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Aspho Fields (Gears of War #1)

by Karen Traviss

4.00 · rating details · 504 ratings · 83 reviews

For the first time, fans of the blockbuster Gears of War video games get an in-depth look at Delta Squad’s toughest fighters–soldier’s soldier Marcus Fenix and rock-solid Dominic Santiago–as well as a detailed account of the pivotal battle of the Pendulum Wars.

As kids, the three of them were inseparable; as soldiers, they were torn apart. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago ...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published October 28th 2008 by Del Rey

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Nov 12, 2008

Ruby rated it

Recommends it for: Gamers/Sci Fi readers

Marcus Fenix...Dominc Santiago....if these names are unfamiliar to you, then you probably have not played Gears of War on the Xbox 360. If that be the case, this book will introduce you to some memorable characters as well as a world plagued by war against humans as well as the creatures they call the Horde.
I was introduced to this game from Epic by my gamer hubby and have fell in love with the characters as well as the story. Liken alot to Halo, Gears brings out a story line that is rich...more

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Jan 20, 2011

Jon Cole rated it

· review of another edition

While Karen Traviss was certainly a known quantity when diving into this book, I had little to draw from as far as the Gears universe is concerned. The story in the games never blew me away by any means, but this novel managed to fill in the gaps beyond my initial expectations.

The book offers two major plotlines in a parallel fashion - the story of Aspho Fields and the aftermath of the Lightmass Bomb at the end of Gears of War 1. Aspho Fields was a black ops push to obtain key technolo...moreWhile Karen Traviss was certainly a known quantity when diving into this book, I had little to draw from as far as the Gears universe is concerned. The story in the games never blew me away by any means, but this novel managed to fill in the gaps beyond my initial expectations.

The book offers two major plotlines in a parallel fashion - the story of Aspho Fields and the aftermath of the Lightmass Bomb at the end of Gears of War 1. Aspho Fields was a black ops push to obtain key technology during the Pendulum Wars, the years long conflict between the COG (Coalition of Ordered Governments) and the UIR (Union of Independent Republics). With Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago of the GoW games along with Carlos Santiago (Dom's brother) at the battle, there's certainly a story to tell.

The book does a lot to both fill in the blanks between Gears of War 1 and 2 as well as better flesh out the characters who we've only truly gotten a taste out of in the games. I can honestly say that Gears of War: Aspho Fields has injected far greater stakes into some of the more mundane moments of gameplay, giving Dom more of a reason to care about Maria or Hoffman the depth of character he needs for me to care about him.

The only thing that really knocked down my rating from five to four stars is the parallel nature of the two plots. Since many of the same characters are in both stories and each chapter only indicates the setting initially with a bolded date and location, it's sometimes slightly confusing to follow. Despite that, I'm not sure how it could have been avoided, given the immense amount of ground that Karen Traviss sought to cover.

Ultimately, I had a great time with Aspho Fields. It's reinvigorated my excitement for the franchise to such a degree that I think I'll continue reading the remaining two in the near future. In a bit of icing on the cake, I can't help but feel that reading these books will give me a little more insight into the direction of the game franchise, given the fact that Traviss will be writing the story arc for Gears of War 3.(less)

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Feb 06, 2012

Margaret Mcgaffey rated it

You might have noticed that I have reviewed a number of books by Karen Traviss. I am forever grateful for the publisher early reader program that introduced me to her second book. She has led me on a merry chase, taking me far from the sociological science fiction that drew me in the first place, but never so far as this book, which I believe is the first video game book I have ever read.

I have not played Gears of War, and really have no intention of doing so. However, my younger so...moreYou might have noticed that I have reviewed a number of books by Karen Traviss. I am forever grateful for the publisher early reader program that introduced me to her second book. She has led me on a merry chase, taking me far from the sociological science fiction that drew me in the first place, but never so far as this book, which I believe is the first video game book I have ever read.

