Dead Space: Martyr is a 2010 science fiction horror novel written by B. K. Evenson, published by Tor Books. Martyr forms part of the Dead Space survival horror media franchise developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts. A prequel entry in the franchise, the novel is set centuries before the events of the main series and follows geophysicist Michael Altman as he investigates an alien artifact called the Black Marker. The novel concludes with Altman being unwillingly used to found Unitology, a religion that worships the Marker. Martyr was created as part of the wider media expansion leading up to 2011's Dead Space 2. When Evenson was contacted, he accepted the job based on his liking for the series. Although he faced some restrictions imposed by the developer and publisher, Evenson was allowed to flesh out Altman's backstory and question the origins of Unitology within the book. Reception to the novel was generally positive, with journalists noting the new light it brought to the Dead Space universe. Source: Wikipedia (en)