On 28 June 2011, Oliver Bowden decided the time was right to compose the novelization of the first Assassin's Creed game. Synopsis: Niccolò Polo, father of Marco, will finally reveal the story he has kept secret all his life--the story of Altaïr, one of the Brotherhood's most extraordinary assassins. Altaïr embarks on a formidable mission - one that takes him throughout the Holy Land and shows him the true meaning of the Assassin's Creed. To demonstrate his commitment, Altaïr must defeat nine deadly enemies, including the Templar leader, Robert de Sable. Altaïr's life story is told here for the first time: a journey
that changes the course of history; his ongoing battle with the Templar
conspiracy; a family life that is as tragic as it is shocking; and the
ultimate betrayal of an old friend.
The novel opens with Ezio reading Niccolò Polo's tale of the great Mentor of the Levantine Assassins Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad as related to him by Altaïr; Niccolò's relating this tale to his brother Maffeo. The story starts with Masyaf being besieged by Salah Al'din's army. Salah Al'din holds Ahmad Sofian--father of Abbas Sofian--hostage, but Umar Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr's father, surrenders himself and asks Al Mualim to train his son. Years later, Altaïr, Malik Al-Sayf and Kadar Al-Sayf enter Solomon's Temple and find Robert de Sable and his Templar brothers surrounding the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Altaïr challenges Robert, but the Templar easily defeats him.
Altaïr flees back to Masyaf, but Robert and the Templars are right behind him. Altaïr alerts Al Mualim to his failure, but Malik arrives with the Apple of Eden and blames Altaïr for Kadar's death. Altaïr helps drive the Templars back, but Al Mualim strips Altaïr of his rank. Altaïr is sent to Damas (thought why Bowden doesn't just say Damascus, I have no idea) to assassinate Tamir. Altaïr collects enough information and reports to the Rafiq who grants him permission. Altaïr kills Tamir, who reveals his information to Altaïr. Altaïr, back at Masyaf, is sent to Acre to assassinate Garnier de Naplouse, and receives permission from Jabal once he's collected enough information (look, you get the idea, right? It's just the main game's plot being recycled here). Then he heads to Jerusalem, where Malik now serves and is still angry with Altaïr, to assassinate the slaver Talal. It's after this assassination that Altaïr begins to suspect that something binds these men together.
Back in the past, it's revealed that Ahmad, after having fled Masyaf years ago, returned and slit his throat in front of Altaïr, but Al Mualim forbids Altaïr from telling Abbas. Back in the main event of the story, Al Mualin tells Altaïr to set these thoughts aside. Altaïr travels back to Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem to assassinate William de Montferrat, Abu'l Nuqoud, and Majd Addin, each of whom confesses to something about 'the new world'. Altaïr relates this to Al Mualim, who again tells Altaïr to ignore it and reveals what the Templars are after: the Apple. He relates certain historical figures and biblical figures to it and states that it has a great power to force men to do the users bidding. Next, Altaïr is sent to Sibrand and Jubair al Hakim.
Back in the past, Altaïr tells Abbas the truth, but Abbas refuses to believe him and beats Altaïr up, but Al Mualim intervenes. Back in the main story line, Altaïr, in Damascus, assassinates Jubair, then leaves for Acre to kill in insane Sibrand. After learning their reasons for doing what they did, Altaïr comes to the conclusion that the Templars seek the same thing as the Assassin's: peace. But Al Mualim states that their intentions are more harmful than helpful. Back in the past, Altaïr notes that Abbas refuses to do anything with him anymore. Back in the main story line, Altaïr is sent to kill Robert de Sable. He arrives in Jerusalem and reports to Malik. Altaïr apologizes to Malik for his former arrogance, but Malik refuses to accept, stating that Altaïr isn't the same person anymore. At the funeral of Majd, Altaïr is caught unaware as the Templars ambush him. He fights them and defeats the leader, who reveals herself to be Maria Thorpe, de Sable's most trusted assistant.
