SAS operator turned author Andy McNab is helping DICE add authenticity to the Battlefield 3 campaign, and he has also written a novel that will tell the back story of one of the main characters in the game.

Most famous for his 1993 book Bravo Two Zero, an account of the patrol he commanded in the first Gulf War, McNab has written a number of best-sellers and helped Hollywood add realism to its films, most notably in Michael Mann's 1995 heist flick, Heat. Now he's lending his skills to DICE for Battlefield 3.

McNab (a pseudonym) directing motion capture actors for Battlefield 3.

"It is impossible for any single medium to fully capture the emotion and intensity of war," McNab said in a statement. "The Battlefield 3: The Russian novel is one window into the experience, and the game is another. They complement each other perfectly."

"Working with DICE has been a fantastic ride. Battlefield 3 is going to surprise people this autumn. The story, the characters, the world and the intense action come together to create a resonant, memorable experience."

Battlefield 3: The Russian tells the story of RU Special Forces operator Dima, one of the soldiers featured in the upcoming FPS. The book is set to ship alongside the video game on October 25.

In detailing the plot of the book, DICE also provided the first details of the Battlefield 3 campaign with this synopsis:
In the game, the single-player storyline is revealed through a series of flashbacks as Marine Staff Sergeant Henry Blackburn races to prevent an attack on New York City by a deadly force known as the PLR. As Blackburn recalls key events leading up to the attack, players take control of several characters in heart-pounding missions across land, sea and air. One of these characters is Dmitri "Dima" Mayakovsky, a legendary and pragmatic GRU operator in the twilight of his Special Forces career. Known as a "cleaner," Dima is the sort of person that does whatever it takes to get the job done. The book picks up where the game leaves off, allowing McNab and Grimsdale to give a thrilling new perspective into Dima's own personal quest as well as the events of Battlefield 3.
Battlefield 3 is in development for Windows PCs, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The game is set for launch on October 25.


Spy Guy says: Fun fact: the BBC made a film of Bravo Two Zero with McNab portrayed by actor Sean Bean -- most recently Ned Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones. Playing McNab is one of the few roles Bean has had where he wasn't killed. As for The Russian, I've never read a book based on a video game, but I might start with this one. Will you be reading McNab's latest?