Why You Should Read Exodus The Archimedes Engine...

[@briandaniels2408]

Forget Mass Effect 5, this is the replacement for that series at this point. Im very much looking forward to this. Im most likely going to purchase the book and read it. THANK YOU for this video!

[@Libertas_P77]

Agreed: this is where (some of) the top talent from BioWare went from the Mass Effect era. The BioWare of today will likely go bankrupt and Mass Effect as a franchise will probably never see a sequel, same as happened with Deus Ex unfortunately.

[@azatheeverchosen7615]

I wouldn't be so sure, sadly. The devs are allowing a fan-made Discord server to become their official Discord server, a server where known Bioware super-shill Kala Elizabeth recently denied Lord Spell&Shield entry because he was a 'bigot' for..... criticising the Veilguard and the Dragon Age Community Council, apparently? Also the head dev Drew has officially left Twitter for Bluesky as of last night. Exodus is more than likely afflicted with the mind virus just like Bioware.

[@Fdzzaigl]

I like how the setting combines space opera with more hardcore sci fi. The universe is also unexpectedly filled with a lot of body horror stuff together with some "cyberpunk-esque" themes. If they can capture the craziness well in the game they'll have a winner, at least for the adult audience.

[@apres-lachute8718]

I read it myself and can definitely recommend it. It really prepares you for the game in terms of the lore!

[@deathbycognitivedissonance5036]

Good call!

[@adrid.senpai7587]

The Illusive Man OST playing in the background of this video is chefs kiss

[@Vagabond_Gaming]

I just purchased The Archimedes Engine on Amazon after this.

[@bhutehole]

How long is the audio book? If its at least 12 hours ill buy it

[@Vagabond_Gaming]

@@bhutehole I'll have to wait until it arrives.

[@spellandshield]

@@bhutehole 30+ hours if I remember right.

[@laureanogutierrezv]

Same here!

[@DarkJeedi]

The book is nearly 1000 pages, so audiobook should be pretty long ​@@bhutehole

[@wardeni4806]

Based on everything I've seen, and considering the people working on it, Exodus is the true spiritual sequel to Mass Effect, spiced with a good bit of classic Halo. Going to read the book as soon as I have time

[@ginacirelli1581]

Thanks so much for the book review. It's been sitting on my Kindle since it released. As a "founder" of SWTOR, I am very interested in Exodus because James Ohlen worked on that game and the writing was top notch.

[@scottbdaniels]

I met the author at meet at great and got my book signed too. It was interesting to hear what he said regarding Exodus, he was a really nice guy too. I'm currently in the process of listening to the Audiobook at it makes me more hyped for the game when it comes out.

[@WolfheartFPS]

Awesome to hear especially as someone who is also more of a fantasy guy over sci-fi. Will be picking it up soon.

[@spellandshield]

We are honoured as always to be commented on by one as magisterial as you Lord of the Mane! I am sure you will enjoy it!

[@crtxdistortion657]

Just got the book. Read most of Hamilton's previous work and loved it!

[@FranklyGaming]

Such an amazing book

[@spellandshield]

Indeed, I am glad you are reading it Lord Frankly!

[@Bignuke87]

This is the push I needed to make the purchase! Much appreciated!

[@doctorogre1777]

Just got the audiobook. Can't wait to listen to it at work. Man, I can't remember the last time I was introduced to an IP via a book FIRST, then in other media. Gonna be fun to see how close my mental image of all the setting imagery, alien visuals, and general costume motifs will turn out to be to the official visual cannon in the game.

[@spellandshield]

Indeed Lord Ogre; it is a truly novel experience to enter a game via a book!

[@thedude4840]

Listened to the audio book version (highly recommended) I’m really excited to see the game. I am however still reserving my hype. Anytime I see “made by the devs behind” I immediately think of outer worlds and stormgate. Just because 3 dudes from QA worked on StarCraft doesn’t mean you made StarCraft.

[@patriot639]

All well said brother! However, just want to say KCD II looks like it will be incredible. KCD II and Exodus are the only games I have excitement for, and I have no worries about KCD II, with minimal worries about Exodus.

