THE SLAB - THE OFFICIAL DISCUSSION THREAD (shouting and dancing with joy permitted)

[TIWIH777]

Alright all you drones and COGS and indies and lambents and Prescotts, I've just finished this book and I have to say: my mind was blown.

Seriously. I mean the ending alone and the transition into Gears of War 1 were just fantastic! Granted, some of the dialog in the Gears 1 part was added in (I think; correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I played Gears 1; obviously the comments about a tall, skinny black guy (Reeve) were added), but it was very smoothly done. I especially love how at the end 37 prisoners are rescued--obviously 2 of the missing are Reeve and Marcus, and I believe (unless I forgot somebody) that the 3rd was the Indie guy since he would never let the COG rescue his butt.

Of course, the biggest part of this thing was just getting to see Marcus up close and under his tough exterior. My goodness, to see him change from "just forget me" to (basically) "I love you Anya" was awesomeness. Granted, if you've read the other novels, he doesn't exactly get all warm and mushy, probably because the officer/grunt thing and the stress of the war (letting something bottled up like love out during a war isn't Marcus's style I suppose), but STILL. It was also outright said that they had slept together before, something I didn't think had happened even though the comment was made in at least one other novel that Marcus never stayed the whole night.

So yeah basically the whole thing was amazing.

What did everybody else think?

[Crazy Llama]

I liked it quite a lot. Finally finding out about Marcus' damn scar was a relief, I KNEW it had to have something to do with dogs after his encounters with Mac. I really loved the little note he wrote to Anya, just in case. I hated Campbell so much, his basis for despising Marcus was so weak and too akin to a High School grudge. I want to know what happened to Reeve though :/. I thought the transition was done well too. Overall it was a good book and I was a little dissappointed when I finished it, of course I just need to play Gears 1 now.

[TIWIH777]

DUDE! Crazy Llama, do you think that the encrypted message at the very end is part of what was on the disc that Adam gave Baird at the end of Gears 3?

[Mysterion Rises]

I loved that it mentioned Adams intel about the locust tunnels was being retrieved from east barricade by a team (alpha squad) thought that was brilliant and if u remember in gears one alpha squad was broken up and u found corpses lying with the geo bot carmine throws underground! Then Baird finds it later in the game obviously knowing how to operate it

Brilliant writing from Karen

[james288gto]

Loved the book. I found out about the scar on my second read of Remnant (well I found an obvious hint about dogs anyway). For me I enjoyed the exploration into Dom's, Hoff's and Anya's character. I don't think we had enough of Anya in the previous books and I loved the bar story where she smacked that guy!

Dom's journey to get Marcus was pure Dom legendaryness. The only other time I was promted to change my character in-game was after reading about Hoff's actions at Aspho. I will stick to Dom for the foreseeable future. Jace was a bit of a silly addition to the story but KT made it fit (unless you are a big comic fan) OK. Rossi got a few big mentions in this book and Pad made a cameo which explained a few things, both characters which have a lot more to add.

As for the Fenix's, I would say I am happy with their stories. A few questions were answered and Elaine's' story was cleared up for good. Adam came off pretty badly as a selfish berk but I forgive him. Prescott actually came off better than normal too which was a nice surprise. As for Myrrah I would have liked more but I am happy with what we got.

One mention of Baird and Cole in the whole book but the book does not suffer from it. Overall I give the book 8/10.

[Mysterion Rises]

Loved how the final chapter of the book went straight into gears 1 fair enough there was a few mistakes with the dialogue but nothing to cry about! I would like to know what happened to Reeve he seemed like a great character and he stuck his neck out a lot for Marcus! I didn't know how Karen would explain why Marcus was left in the slab himself but it was explained well! I honestly didn't want this book to end loved it

[TIWIH777]

Wow. Good point there about getting Adam's intel from east barricade. I didn't remember that thing that Carmine chucked in the whole being of any importance. Dand it's just awesome to see the whole story come full circle finally, a clear and complete picture of pretty much everything, especially after reading the Origin of the Locusts thread started over in the Gears 3 campaign board. Makes the slab even more satisfying.

As far as the fate of Reeve, I don't know if I see him staaying with the Cog. I mean even when Jacinto sank I don't know if he wuold be the kind of guy to go off with the survivors. Maybe he could make it on his own he's got assassin skills so if he could get his hands on a longshot maybe he would do all right lol.

But seriously guys, I'm betting on 2 things here: that the 3rd missing prisoner was the Indie guy and that the encrypted disc at the end was what Adam gave Marcus at the end of Gears 3.

[Mysterion Rises]

Wow. Good point there about getting Adam's intel from east barricade. I didn't remember that thing that Carmine chucked in the whole being of any importance. Dand it's just awesome to see the whole story come full circle finally, a clear and complete picture of pretty much everything, especially after reading the Origin of the Locusts thread started over in the Gears 3 campaign board. Makes the slab even more satisfying.

As far as the fate of Reeve, I don't know if I see him staaying with the Cog. I mean even when Jacinto sank I don't know if he wuold be the kind of guy to go off with the survivors. Maybe he could make it on his own he's got assassin skills so if he could get his hands on a longshot maybe he would do all right lol.

But seriously guys, I'm betting on 2 things here: that the 3rd missing prisoner was the Indie guy and that the encrypted disc at the end was what Adam gave Marcus at the end of Gears 3.