Altaïr spares her life and reports to Malik and tells him that de Sable plans to have King Richard the Lionheart and Salah Al'din join forces to wipe out the Assassins. Altaïr arrives and begs Richard to listen to reason, but Richard leaves it up to God, stating that who ever wins in a fight is the right one. Altaïr, after a duel with several Crusader Templars, kills de Sable. The truth is revealed that there are ten Templars, the last being Al Mualim, and King Richard decides to talk peace with Salah Al'din while Altaïr races back to Masyaf to confront the Mentor. Al Mualim uses the Apple to bring up ghost images of each of Altaïr's recent kills, but Altaïr easily beats them, then duels and kills Al Mualim.
Here, Niccolò speeds over events, and relates Altaïr's travels to Cyprus to kill the Templar Grand Master Armand Bouchart; Altaïr's accompanies by Maria, even though she attempts to betray him several times, but eventually, after killing many Templars and an Assassin who was converted, Altaïr and Maria succeed in killing Bouchart. During this, Altaïr wrote the Codex that Ezio would later find and read. Altaïr and Maria head to the east to stop the advance of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. After they come back with their eldest son Darim Ibn-La'Ahad, they learn that Sef Ibn-La'Ahad, their youngest son, was killed by Malik. Altaïr breaks Malik out of prison and learns that Abbas had his son killed, then Altaïr and Maria confront Abbas. Abbas still bears hatred for what Altaïr said years ago about his father killing himself, then reveals that he killed Malik. Altaïr, angered, attempts to kill Abbas, but ends up fleeing with Darim when Abbas' corrupt Assassins kill Maria. (Note: this differs heavily from Revelation, but Bowden rewrites it to Revelation's setting in the next book, proving that Bowden makes some of this up as he goes along.)
Years later, and elderly Altaïr returns to Masyaf and gathers the poorly trained Assassin's together to confront Abbas and stop him from his power-hungry quest, but Abbas is surrounded by his loayal Assassins. Altaïr uses his newly fashioned hidden gun to kill Abbas, then Altaïr takes over the Assassins. This is where the events catch up to Niccolò and Maffeo as Altaïr gives them certain disks and the Codex to hide. They flee Masyaf as the Mongols attack and Altaïr rallies his Assassins to defend the city. The Polos lose the Codex, but still held on to the artifacts. They decide to hide them in Constantinople for an Assassin of the future to find. They also spread word of the Creed and set up an Assassins guild there, in Constantinople. At the end, Ezio closes the book and looks over the cityscape of Constantinople as the ship he's on pulls into the harbor.
All in all, a wel-paced novel that captures the spirit of the original game, even with the liberties to cut off the information gathering that the game replies upon. Recommended for every Assassin's Creed fan.
Up next, and last for November, Assassin's Creed: Revelation by Oliver Bowden.
The novel opens with Ezio reading Niccolò Polo's tale of the great Mentor of the Levantine Assassins Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad as related to him by Altaïr; Niccolò's relating this tale to his brother Maffeo. The story starts with Masyaf being besieged by Salah Al'din's army. Salah Al'din holds Ahmad Sofian--father of Abbas Sofian--hostage, but Umar Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr's father, surrenders himself and asks Al Mualim to train his son. Years later, Altaïr, Malik Al-Sayf and Kadar Al-Sayf enter Solomon's Temple and find Robert de Sable and his Templar brothers surrounding the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Altaïr challenges Robert, but the Templar easily defeats him.
Altaïr flees back to Masyaf, but Robert and the Templars are right behind him. Altaïr alerts Al Mualim to his failure, but Malik arrives with the Apple of Eden and blames Altaïr for Kadar's death. Altaïr helps drive the Templars back, but Al Mualim strips Altaïr of his rank. Altaïr is sent to Damas (thought why Bowden doesn't just say Damascus, I have no idea) to assassinate Tamir. Altaïr collects enough information and reports to the Rafiq who grants him permission. Altaïr kills Tamir, who reveals his information to Altaïr. Altaïr, back at Masyaf, is sent to Acre to assassinate Garnier de Naplouse, and receives permission from Jabal once he's collected enough information (look, you get the idea, right? It's just the main game's plot being recycled here). Then he heads to Jerusalem, where Malik now serves and is still angry with Altaïr, to assassinate the slaver Talal. It's after this assassination that Altaïr begins to suspect that something binds these men together.
