SHORES OF A NEW HORIZON - M. Darusha Wehm

 The work of terraforming Mars has been a long and challenging process but just as the hopes of those living on the red planet reach an excited level as success looks to be within reach. But disaster looms as a contaminated ice asteroid threatens the planet's water supply.

Professor Zambrotta “Zammi” Kaspar is charged with investigating a fatal crash on a remote ice asteroid and is surprised to discover his sister, who had been missing, working there as an indentured miner for one of the big mining corporations.

After rescuing his sister, Zammi and his sibling set out to investigate the contaminated water and discover competing visions, from different corporations, for the future of humanity and the terraforming of Mars.

I typically have not enjoyed books based on games (for instance, while I typically like the sword & sorcery genre, I haven't enjoyed books specifically based on D&D) but as Terraforming Mars is my most-played board game over the last five years (about 100 games, and counting) I thought it would be fun to read a book based on this game.

There are a couple of problems, however, with books based on games, and that's exemplified here.

First: a game is about mechanics. A theme can be a draw or a turn-off, but true enjoyment of a game typically comes from how well it plays, not the theme (I've been playing a new game which I enjoy but in which the theme really makes no sense). So how do you capture the game mechanics in a novel?  You can't - or at least I haven't seen it yet.

Second: an author seems bound to include as much of the game components into a novel, even if it wouldn't necessarily make sense. In Terraforming Mars there are a number of 'corporations' which give the player certain benefits. So of course author M. Darusha Wehm tries to include a number of those corporations into the story and build a sense of intrigue. But it doesn't work.

I support the idea that the game designer and/or manufacturer is looking to capitalize on the success of the game.  But when looking at a book like this I have to ask - if this wasn't based on a game that I enjoy, would it stand up? Would the story be successful? Would the writing be engaging? For me, the answer to both is - no. 

Looking for a good book? Shores of a New Horizon by M. Darusha Wehm, a novel based on the hit board game Terraforming Mars, tries hard to include many of the game components in the story, but the story itself is overwritten and lacks excitement.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

2-1/2 stars

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Shores of a New Horizon

author: M. Darusha Wehm

series: Terraforming Mars series #3

publisher: Aconyte

ISBN: 9781839082757

paperback, 336 pages