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Subject: I'm new to the Halo lore...

I'm your biggest fan!

I'd always wanted to read the Halo novels, but always had the unfairly pre-determined opinion that they'd be pretty mediocre.

So, what I want to ask is, are they actually good books? Compared to... y'know, real novels? Also, if they are, who writes them and which should I pick up?

  • 10.11.2011 10:52 AM PDT

Love your friends, Die laughing.

Real novels?

They're real novels...

Pick up Halo: Cryptum, by Greg Bear.

  • 10.11.2011 10:54 AM PDT

I'm your biggest fan!


Posted by: abelsinh
Real novels?

They're real novels...

Pick up Halo: Cryptum, by Greg Bear.

I know. But they're real novels in the same way that movie-to-game adaptations are real games.

That's not to say that they're bad, I just want to know if I'd be wasting my time.

Thanks for the advice, though.

  • 10.11.2011 10:56 AM PDT

Ad Infinitum

If you're a fan of the Halo universe, it would of course be worth picking one up and reading it.

So far, I've read: The Fall of Reach, The Flood, First Strike, Contact Harvest, and Ghosts of Onyx. I have yet to pick up Cryptum and The Cole Protocol, but I hear Cryptum is rather nice.

  • 10.11.2011 11:01 AM PDT

Well slap my balls and call me Santa, I've got lizard tits!

The Halo universe has some great novels. Evolutions 1+2 (mixture of authors) are the best alongside Cryptum (Greg Bear) in my opinion. I'd recomend either of them to start of. My first was Cole protocol and tbh my expectation of it wasn't great either at first but it's pretty easy to get into. I used to think that video game fiction was bad in contrast to regular novels but my opinions definitely different now! I've only read Halo and Mass effect novels (sci-fi geek and proud!) so I don't know how they compare to other game fiction.

I've also read Ghosts of Onyx and reading Contact Harvest at the moment. Both brilliant. And i'm looking foreword to Primordium and Glasslands in a few months time!

  • 10.11.2011 11:05 AM PDT

I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.
--Ralph Ellison

They're all good novels IMO. The only exception might be The Flood in that it the writing wasn't exactly superb (since it was based on a game and he had to describe the Chief fighting the Flood over and over and over and it got very repetitive) but it still added a lot of good canon to the story of Installation 04. Otherwise, the books are well written and are interesting as long as you like sci-fi.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 11:12 AM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 11:11 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: RECON828
But they're real novels in the same way that movie-to-game adaptations are real games.


This is the worst analogy ever... of all time. And it's completely wrong.

The (majority of the) Halo novels are fantastic, they offer a decent story with lots of development and insight into the thought-processes of characters both new and old. Cryptum, Ghosts of Onyx, Contact Harvest and Evolutions are brilliant, you're missing out.

  • 10.11.2011 11:24 AM PDT

Well slap my balls and call me Santa, I've got lizard tits!

Halo Cryptum:
If you only like gun fights you will be disappointed but this is an incredible book that requires you to use your imagination. Greg Bear is an amazing author and this book gives a sense of adventure you might have felt as a child.

I had to actually warn my freind when I lent it to him to forget the sense of scale normal to humans!

  • 10.11.2011 11:28 AM PDT

They're all alright, I'd say the only great one is Cryptum. Even that's a little too preachy for my liking.

  • 10.11.2011 11:52 AM PDT

The reviews for all of them were quite favorable. They've all been written by veteran sci-fi authors--some of them, like Cryptum being written by an author of legendary status in the sci-fi community.

The only one I wouldn't recommend is The Flood. Not because of poor quality, but its simply easier to play Halo 1.

  • 10.11.2011 12:47 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

I'll keep it simple. If you're into Halo, you'll love most of the books.

Also, they're real novels. If Halo didn't have any video games, they'd still be eloquent novels.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 12:52 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 12:51 PM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

We are all going to get banned aren't we?


