Mass Effect: Retribution Explained

Mass Effect: Retribution
Author:Drew Karpyshyn
Country:Canada
Language:English
Series:Mass Effect
Genre:Science fiction
Publisher:Del Rey Books
Release Date:27 July 2010[1]
Media Type:Print (Paperback)
Pages:356
Isbn:978-0-345-52072-2

Mass Effect: Retribution is a science fiction novel by Canadian writer Drew Karpyshyn set in the Mass Effect universe. It is a sequel to the video game Mass Effect 2, as well as to its prequel novel, , also written by Karpyshyn. Retribution is set directly after the events of Mass Effect 2, and like its predecessors, expands on the Mass Effect universe by fleshing out its setting and providing background on some key characters.[2]

Plot

A few months after the events of Mass Effect 2, The Illusive Man, leader of the anthrocentric Cerberus, has managed to salvage the remains of the Collector Base beyond the Omega Four mass relay for the technology of the Reapers, a race of highly advanced sentient starships seeking to harvest organic life from across galactic civilization. Retribution follows Paul Grayson, a former operative of the Illusive Man who defected from Cerberus, as he attempts to learn the secrets of the Reapers. After Grayson goes missing, Grissom Academy staff member Kahlee Sanders calls upon her old friend David Anderson, one of the protagonists of Mass Effect Revelation and a supporting character in the first Mass Effect game, to help her find him. Kai Leng, a major antagonist in Mass Effect 3, makes his first appearance in Retribution.

Reception

Calvin Kemph from Thunderbolt Games opined that he would not recommend Retribution as a standalone read, noting that as an installment in a fiction series, "it should be approached in sequential order and be used to supplement the fiction established in the source material, rather than serving as a replacement for it." He observed that Karpyshyn's writing strayed far enough from the narratives of Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2 that "he’s able to cleverly avoid spoiling most of the major plot-points". He concluded that Retribution is "pretty good for fiction adapted from a popular videogame" and that the novel is worth "a quick, fun read with a distinctive balance of meaningful exposition and action".[3] Brendan Lowry from Windows Central called Retribution interesting and well-written, and that "it gives a strong perspective on the effects of Reaper indoctrination on living minds". He praised the inclusion of Kahlee Sanders and David Anderson into its narrative, noting that "it helps make this universe feel connected".[4]

In his article from July 2010, Joe Juba from Game Informer outlined five reasons why Retribution is worth reading for fans of the Mass Effect series, noting that "this book seems to have a greater connection to the games than its predecessors".[5] VentureBeat praised Karpyshyn's strong writing in Retribution, particularly the way he described "awfully well the horrifying feeling of Grayson being relegated to the back-seat of his own body", as a result of the Reapers bending him to their will through the cybernetic implants in his body. VentureBeat noted that while "a book critic might not find Karpyshyn's work to be ranked among the classics in literature", he very competently draws readers into the wider Mass Effect universe set up the first game.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Random House Listing of Mass Effect: Retribution. 13 January 2010.
  2. http://drewkarpyshyn.com/c/?page_id=7 Official Website of Drew Karpyshyn
  3. News: Kemph. Calvin. Mass Effect: Retribution by Drew Karpyshyn . March 28, 2020. Thunderbolt. 1 April 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110405010557/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/opinion/article/mass-effect-retribution-by-drew-karpyshyn-opinion-for-ps3-xbox-360-pc.html. April 5, 2011. dead.
  4. Web site: The 8 best Mass Effect books you can't miss. Brendan Lowry. Windows Central. September 18, 2017. March 28, 2020.
  5. Web site: Five Reasons To Read Mass Effect Retribution. https://web.archive.org/web/20100729033313/http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/07/27/five-reasons-to-read-mass-effect-retribution.aspx. dead. July 29, 2010. Joe Juba. Game Informer. July 27, 2010 . March 28, 2020.
  6. Web site: A Missed, Mass Opportunity. August 7, 2011 . March 16, 2020 . VentureBeat.