[@Severian1]

Fantastic book. I still think about it after finishing it in September and get even more excited for the game.

[@ragnardan84]

You’ve sold me on this definitely going to check it out. The Fall of Reach came out before Halo:CE by the way. I didnt read it until after the fact but it is a great book.

[@deathbycognitivedissonance5036]

I definitely need to check this out before the game releases!

[@spellandshield]

I hope you do!

[@King_Cosmic]

I just purchased this book. Looking forward to diving in.

[@t-rexreximus359]

I am currently reading ‘Children of Time’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky which has a similar theme of evolution of Earths species on new planets. It’s also a space / sci fi book & the author of the Exodus book (Peter F Hamilton) described it as “the smartest evolutionary world building you’ll ever read.” If you liked the Exodus book, or space sci fi novels, then I would definitely recommend Children of Time! It’s also on Audible.

[@toquio3]

It's amazing that he wrote this. Pandora's Star is one of my favourite science fiction books. Just ordered the hard cover of this. I'm super excited to start reading this one.

[@spellandshield]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@hughcurran6817]

Cool, because the recommendations come from this channel, I will look out for it. Mainly after veilguard people like this channel who had the same problems I did are now the people I am taking my Sci fi and fantasy recommendations from. Also, this video got me excited for exodus and a well written rpg.

[@RebeccaRuth-d2t]

In the process of reading it now. Cannot wait to see how they bring it all to life visually in game. Themes are very grown up as well. Looking forward to a mature gaming experience.

[@DeagleLas]

I purchased it but I hadn't had the time to start reading it! I'll do as soon as I have the time!

[@crazyelf1]

Regarding your fantasy versus sci-fi, if the story is good enough, that overwhelms any genre preferences. You're into good story writing above all else.

[@chillax319]

Indeed. I'm a more of a fantasy guy but Mass Effect video games are some of my favourite games despite being sci-fi.

[@JayRNaylor]

I'm about a third of the way through it, and I concur.

[@johnyoungerman1857]

Thanks for your video as always. Will be grabbing the Book around Christmas time(Since my wife keeps asking "So what do you want for X-mas") Heard good and also a few negative things about it. Quick note to everyone, this is not a stand alone book but the first of at least 2 or perhaps a series. Yes, I did some looking into this:)) Peace

[@spellandshield]

It is a duology, yes.

[@anthony_hw]

OK OK, you sold it to me, old man; I'm buying it now.

[@Rhunzzz]

I’ve read the book. I think it gives vital context and backstory for factions, cultures, and characters who probably won’t be covered in much depth in the actual game itself. For example, the story videos and other releases to date paint the Celestials as the main villains, but the novel gives a much more nuanced and complicated picture of their culture and politics.

[@Phrosnite]

I do prefer fantasy as well but sci-fi is pretty interesting too, especially when it has "magic" like Mass Effect and 40k. I do hope this game will truly be the spiritual successor of Mass Effect and delivers an epic adventure that doesn't have the "modern bs" we've seen in recent years.

[@ns7495]

Eh, 40k aint sci fi tho, as genre is defined as having scientific understanding and development as central to the setting and while its set in 40th/41st millenia, science is mystified to a point of dogma and development is exeption not the rule. Its fantasy in a space opera setting.

[@RickAucoin]

Woot. Peter F Hamilton wrote some of the best sci-fi I've read over the last 20 years. Really, Hamilton is NOT your typical low-rent writing you see in most IP novels (Star Wars books, etc). His space opera novels are great.

[@SPOOKYTIMEZ2077]

I’m really excited to see how different the game is from the book. It seems like the game will take a more militaristic approach because crown celestials will deal with are most likely the crown knights and they seem like warmongers, the daemons sound more vicious than the silicates in the book, and it looks like Livestone can be used as a weapon.

[@elamshin6607]

Night's Dawn trilogy is excellent as well.

