Penned by Drew Karpyshyn, lead writer on the Mass Effect videogame, Revelation introduces readers to Alliance war hero David Anderson. Commander Anderson has been forced to team with a rogue alien agent to investigate the ruins of a secret research facility.
"We're excited to be working on original Mass Effect novels with BioWare whose track record of successful and high-quality video games speaks for itself," said Keith Clayton, an editor at Del Rey. "And between Drew's close involvement with the Mass Effect IP and his ability to tell an engaging story, the novels will draw fans even further into the rich world of Mass Effect."
"We're excited to be working with Del Ray Books on expanding the Mass Effect universe," said Ray Muzyka, CEO of BioWare Corp. "We are thrilled to have Drew writing the book as he has the knowledge and skills to make a great novel."
Books based on videogames are nothing new. Some of Microsoft's biggest properties, including Halo and Perfect Dark, have inspired multiple novels. Rumors had been circulating that Mass Effect was being released in May. Those rumors were later debunked. However, the release of the novel could mean that Mass Effect is on schedule for release this summer to capitalize on publicity from the book.
Microsoft remains mum about an official release date. However, at DICE, Ray Muzyka told IGN that Mass Effect was nearing the "final push."
Mass Effect: Revelation is a 336-page novel retailing for $7.99.