Mass Effect: Annihilation discussion thread

I bought this novel last night and read it today. It was well written. Having a cast of talented, but more “normal” characters was a cool change of pace. Granted, the cast weren’t totally average, but neither were they super-spies, or the greatest scientists or warriors of their time. It necessitated a team effort, with no singular hero.

Heading in, I had no real expectations as to the plot. I knew of the contagion, but didn’t try to guess at motives or agents going into it. After the intro, I did suspect that quarians would ultimately be to blame. Opportunity and access just seemed to point strongly to them. I wasn’t particularly surprised by the big reveal, but the characters’ journey to the facts was enjoyable.

I think this was the best written of the three MEA novels. Initiation was maybe the most fun. Uprising was the most significant and important to the plot of the game. I wish things had gone better for MEA, and that we’d received these novels in a more timely fashion. For all its warts, MEA presented a number of good story threads that will likely never be explored. Such a shame.

I hope this isn’t our very last ME novel. With the IP on ice and BioWare busy with other things, it’s easy to imagine a lot of years passing before we see or hear of anything new from this great setting.

It would be some type of awesome to see some of these characters show up in a potential ME:A sequel.

RIP

I just finished the book. It was really good! Characters were fun yet interesting, the story not bad at all. I loved this non-human point of view.
I'd love for the surviving team members (Senna, Borbala, Anax and the Volus) to be new squad members in a future Mass Effect.
Yorrik forever in my heart. I love that Elcor.

If MEA had these character/story it would have been my favourite ME. And I don't dislyke Andromeda. I just think the Annihilation cast was much more interesting.

My dream ME game would be one where there are no asari, krogan, or turians in the crew. Give the other races their time to shine. I want a hanar sentinel, a volus vanguard, an elcor engineer, and a batarian infiltrator. I then wouldn't mind a new humanoid species on the team as well.

More non-human, sapient aliens are vital for the next game, I think. They are more inspiring and exciting to discover, as they are just so alien.

That and only one or two other humans in the crew, tops. 

For being about traveling to a completely new galaxy, and existing in a universe filled to the brim with diverse alien species, humanity sure seems to chew up most of the scenery.

Drell and Quarian are there for the romance. And frankly, is since ME2 that I want my male Quarian to romance. Or a non-almost-dead Drell.