[@crtxdistortion657]

As well? It's what got me hooked on Hamilton's work. I have read almost everything he has written. Had a hiatus from reading novels for a decade and just found "Salvation" as I was buying "The Archimedes engine".

[@anzolomyer4584]

Thank you very much for the heads up 😎😎. This would have never, ever been on my radar otherwise. BOOKS??? LOL. Since when?! It's on Audible, so I'll pick it up.

[@ImpGoose]

People said we should pay attention to this game especially after everything that's happened with ME and DA universes.

[@arobotarmy9878]

Off topic, but with fantasy being your preference - have you been following Once Lost Games’ Wayward Realms? Former Daggerfall developer working on a fantasy “Grand RPG”.

[@spellandshield]

Yeah, I need to catch up to it.

[@funionsflagons7844]

i must be turning into a crown celestial, i have been hiding a marsupial pouch all this time.

[@KOTSOSMC2002]

Question, how does it compare to the Mass Effect books if you've read them? I rarely engage with books prior to the game/show/film (only done it for BioShock in fact), I usually wait to see if I get engaged with the franchise, so this is quite the choice to make. My favorite ME books were Revelation, Ascension and Nexus Uprising if that helps the comparison. Fun fact, the first Mass Effect book actually released before the game and I'm sure it's happened again with other IPs, so it's not a first hehe.

[@splintert4231]

I feel that as an experienced writer of high tech SF space opera first, Hamilton's writing adds a lot of amazing detail in the world building. I enjoyed the ME books (and read all of them), but do feel the writing is a little more bare bones. Those I read more just for the story events, and less so for the quality of the writing. Hamilton adds so much rich detail, that a SF geek like me finds it almost intoxicating. The way he will fill in little things like the local architecture, natural geography, or the functioning of the local economy of a small colony or planet, really paints a strong mental image in the reader. Same goes for the wild technology he comes up with.

[@noctoi]

Ugh 10th December. Only a few weeks now and I can read it. I'm so, SO miffed that it's delayed this long for Australia.

[@spellandshield]

I still find that odd; the Marspuial Lords have all kinds of strange issues from overpriced games to this...not sure why.

[@noctoi]

@@spellandshield We're getting the cartoon short a week or two after everyone else as well. It's really frustrating and random. Some games and books we get a day or two BEFORE the rest of the world because we're one of the first countries to cross dates. Other things we're way, WAY behind lol. We're not going to talk about all the horrible creepy crawlies and aggressive small fuzzy animals down here either. We're just odd 🤦🤦🤣🤣

[@etiennegoujon5868]

I would love to read it, but no traduction have been release yet. For those who already read it, does the vocabulary complex? Is it to technical to read it if English in'st your natural language? Thank you in advance. E.G.G, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

[@johnadamsgaming]

I admit, the evil side of my hopes they re-title this game "THE" Exodus before release, just for you S&S 😁

[@dregnoff9361]

U you think we'll get to create a character in Exodus or have a more fix character Either is fine tbh, I do love to make characters tho

[@echoesofmalachor3700]

I think I’m getting my timelines mixed up in all the info available. Spoilers ahead: The game’s protagonist is the heir of the Aslan Dynasty formed by Orion Aslan. While the beginning of that dynasty are dated around 41500 AD the book’s timeline establishes the Dynasty as not becoming the dominant human controlled world until 75 years before the book protagonist (Fin) is born. Aslan not showing up for two hundred years after the initial settlement and then going on multiple Exodus missions leaves a big question in how much time dilation occurred in between. As far as I can tell the time between the book and the game could be several centuries or only a handful of decades apart. Any thoughts? Source timelines- the book and exodus game wiki

[@spellandshield]

The book and game are temporally apart; from my understanding is that the book takes 100 years after the game.

[@wolfmirebacta8710]

Bro I can’t. Remember Back 4 Blood, Evolve, Callisto Protocol and probably many others I’m missing. I just see this being like the rest and ending in a burning wreck of lost hopes and dreams. I know this is about the book but until I see gameplay and story, I won’t have any hope for Exodus

[@spellandshield]

I get that and it is possible it could be terrible but the weight of the evidence is on the side of it being good. Still possible that it is not though.

