Dead Space: Martyr

I read a Dead Space spin off novel this week, Dead Space: Martyr. I am a huge fan of the Dead Space series and have played every game so far (the iOS tablet version excepted) and seen both of the animated movies. So I have been looking forward to checking out the books for a while now.

(Spoilers and Dead Space jargon ahead)

Martyr is about the discovery of the Black Marker on Earth, the resulting first recorded necromorph outbreak, and the origins of the Church of Unitology. Michael Altman, who in the games is worshipped by the Unitologists as a prophet/god, is the geophysicist at first studying the Marker, then finally trying to destroy it. I never realized while playing the games that Altman was actually against Unitology, that EarthGov plotted his death as a way to manipulate the people. It is an interesting origins story; probably only worth the read for die hard fans of the franchise, though. The writing isn't fantastic, merely adequate; about average for a video game spinoff novel. It reminded me of one of the Mass Effect novels I've read. Very interesting for a DS fan, though. Makes me want to play through the games again.