Elite: The Lore "The Dark Wheel"

foxpur · Oct 15, 2014

When "Elite" came out there was a Novella that was shipped with the game. I have heard a few references but I thought you might like to see there actually IS a substantial Lore already in place.

http://www.iancgbell.clara.net/elite/dkwheel.htm

Enjoy your reading

Zeeman · Oct 15, 2014

Thanks for that post -it's been literally decades since I read that, over and over, whilst at a family friends place, aching for us to go home so I could finally load the game and actually play...

Z...

foxpur · Oct 15, 2014

I remember hours waiting to get out of jump range of other ships, staying just out of range.. so reading the Novella waiting to get free or arriving.

CMDR Hagglebeard · Apr 14, 2015

I opened that up because i wanted to learn about what the Dark Wheel in ED is, and I read the whole thing in one sitting, when I have little time. I heard a second novella was going to be written and never was. That sucks.

Steph · Apr 14, 2015

The Dark Wheel was an inspiration - there were plenty of people (myself included) who wondered what we would see if the explored the original Elite galaxy. For those looking for the more recent works (including those for Frontier and Frontier: First Encounters) try:

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8411

timbow · Apr 14, 2015

You see members of The Dark Wheel around the Founders World at the Nav Beacon

Ben Ryder · Apr 14, 2015

Literally yes. I see what you do did there. I've still got my copy of the dark wheel and in fact it's th the inspiration behind my commanders persona in the game. I role play elite.

I've created an audio book of the Dark Wheel with a synthetic voice to keep me company while in deep space.

Your chum,

Commander Ben Ryder

Scrat · Apr 14, 2015

Here are some links to the official lore from Elite to FFE:
http://lotf.co.uk/lib.html

Tiamat · Apr 14, 2015

CMDR Hagglebeard said:
I heard a second novella was going to be written and never was. That sucks.

I believe Michael is still working on an official sequel.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16354&p=391828&viewfull=1#post391828

Javert · Apr 14, 2015

I just reread this the other day after not having read it since the original game came out in 1984. I decided to try to read all the Elite books in vaguely historical order.

I must admit I loved the explanation in the original Dark Wheel as to why you cannot see the trade prices at other stations - systems jealously guard their trading information and there are severe penalties in place for faxing (sic) trade data to the adjoining star system. No messing about with big arguments on forums back in those days. It's just not allowed - deal with it.

p.s. - I don't think Michael is working on a specific sequel - I think Elite Legacy is basically the official ED novel, so that is the "sequel" if you want to call it that. I haven't read it yet but I have it in my to do list.

Poseidal · Apr 14, 2015

Scrat said:
Here are some links to the official lore from Elite to FFE:
http://lotf.co.uk/lib.html

I remember those. I think FAUST was the one that stuck in my mind the most - a brief snapshot but an evocative one.

Cosmos · Apr 14, 2015

I've yet to read Elite Legacy but I thoroughly enjoyed the Dark Wheel back in the day. We had plenty of time to read it then, whilst waiting ten minutes for the game to load from cassette tape.

Ben Ryder · Apr 18, 2015

Just found the audio book I made of the Dark Wheel. Something to listen to in the back ground.

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=e576d8c7bd7ae2cc&id=E576D8C7BD7AE2CC!2385

TerrorTrooper · Apr 18, 2015

Cosmos said:
I've yet to read Elite Legacy but I thoroughly enjoyed the Dark Wheel back in the day. We had plenty of time to read it then, whilst waiting ten minutes for the game to load from cassette tape.

I re-read my copy of dark wheel about a week ago! Also, cosmos, Legacy is a good read! If I'm honest, some of the released elite dangerous novels are mediocre at best, a couple of them are quite poor even. But legacy was actually a pleasant surprise!

Jaiotu · Feb 11, 2016

CMDR Hagglebeard said:
I opened that up because i wanted to learn about what the Dark Wheel in ED is, and I read the whole thing in one sitting, when I have little time. I heard a second novella was going to be written and never was. That sucks.

I know I'm late to this thread but there was, in fact, a second Elite novella written. When "Elite Plus" was released for PCs with higher resolution in 1991 it included "Imprint" by Andy Redman.
http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Fiction/Imprint.pdf

dynamicbob · Feb 11, 2016

Good thanks for that much obliged

M. Grey · Feb 12, 2016

Very nice, thanks!

Brimstone · Feb 12, 2016

AAAHHH ZOMBIE!!!

Anyway, I thought Michael Brookes, or one of the other devs, has said that the Dark Wheel novel isn't really considered part of the Elite lore anymore? Atleast not lore as far as Elite Dangerous is concerned..

drew · Feb 12, 2016

Brimstone said:
AAAHHH ZOMBIE!!!

Anyway, I thought Michael Brookes, or one of the other devs, has said that the Dark Wheel novel isn't really considered part of the Elite lore anymore? Atleast not lore as far as Elite Dangerous is concerned..

Yes and no.

Upvote:

Raxxla
The Dark Wheel
FTL Comms (Holofac)

Downvote:

Antigravity
Multiple alien races

Cheers,

Drew.

M. Grey · Feb 12, 2016

As always thanks for spreading the knowlegde!