Posted by: ROBERTO jh


The only one I wouldn't recommend is The Flood. Not because of poor quality, but its simply easier to play Halo 1.


Ignore his opinion some people don't like it because it reads like the game despite giving more information and explanation for what was going on in the game.

Funny thing is alot of what is said in this book shows up in halo cryptum. Read the book, it is one of my favorites it really makes the flood scary.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 12:52 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 12:52 PM PDT

Don't worry, you're still your mom's favorite Bnet member.

Most of them are pretty good. The best in my opinion are The Fall of Reach and Cryptum.

  • 10.11.2011 1:02 PM PDT


Posted by: grey101

Posted by: ROBERTO jh


The only one I wouldn't recommend is The Flood. Not because of poor quality, but its simply easier to play Halo 1.


Ignore his opinion some people don't like it because it reads like the game despite giving more information and explanation for what was going on in the game.

Funny thing is alot of what is said in this book shows up in halo cryptum. Read the book, it is one of my favorites it really makes the flood scary.


Are you implying my opinion is wrong? Do I need to get you a dictionary?

My only problem with The Flood was the extreme over-abundance of action that made it read like I was playing the game, something the other books didn't have as much. Plus Master Chief was mischaracterized compared to his depiction in other canon. In the Flood he comes off as impatient, sarcastic and quickly annoyed, where everything else shows him as being calm, cool and collected no matter what is thrown at him.

Other then that, the book's fine, all of them are. I was simply expressing my opinion
on the matter; please note I did say the book was well written, but its more for the dedicated fans who must know everything. OP can make that decision, but neither my or your opinion is wrong.

  • 10.11.2011 1:17 PM PDT
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Posted by: DecepticonCobra

We are all going to get banned aren't we?

I like how you keep bringing up the word opinion like i don't know what it is. which is why i told him to ignore yours because you acted like the book should be ignored which it shouldn't.

Like any book about a game there is stuff in the novel not in the game, and you would be at a disadvantage lore-wise if you skip books for whatever reason.

  • 10.11.2011 1:21 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.


Posted by: grey101
I like how you keep bringing up the word opinion like i don't know what it is. which is why i told him to ignore yours because you acted like the book should be ignored which it shouldn't.

Like any book about a game there is stuff in the novel not in the game, and you would be at a disadvantage lore-wise if you skip books for whatever reason.

He never said ignore it, he only said he wouldn't recommend it.

  • 10.11.2011 1:33 PM PDT

THEY ARE REAL NOVELS. JUST PICK THEM UP AND READ THEM. THE NOVELS AREN'T THE WORST PLACE TO START BUT IT'S WORTH IT. JUST DON'T EXPECT MUCH FROM THE GAMES BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO THE REAL NOVELS ANY JUSTICE.

  • 10.11.2011 1:35 PM PDT


Posted by: Wolverfrog
They're all alright, I'd say the only great one is Cryptum. Even that's a little too preachy for my liking.


Why is that? :o

  • 10.11.2011 5:07 PM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

OP, you don't need to listen to us. Each book that we like, somebody dislikes. And every Halo book we dislike, people like. So, just read all the books and form an opinion for yourself. Listening to our opinions on the books won't do any good. Just read them and form your own opinion.

  • 10.11.2011 5:55 PM PDT
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I've read all of the Halo novels published to date, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I highly recommend every novel, especially if you are interested in Halo lore.

  • 10.11.2011 6:02 PM PDT


Posted by: RECON828
I'd always wanted to read the Halo novels, but always had the unfairly pre-determined opinion that they'd be pretty mediocre.

So, what I want to ask is, are they actually good books? Compared to... y'know, real novels? Also, if they are, who writes them and which should I pick up?


If you daydream about the games you'll like the books. You have to be into the Halo universe to like them. If you have no interest leave it alone.

  • 10.11.2011 6:07 PM PDT

We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had.

In my opinion The Fall of Reach, Ghost of Onyx, and Cryptum are the best books.

  • 10.11.2011 6:14 PM PDT

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