[@wolfmirebacta8710]

@@spellandshield here's hoping. But with all the failures I don't want to get disappointed again

[@chillax319]

Healthy approach. Do not get hyped, just wait and see.

[@PaulXPZ]

My only concern is how much of an involvement and influence Wizards of the Coast will be on this one. My hope is minimal, but you never know. What's paramount is that we DON'T fall for the hype. I'll read the book, but ultimately I'll still wait for actual user reviews before picking the game itself up.

[@spellandshield]

I have stated this several times; WOTC has promised Archetype to not intervene.

[@JackSmog]

I so desperately want this game to be good. The only thing tempering my enthusiasm is Hasbro/WotC. I know Baldur's Gate 3 turned out alright but Larian was the actual publisher of BG3. Moreover, the relationship between Larian and WotC seems to have soured at the end. My hope is that WotC has yet to develop the sophisticated machinery of a AAA games publisher necessary in order to truly meddle with the process. All that to say I would get the book but I feel like I need to control my enthusiasm for this IP for now.

[@crtxdistortion657]

You are not alone. But the way I see it is that Olin and Carpyshyn, Hamilton and what/how he writes and McConaughey with his personal beliefs (as well as the shift in the general political landscape) might prove to be what is needed...

[@spellandshield]

I have stated it several times but James Ohlen got a promise from WOTC of non-interference...officially so there you go.

[@JackSmog]

@@spellandshield I'm kind of new to your channel and so I missed that. But that is fantastic news. Thank you for stating that again.

[@DarthDainese]

If we're not getting the game within the next 6 months then I'm in no hurry to see game play, take Rockstar, first trailer was almost 12 months ago and I've practically forgotten that game

[@-Monad-]

Hmmm... methinks this guy is a Nihei fan with the amount of cyborg bears 😂

[@zinematicgaming]

Interesting. You said the game was a prequel right?

[@spellandshield]

Sort of as in it takes place in a different sector of the cluster and takes place before...would not call it a proper sequel.

[@zinematicgaming]

Hmm , need to give the book a read ​@@spellandshield

[@splintert4231]

I think Hamilton said it takes place about 150 years after the game, but since the game will be dealing with time dilation and many years will be passing, I have a feeling it will catch up and maybe even move past the timeline of the novel.

[@Kreon91]

Hamilton's characters from the 90s had a certain B-movie vibe and the pacing was mid. But he usually nailed the worldbuilding.

[@Lunautau101]

I finally finished it I think a week ago now and I absolutely loved it. I have no faith in BioWare to do ME5 justice. I like both Dragon Age and Mass Effect but Mass Effect is the absolute top for me and I’m scared that BioWare will just refuse to learn from Veilguard and it has even less bite than freakin Andromeda. Save me, Archetype, save me. 😩 I need a space opera to get lost in again.

[@spellandshield]

I think it is best to give up on ME as an IP. I twould be a miracle if they pulled off something good.

[@chillax319]

Andromeda is a literary masterpiece when compared to Veilguard.

[@AGaiman]

So does Hamilton contribute to the world building for this the way that GRRM did for Elden Ring?

[@splintert4231]

My understanding is that they gave him a general idea of what they wanted, and then let him go crazy with the world building. I'm not familiar with GRRM and his involvement with that game, though.

[@Jrockk999]

I'm very hesitant to ever buy external media for a title or franchise. Due to two things. 1: All details should be in the main product and relying on external media is often lazy and a cash grab. 2: If I have to view external media in order to understand the main product more then the studio/team/creator has done a shitty job of the main product. However there are some exceptions such as using external media to tell a story that isn't connected to the main product's story. To enhance the lore and world building.

[@spellandshield]

The book is separate from the game. You can read it and learn about the setting but the game will be enough.

[@Jrockk999]

@spellandshield Alright, I will admit it sounds very interesting.

[@crtxdistortion657]

Agree. But that is not the case in this case. Exodus and the Archimedes engine share the same "universe", not the same solar system.

