Gamertell

One of the most renowned first-person shooters also has a fairly strong line of books to give it a back-story. The book count is currently at five novels with four specifically focusing on the events of original conception of the Doom.

Doom never really gave a name or face to the hero, save the novels. The object of the game was little more than survive, kill, collect keycards and flip switches. The only time any information was given was when you successfully beat the game, which only resulted in a quick summary of what had happened due to your success, either stopping or postponing the demonic forces from ruining humanity. Doom 3, however, provided an ongoing plot that was interesting and a character with at least some depth.

The books fall into the same group as sci-fi/horror pulp fiction. Here’s the basic summary of the series: The United Aerospace Corporation (UAC) start experimenting with things they shouldn’t, they think everything is fine until reality proves them wrong, people - even entire families - are dead and a select few have to save humanity.

Worlds on Fire covers the events of Doom 3 following Lieutenant John Kane. Kane saves marines from what would otherwise be a massacre. However, since he disobeyed his orders to pull his unit back, the Marines disgrace him by making him a private and a glorified rent-a-cop on Mars. He’s sent to Mars when the UAC’s controversial testing turns Mars into Hell. He works with the other space marines to try to avert disaster, including new friend and fellow marine Maria Moraetes. All this happens after the discovery of the Soul Cube, an artifact buried long ago. It is incredibly faithful to the game. This is book one of a trilogy.

The similarity between the original four books and the one released February 2008 are numerous. The first of the older books features the disgracing of a marine, who was merely trying to stop a massacre. The difference between the first of the older books and the opening of the new trilogy is Kane is trying to protect fellow marines. Flynn Taggart is trying to protect unarmed monks. The older books also feature a close friendship between the main character and a woman who happens to be a fellow marine. Where Kane has Moraetes, Taggart has Arlene Sanders. There is a mysterious Martian artifact that causes the problems due to human interference. Resource scarcity is causing new levels of war, famine and disease on Earth. They cover the worst of the worst that can happen in sci-fi/horror and condemn the nature of multi-national corporations.

The books just put a deeper storyline to hit games of the past. They are fun reads that give the franchise a soul. It is a worthwhile endeavor to open up the game franchise to gamers and non-gamers alike. The books are affordable with the older series costing $6.99 per book. The new one still costs $7.99 since it was only recently released to the public.

Read [Matt Costello]

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