I have not played Gears of War, and really have no intention of doing so. However, my younger son brought this book to me with not just the statement that the book itself, and those that follow, is worth reading, but that he could see her impact on the game itself. She is a master storyteller whether taking on her own worlds and the complex cultures she built within them, or working within another universe not of her making.

Aspho Fields drops us onto a colony in the midst of outright failure. What had been successful and thriving was first torn apart by a war of human making, and then devastated by monsters from below. I’m guessing that’s the basis of the game, but in the book, Traviss makes it much less simple.

If you’re only interested in a straightforward narrative, you might find this book a little difficult. No character comes to the page with a blank slate, no good character at least, but Aspho Fields take this challenge on with an interlaced narrative that shows both who these characters have become, and why. While flashbacks can be annoying to say the least, this is more a multiple time-stream novel than one using flashbacks. You learn only so much as you need to know to continue forward, and if anything, the tension in the present grows as the past reveals itself.

One of the aspects I found fascinating was not even the story of the main characters, Dom and Marcus. It’s Hoffman who offers the most complex look at the war itself. He’s a career soldier, a man more comfortable on the field than behind a desk giving orders. Where you’d expect him to have a simple “us against them” outlook, instead he finds himself questioning the concept of enemy.

That is only a glimpse of this book. I hesitate to say more because with the interwoven narrative it can be hard to piece out what’s a spoiler and what is not. What I will say is this: don’t let the video game promotion on the front cover keep you from trying this book. And according to my son, if you’ve played the game, don’t expect the book to be as straightforward as the game. Traviss is a talented author, and she shows that talent in whatever venues she pursues. This novel is no different, and despite my overloaded bookshelves, I plan to read the rest of the series.
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Jan 23, 2012

Isabella Caballero rated it

· review of another edition

I discovered Aspho Fields, by Karen Traviss, through a friend. Already liking the video game that the book is based on, Gears of War, I decided to read this book. Aspho Fields is about Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago and Carlos Santiago, best friends and family, growing up together and joining the COG after high school. Marcus's father is a very important scientist and wants his son to be a successful man as well, not a soldier in the the military. Despite his fathers preferences, Marcus followed his...more

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Dec 30, 2011

Greenwood1 rated it

To begin I will say that I am a big fan of gears of war, but for that review I will just base on the book and not taking my fan thought be in the way....

This book is really enjoyable to read for different reason.. first Karen Travis really seem do research and talk to EPIC (creator of gears of war world) when you read this novel you really have the feel that you watch a part of the world in the game.

second.. The exchange between Character are very well done either some are fu...more

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Oct 01, 2011

Scott Vout rated it

Shelves: books-of-2011

Another video game book (it's a kick i am on right now - go figure)

But surprisingly this booked just rocked for me.

I have not played the game, in fact i know nothing about the game.

A world of humans (not earth) invaded by bugs and the fight for survival.

Several very captivating characters, my favourites are Marcus and Matika.

Traviss grabs you early and doesnt let go. She runs through two story lines, now and 16 years ago.
This is t...more

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Sep 07, 2011

Phillip Dimarzo added it

At first I thought the Gears of War series would not transfer well into literature. The game was very vivid and the action/violence was what either hooked you or left you disinterested. I, however, was wrong.

While the book lacks the constant threat and worry of the game, it does a marvelous job portraying the characters. Making your heart beat when their's does and breathing relief when a situation is escaped with few to no casualties. In the game, I was Marcus Fenix. From the book,...more

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Dec 08, 2010

Warren rated it

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May 25, 2010

Rob rated it

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Feb 05, 2010

Jeff Long rated it

The start of a great series based around the Gears of War games for X-Box 360. This book takes place before the emergence of the Locust hoards from the game, as well as also partly between the 1st game and 2nd game. It bounces back and forth between each time period gracefully, interjecting dialogue from the current time period related to events that happened in the past, before emergence day. (For those of you who are familiar with the games, you would be familiar with the Locust and what em...more

