Rating: 
Summary: Definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Review: All I can say is Wow. If you read the prequel fiction for the Ultima Online 2 game (aka "UWO:Origin" or something along those lines), and enjoyed it, this book is a must! It picks up several years after the Cataclysm, with the Meer, Juka, and Humans all co-existing on one world. (For those of you who haven't read the prequel fiction, the Meer and Juka are two new races from two different worlds, brought together by the "Cataclysm", which was a spell Lord British attempted to reunite all the Shards of Sosaria... Needless to say, the spell didn't really work as expected, and a bunch of new worlds were sucked together, the new races along with them...) Lord British is gone (only referred to as "The Lost King", probably due to some copyright issues or something :P ), Lord Blackthorn is.... uhmmmm... "different"... But the world is as exciting as possible. This is the first book of a trilogy, and I can't wait until the next one comes along...It's really too bad the game was cancelled, because these books would have definitely been a must for anybody interested in the game. Now that it's not going to happen, there's probably a lot of bitter UO players who aren't interested in reading about what "might have been"... But this book is pretty damn good. ;)
Rating:
Summary: An excellent novel!
Review: Austen Andrews is a man of talent and, obviously, hard work. It takes a lot of both to write a novel as intricate and arguably beautiful as this. The world and characters fairly leap off the pages at you, regardless of any knowledge--or lack thereof--of the world and setting of the Ultima series of games on which the book is based. I found myself unable to set the book aside, and irritated by interruptions. This is not only an excellent first novel by a talented author, but a marvelous beginning to a trilogy. I can hardly wait for the next book!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Austen Andrews is the master of dialogue. Really. He writes some really fantastic dialogue. His character are also extremely likeable. This was another page turner book for me. I finished it in a couple days as well. If any of you are familiar with the Ultima games or Ultima Online then you'd know where this book comes from. This book is actually a novelization of what Ultima Online 2 was supposed to be before it was canceled. Even though I hate MMORPGs reading this book makes me wish that UO2 had seen the light of day. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Very nice dialogue, fantastic characters, engaging storyline.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic first book from a new author!
Review: Austen Andrews wrote the prequel fiction to what was to be an incredible online game called Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. The bad news is Electronic Arts cancelled the game. The good news is the book does not need the game. This is a compelling story of a world in flux from the perspective of three races in conflict. The world is a combination of magic and technology in the finest traditions of man versus man and man versus nature adversity. This book kept me up way too late on successive nights. It can be risky to try new authors, but Austen Andrews will be a name followed for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: Believe it or not this has been my first glimps into the world of Ultima. Being a player of fantasy games I had heard of Ultima but only now have I been inspired not only to play the games, but wait with great anticipation for the next book in the Machinations series. The author deserves kudos for this effort, having a great ablity to describe, to bring the reader into a world where such fantasy is possible. The characters are well rounded, and each are a joy, I have found no part of this book boring, or dragging.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book, would recommend to anyone
Review: Believe it or not this has been my first glimps into the world of Ultima. Being a player of fantasy games I had heard of Ultima but only now have I been inspired not only to play the games, but wait with great anticipation for the next book in the Machinations series. The author deserves kudos for this effort, having a great ablity to describe, to bring the reader into a world where such fantasy is possible. The characters are well rounded, and each are a joy, I have found no part of this book boring, or dragging.
Rating:
Summary: Every thing you could want in a fantasy
Review: Even though I am a huge fan of rpg games, I have never played even one of the games in the Ultima series, even though I really want to. So when I picked up this book, I was unsure about buying it because I thought that only people familiar with the games would enjoy The Technocrat War. I was wrong. This book started out great in the first chapter, and only got better with each coming page. The story is excellent, you really get to like the characters, and the action is great. But don't get me wrong, this book is not something that would apeal to every one. If you don't have much interest fantasy books, then you might not enjoythis book as much as I have. It is definately pure fantasy. But is you are a fan of fantasy novels then you have wasted enough time already reading this review, and not enough time reading Ultima: The Technocrat War! Make no delay in purchasing this excellent novel!
