GiN Lounge

New Game-based Novels

Played any good books lately? Well, actually, we have.

Gamers love plowing through a new adventure, but are often a bit sad when one they enjoyed finally ends. Books based on games can extend that joy a little bit longer, set up sequels or even take familiar characters and game worlds in completely different directions. Some books even come out before a game now, to wet player’s whistles and generate hype and buzz for the big release.

In short, books based on game worlds are a big deal, with publishers training a stable crew of professional novelists to pen those stories, or letting talented developers put more of their mark on a world.

This week we look at some of the recent hits – and a few misses – as we turn the page on books about or set inside game worlds we all know and love.

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John Breeden II

As a journalist John has covered everything from rural town meetings to the U.S. Congress and even done time as a crime reporter and photographer.|His first venture into writing about the game industry came in the form of a computer column called "On the Chip Side," which grew to have over 1 million circulation and was published in newspapers in several states. From there he did several "ask the computer guy" columns in magazines such as Up Front! in New Mexico and Who Cares? in Washington D.C. When the Internet started to become popular, he began writing guided Web tours for the newly launched Washington Post online section as well as reviews for the weekend section of the paper, something he still does from time to time. His experience in trade publications came as a writer and reviewer for Government Computer News. As the editor of GiN, he demands strict editorial standards from all the writers and reviewers. Breeden feels the industry needs a weekly, reliable trade publication covering the games industry and works tirelessly to accomplish that goal.

3 Responses

Marie says:

May 15, 2014 at 9:17 am

As a correction: Journey to Rainbow Island was aimed at middle grade readers, not middle-aged readers. Slip of the tongue. Whoops.
1. John Breeden II says:
  
  May 15, 2014 at 4:28 pm
  
  haha. Middle aged readers of all ages.
Colin Flanigan says:

May 16, 2014 at 12:19 pm

Glad John talked about the Gears of War books. Karen Traviss has done some great work.