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Feb 07, 2012

Phillip Nguyen rated it

Karen Traviss is one of my favorite authors. She excels in writing militaristic novels and after reading her work in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, I've really begun to love her books. Aspho Fields adds a good chapter to the Gears of War story. It takes place right after Gears of War and it really adds on and embellishes the characters from the game. In particular, Colonel Hoffman, Marcus Fenix, and Dom Santiago. What I liked most about this book was the flashbacks in which you meet a young Ma...more

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Sep 08, 2011

Cherie rated it

My ratings system is as follows. One star is GOOD. The book is entertaining, easy to read and you don't want to stop reading because something about the book is compelling you not to. Two stars is GREAT! This time the story is not only entertaining, but highly creative, unique, easy to read and hard to put down. Three stars is EXCELLENT. Here the book has all aspects of one and two stars, but now the book is thought and emotionally provoking. Four is AWESOME. This is the read that is not onl...more

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Nov 29, 2011

Vincent Calle rated it

Brothers in Arms
”And even then they would never be the same again”. Have you ever felt the pain of losing a close friend or family member? Well I’m pretty sure some people have and those that haven’t are lucky. It is a pretty painful experience. Karen Traviss gets this experience so well in her novel “Gears of War: Aspho Fields”. Although it’s a novel based on a mature rated video game, it still creatively tells a story of a young man in the military that loses his best friend, his brother...more

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Sep 08, 2010

Christopher Ortiz rated it

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Feb 28, 2009

Michele rated it

The book is more of a prequel to the GoW games chronicling events leading up to E Day. The book is actually told in the past and the present, following Delta Squad on a mission to evacuate a food processing plant and chronicling how Marcus Fenix first met Dom Santiago and Fenix's decision to join the COG and become a Gear. Marcus's deep friendship with Dom's older brother Carlos is a big part of the story, and most definitely gives insight into why Marcus always seems so unemotional and aloof....more

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Oct 14, 2011

Jonah rated it

Fried Green Grubs

While this books is presented as something of a hard-boiled military fiction novel (based on the popular game, which I haven't personally played), I found that not be the case.

In my opinion, this book is really about the horrors of war and its traumatising effect on the main characters. Each one of them is a walking casualty with loads of baggage they are unable to deal with. The reader is allowed to steep in this trauma throughout the entire book until t...more

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Jun 12, 2011

John-Philip rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: paper-books-i-own, science-fiction

As a regular read this would get a 3-star as it's nothing out of the ordinary. Being a game-based book that's entertaining and gives more depth and background to the characters from the Gears of War games in a good way it gets an extra star. I would love to see the character Bernie (or "Boomer Lady" as Cole calls her) in the games. The book started by confusing me profoundly. It states clearly "prequal" on the cover page, yet the first chapters are about what happens between ...more

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Oct 05, 2009

Tyler is currently reading it

Shelves: fall-of-2009

Karen Traviss' Gears of War Aspho Fields overtook me with the amount of action and back story.
Theme of this book fits into "A Pioneer never quits" because even when things are starting to look really bad people seem to pull through and continue on. I like the style of this book because it has a mix of humor, drama, and has some serious notes to it.
The characters in this book are awsome, partly because they have a very unique personalities to them. Carlos, Marcus, and Dom re...more

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May 27, 2011

Joeh rated it

The reason why I chose this book is because I was looking through the book store and I saw the book and I said, "why not". The genre of this book is science fiction. The setting takes place in a broken down society on the verge of extinction.