[@fredjohnson7480]

I'm working my way through this book both reading and audible. I have to say while the concepts and technology are very interesting, the dialog is atrocious. Many of the characters I found to be unremarkable. The audible book is read in a very tedious and overly dramatic fashion, and he seems unable to keep track of his voice for which character is which. They all end up melding together. Its no Orson Scott Card, Herbert or James S. A. Corey audio book. Most of the dialog reads and sounds like people from 2014, rather than being 40K+ years into the future. The number of "dude", "man", and low brow f'bombs make them sound like a Dominion of coffeehouse stoners; humans, uranics and Celestial's alike. I want to like this book so much, but its hard.

[@roiking2740]

I wish they didn't just make Jasia into a demonic version of Donald Trump. Would have been better if he were just a end justifies the means kinda guy instead of just selfish.

[@Fdzzaigl]

If you're talking about Josias, I think he's more of an Elon Musk than Donald Trump. He's done a lot of good but has an overinflated ego that makes him go down the deep end.

[@roiking2740]

@@Fdzzaigl But they treat him as if he is a selfish A-hole while people like Josias don't tend to be selfish. They tend to be the extreme opposite. To understand human nature you have to have a-lot of empathy and business men specially successful ones are over loaded with empathy, they just have alot of control over there emotions. I don't like the fact they made him irredeemable. I don't like the fact he does not get upsets when the two terrorist whom pretty much ruined his movement come and have the audacity to ask for his help. I don't like the fact he does not care about his children, people like him tend to care too much about there own. I don't like the fact they made the villian who destroyed his own marriage. Marriages issues are very rarely only one sided. I get the feeling Josias character is not balance enough to be a character to me he seems are a cartoonist characteristic of Donald Trump made for a modern audience. The sad thing is that Josias is 100% right in anything he said and its never acknowledge by any positive character. Sure Finn at first find his ideas good but that is pertrayed as him being neive. Josias is always been made to be a corrupt politician grabbing for power which upsets me. Corrupted politician don't tend to advicate for more free market. nor democracy, nor independence. Something feels off about him as if an editor said you can't have a character that is too similar to Donald Trump be positive. There are other things in the book that were off to me, but those are mostly nitpicks they are annoying but it seems to me whoever edit this book was super woke and tried to insert agenda into the story.

[@Fdzzaigl]

@roiking2740 with all due respect. You make a lot of assumptions both in terms of empathy and policies. It seems to me that you have trouble that the book does not align with your personal political beliefs. Hamilton is not known to be left-leaning and the story of the character is not finished given that the book will have a probable sequel. The character of Josias is balanced, he managed to construct a successful venture spanning centuries and his settlement was successful in the short term. But his ego and disregard for the rules of the society he found himself in lead to failure for most others in the long term. I don't want a political discussion here, but unchecked libertarianism and the effects of such can be observed in various eras: the great depression, the 2008 crash and various other crises. It's not exactly a far fetched idea.

[@roiking2740]

@@Fdzzaigl @ than you have to explain to me why was he not upset when confronted with the terrorist whom pretty much ruined his long term plans? I can think of no reason why he should not yell at them and scorn them for their stupidity. That was either a scene change by an editor or a the writer was to scared making Josasia look too good. As for well balanced he isn’t, there is a point in the story which is right after Josias stopped being apart of it that ally that was done with the character is demonization. You tell me non of the character who see him value him as a human being? No one loves him? No one agrees with him? No one even sees his point of view? He keeps making him look like a villain in the story but he is right 100% of the time and no one actually acknowledged that. He is even right 100% in his speech which is stated full of half lies. I haven’t seen him lies there. You need to understand all of this could be avoided if they change once scene ONE ! When the terrorist come to recruit him you simple have him be furies with them instead of apathetic. Have him tell Liliana that he would have had an independent state in a decade without shooting a bullet if they hadn’t interfered but he would help them because if they screw it up they won’t get another chance in centuries. That’s all you need to do give me a backbone so he does not look like a selfish A with two ss.

