[2] The novels were each written by British science-fiction writer David Wingrove with assistance from Myst's creators, Rand and Robyn Miller.

Each novel centers on the family of Atrus, a scientist and explorer who has the ability to write special books which serve as links to other worlds, known as Ages.

This ability, known as the Art, was practiced extensively by an ancient civilization known as the D'ni, who were only mentioned briefly in the original Myst game.

Many reviewers expressed surprise that a novel based on a videogame worked; others found the prose dull and uninteresting, or that the book could not stand on its own without the game.

[3] At least two more novels were planned; a sample of the first, The Book of Marrim, was packaged with an edition of Myst V: End of Ages.

Myst co-creators and brothers Rand and Robyn Miller often created fictional worlds and stories as young children.

Myst is the home of an explorer named Atrus, who lives on the island with his wife Catherine and two sons, Sirrus and Achenar.

Both swear that their parents are dead due to the machinations of the other brother, and instruct the player to repair their books so they can be freed.

"[5] Buoyed by strong sales of the video game, publisher Hyperion signed a three-novel, US$1 million deal with the brothers.

[3] The publicity stemming from the book and game surprised the Millers, who remained unaccustomed to their new-found fame.

Gehn teaches Atrus the Art, a skill the D'ni used to create special books which allow transport between worlds known as Ages.

Atrus is awed by the Art at first, but he is horrified when he witnesses Gehn's manipulation and dismissive attitude to the inhabitants of the Ages.

Sybil Steinberg of Publishers Weekly reviewed The Book of Atrus and stated that Wingrove's achievement of a "rollicking adventure tale" was improbable, given that previous game-to-book attempts had failed horribly.

[12] Albert Kim of Entertainment Weekly also gave the novel a mediocre score, saying the main issue that doomed The Book of Atrus was that it removed the mystery from Myst.

[14] Steinberg later stated that with the books "bereft of the game's dazzling graphics and its hypnotic interactive dimension", the second and third novels plodded along with boring prose.