Mass Effect by Drew Karpyshyn (2008, Paperback)

For those of you unaware, Mass Effect: Ascension is a book based on a game, that is based on a prequel novel. The first novel having come out several months before the game, takes place a few years before the events in the game and introduces us to many key characters.

Where Revelation is a prequel novel, Ascension is a sequel that deals primarily with Cerberus, an organization that features prominently in the game.Some of the darkest episodes in Mass Effect dealt with Cerberus, a shadowy organization who conducted illicit research and were willing to slaughter Alliance soldiers to cover their tracks. In Mass Effect: Ascension we learn that Cerberus is headed by the Illusive Man and that their goal is to ensure humanity’s dominance over alien races. This includes boosting biotic abilities in humans by causing prenatal exposure to Element Zero through a series of staged accidentsThe second novel set in the Mass Effect universe. This book is even better than ME: Revelation. It's entertaining the whole way through. The ending was satisfying but it also left a few plot threads open for the second Mass Effect video game or for the next novel.

Even if you haven't played the game, this book is worth reading, especially if you are into science fiction.