The lights are on
The third blog I ever posted here at Game Informer was titled "A Novel Idea". It was one of those blogs that I liked but wasn't all that popular, largely due to the fact that it didn't make the front page of the user created blogs. I've updated this blog somewhat from time to time in my "catch all" blogs. The thing about this subject, it's not one of those ground breaking earth shattering topics that is going to catch fire, but at least it's relevant to the world of video games. Besides, I had a hectic day at work with another one lined up tomorrow, and I'm kind of tired. Make that...fall asleep while typing tired. I don't know how many times I've dozed off already. So, this is an update to the original "A Novel Idea" blog. But it's a much needed update.
So, yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble.
With the exception of GameStop and maybe Best Buy, there isn't another store that I should avoid at all costs quite like I should the bookstore. Barnes and Noble, Borders and yes...the Amazon.com website. I am to the bookstore like some of the ladies are to the factory outlet mall. I can spend hours walking up and down the aisles looking at everything from the bargain bin to fiction; from comic books to self help guides.
Ironically, I can spend the whole day at the book store, but I often leave empty handed or might break down and buy something off the bargain bin. Occasionally, if it's something really special I'll buy it. Even more weird, as much as I hate lists, I sure create a lot of them. Especially when I'm at the bookstore. Yes, it's true. I make lists of blog topics. I make lists of Member Herding questions to ask...and when I'm in the bookstore, I make lists of books I want to buy.
As I mentioned, I went to Barnes and Noble. And in no time, I had quite a collection of books to add to my list of books I want to buy. All of these books are based on video games AND books that I'm interested in. It's not to say this is a complete list, rather, its games/books I'm interested in. For example, I'm not interested in the World of Warcraft novels, of which there are several...so they're not on the list. But they exist.
Okay...so here is the updated list of video game inspired novels I came across yesterday on my trip to Barnes and Noble. In no certain order of coolness or wow factor...and no...I'm not making these up. They are real books. I've seen them with my own eyes.
Alan Wake
When I saw this, my jaw dropped a bit. Not only is Alan Wake a fairly new game, it's also an action packed suspenseful game where the main character is a bestselling novelist. Word.
"Welcome to Bright Falls-a seemingly idyllic small town in the Pacific Northwest. The perfect place for Alan Wake, a bestselling crime novelist, and his wife, Alice, to relax for a few weeks. Maybe a second honeymoon and the fresh air will cure Wake of his writer's block."
Rick Burroughs
Paperback, 320 pages
Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
May 25, 2010
Dead Space
I wonder if the book is half as scary as the game is. Personally, I haven't played it, but of those who have that I've talked to, it's a scary game. I'm thinking the book is going to be scary.
"Martyr" is the first novel in the amazingly imaginative Dead Space video game universe that looks deep into the origins of humanity and the vast onslaught of horrifying creatures known as necromorphs.
Dead Space: Martyr
B. K. Evenson
Paperback, 416 pages
July 20, 2010
Diablo Archive
This was a very LARGE book. When they say archive, they're not kidding. It doesn't just weigh in and 752 pages...it weighs in at seven and half pounds. The ultimate addition to any gamer's library. I don't really know how much it weighs, but it's heavy.
"Richard A. Knaak is the "New York Times" bestselling author of some three dozen novels, including the "The Sin War" trilogy for "Diablo" and the "Legend of Huma" for "Dragonlance." He has penned the "War of the Ancients" trilogy, "Day of the Dragon" and its upcoming follow up, "Night of the Dragon."
Richard A. Knaak
Paperback, 752 pages
Simon & Schuster
July 08, 2008
Eve: The Burning Life
This title caught me a little off guard. With such a vast world and so many people, I wondered how they're going to limit it to a single story. This is high on my list. I want to find out.
