I had finished reading this only recently, but found no discussion online, so what the hell.
Taken on its own, the trilogy is a fun interesting read; it isn't Literature but then what scifi space opera is? Christie Golden, though she has her weak moments, is definitely one of the better writers working with Blizzard. Characters are believable and/or likable, the writing crisp with few errors and the plot keeps at a pretty steady pace throughout. The books also flesh out the Starcraft universe quite a bit, especially the last book which reveals a lot about the Xel'Naga, and Blizzard has said the trilogy is meant to bridge the 4 year time gap between SC:BW and SC2. I would definitely recommend starting with this trilogy if you have any interest in the Starcraft setting.
Synopsis wrote:Jake Ramsey - an unassuming, yet talented archaeologist - has been given the chance of a lifetime. Hired to investigate a recently unearthed Xel'Naga temple, he knows this latest assignment will open up whole new possibilities for his career. Yet, when Jake discovers the remains of a long-dead protoss mystic, his hopes and dreams are irrevocably drowned in a flood of alien memories. Bonded to the spirit of the dead protoss, Jake has become the sole inheritor of the protoss's total history - every event, every thought - every feeling.
Struggling to maintain his own fragile identity amidst the raging psychic storm in his mind, Jake soon realizes that he has stumbled upon a secret so cataclysmic in magnitude - that it will shake the very foundations of the universe.
'Ai! ai!' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come!'
Gimli stared with wide eyes. 'Durin's Bane!' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face.
'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'
- J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Pretty good, though the Starke business sounds a bit contrived.
Turns out that a five way cross over between It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Ali G Show, Fargo, Idiocracy and Veep is a lot less funny when you're actually living in it.
Pelranius wrote:So the Xel'Naga can't reproduce? I don't get it.
Pretty good, though the Starke business sounds a bit contrived.
Apparently. The whole thing about how the Protoss (Essence of Form) and Zerg (Essence of Purity) were suppose to eventually evolve into the next Xel'Naga threw me for a loop when I first read it too. Sounds silly, but I'll give them a chance to do something cool with the idea.
Oh, and the other big reveal at the end I thought was that Duran isn't working for the Xel'Naga, but another group, and that his hybrids are abominations threatening the galaxy! Dun dun dun!!!
'Ai! ai!' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come!'
Gimli stared with wide eyes. 'Durin's Bane!' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face.
'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'
- J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Pelranius wrote:So the Xel'Naga can't reproduce? I don't get it.
Pretty good, though the Starke business sounds a bit contrived.
Apparently. The whole thing about how the Protoss (Essence of Form) and Zerg (Essence of Purity) were suppose to eventually evolve into the next Xel'Naga threw me for a loop when I first read it too. Sounds silly, but I'll give them a chance to do something cool with the idea.
Oh, and the other big reveal at the end I thought was that Duran isn't working for the Xel'Naga, but another group, and that his hybrids are abominations threatening the galaxy! Dun dun dun!!!
Wasn't this already known based on the 'secret' Zerg mission (via Zeratul) at the end of Brood Wars?
Pelranius wrote:So the Xel'Naga can't reproduce? I don't get it.
Pretty good, though the Starke business sounds a bit contrived.
Apparently. The whole thing about how the Protoss (Essence of Form) and Zerg (Essence of Purity) were suppose to eventually evolve into the next Xel'Naga threw me for a loop when I first read it too. Sounds silly, but I'll give them a chance to do something cool with the idea.
Oh, and the other big reveal at the end I thought was that Duran isn't working for the Xel'Naga, but another group, and that his hybrids are abominations threatening the galaxy! Dun dun dun!!!
Wasn't this already known based on the 'secret' Zerg mission (via Zeratul) at the end of Brood Wars?
Not entirely. All that the "secret" mission revealed was that Duran wasn't under Kerrigan's control and was making hybrids for "someone else." Most everyone I know assumed that "someone else" was the Xel'Naga, but that's not the case anymore.
'Ai! ai!' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come!'
Gimli stared with wide eyes. 'Durin's Bane!' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face.
'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'
- J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
At least Blizzard is working together with the authors, so the material doesn't mess with Starcraft II.
Though I wonder if they'll start pushing back the release dates of the latter books if Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty's release gets pushed to beyond early 2010?
Turns out that a five way cross over between It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Ali G Show, Fargo, Idiocracy and Veep is a lot less funny when you're actually living in it.
