One of the 2009-2009 Black-Eyed Susan Nominees for 6th-9th grades, Epic is the story of the planet New Earth, whose inhabitants' lives are determined by how well they play a role-playing computer game called Epic. The better your character does in the game, the better you do in your daily life. If your character is killed, you lose all of your social standing and must do back-breaking menial labor. New Earth is run by the all-powerful Central Allocations Committee, made up of a group of people who use their successful characters to further enhance their domination over society. This system has endured for generations, until young Erik's father is sent to exile, and he and his friends attempt to right this wrong by slaying a dragon and thus, accumulating power for themselves. The journey the group of friends undertakes has serious ramifications not only for them, but for the entire world.
This would be a great book to recommend for reluctant readers, especially boys, who love video games but aren't so interested in books. It is fast-paced, plot-driven, and full of interesting creatures and battles. Kostick was a designer for the world's first role-playing fantasy game, and his insider knowledge shows. In the flap blurb, Kostick is quoted: "The idea for Epic came about from wondering: What would it be like to live in a world entirely dominated by one game; where everyone had to log in and a person's wealth, political voice, future were shaped by how well he was doing in the game?" It is an interesting question, and one that he addresses ably in this novel.