"We all crave a purpose. A fire to spark our lives into action. It's this burning life within that drives us to our destinies. But when it burns too deep, or goes unchecked, it can shatter innocent lives in its wake. A vicious attack on a deep-space mining colony rains death and destruction on nearly all its inhabitants. Only a handful survive. Among the shattered survivors is a young man, hell-bent on an impossible revenge."
Hjalti Danielsson
Paperback, 400 pages
March 30, 2010
God of War
Can't get enough of this game? Then read the book! I added this to my list just because of the popularity of the game, but to be honest, I've never played it. I don't have a Playstation 3. So, I guess I could read the book and see what happens.
"From the black depths of Hades to the war-torn city of Athens to the lost desert beyond, "God of War" sheds a brutal new light on the bestselling video game of the same name."
Matthew Stover
Paperback, 304 pages
Random House Publishing Group
MISC
There were others I added to my list, but I'm not going to go into too much detail because there were several books in the series. There were 3 or 4 Mass Effect paperbacks. StarCraft had a graphic novel and a couple of paperback books that looked really cool. Perhaps the most visually stunning was the Metal Gear Solid graphic novel.
Oh...and for the record...
I purchased Halo: The Fall of Reach...
Zzzz...
Oh...one more thing. Tomorrow is the last day to get your questions in for the next episode of Member Herding. Enough of you apparently want to hear how I respond to some of your questions, so this week I'll be interviewing myself...which shouldn't be too hard since I already talk to myself all the time anyway.
If a train is traveling west from Chicago at 56 mph and and train is traveling north at 39 mph, at what point do you stop caring about my ridiculous questions?
Hah...you've already asked your fair share...sorry...I can't answer that one. :)
I really liked the Resident Evil novels, but it's been a long time since I read them so I don't really remember much about them.
That's actually a pretty nice selection. I definitely plan to read Alan Wake, Dead Space, the Mass Effect series, and the Halo series. I'll also eventually get around to reading the Gears of War books (not on the list). It's just cool to be able to get background info about great video games through good books.
It took years for me to actually start reading Game Informer, and not just look at the pictures and glance at the review score numbers. I think the only thing I used to actually read was the Dear GI section. Anyways, I'm not sure if I'd be up for reading video game books or not. I tried to read a Star Wars book once, and I thought it was REALLY boring. The movies, however, are epic (except the new ones... I'm not a big fan of 1-3, though parts of 3 were decent.)
@TheClassyOne - I've never read the Resident Evil novels, but I did mention them in one of my other blogs. These were all books that I just happened to come across in my latest trip to the bookstore and that weren't previously mentioned.
@Mray901 - It did look good.
@ ~Kyl3~ - Thank you. As far as Gears of War books, same thing I told TheClassyOne...they were mentioned in a previous blog. I loved the Gears books...actually I'm in the middle of reading Jacinto's Remnant now. But they're great books.
@born4this - I love video game inspired books because it's like an extension of the game. And I've read a ton of them. It's surprising how many they are. Star Wars is kind of unique example because there are SO many books that cover such a broad time line...Gears of War was pretty good. I've read all of the Splinter Cell and really like them. Halo too! Ghost Recon the novel was okay. I could go on...but I'll spare you the geeky details...
...and then when you consider the comic books and graphic novels...that's a whole 'nother shelf...I saw a rather spectacular Metal Gear Solid graphic novel yesterday...very nice.
Nothing with the Alan Wake book will beat the story like layout for the strategy guide and its way of discussing the thermoses.
I generally don't read video game books, not because they are inferior reads, I just feel a little dirty when I do. Although Barnes and Noble is like crack to me, I go in and walk around and usually always end up with a good book in my hand, usually something I hadn't heard of...
Oh and add this series to your list of books...Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko it's a Russian series about magicians vampires and werewolves that takes place in modern Russia, and it's honestly a very fun read...
I enjoyed the fall of reach. I think that's the one I read. I didn't read any of the other ones though... oh well.
I'd be interested in the Alan Wake book and the Dead Space one, other than that, I don't like video game novels.