Published by Titan Books
Review by Richard Williams
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I opened my new Abstergo employee handbook and was thus very pleasantly surprised. There's plenty of really nice artwork throughout the book taken from all of the games (although largely from Black Flag and Unity) and the accompanying text is both well written and informative. Characters from the games are cast in a new light, the assassins now bloodthirsty anarchists while the Templars are glowing models of decency, and we can see the ideas that have been kicked about the Abstergo office for other time periods to explore. The only down side of this is that it might make you wish they had been made.
Occasionally there are little pull-out goodies (letters, pictures, etc) which are well made and add an extra dimension to the book and the way the book is laid out, divided by sections as in a real company handbook, is fitting and a nice attention to detail.
One of the things I like most about this book is the subtle undercurrent of the Templar's true intentions. While the book talks in glowing terms and with an eye towards the glorious future that technology will bring there are little clues to Abstergo's real motivations written between the lines. Health monitors that record your every heartbeat and bead of sweat and Abstergo's plans for Fluoride+ (Google 'fluoride' and 'conspiracy' and you'll see why this is funny) are just some examples and I appreciate the extreme subtly used by the author with many of the other 'beneficial technological developments'.
This is not a big book but is is colourful, fun and well thought out and fans of Assassin's Creed will get a kick out of it. Ideal present material, in my opinion.
- Richard Williams
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