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Subject: Are the Books Any Good?

I like Call of Duty and Gears of War, AND Halo. Why must everyone else like only one or the other?


Posted by: BobBQ
I read the first three novels and found them solidly mediocre. Fall of Reach and First Strike in particular were both rife with mistakes any competent editor should have picked up on.


Indeed, there are several spelling/grammar errors throughout Nylund's books that should've been fixed before release. That being said, there are all enjoyable reads. (Though I haven't read Cryptum yet, waiting for the paperback version). And despite what many people say, I think The Flood is a decent read too. (And much better written than any of Nylund's books)

  • 05.23.2011 1:25 PM PDT

YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?!?

The best ones are the ones from Eric Nylund.

  • 05.23.2011 1:59 PM PDT

Signatures are for squares.

Every Novel is superb, save for The Flood(Which is only good for the segments following the marines/ODST's) and Cole Protocol which I found to be insanely boring.

  • 05.23.2011 2:05 PM PDT


Posted by: BobBQ
I read the first three novels and found them solidly mediocre. Fall of Reach and First Strike in particular were both rife with mistakes any competent editor should have picked up on.

like Halo Reach...

  • 05.23.2011 2:26 PM PDT


Posted by: grey101

Posted by: slayerofall442
YES! I have every book except for Contact Harvest and The new Forerunner Series book. They are excellent!


It is obvious that people that say cryptum is "bad" aren't deep into halo lore.


Or read the books because of the action...

I think I liked Cryptum the best because the Author was competent enough to create an engaging story without having to resort to an action sequence every other chapter. Not to say Eric Nylund isn't a good writer, but he's a military sci-fi/war author; Greg Bear, Karren Traviss and (apparently) Joe Staten can very effectively work in the character field and make it interesting.

Take Human Weakness for example. It had no action scenes at all, but was easily one of the best. It was intellectually stimulating, similar to Cryptum.

I'm beginning to get the feeling a lot of the people sub conscioussly are hooked to some of the other, more war oriented books because of the descriptive action sequences. Like that's what makes it interesting for them while the additions to Halo lore are secondary. Sure, they say each book was a great addition to the lore, and imply thats why they liked it, but what can you say about a battle scene anyway?

Action scenes in these books are usually like smoking pot; you get an adreniline rush (or high) for the length of the scene, then you forget about them from a plot stand point other then "this happened." Then people get addicted to them and love those books, but loathe the other, less action-y books for their lack of weed (or action). And no matter what they say, that's the reason they come back for more. Really the only action scene that needed to have a whole chapter dedicated to it like a lot of these scenes do, was the Keyes loop, because specifically what Keyes did and how he did it is what bought him a ticket on the PoA.

It actually mattered to the story.

Not to say descriptive battles are bad, but they're overused. TFoR is a great example, and I'm starting to find it to be the worst out of the book series. I could re-read Contact Harvest or Cryptum or First Strike--the more story driven ones--a thousand times, but I can't seem to re-read TFoR more then once or twice.

[Edited on 05.23.2011 2:55 PM PDT]

  • 05.23.2011 2:53 PM PDT

Wake me when the jews are gone.


Posted by: ROBERTO jh

Posted by: grey101

Posted by: slayerofall442
YES! I have every book except for Contact Harvest and The new Forerunner Series book. They are excellent!


It is obvious that people that say cryptum is "bad" aren't deep into halo lore.


Or read the books because of the action...

I think I liked Cryptum the best because the Author was competent enough to create an engaging story without having to resort to an action sequence every other chapter. Not to say Eric Nylund isn't a good writer, but he's a military sci-fi/war author; Greg Bear, Karren Traviss and (apparently) Joe Staten can very effectively work in the character field and make it interesting.

Take Human Weakness for example. It had no action scenes at all, but was easily one of the best. It was intellectually stimulating, similar to Cryptum.

I'm beginning to get the feeling a lot of the people sub conscioussly are hooked to some of the other, more war oriented books because of the descriptive action sequences. Like that's what makes it interesting for them while the additions to Halo lore are secondary. Sure, they say each book was a great addition to the lore, and imply thats why they liked it, but what can you say about a battle scene anyway?

Action scenes in these books are usually like smoking pot; you get an adreniline rush (or high) for the length of the scene, then you forget about them from a plot stand point other then "this happened." Then people get addicted to them and love those books, but loathe the other, less action-y books for their lack of weed (or action). And no matter what they say, that's the reason they come back for more. Really the only action scene that needed to have a whole chapter dedicated to it like a lot of these scenes do, was the Keyes loop, because specifically what Keyes did and how he did it is what bought him a ticket on the PoA.

It actually mattered to the story.

Not to say descriptive battles are bad, but they're overused. TFoR is a great example, and I'm starting to find it to be the worst out of the book series. I could re-read Contact Harvest or Cryptum or First Strike--the more story driven ones--a thousand times, but I can't seem to re-read TFoR more then once or twice.
Ever one of them (comicks included) are extremly good exept for the flood that was a Halo CE rip off with so much actiont that got boring on the 80th page and only the ODST subplot was good

  • 05.23.2011 3:07 PM PDT

Never say you're bored. Never say you're satisfied with the world. Never stop doubting or questioning things. Always wonder. Always think. But always take time to drop your guard, you don't have to be smart all the time.


Posted by: HipiO7
Posted by: wildnuke
Post this in the off topic forum.


You obviously dont know where things go around here.


OP: Yes, all the Halo novels are amazing reads, very entertaining and supplement the universe alot. The Halo universe is alot bigger than you can imagine only being confined to the games.


Wait a minute, it's saying Mass Effect instead of Halo for me.

  • 05.23.2011 3:37 PM PDT

RIP - The Rev: February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009
RIP - Mitch Lucker: October 20, 1984 - November 1, 2012
RIP - Dimebag Darrell: August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004
RIP - Ronny James Dio: July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010

Posted by: RKOSNAKE
Yes, they are totally worth it as they expand the Universe in a great way (reason for the war, backstory for the Spartans and The Covenant, etc).

  • 05.23.2011 3:49 PM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

My personal ranking system.

The Fall of Reach-Mediocre

The Flood-Good

First Strike-Excellent

Ghosts of Onyx-Excellent

Cole Protocol-Mediocre

Contact Harvest-Good

Cryptum-God-tier

Evolutions-Excellent

  • 05.23.2011 4:36 PM PDT


Posted by: wildnuke

Posted by: HipiO7
Posted by: wildnuke
Post this in the off topic forum.


You obviously dont know where things go around here.


OP: Yes, all the Halo novels are amazing reads, very entertaining and supplement the universe alot. The Halo universe is alot bigger than you can imagine only being confined to the games.


Wait a minute, it's saying Mass Effect instead of Halo for me.
Reading comprehension. The OP said he read the Mass Effect books and liked them, so he wants to know if he should read the Halo books as well.

To which I say: YES! Especially the Nylund Trilogy (Fall of Reach, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx), Contact Harvest, Cryptum, and Evolutions. These books in particular add a ton to the story and Universe of the games, and give you a lot of context regarding where the Halo series may be going in the future.

  • 05.23.2011 4:48 PM PDT

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