The main character for this book is not described in the book. Former knowledge of the game helps here because the character is based on the game. From the game I know that the main character is Marcus Fenix. On the front cover of...more

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Sep 22, 2011

Michael rated it

Shelves: 2011, science-fiction

Review from Badelynge
Karen Traviss does a great job of bringing some Gears of War goodness to those of us who like to relax our trigger fingers once in a while. Traviss admits herself that she's worked on a lot of stuff in her day, tie-ins and the like and that not all of the varied franchises and projects have been particularly worthy. But Gears is different. She thinks it's special. I'm inclined to agree. Working on something you really love rather than it just being the latest meal tick...moreReview from Badelynge
Karen Traviss does a great job of bringing some Gears of War goodness to those of us who like to relax our trigger fingers once in a while. Traviss admits herself that she's worked on a lot of stuff in her day, tie-ins and the like and that not all of the varied franchises and projects have been particularly worthy. But Gears is different. She thinks it's special. I'm inclined to agree. Working on something you really love rather than it just being the latest meal ticket has really brought out the best in the writer, both in these books and her hands on work with the latest Gears game.
This one tells the untold Story of the battle for Aspho Fields. A battle we've heard about in the game that takes place several years before Emergence Day when the humans of Sera are still locked in a world war over Imulsion that has lasted the best part of a century. At this time they are unaware that another race called the Locust are biding their time beneath their feet, waiting for a good time to pop out and call 'Time' on human Seran history. The Cogs have discovered that the other power block are developing a weapon of mass destruction called The Hammer of Dawn at a research base at Aspho Point. Now at this stage Gears fans will most likely be grumbling that a Gears book without Locust is not something they signed up for. Traviss cleverly frames the pre-Emergence Day sequences with a story set between games 1 and 2, just after the deployment of the Light Mass Bomb. The Cogs are consolidating as best they can and are cautiously hopeful that the worst of the Locust threat has been dealt with. A face from the past in the form of a veteran female Gear called Bernie brings the past back to the surface. Dom Santiago wants to know the full story of the death of his brother Carlos at Aspho Fields. Marcus and Bernie were the only witnesses and neither are keen to talk about it. During an escort mission all the main characters get a chance to reflect and more of the story of the friendship of the brothers and Marcus gets revealed along with a lot of other stuff involving the feud between Hoffman and Fenix. These books can't tell the big story - that is for the games to tell, instead they tell the other stories that the games don't have time or the opportunity to tell. It's very well written with a great feel for the characters. All the dialogue just feels right, so much so that you can't help hearing the voice acted tones from the game; Fenix's tortured gravel, Cole's booming bonhomie, Baird's verbal sniping, Dom's quiet dignity, Hoffman's caricatured parade ground bark. And Traviss's new female characters fit in fine. The military attitudes are very believable. It's infantry soldiering with thoughtful introspection in a world that has become so desperate that the values of humanity are having to be sacrificed. Sure it still knows it's an actioner filled with chunky guys, chunky guns and chunky aliens... getting chunked, but it doesn't mean it has to be empty between the ears.
Even though fans of the game will get the most from this book I'm convinced that folks who enjoy gritty military sci-fi will still enjoy themselves. That was violent, reckless... and necessary! Well done. (less)

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Oct 30, 2011

Jonathan Lituma added it

this book takes place in a world called sierra, this planet has been destroyed by war the locust a army of beast have come from underground tunnels with one goal to destroy the human race the day they started there attack is called E-day. Delta squad consists of Marcus Fenix the leader who only a few days ago was serving 40 years for leaving his post to try to help his father, Dominic Santiago "Dom" his brother at arms and at heart both of them grew up together and became close friends...more

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Feb 19, 2010

Mike rated it

The constant switching back and forth between time periods made this book tough to follow at times and significantly slowed the pace. I enjoyed associating with and learning the history behind the characters in the "Sera" universe, but there's nothing here you wouldn't have already guessed if you've played the games. Predictability is ultimately this book's downfall. The ending is (literally) written in the first chapter. Structure issues aside, it's good enough to finish, and if you a...more

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Mar 05, 2009

Mitchell Mcconnell rated it

Shelves: vido-games

This book is amazing. In order to understand it you need to play the 1st game in the series. What this book talks about is the story between the 2 games and before the 1st game. the book talks about the 2 main characters in the game there names are Marcus and Dom. the book starts out with the queen of the locus giving us a little bit of there history. my favorite part of the book is when Baird charges all these grubs and kill the all by chain sawing them with his lancer. Thats all I have to ta...more

