Cain's Book Review: "Chronicles of the Time Ages"
*Hey, my good friends, hello everyone! I'm rushing to you with a delicious detailed report, which, it seems, no Russian-speaking devil fan-site has managed to boast about yet. I want to draw your attention to the fact that this is indeed a report, not just a couple of photos with the caption "Cool! Get it!" The letters, as you might have guessed from the title, will tell you about what is so good in the Book of Cain [Book of Cain], why it's useful to have in your arsenal, and how this device will help you in terms of history. In short, the Book, Cain, and everything else in action. Let's go!*
I apologize in advance for the photo quality; the camera cannot fully convey the level of the publication and its coolness.
WONDERS BY MAIL
The Book is readers. Readers are the Book!
To start, let me tell you how the hostess of the occasion was traveling to us from the hinterlands. It's a whole saga. The release of the Book was postponed a couple of times: it was initially supposed to come out in early November, then it was pushed to the 23rd, and finally to December 13th. I was even desperate to receive it before the New Year.
We placed the pre-order for the Book with my husband and Karharot (just on my own, without my husband \_) with a difference of a couple of weeks. Sergey pre-ordered the Book on the British Amazon around October 8, we did so on the U.S. site two weeks later, on October 22. Therefore, when the first batch of Books was snagged, I was terribly upset: we were sure we would be moved to the second round with delivery after the New Year holidays. So it was incredibly nice to learn that this was not the case. As I mentioned, we ordered the Book from the American branch of Amazon, which only has one type of delivery to Russia directly - the most advanced one. This ultimately worked in our favor, but we learned this only after the fact.
So, picture this situation. On December 13 the Book goes on sale, and on December 14, we receive an email about shipping delays. And on December 19 a happy boy from DHL asks us to sign for the box. I personally had a cultural shock, and it turned out later that Amazon had a super-fast shipping promotion, which we just happened to fall into (totally by accident, without any intent!). Nothing had arrived so quickly from abroad before, and I was completely convinced that the Book would only come after the New Year. And here it is! Wonders, in a word. Without hesitation for a second, I dive into the packaging and pull out the Book. It’s gorgeous, guys, exactly what we need!
BIBLE DIABLO
Cover of the Book. View from the front and back.
Before I begin talking about the publication directly, let me say a few words about why Blizzard needed it. The thing is, while developing the game’s story, the developers realized that the plotlines of the first three parts were, to put it mildly, in chaos and required careful refinement and reconciliation to a common denominator. With this goal in mind, they sat down to refine the story and fill in the gaps to logically integrate the events of all three games into the overall chronology. This is how the idea of the Book of Cain was born, later realized in the corresponding publication.
So, the Book. It is an artifact measuring 20 cm by 26 cm, in sturdy embossed binding with a narrow matte dust jacket. In theory, the dust jacket could be removed, but in practice, it's glued at the back to the endpaper, so you won’t be able to get rid of it (unless you tear it off). The binding is styled like an antique, on the cover, as is customary, we have a horned demon with embossing, wicked (and so cute!) eyes, and a crooked grin. The cover feels very pleasant to the touch, but I would certainly remove the dust jacket. Just to be safe, you know. :)
One of the first pages of the Book.
The Book contains 148 pages, also styled like an antique. All the pages are yellowed, with a ragged, "tattered" edge. The Book is, in theory, Cain’s diary, a collection of all his works and studies of the world, demons, and more. Everything he ever learned and found is documented in the Book. Essentially, it is an atmospheric textbook on the history of Sanctuary [Sanctuary]. Therefore, the pages, which appear to be worn by time, greatly contribute to creating the necessary atmosphere while reading. The paper is thick, matte, and the pages are very pleasant to turn. This is one of those editions that you really need to hold in your hands.
The pages are very beautifully designed. Not only historians worked on the Book, but also artists. A good dozen masters (among them - Victor Lee [Victor Lee], Brom [Brom], and Christian Lichtner [Christian Lichtner]) contributed to the illustrations that appear here and there in the Book. Some of them are complete paintings on a page or even a full spread, while others are skulls, engravings, and similar designs. Periodically, you can find handwritten notes on the pages. Something is underlined, and there are notes in the margins. All this combined gives the impression that this is indeed Cain's diary. In some places, he even directly addresses his niece Leah [Leah], urging her to pay attention to this or that detail.
Such illustrations are everywhere in the Book!
According to the creators' intention, this Book is written by Cain specifically for Leah, as he plans to bestow the burden of knowledge and responsibility upon her in the future. He gathers all the information on demons, their plans, and ways to combat them for her. The Book begins and ends with an address to Leah.
Here’s a brief description of what awaits you on the pages of this edition:
• Address to Leah
• Origins [The Dawn] - this chapter describes how the Universe came into being and what underlies the conflict between angels and demons.
• The Burning Hells [The Burning Hells] - here we will learn about the seven main demons, their traits, plans, and thoughts.
• The High Heavens [The High Heavens] - here we will hear about the archangels, their world, the heavens, and the monuments.
• Sanctuary, the Mortal Realm [Sanctuary, the Mortal Realm] - this chapter discusses the emergence of Sanctuary, its history, and the Nephalem.
• Ancient History [Ancient History] - this is one of the most extensive chapters. It tells of the appearance of humans, the history of some clans and religions, the history of The Sin War [The Sin War] and The Dark Exile [The Dark Exile].
• Modern History [Modern History] - this is the history that we know from the games. Here, we will discuss Tristram [Tristram], Leoric [Leoric], The Dark Wanderer [Dark Wanderer], the battles with the Triad, and ultimately, the destruction of the Worldstone [Worldstone].
• Sanctuary: Lands and Cultures [Sanctuary: Lands and Cultures] - here a brief overview of the geographical regions of the world and their inhabitants is provided.
• Final word (also addressed to Leah)
The world map is also included in the package.
Flipping through the Book to the end, we discover another pleasant surprise, namely, an envelope with a seal sticker, in which we find a map of Sanctuary. And not just any map, but on thick paper with a ragged (it looks atmospheric, like antique) edge. The map is folded into quarters, but I think if desired, it can be smoothed out or purchased as a poster: such things are sold; you just have to search a bit. In this particular case, the folded nature of the map only benefits it. Surely, Deckard Cain wouldn’t carry it rolled up in a plastic tube to avoid any dust settling on it. So, that’s just a plus, in my view.
In general, the Book leaves the best impressions, and I’m very glad that I received this pre-New Year gift.
THE END
Everything is so atmospheric.
So, those are the pastries, gentlemen. Right now I am slowly reading this artifact of the book world and preparing for translation and editing. The Book has met my boldest expectations, and I, by the way, am a very demanding customer. So, everything in it is wonderful and of very high quality. The embossed cover, thick paper, antique-style pages, even the map at the end.. everything in the Book is perfect. The quality of the publication and printing, the design, the filling, attention to detail - everything in the Book is done well, thoughtfully, and with love for the world and the game. These are the qualities that distinctively set Blizzard apart from their competitors. Other companies should be advised to choke from envy: the Book lays waste to a plethora of gaming-related publications, and there’s simply no one to compete with it. As Karharot said, this is the true Bible of the world of Diablo, and I cannot disagree with him.
To everyone who also treasures the history of the game, loves Diablo, and cool memorabilia related to it, I highly recommend acquiring it. This book will surely become a worthy exhibit in your collection. Happy reading! ;)