Back in the past, it's revealed that Ahmad, after having fled Masyaf years ago, returned and slit his throat in front of Altaïr, but Al Mualim forbids Altaïr from telling Abbas. Back in the main event of the story, Al Mualin tells Altaïr to set these thoughts aside. Altaïr travels back to Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem to assassinate William de Montferrat, Abu'l Nuqoud, and Majd Addin, each of whom confesses to something about 'the new world'. Altaïr relates this to Al Mualim, who again tells Altaïr to ignore it and reveals what the Templars are after: the Apple. He relates certain historical figures and biblical figures to it and states that it has a great power to force men to do the users bidding. Next, Altaïr is sent to Sibrand and Jubair al Hakim.
Back in the past, Altaïr tells Abbas the truth, but Abbas refuses to believe him and beats Altaïr up, but Al Mualim intervenes. Back in the main story line, Altaïr, in Damascus, assassinates Jubair, then leaves for Acre to kill in insane Sibrand. After learning their reasons for doing what they did, Altaïr comes to the conclusion that the Templars seek the same thing as the Assassin's: peace. But Al Mualim states that their intentions are more harmful than helpful. Back in the past, Altaïr notes that Abbas refuses to do anything with him anymore. Back in the main story line, Altaïr is sent to kill Robert de Sable. He arrives in Jerusalem and reports to Malik. Altaïr apologizes to Malik for his former arrogance, but Malik refuses to accept, stating that Altaïr isn't the same person anymore. At the funeral of Majd, Altaïr is caught unaware as the Templars ambush him. He fights them and defeats the leader, who reveals herself to be Maria Thorpe, de Sable's most trusted assistant.
Altaïr spares her life and reports to Malik and tells him that de Sable plans to have King Richard the Lionheart and Salah Al'din join forces to wipe out the Assassins. Altaïr arrives and begs Richard to listen to reason, but Richard leaves it up to God, stating that who ever wins in a fight is the right one. Altaïr, after a duel with several Crusader Templars, kills de Sable. The truth is revealed that there are ten Templars, the last being Al Mualim, and King Richard decides to talk peace with Salah Al'din while Altaïr races back to Masyaf to confront the Mentor. Al Mualim uses the Apple to bring up ghost images of each of Altaïr's recent kills, but Altaïr easily beats them, then duels and kills Al Mualim.
Here, Niccolò speeds over events, and relates Altaïr's travels to Cyprus to kill the Templar Grand Master Armand Bouchart; Altaïr's accompanies by Maria, even though she attempts to betray him several times, but eventually, after killing many Templars and an Assassin who was converted, Altaïr and Maria succeed in killing Bouchart. During this, Altaïr wrote the Codex that Ezio would later find and read. Altaïr and Maria head to the east to stop the advance of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. After they come back with their eldest son Darim Ibn-La'Ahad, they learn that Sef Ibn-La'Ahad, their youngest son, was killed by Malik. Altaïr breaks Malik out of prison and learns that Abbas had his son killed, then Altaïr and Maria confront Abbas. Abbas still bears hatred for what Altaïr said years ago about his father killing himself, then reveals that he killed Malik. Altaïr, angered, attempts to kill Abbas, but ends up fleeing with Darim when Abbas' corrupt Assassins kill Maria. (Note: this differs heavily from Revelation, but Bowden rewrites it to Revelation's setting in the next book, proving that Bowden makes some of this up as he goes along.)
Years later, and elderly Altaïr returns to Masyaf and gathers the poorly trained Assassin's together to confront Abbas and stop him from his power-hungry quest, but Abbas is surrounded by his loayal Assassins. Altaïr uses his newly fashioned hidden gun to kill Abbas, then Altaïr takes over the Assassins. This is where the events catch up to Niccolò and Maffeo as Altaïr gives them certain disks and the Codex to hide. They flee Masyaf as the Mongols attack and Altaïr rallies his Assassins to defend the city. The Polos lose the Codex, but still held on to the artifacts. They decide to hide them in Constantinople for an Assassin of the future to find. They also spread word of the Creed and set up an Assassins guild there, in Constantinople. At the end, Ezio closes the book and looks over the cityscape of Constantinople as the ship he's on pulls into the harbor.
All in all, a wel-paced novel that captures the spirit of the original game, even with the liberties to cut off the information gathering that the game replies upon. Recommended for every Assassin's Creed fan.
Up next, and last for November, Assassin's Creed: Revelation by Oliver Bowden.