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Feb 04, 2012

Chani rated it

I loved the video game and when I saw there was a book series based off it, I had to read it! Unfortunately, I found this story jumped around too much. Present, past, long past, near past, almost present etc I had to reorient myself so often that it really slowed down my reading pace. I have to admit I picked up this book to get the back story on the grubs, but all I found was emotional turmoil from the main characters, which I already knew from the video game. Perhaps, I was expecting a new det...more

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Oct 20, 2011

Obritz Brandon rated it

I thought this book was a amazing and emotional ride.From start to finish you connect with the characters and seem to relate to them.While reading this book i was in shock and awe as i couldn't wait to see what happened next.This book is meant for die hard fans of gears of war but it's also good for new readers because it explains the beggining so that even new readers will get into it without playing the games.I recommend this book to anyone because even if your not a fan you will be when you f...more

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Sep 01, 2011

Wes Devauld rated it

Recommends it for: Fantasy war fiction fans

Shelves: fiction, games-and-movies

A good work of fiction that parallels two battles separated by 14 years. This book fills in a lot of back story for those who have played the video game franchise and wondered about some of the references made during the campaign.

The author paints battle very well, and appears to have some familiarity with soldiers dealing with their own demons. The two parallel battles in the book involve mostly the same characters, and the weave of the two stories is well plotted. I would recommen...more

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Jan 13, 2009

TK rated it

Shelves: video-games

I've been a big fan of the game and wanted to know more about the story line and a deeper understanding of the vivid characters of Delta squad.

If you are a fan of the game, this book is a must read. Soon, there will be a movie and lets hope and pray they do a good job. Combine a book, movie and a series of games based on this world and I personally can't get enough.

The author did a spectacular job adding so much more to the history and understanding of the Gears of War ...more

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Oct 02, 2011

MMOGC rated it

Shelves: video-games, sci-fi, war

Surprisingly good. First time I've ever read anything by Karen Traviss, but I've heard of her because of her Star Wars Republic Commando novels. She does a very good job writing scenes of battle and war, as well as the camaraderie between solders. I also very much liked the dialogue between the characters in this book, and she has really filled them out by what they say and how they act. In fact, I liked the "character building" parts of this novel much more than I liked the action.

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Jun 26, 2009

TD-0013 rated it

While I'm not a "Gears-head", I did nonethless enjoy this book a great deal. Like most works based on a licensed property, this one really filled in all the character blanks of the characters of the ubbr popular Gears of War videogame on the XBox 360 console. Grant it, most of the fans of this game probably couldn't give a toss about character development, and see such things as nothing more then a lose string of excuses to beat the crap out of aliens. That being said, it does mean ...more

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Nov 28, 2008

Charlene rated it

This book offers a rich look at the world only hinted at in the Gears of War games. I found out about this book completely by accident and fell in love with it. THe only thing that I can say that comes close to being a criticism, is that the bouncing back and forth in time (indicated by headings at the beginning of relevant sections) was really confusing, right at first. But that didn't detract from a truly amazing work.

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About Karen Traviss

Karen Traviss is a science fiction author and full-time novelist from Wiltshire, England. Originally from the Portsmouth area, Traviss worked as both a journalist and defence correspondent before turning her attention to writing fiction. She also served in both the Territorial Army and the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service. Traviss is a graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy workshop.

More about Karen Traviss...

Books by Karen Traviss

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, #5)

Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, #2)

Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando, #1)

Revelation (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, #8)

Triple Zero (Star Wars: Republic Commando, #2)

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Quotes from Aspho Fields

“I shall remain vigilant and unyielding in my pursuit of the enemies of the Coalition.
I will defend and maintain the Order of Life as it was proclaim by the Allfathers of the Coalition in the Octus Canon.
I will forsake the life I had before so I may perform my duty as long as I am needed.
Steadfast, I shall hold my place in the machine and acknowledge my place in the Coalition.
I am a Gear. ” — 6 people liked it

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Aspho Fields (Gears of War #1)

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