The disc is to do with the locust and the lambent! It's all Adams research about them that's why he gave it to Baird (because he is a "scientific" man) to try and understand what he wanted to do and why! Doubt we will ever find what's really on it but I'm sure it has intel on the locusts and the lambent

Yeah I thought it was great that Karen mentioned the cog was retrieving Adams intel from East Barricade! Loved how she merged the novel with Gears 1 great writing

[kingwingin]

wouldnt the third missing prisner be the body you find hanging while escaping the prison in gears 1?

one part that kills it for me is when marcus mentiions in the book about how will dom explain to kim about findinh him with a kit and a lancer, he never had a lancer. it was a hammerburst. not a huge deal but it bugs me a lot

[Gearslover01]

Wow. Good point there about getting Adam's intel from east barricade. I didn't remember that thing that Carmine chucked in the whole being of any importance. Dand it's just awesome to see the whole story come full circle finally, a clear and complete picture of pretty much everything, especially after reading the Origin of the Locusts thread started over in the Gears 3 campaign board. Makes the slab even more satisfying.

As far as the fate of Reeve, I don't know if I see him staaying with the Cog. I mean even when Jacinto sank I don't know if he wuold be the kind of guy to go off with the survivors. Maybe he could make it on his own he's got assassin skills so if he could get his hands on a longshot maybe he would do all right lol.

But seriously guys, I'm betting on 2 things here: that the 3rd missing prisoner was the Indie guy and that the encrypted disc at the end was what Adam gave Marcus at the end of Gears 3.

I don't think so. The disk contains what he wanted to do and what he had to do to save the Locust and kill the Lambent, the ending seemed like a memoir or diary entry of reflection. I'm positive we will get that answer in the comic coming out next month. I assume since he knew that he would die once he actiavted the machine and he competes it in the next comic, I'm sure he will detail the disk as a 'rite of passage' farewell to the world where he reflects on his ideas.

[Pj swinkdog]

The 3rd prisanor is the guy that killed by the retard what happen too reeve?

[patchworkz7]

The 3rd prisanor is the guy that killed by the retard what happen too reeve?

The fate of Reeve is left open, but if anyone can make it out it's that guy. So many some other writer might pick up his story if there was enough interest.

Look at what happened with Pad; people assumed he was dead, but then when it came to a cool moment to bring him back, he came back into the story. I suppose if there's enough interest in Reeve or someone wants to use him he'll show back up.

[rebelboy]

The fate of Reeve is left open, but if anyone can make it out it's that guy. So many some other writer might pick up his story if there was enough interest.

Look at what happened with Pad; people assumed he was dead, but then when it came to a cool moment to bring him back, he came back into the story. I suppose if there's enough interest in Reeve or someone wants to use him he'll show back up.

I was shocked when Pad appeared in this book anyway, I thought he'd literally just left after the encounter with the Stranded in Jacinto's Remnant during the Hammer of Dawn aftermath.. Him appearing in this kicked ass.

[Coleyman]

The whole situation with Jace bothers me. Battle of Ephyra takes place in 10AE, but RAAM's Shadow takes place approximately one year earlier. We're lead to believe in the DLCa campaign that Jace is only a young teenager, yet in The Slab he is a serving Gear with combat experience and informed opinions about the war.

Besides, Jace and Tai make no reference, ever, to being involved in the attempt to save Adam Fenix's life.

I was shocked when Pad appeared in this book anyway, I thought he'd literally just left after the encounter with the Stranded in Jacinto's Remnant during the Hammer of Dawn aftermath.. Him appearing in this kicked ass.

I particularly liked how Pad became an information broker and informant for the COG, filling in what happened to him in the years after the Hammer Strikes. Spending months on end on his own, tracking Locust and obtaining information from Stranded. Very nice.

[Parasidian]

The whole situation with Jace bothers me. Battle of Ephyra takes place in 10AE, but RAAM's Shadow takes place approximately one year earlier. We're lead to believe in the DLCa campaign that Jace is only a young teenager, yet in The Slab he is a serving Gear with combat experience and informed opinions about the war.

Besides, Jace and Tai make no reference, ever, to being involved in the attempt to save Adam Fenix's life.

I particularly liked how Pad became an information broker and informant for the COG, filling in what happened to him in the years after the Hammer Strikes. Spending months on end on his own, tracking Locust and obtaining information from Stranded. Very nice.

What i find even worse is the contradiction in Hollow issue 1, Jace states its his first time fighting with his hero(Marcus). Poor Jace his character's back story is so messed up. But ya I was expecting Pad to be in The Slab, I'm glad Karen added him in it, also i love the comment he makes about how Baird needs a good kicking. XD

[rebelboy]

The whole situation with Jace bothers me. Battle of Ephyra takes place in 10AE, but RAAM's Shadow takes place approximately one year earlier. We're lead to believe in the DLCa campaign that Jace is only a young teenager, yet in The Slab he is a serving Gear with combat experience and informed opinions about the war.

Besides, Jace and Tai make no reference, ever, to being involved in the attempt to save Adam Fenix's life.



I particularly liked how Pad became an information broker and informant for the COG, filling in what happened to him in the years after the Hammer Strikes. Spending months on end on his own, tracking Locust and obtaining information from Stranded. Very nice.

Yeah, it makes me wonder what kind of terms he was on with the Stranded though. COG armour, works with them in a sense, but technically no longer really COG serving.

[Kandola]

Just finished The Slab this afternoon, and it is a must read for any Gears fan. The ending left me wanting more, so hopefully we can get another book with humans rebuilding humanity.