Dead Space: Catalyst

Brian Evenson

Oct 2012 · Macmillan

About this ebook

Catalyst is the second novel in the multi-million dollar video game franchise Dead Space, from award-winning author B.K. Evenson

Two hundred and fifty years in the future, extinction threatens mankind. Tampering with dangerous technology from the Black Marker—an ancient alien artifact discovered on Earth eighty years earlier— Earthgov hopes to save humanity. But the Marker's influence reanimates corpses into grotesque rampaging nightmares. Steeped in desperation, deceit, and hubris, the history of the Markers reveals our ominous future....

Brothers Istvan and Jensi grew up under the poorest dome on Vinduaga. Jensi has always looked after Istvan, who sometimes lashes out in sudden episodes of violent paranoia. When Istvan is sent offworld to a high-security prison, Jensi is determined to follow and find a way to keep his brother safe. But the prison guards a horrible secret, one that will push both brothers to the cusp of something much greater and darker than they ever imagined.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed reading Martyr and had high hopes for this new novel, but ended up severely disappointed. It almost seems as though this book was written by a different author. The book adds very little to the Dead Space universe and the ending is just awful. The character development is severely lacking which makes the first half of the book almost irrelevant. In addition to being rather short, the book leaves many of the most interesting questions unanswered. This comes from a huge Dead Space fan.

I read this book to learn a bit more about the Dead Space universe and I was not disappointed. Reading about how one of the Red Marker experiments progressed and eventually evolved into an outbreak was very engaging. My only gripe is Evenson's writing style; it doesn't flow terribly well.

It lacked the imagery and depth the first one did, and there were even spelling and grammatical errors. You're better off reading the first book only, it is much better and this book would just kill any "hype" attained from the first book.

About the author

BRIAN EVENSON is the author of Last Days (formerly titled Brotherhood of Mutilation) and The Open Curtain (Coffee House), which was a finalist for an Edgar Award and an IHG Award and was among Time Out New York's top books of 2006. He lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island, where he directs Brown University's Literary Arts Program. Other books include The Wavering Knife (which won the IHG Award for best story collection) and The Brotherhood of Mutilation. He has translated work by Chrstian Gailly, Jean Frèmon and Jacques Jouet. He has received an O. Henry Prize as well as an NEA fellowship.