Dead Space fans should be excited as EA and Tor announced today Dead Space: Martyr as a prequel to the game. The novel will go into the background story of the Church of Unitology, the discovery of the “Black Marker” and mysteries behind an alien artifact which causes visions of the dead, vivid dreams, and violent murders. It was written by author B.K. Evenson, who wrote the novel Last Days, and seems like a good fit considering the story.

“One of the most compelling storytelling aspects of Dead Space has been the Church of Unitology: its origins, power, and role in Dead Space,” says Tor editor, Eric Raab. “Writer B.K. Evenson gets into the terrifying aspects of mob mentality like no other writer today. This isn’t only a great story within the Dead Space universe; it’s a great novel on its own.”

Dead Space: Martyr will be available in July 2010 at booksellers!