[@roiking2740]

@@Fdzzaigl @ than you have to explain to me why was he not upset when confronted with the T-est whom pretty much ruined his long term plans? I can think of no reason why he should not yell at them and scorn them for their stupidity. That was either a scene change by an editor or a the writer was to scared making Josasia look too good. As for well balanced he isn’t, there is a point in the story which is right after Josias stopped being apart of it. that all that was done with the character is demonization. You tell me non of the character who see him value him as a human being? No one loves him? No one agrees with him? No one even sees his point of view? He keeps making him look like a villain in the story but he is right 100% of the time and no one actually acknowledged that. He is even right 100% in his speech which is stated to be full of half lies. I haven’t seen him lies there. You need to understand all of this could be avoided if they change once scene ONE ! When Liliana come to recruit him you simple have him be furies with them instead of apathetic. Have him tell Liliana that he would have had an independent state in a decade without shooting a bullet if they hadn’t interfered. but he would help them because if they ruin it they won’t get another chance in centuries. That’s all you need to do give him a backbone so he does not look like a selfish A-hole.

[@lovestospuge666]

To be honest after the ending of mass effect 3 I don't trust anyone that worked on the trilogy Or anyone that works at Wizards of the Coast but that's a separate issue

[@ploed]

Too bad it is a Wizard of the Coast IP

[@spellandshield]

The director has received a promise from WOTC to not interfere.

[@ploed]

@spellandshield Let's hope so. I also got a copy of the Hardcover Version. But first I'm gonna finish "Shadow of the Endless".

[@MeltonCrest]

I don't trust anyone who ever worked at Biofail at any point in time.

[@MyNindo2000]

That's your lost then

[@Grogeous_Maximus]

Of course you wouldn't, Todd Howard. You can't fool me!

[@Richforce1]

I don't trust it yet, not because of Bioware but because of the folks at Archetype but because Archetype is owned by Wizards of the Coast who trashed Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons and am VERY skeptical of them. Archetype might want to do something like old Mass Effect but both WotC and their owners at Hasbro are pretty much like most of the other woke companies and will probably put their thumbs on the scales.

[@MeltonCrest]

@@MyNindo2000 Get rid of your drug addiction maybe then i'll take you serious.

[@SPOOKYTIMEZ2077]

These are BioWare veterans who are working on this not the new ones. Also James Ohlen is the lead for Archetype Entertainment. He left BioWare because he felt like it was becoming too corporate and retired, but when WOTC told him that he would be able to have complete control of his next IP and would be able to assemble his own team he created Archetype Entertainment so he and his team could make exodus. I personally don’t think there’s much to be worried about.

[@Richforce1]

I want to hope, I want to think Exodus will be good, but Archetype is owned by Wizards of the Coast who trashed Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons and I am VERY skeptical of them. Archetype might want to do something like old Mass Effect but both WotC and their owners at Hasbro are pretty much like most of the other woke companies and I have problems giving them money. At the very least this won't be a day one purchase, very likely not a purchase at all because I don't want to give money to people who hate me and they seem to hate Western Civilization.

[@ginacirelli1581]

They also seem to hate traditional religious folk like myself.

[@MyNindo2000]

Then why say anything at all. You've already made your decision based on the reasons you gave yourself. You're just being a killjoy at this point.

[@Richforce1]

@@MyNindo2000 Giving a warning, people might expect a return to form but not get it.

[@spellandshield]

James Ohlen claims that he got an official promise from WOTC to not interfere with the game. That is something.

[@crtxdistortion657]

@@ginacirelli1581 Mathew Macconaughey is the voice of Orlov (the character reading the trailers). Might find some solace in that? @MyNindo2000 Many of us are hesitant to expect much from games (RPGs) these days.

[@Becks670]

Great news, i just hope they don't inject modern politics in it. That would destroy all immersion for most people.

[@bhutehole]

Could you please list your favorite books 1 day?

[@katalinkoszegine4268]

Teaming up with this request, I'm also curious!