Could someone elaborate on the "audiobook" extra in the Deluxe version?

The musical soundtrack seems superb as a in-game soundtrack, but I'm not sure I'd listen to it outside of the game, so the soundtrack extras are not a major attraction for me. The audiobook has me intrigued, though.

What is it? Is it worth getting the Deluxe version for?

I'm not far into the book (chapter 5 of 19). So far, I'm very surprised how engaging I find that it's a coherent, suspenseful story about what happens in the game, whereas the game itself only tells about the background through the snippets of lore. Those are really nice to read, but the audio book does a much better job of presenting the consequences of the happenings on the inhabitants of Novo Solo, citizens and soldiers alike.
So far, the story is quite thrilling with a lot of fighting going on by now, but it also included some exposition about the presented characters and went into detail about there feelings and emotions. What there wasn't, though, was much backstory about the game's universe. I guess that really is only told through the in-game lore, unless there still is some later in the book.

Besides that, it is really well read by Ryan Cooper. As a non-native English speaker I had a bit of trouble at first understanding when what was read was a direct quote by a character and when it wasn't, but by now I don't have a problem anymore.

There are also several reviews of the eBook here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01G8UZZSW

Does the Deluxe edition also include the eBook version of the audiobook?

Unless there is a difference to the Steam version, the novel is only included as an audiobook via mp3-files. Apart from that, the Deluxe Edition also includes the official soundtrack as "Brigador - Volume I" and "Volume II", as well as additional tracks in the form of the "Uplink EP" and "Up-Armored EP".

That's excellent news! At chapter 9 now, and I really shouldn't be listening to it right now thanks to my studies, but... no, I gotta, it's great!
It may be I am not very good at thinking out of the box and thus intuitively connecting the lore to what is happening ingame, but the book so far really taught me stuff I just didn't think about before. For example how the Spacers are really opportunistic "aliens" just in on some brutal fun, a bit like a Predator. I'm sure the lore also says that (And the lore is equally great!), but I just didn't make that connection until now. I really love the context it gives to what you're doing in the game.

Brigador fans really shouldn't miss out on that!

Thanks for the replies, folks. I did decide to spring for the Deluxe version in the end, so now the only question is... is it bad to listen to the book without having played the game?

Will I spoil the game story? I suppose whichever one I experienced first would be a spoiler for the other?

The Linux release isn't out yet, so in theory I could start on the audiobook in the meantime, if that was the best order...

While I'm still not quite done with the audiobook, I think it's safe to say that listening to the book is a completely seperate experience from the game. The setting is the same, but from what I know so far, none of the characters from the book appear in the game and the other way around. Also, all that happens in the book is only loosely related to the game in that it takes place in the same context, but isn't directly referenced.
The game itself doesn't actually have a fleshed out plot, anyway. It presents tons of great lore and background, but what is happening in the game isn't tied to much of a plot.

I still think the audiobook is a great way of giving the game a more coherent sense of context that at least I didn't quite get from the ingame lore, despite its being very well written. Possibly due to the fact that I'm not a native English speaker and thus didn't quite get all the witty subtext and finer details.
To sum it up, I guess in my opinion it's actually benificial to start with the audiobook. Either way, no damage will be done!

I think they're mutually complimentary to each other. I'd listen and play a bit and go back and forth, or vice versa. If you've played the game, you can see the what the units, factions, and awesome weapons being described look like in your head, as well as the world in general.
While the book is mostly action, the author is adept at putting in all the little details that describe the world through people's experiences, emotions, recollections etc.. in the breaths between combat. The reader has a fantastic voice too. You get a feel for the humanity in the novel that brings more impact to the terrible destruction you're causing in the game, and the lore you read that's written by game brigadors.

It really is a wonderfully realized universe so far. The concept is so ruthlessly grimdark but not unrealistic at all, especially when you extrapolate from the dubious possibilities of the world we have now.

I can't praise the work that's been put into this title enough. And I can't wait to get more playable vehicles!

Well that sounds pretty much ideal. Thanks (again) for taking the time to answer; it's much appreciated!

Sorry for the necromancy and all that, but I have something to add in case others who have the same pet peeve as me are curious. For the most part I hate audio books and for the most part thats because the narrators are always using really stupid, exaggerated, cartoon character voices for each character. It breaks the immersion for me, and is not necessary. This narrator isn't like that. Any different voices he does are subtle and fit the description of how the character is actually supposed to sound. Its a very good reading.

I also want to add that the book is a really solid military sci-fi novel, that stands on its own. It would be worth a listen even you you had no intention of ever playing the game. Tie in novels are normally the same sort of thing as movie tie in video games. They are entertaining enough if you really like the source material, but they are not good. There are of course exceptions to that rule though, and this is one of them. Assuming of course that your into military sci-fi.

Lastly, I want to point out that if you don't want to listen to it as an audio book you can buy the ebook off Amazon, and read it on your Kindle, or Kindle app. Its 5 USD, and worth that price.

"game #2", eh?
Intriguing.

Well deserved praise on the audiobook, by the way.
Soundtrack's great too, actually got my 2xLP copy of Vol. II the other day.

Take my money!!

Is there maybe anything else we can hear here first? Like is it going to be more of a standalone expansion, or a totally different game. Maybe an old school 3d mech combat simulator. Maybe you'll put zombies in it for no good reason other than they are in pretty much every thing else these day. Wait... no, I got it figured out now. Its going to be a micro-transaction based pay2win multi-player only game. You better cough up the dirt on Brigadore 2, or I'll tell everybody you said its going to be a zombie themed pay2win multiplayer shooter!

Edit:
This was made when I was under the effect of a sleeping pill. It seemed like a funny idea at the time. Now I guess it just seems stupid. Sorry.