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algorithminflux's review against another edition
5.0
Some of my favourite characters live within these pages. Absolutely well done.
turbot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
scopique's review against another edition
5.0
It's kind of hard to picture EVE The Game meshing with EVE The Novels, since The Game is known for the "bad behavior" of it's players, while The Novels feature characters who are respectful, even in war. But that's what I enjoy so much about these books: they breath life into a world known only for it's controversies.
I didn't know at first that this was a continuation of The Empyrean Age, because it's been so long since I read that one that I didn't recognize the characters. Like TEA, Templar One was written and released to coincide with a major game update. For TEA, it was Apocrypha and the appearance of "w-space" and the Sleepers. For Templar One, we learn the back story of just how DUST 514 begins to fit into the EVE universe.
I haven't read a sci-fi war story like this one since the early BattleTech books, where the characterizations manage to shine through the level of technical name-dropping that's absolutely required for the work to earn it's cred as a tie-in. Gonzales either has an army of EVE lore scholars feeding him authentic sounding intel, or he's a sci-fi tech writing genius, able to mix imagery and technobabble in equal measure without it sounding forced and over-the-top.
It's been quite a while since I've played EVE, and while I recognize many of the organization, ship, and place names, there were a lot more that just went over my head, so I don't think one needs to be a fan of EVE to get something out of this book. Gonzales does a great job of explaining what you need to know in just the right way so even if you can't put a name to a pixel, you still know that seeing a titan warp into the sector is Really Bad News.
I didn't know at first that this was a continuation of The Empyrean Age, because it's been so long since I read that one that I didn't recognize the characters. Like TEA, Templar One was written and released to coincide with a major game update. For TEA, it was Apocrypha and the appearance of "w-space" and the Sleepers. For Templar One, we learn the back story of just how DUST 514 begins to fit into the EVE universe.
I haven't read a sci-fi war story like this one since the early BattleTech books, where the characterizations manage to shine through the level of technical name-dropping that's absolutely required for the work to earn it's cred as a tie-in. Gonzales either has an army of EVE lore scholars feeding him authentic sounding intel, or he's a sci-fi tech writing genius, able to mix imagery and technobabble in equal measure without it sounding forced and over-the-top.
It's been quite a while since I've played EVE, and while I recognize many of the organization, ship, and place names, there were a lot more that just went over my head, so I don't think one needs to be a fan of EVE to get something out of this book. Gonzales does a great job of explaining what you need to know in just the right way so even if you can't put a name to a pixel, you still know that seeing a titan warp into the sector is Really Bad News.
reasonpassion's review against another edition
4.0
Enormous in scope, the author sets out to find what is the best in humanity through the intrigue and pitfalls of galactic politics. At times preachy, the author still manages to convey deep issues of geo-politics that take much inspiration of our own history over the last 100+ years and paint in across the galaxy of multiple planets and groups. Definitely a fun read and doesn't get bogged down in technological details, just enough to get the imagination going and supply a world of epic human struggle.
rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't a massive fan at the very begining of the book, but I have since changed my tune - by the end I was very much into the characters an the plot. I think it was because at the beginning it was hard to remember who was who, and who was allied with you, and what happened when, and what was happening where. Once I finally sort of got my head round that, the book was very enjoyable!
emmaeden93's review against another edition
I wanted so badly to read this book, but after 3 failed attempts at reading it, and not being able to get into it, I unfortunately dnf’d. The idea appealed to me a lot, but I just couldn’t force myself to be able to read it
teroshan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mike__drone's review against another edition
5.0
This book is better than the first of the series. I was not so bored and ready to be done with it, like the first book. It actually entertained me part of the time.
awesome514's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes gruesome, a little disturbing, and loaded with technical specifications. I really enjoyed the world building, but it was challenging to keep track of all the characters and locations. I'm vacillating between a rating of 3 or 4 because I thought the writing was very good, but I struggled with the technical descriptions. So, 3.5 stars, I guess?