: 1 January 2008
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 8 April 2015
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Del Rey Books
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[pamela]

Mass Effect: Ascension reads more like extended source material for the Mass Effect Universe than Revelations did. This wasn't a problem for me, as that's the entire reason I'm reading the series, but it did mean that Ascension wasn't as good a book in its own right as its predecessor.

From a narrative standpoint, I don't have much to fault. Ascension was fast-paced, with enough character depth for them to be relatable, and a decently diverse cast. It delved into lore that was barely present in ME1, and is constantly referenced in ME2, so it was really great to have that part of the story fleshed out.

But for some reason, Ascension just didn't grab me. I enjoyed it because it was Mass Effect, and not because it was good. It's a book for the fans, not for the average sci-fi reader. It's tailored to a specific audience, and with that in mind, I guess it does what's on the tin. I really enjoyed delving into the culture of the Migrant Fleet, and learning more about the Quarians, but this felt solidly like a side adventure, and not a fully fleshed out story that could stand on its own.

[Rinn]

Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.

After finishing Mass Effect 3, I found myself wanting to immerse myself in all things Mass Effect, I suppose because the trilogy is now over, and the ending was rather disappointing. I first picked this book up in the library two years ago or so, and found it very dull. But I thought I'd try it again, and I somehow made it through.

It reads like a fanfiction. Not an awful one, but not a great one either. Karpyshyn's writing style is merely mediocre. The only reason the story was remotely interesting to me is because it is set in the Mass Effect universe, and involves Grissom Academy and Kahlee Sanders, who appears in Mass Effect 3. The book is very, very simply written and there is almost a complete lack of character development.

I would give this 1 star, but I've given it another simply for being Mass Effect related. Although Karpyshyn tries to explain terms to people who haven't played Mass Effect, I get the feeling that if you've never touched the games, some elements of the story might be confusing.

I think a Mass Effect book series following Commander Shepard, or at least the Normandy would be great - but then there is the issue with being able to create your own custom character, both in appearance and personality. Although there are the default Shepards, they would not be Shepard to those people - like myself - who create our own versions.