Rating:
Summary: Every thing you could want in a fantasy
Review: Even though I am a huge fan of rpg games, I have never played even one of the games in the Ultima series, even though I really want to. So when I picked up this book, I was unsure about buying it because I thought that only people familiar with the games would enjoy The Technocrat War. I was wrong. This book started out great in the first chapter, and only got better with each coming page. The story is excellent, you really get to like the characters, and the action is great. But don't get me wrong, this book is not something that would apeal to every one. If you don't have much interest fantasy books, then you might not enjoythis book as much as I have. It is definately pure fantasy. But is you are a fan of fantasy novels then you have wasted enough time already reading this review, and not enough time reading Ultima: The Technocrat War! Make no delay in purchasing this excellent novel!
Rating:
Summary: Sure to make Ultima Fans cheer and bring in a new flock too!
Review: I have just the distinct pleasure of finishing this masterfully written novel. I have been an Ultima fan for over 15 years; ever since I could understand the words on the computer screen, I could never get enough. Richard Garriott (Ultima's founder) is a true inspiration for me. Now I have found another...Austen Andrews. Like other Ultima fans, I was disappointed to hear about the disbanding of the "Ultima: Origin" design team and the cancellation of the game, but here we have the first in a trilogy of books that will turn both fans and newcomers toward the love for Ultima and keep the torch ablaze after two decades. I cannot express through words how immersing and thought provoking this book was. Andrews has mastered the use of descriptive language and lavish descriptions to bring alive a "pre-Avatar" Sosaria. Although I could easily pick up on some of his minor errors, (Britannia Bay instead of Brittany Bay and the geographical location of the dun-geon Despise) his writing brought back a great feeling of nostalgia that "Ultima Online" simply does not bring. When reading this tale, readers will become particularly enraptured in the char-acter development. Some of the most remarkable characters I will never forget and look forward to learning more about are the endearing, but elegant Way Master Thulann, the gruff but lovable Gabriel Montenegro, and the mysterious "Techo-Prophet," Lord Blackthorn, who in this tale seems to have made his way out of the Ethereal Void after being banished by Lord British. This is a story of political strife, manipulation of cultural diversity, and divisive team players that turn out to be anything but. I cannot express how I loved this work. I rank Andrews among some of the classic sci-fi and fantasy writers including Heinlein, Tolkien, and Lewis. I look forward to the next installment with utter anticipation and commend Andrews for keeping the Ultima torch lit even after the authorities at Origin have faltered!
Rating:
Summary: Sure to make Ultima Fans cheer and bring in a new flock too!
Review: I have just the distinct pleasure of finishing this masterfully written novel. I have been an Ultima fan for over 15 years; ever since I could understand the words on the computer screen, I could never get enough. Richard Garriott (Ultima's founder) is a true inspiration for me. Now I have found another...Austen Andrews. Like other Ultima fans, I was disappointed to hear about the disbanding of the "Ultima: Origin" design team and the cancellation of the game, but here we have the first in a trilogy of books that will turn both fans and newcomers toward the love for Ultima and keep the torch ablaze after two decades. I cannot express through words how immersing and thought provoking this book was. Andrews has mastered the use of descriptive language and lavish descriptions to bring alive a "pre-Avatar" Sosaria. Although I could easily pick up on some of his minor errors, (Britannia Bay instead of Brittany Bay and the geographical location of the dun-geon Despise) his writing brought back a great feeling of nostalgia that "Ultima Online" simply does not bring. When reading this tale, readers will become particularly enraptured in the char-acter development. Some of the most remarkable characters I will never forget and look forward to learning more about are the endearing, but elegant Way Master Thulann, the gruff but lovable Gabriel Montenegro, and the mysterious "Techo-Prophet," Lord Blackthorn, who in this tale seems to have made his way out of the Ethereal Void after being banished by Lord British. This is a story of political strife, manipulation of cultural diversity, and divisive team players that turn out to be anything but. I cannot express how I loved this work. I rank Andrews among some of the classic sci-fi and fantasy writers including Heinlein, Tolkien, and Lewis. I look forward to the next installment with utter anticipation and commend Andrews for keeping the Ultima torch lit even after the authorities at Origin have faltered!
|
