Bioshock: Rapture Mass Market Paperback – 26 Jun. 2012

I'm less than 200 pages in, but it's a totally engrossing world that John 'don't call me' Shirley has created. He has created a completely new story within the Bioshock world as a prequel, and is filled with great attention to detail, convincing characters, insight into Raptures history and how it was created, more insight into Frank Fontaine who would go on to be a major player in the original game, and so much more. An involving book, and PROOF that not all videogame books are terribly written. I need to read the whole book for a complete opinion, but honestly this book deserves to be read, even if you haven't played Bioshock before, because the Sci-Fi premise is fascinating.OK so I finished the book recently, and I'll say that it manages to keep the superb atmosphere throughout the whole novel. Towards the end things are probably sped up a bit too much with a lot of story crammed into the last 50 pages, but other than that, I can't fault this book. On the 2nd readthrough you know the characters and can form a better picture of the early chapters in your mind, and that's what I'm doing now.

I am a MASSIVE fan of 'Bioshock', I am that person who spends hours on the wikia, replaying both games, all the DLC's and listening to audio diaries again and again. I went into this novel with an ice-cold eye, just waiting for Shirley to slip up. My eye quickly thawed. It is simply wonderful, there is the perfect balance for both fans and newbies alike. Characters are introduced quickly and effectively, so fans smile at their arrival and those new to the series get a strong-sense of who this person is. No one was introduced in a trite fashion, nothing felt forced or 'tacked-on', all of the famous quotes were seamless and effective. The research was thorough and only occasionally did dialogue get a little weak, Bill saying 'Da' instead of father, a term I've never heard anyone from London's east-end use and Suchong's broken English sometimes becoming a little absurd. There were a couple of errors; one part that made me wince, was claiming 'Arcadia' was 'built' to produce oxygen, when Julie Langford's audio diaries prove otherwise, that it was her enterprising idea to start selling the oxygen they produce and undercut the market from Fontaine (all prompted by Ryan making a walk through Arcadia a luxury.) This is beyond pedantic though and most people wouldn't even notice. In short Bioshock the novel succeeds, it is wonderful, filling in the blanks on Rapture's murky history and keeping me sucked in from one page to the next!

This is the best book I’ve ever read totally recommend!

I’m a big fan of the bio shock games and this suggestion popped up. I thought it would be the usual cash in kind of thing where it’s been written to make a few quid without the usual thought and care that you often get with those things. Wrong! It’s really very good indeed. The author has put a lot of care and attention to detail in crafting a believable back story to the very beginnings of rapture through to its ultimate implosion. I love a good book, but this was far better than I could’ve hoped and as others have said If anything made me more keen to dust off my collection and play it through again.The story in this book focuses on Ryan, his philosophy and how the other characters came to be there. It runs through until the beginning of the first bioshock game and does so brilliantly by fleshing out the characters more than the game can and go on you the feeling when reading of living and breathing the rapture world. If you’re a fan especially buy his book and enjoy it. I loved it 99.9% with the only tiny drawback being the print size is quite small and doesn’t do justice to the excellent work contained in the book.

As a Bioshock fan, I really loved the book, of course, as any book of this kind, it contains slow and not-so-engaging parts, but that it's necessary to create the big picture of Rapture.Very well written, the story is very enganging, going much much deeper than the part told in the Bioshock games.If you are, like me, a Bioshock fan than you'll probably enjoy this book as it will allow you to see Rapture beyond games and learn about the ideas that built and destroyed the Rapture utopia.If you are not a Bioshock fan or you have not played the games (give them a try, they are really good!) I think you'll enjoy too, maybe not so much because of not having the visual/sound references that the Bioshock players have, but the book will provide you one really interesting story anyway.

Great read, smashed it in 3 days. Touched on everything but didn't give too much away!

One of the best books I have ever read!This is an outstanding book. I was absolutely gripped by this. I love Bioshock and this told the story in great detail. The story is compelling, dark and gritty.It tells the Rapture story in great detail and makes you feel as though you are there watching the city under the sea fall apart.They only negative is that the author should write a book about the time in between Bioshock 1 and 2.Great read I would 100% recommend.

I have only read a dozen books in my short lifetime and I must say this one is high in the list of my favourite books. It fills in the blanks to the game (if you've played the first one) and still proves to be a fascinating book for those who haven't played the game as the idea of the story is intriguing. The language is easy to follow and the book is written very well as you can follow the story without haven't to think too hard. You get a good sense of knowledge for the characters and their personalities.Overall, this book is very impressive and I would read it again. Good job Titan! ****

Really if you are a fan of the games, you must try this! Fantastic read, honestly deserving of a comic adaptation!

Realmente uma boa leitura!! Muito confortavél e otimo tamanho!

Una historia que aporta no mucho, sino TODO para enriquecer los juegos (1 & 2) donde vas conociendo y profundizando acerca de los personajes importantes y secundarios dentro de la historia de como se crea rapture. La historia se divide en 3 eras, desde la planeacion de la ciudad, hasta el estado en la que la conocemos en los videojuegos. Rapture (libro) te proporciona de contexto y profundidad de la situacion en cada momento, hace algunas referencias que ver en los juegos y da explicaciones de como es que funciona todo en rapture dentro de los juegos: porque existen las little sisters? Como y que es el Eve y Adam? La 'ciencia' de los plasmidos? En ningun capitulo llega a sentirse lento o irrelevante, al igual que los personajes que circundan la historia aportan mucho a la trama ya que llegas a identificarte y entender sus motivos y objetivos. Si al igual que yo, sientes que te falto un bioshock 3 en rapture este libro facilmente pasa a ser el primero, seguido por los juegos donde incluso gracias a su redaccion, se siente el ambiente sombrío y viceral de la saga.El libro aunque esta escrito en ingles, si te animas a comprarlo no siendo tu lengua nativa no te impide en absoluto para disfrutarlo, uno que otro modismo coloquial, y una que otra busqueda en el diccionario son suficientes.Aspecto fisico del libro: el mio llego en perfecto estado, sin marcas mi maltrato, aunque esto puede variar dependiendo del servicio postal.

Loved the game and loved a lot learning something more about Rapture. The book is a good read, would reccomend.

This book deserves its own movie and game.