Chris 485 Posted February 4, 2013 I know plenty of you have been awaiting the release of Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger for a while - it's finally here. This is the story of the Iceland Incident, humanity's first contact with extraterrestrial life and the events that led directly to the formation of the Xenonauts. The novella is written by Lee Stephen, who is the writer of the Epic Universe series of novels. Lee is a huge fan of X-Com and wrote Crimson Dagger free of charge as an extra to go in our Kickstarter. Thanks, Lee! This novella will be available free on this sub-forum for the forseeable future, and will also be bundled with every copy of the game on release. You should also be able to find it free on Lee's site, and on Amazon (where I think it costs $0.99 as free release may not be possible). For now, though, it is a Premium Pre-Orderer exclusive, so enjoy it! Naturally, if you enjoy it, then it would be worth checking out Lee's other work! PDF: http://www.xenonauts.com/devfiles/Xenonauts_Crimson_Dagger.pdf EPUB: http://www.xenonauts.com/devfiles/Xenonauts_Crimson_Dagger.epub MOBI: http://www.xenonauts.com/devfiles/Xenonauts_Crimson_Dagger.mobi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dix 10 Posted February 4, 2013 Yes! Thank-you, and thanks to Lee Stephen - I've been awaiting this with marked anticipation Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giovanni 11 Posted February 4, 2013 Glad you included developers in this magic subforum Was a lot eager to read it! Thanks Lee and Chris! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jean-Luc 16 Posted February 4, 2013 (edited) So there is a super secret forum after all, I wonder what the rules of it are. Thanks again for doing this Mr. Lee. Glad you included developers in this magic subforum Sir, I must ask you to show your premium badge before I let you in. Sir? Sir! Get out of the car please sir...get out of the car! Edited February 4, 2013 by Jean-Luc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raziel1981 13 Posted February 4, 2013 this is great news, now i'll have something to read on my flight back home on Thursday ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee Stephen 10 Posted February 4, 2013 A lot of work went into making this both entertaining and faithful to the Xenonauts experience. Chris, Jean-Luc, and thothkins played huge roles in providing feedback and serving as would-be editors. I hope the final result is something everyone enjoys! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alcari 10 Posted February 4, 2013 Wooo, perfect timing. I'm just about to finish my last book. This is going on my kindle as I type Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giovanni 11 Posted February 4, 2013 Just finished reading it. Superb, I ate it in the train trip back home! It really lets you fell the tension, first on the two sides of the cold war, then on the fight inside the ship.. I was stuck at reading! And the ending, that was a touching part, full stop. Great work, Lee! (Sorry for the betrayal, but I have the urge to play Halo right now! You know, killing some aliens on a FPS!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thothkins 10 Posted February 4, 2013 (edited) Yay! Thanks Lee. Great to see the final design. Soldier #221 will definitely have a place in my starting line up. It's lovely to have a new forum to spread out in and do what we li..>SLAP< Gah! I must Respect His Authoritah! Edited February 4, 2013 by thothkins Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dohon 10 Posted February 4, 2013 I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Absolutely loved it! Did I say I loved it? LOVED IT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Giovanni 11 Posted February 4, 2013 Double post? Btw, is soldier #221! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaosu 10 Posted February 4, 2013 Amazing work, couldn't stop reading and now I'm really motivated to kick some alien's ass. It was beyond my expectations, I'll look at my soldiers with a different view from now on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thothkins 10 Posted February 4, 2013 Double post? Btw, is soldier #221! But otherwise OK, then? I noticed the typo and came back to adjust it before anyone saw. So, that went well... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stx 10 Posted February 4, 2013 Thanks for the novel, Lee. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GizmoGomez 10 Posted February 5, 2013 Just read it. To put it lightly, fraking awesome. It really helps create a bond between you and the game, a bond that didn't really exist as much in the original. It's more personal, you understand some of the crazy that the guys on the ground might be feeling. Dunno if that makes sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commissar Pancakes 11 Posted February 5, 2013 Yeeeeeeessssssssssssssss... *scuttles off to a dark corner of his room* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee Stephen 10 Posted February 6, 2013 I'm so glad you guys have enjoyed XCD. One of my biggest priorities was not approaching this from a, "make it like the game" perspective. Canon and accuracy are important, but a game is a game, and a story is a story. The draw for each is entirely different. It was important that this supplemented Xenonauts, not attempted to mimic its gameplay. I'm particularly pumped about folks unlocking Kseniya during their playthroughs! Hopefully there becomes an attachment to her as a character. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commissar Pancakes 11 Posted February 6, 2013 Knowing us X-COM fanatics, that's pretty much a given. And now I'm wanting a sequel already... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GizmoGomez 10 Posted February 6, 2013 (edited) Of course there'll be an attachment! She's fighting to *SPOILER (Chris)*. BTW, Mikhail's a boss. Just saying. EDIT: Oops, sorry, forgot about spoilers. Drat. Thanks for catching that. Edited February 9, 2013 by GizmoGomez Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceVamp 10 Posted February 7, 2013 Pretty damn good. Your wordsmithing is quite formidable Lee, I'm sure my pulse was getting steadily higher towards the climax there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
erutan 13 Posted February 7, 2013 I might have to make 221 a sniper or something, if she gets vaporized storming the first UFO I'll be sad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GizmoGomez 10 Posted February 7, 2013 If that happened I'd seriously consider reloading from whatever my last save was. No joke, that'd suck. Sniper's a good idea, considering she'd probably be trained by Miss Sniper herself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakSpek 10 Posted February 8, 2013 I want more... 80 pages is not enough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dix 10 Posted February 8, 2013 "She's fighting to *SPOILER (Chris)*." - is that even legal over here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
