Best novel based on video games

[OllieGee]

Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone has read any of these novels based on video games, and if so what they think of them.

1. Firebreak - I read this last year, dark, but quite fun. A bit like Ready Player one.
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/198214274X/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=gg2&creativeASIN=198214274X&tag=boorio-20&creative=399349&camp=217145

2. Peril Quest - A Simulated Adventure (Brand new out, I'm going to download this, as it looks really fun and a snip at $1.49 this week) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1157123

3. Tournament Trouble - A twelve year old's obsession with completing at the highest level of online games. Started off excellently in my opinion, I gave up half way through but keen to know if anyone finished it. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1773210084/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&linkCode=gg2&creativeASIN=1773210084&tag=boorio-20&creative=399349&camp=217145

[heltenjon]

I haven't read any of the books mentioned, but will recommend two books by Iain (M.) Banks that feature games prominently: Complicity and Player of Games. In Complicity the computer game played is something the main character does on his time off, though it may or may not have symbolic relevance to how he views the world. Player of Games is a science fiction novel where a planet elects their leader through a strategy wargame.

Edit: Whoops, I didn't notice that this thread was posted in the wrong section. I hope a mod may move it.

[OllieGee]

Thanks heltenjon, I will check out this novel you mention. Surprised I haven't heard of it.

Can I move this post to the correct topic section myself? I looked but couldn't see where to do it

[heltenjon]

Thanks heltenjon, I will check out this novel you mention. Surprised I haven't heard of it.

Can I move this post to the correct topic section myself? I looked but couldn't see where to do it

No, the moderators do that, and it's now in the correct section (General Discussion) instead of Hints and Tips. But to make a mod aware of a mispost, you may use the "more" button and select "Report to Moderator". Up pops a form, and you may write that you accidentally put a post in the wrong section and ask them to move it.

Hope you enjoy Iain M. Banks! He's sadly deceased now, but if you like his writing style(s), there's a whole lot of books to enjoy.

[gulshan212]

Thanks a lot for sharing it with us. Amazing.

[PatientRock]

Spotting it at a used book store, I recently read a novelization of Alien Isolation, one of my all time favorite video games. I didn't realize they still did novelizations... I don't know if I could recommend it, but it was surprisingly ok because it (almost laughably) stuck so heavily to the game which is itself fantastic. So much so, that at one point the book gives the actual instructions for assembling a smoke grenade like in the game. I was glad to see the novelization genre alive.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45309772

[Tomags]

Thanks for the tips gusys, interesting topic.

The reference to Alien Isolation reminded me to two videogame based books I've read, and that I've actually enjoyed quite a bit (although it has been like 20 years ago or so):

Day of the Dragon, based on Warcraft
https://wowpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Day_of_the_Dragon

Legacy of Blood, based on Diablo
https://www.amazon.com/Diablo-Legacy-Blood-Blizzard-Legends/dp/1945683015
I didn't really play Diablo, my sister did, so I cannot judge how close to the game's story it was, but I remember enjoying it.

Regards,
Tomags