Diablo Book of Cain review

The Book of Cain is an official Blizzard licensed product – indeed its contents were produced by a number of the core individuals who have been working on the Diablo series since its inception. The book provides fans with deeper insight into the Diablo game universe.

The Book of Cain is stylised as a tome of writings collected over the ages by Deckard “Stay a while and listen” Cain, a character whom Diablo series fans will know as their ever-present guide and mentor. Cain is the last survivour of the order of Horadrim, a collective of mages who trapped the three Prime Evils and guarded their Soulstone prisons.

So, he probably knows what he’s talking about.

The book is presented as Cain’s gift to his niece, Leah. To explain who Leah is, we need a quick recap on Diablo lore.

Book of Cain

In Diablo, the playable warrior was Prince Aidan, son of King Leoric (The Skeleton King). He returned to Tristram in search of his younger brother Albrecht, and descending into the catacombs he was driven onward by the love for his brother and hope of rescue. Aidan’s quest soon had him facing off against a Prime Evil – Diablo, Lord of Terror.

Defeated by Aidan and his allies, Diablo reveals that he had in fact been in possession of Albrecht’s body – Aidan had just killed his brother.

A tormented shell of his former honourable self, Diablo manipulates Prince Aidan into impaling his own forehead with the Soulstone – the ancient prison of the Lord of Terror.

In the following weeks that Aidan remained in Tristram, battling to contain the evil, he spent many a night behind closed doors with the witch Adria. Soon enough, he was fully under the thrall of Diablo, and transformed into the Dark Wanderer, sets off east to free the other two Prime Evils, the brothers of Diablo – Baal, Lord of Destruction, and Mephisto, Lord of Hatred. This puts in motion the events of Diablo II as experienced by players.

Diablo III is set roughly 20 years after these events, and during that time Adria gives birth to Leah, daughter of Aidan. As brother-in-law to Aidan, Deckard Cain takes responsibility for the child and raises her. Leah’s role in Diablo III is yet to be revealed.

Book of Cain

The Book of Cain

The Book of Cain is essentially an information primer on the Diablo game universe. It is an A4 hardcover, with a slight relief pressed into the coloured outer cover art, which is styled as a leather and metal bound tome – just the kind of thing you’d expect to find in the Diablo game universe.

Around the outside of the book is a paper band bearing the Diablo III logo. The band is securely tucked into the rear cover of the book, and the front end is loose, presumably so one can use it as a bookmark.

The pages are filled with lore, starting with the formation of the universe and the forces of good and evil, and moving through the tales of the birth of Heaven and Hell, the Eternal Conflict between Angels and Demons, and the creation of the mortal realm of Sanctuary.

Book of Cain

A fairly standard typeface is used, and while some purists might argue that this doesn’t reflect the supposed hand-written nature of the book, it does make for comfortable reading. The pages and margins are also sprinkled with a typeface that represents Cain’s hand-written notes, and certain core names and places have been circled by the scribe.

Key role players are detailed along with artwork stylised to appear as though hand-sketch by Cain himself. Ancient weapons and items are also discussed and pictured.

After the ancient history, the book covers the most recent events from Diablo and Diablo II, and provides a bit of back-story for the various realms of Sanctuary, and the cultures and locations players have and will encounter during their adventures.

The book is made up of roughly 150 pages, which themselves are produced to appear as though part of an ancient tome. Insofar as a mass-produced product can be made to look like a unique collection of hand-crafted pages, the effect is pulled off nicely.

Book of Cain

The paper used is of a matt texture, and each page is seemingly “stained” with the various affects of age, with sketches even appearing to have rubbed off on their opposite page – nice attention to detail.

The edge of the pages have a rough and “tattered” effect, as befitting an ancient tome – I can only imagine Michael Morhaime himself spent many long nights cutting out the edges with his Blizzard-branded blunt-nose scissors; it would explain why Diablo III is taking so long to be released…

Finally, tucked into a faux wax-sealed envelope in the rear of the book is a folded map of Santuary – the mortal realm – which unfolds to an A3 size. It bears the same tattered edge and aged effects.

Book of Cain

Conclusion

I would assess the production quality of the book as good, considering the current retail pricing of around R320. It feels sturdy to hold, and will likely last through the aeons. The paper used is of a thick grade and does not feel as if it will easily tear should a page be turned with careless vigour.

The artwork contained is captivating to pore over, and the stories are captivating, descriptive and enlightening.

The only complaint I have is that the book feels as though it could have packed in a bit more information, with certain sections on the history and locations of Sanctuary feeling slightly rushed. Presumably Blizzard is saving some information for Diablo III.

Overall, the content in the Book of Cain is a great read for fans and newcomers alike. As a long-time Diablo series fan myself, I found I was learning a whole lot about the game world that I previously did not know. This is a “must-have” for fans of the series, and a good stop-gap of Diablo content while we wait for the eventual release of Diablo III.