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This topic has moved here: Subject: Q/A with Karen Traviss on Halo Glasslands
  • Subject: Q/A with Karen Traviss on Halo Glasslands
Subject: Q/A with Karen Traviss on Halo Glasslands

Hey, now!

This is officially either the greatest or worst thing to ever happen to Star Wars. I'm going with the former.


Posted by: anton1792
Posted by: thebobafettest
The thing is, Bungie handed over those reins with full consent. If they had wanted to keep on making Halo games for years to come, I'm sure that Microsoft would have been more than happy to oblige them, but they decided not to. Like it or not, 343's the new sheriff in town.

I realize that having a franchise leave it's original creator(s) is a rather daunting prospect(For instance, I will not read any Sherlock Holmes stories not written by Doyle, and I can't imagine anyone other than JK Rowling penning Harry Potter books.), but when that same original creator gives full consent, you just have to take the good with the bad.

Well, Bungie lost Halo in the parting agreement with Microsoft. Microsoft bought the rights to the Halo IP when they bought Bungie back in 2000. So Microsoft have always owned it. Bungie got tired of making Halo games and wanted to move on, but in order to do so it meant losing control of the Halo IP. They have said that if they could have taken Halo with them then they would have, but the price of freedom was to lose that IP. (I think that was in their most recent ViDoc) I don't think that they were all that willing to give it up.

Also, I am not saying that there are, literally, two canons to be outlined. I am more or less saying that there has been a very different sort of Halo emerging lately with different ideas underlying it.

Oh, I know all that. What I meant was that 343 would have been more than happy for Bungie to be making titles in any capacity, It's just that they were ready to move on, and with MS owning the Halo IP, it just makes the decision that much easier(or harder, depending on your opinion)

I understand what you're saying, it's just that a fresh, though obviously well acquainted look at the Halo series isn't a bad thing.
Look at how the Batman Animated Series evolved Mr Freeze's backstory and origin in 'Heart of Ice', I believe it was called.

It added some much needed depth to a character that up until that point had been relatively 2 dimensional.


Hopefully 343 will be able to add that depth via their differing perspective from Bungie, while still staying true to the themes that Bungie set.

  • 11.01.2011 6:23 PM PDT

"Where ere thou hast been, here or in yon world manifest? Canst thou tell what is, or what was, or what is to come? No thing shall last. Yet there are some things that will never change. History is written in blood, yet are battles really lost on the battlefield? Canst thou tell me where thou comest, and where thou goest, and what is, or what was, or what will be? For everything remains, AS IT NEVER WAS."

If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.

  • 11.01.2011 6:23 PM PDT

In regards to novels and "canon". I will pick and choose which ones to support as I damn well please. Cryptum and Glasslands are irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.

Don't like that? Boo hoo.

Sure they're "canon" but that doesn't mean I have to support them, their existence, or the continued careers of their respective writers.

Posted by: thebobafettest
There is a system, though I think it's basically an unofficial one at the moment, where Game>Everything Else.

Yeah that's what I figure.

Posted by: thebobafettest
I think that they retconned so it's not the Arbiter on the Ascendent Justice, just some random Elite.

Ah that's a shame. I always thought that was a cool little note there, made you think of how the Arbiter really felt when he saw the Chief and uttered "Demon!" when they were both held by the Gravemind in H2.
It's like, "You again! You defeat me, force me to live with that shame and you also cost me my rank, honor, and pride! Vile Demon!"


Ah well. :(



Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.

Doesn't it? Especially when she thinks that it's essential that she not know beforehand.

You'd think a good writer would do some research on the topic material first...

[Edited on 11.01.2011 6:29 PM PDT]

  • 11.01.2011 6:26 PM PDT

"Where ere thou hast been, here or in yon world manifest? Canst thou tell what is, or what was, or what is to come? No thing shall last. Yet there are some things that will never change. History is written in blood, yet are battles really lost on the battlefield? Canst thou tell me where thou comest, and where thou goest, and what is, or what was, or what will be? For everything remains, AS IT NEVER WAS."

Posted by: Astartes Marine
Doesn't it? Especially when she thinks that it's essential that she not know beforehand.

You'd think a good writer would do some research on the topic material first...

That's almost essential to writing; knowing what the hell you're writing about. I really dread the future of these half-ass authors who think they can just breeze by with anything. Not researching the content matter is what gave us freaking sparkling vampires from yet another shoddy author.

I am seriously dreading Glasslands. I fear it may well be worse than The Cole Protocol.

  • 11.01.2011 6:35 PM PDT

Hey, now!

This is officially either the greatest or worst thing to ever happen to Star Wars. I'm going with the former.


Posted by: jack0fhearts
Posted by: Astartes Marine
Doesn't it? Especially when she thinks that it's essential that she not know beforehand.

You'd think a good writer would do some research on the topic material first...

That's almost essential to writing; knowing what the hell you're writing about. I really dread the future of these half-ass authors who think they can just breeze by with anything. Not researching the content matter is what gave us freaking sparkling vampires from yet another shoddy author.

I am seriously dreading Glasslands. I fear it may well be worse than The Cole Protocol.

She isn't a 'half assed author', she's a fairly succesful writer, and I liked her Republic Commando Star Wars series, even though it did mess a lot of stuff up.....

Halo is a completely different thing, though, and I think that a good understanding is important for any new author in the Halo series, as it has subtleties that I think Star Wars, in all of it's majesty, doesn't have.

I hope that she does some more research for her next novel, though.

  • 11.01.2011 6:40 PM PDT

"Where ere thou hast been, here or in yon world manifest? Canst thou tell what is, or what was, or what is to come? No thing shall last. Yet there are some things that will never change. History is written in blood, yet are battles really lost on the battlefield? Canst thou tell me where thou comest, and where thou goest, and what is, or what was, or what will be? For everything remains, AS IT NEVER WAS."

Posted by: thebobafettest
She isn't a 'half assed author', she's a fairly succesful writer,

By all monetary gain, Stephanie Meyer could equally be considered a "successful author." If she (Traviss) cannot trouble herself to be dedicated to the Universe and study up on what she's writing about, then she is half-assing it.

  • 11.01.2011 6:46 PM PDT

yas334229812

Halo has suteleties and unkown aspects with ties. The original games tell such a great story yet at the same time little, its like a game, you think you understand it all and bungie comes and throws another puzzle at you.

I love that about bungies work the immense depthness and connections made in their storytelling which at the same time does not tell alot. They do not like to make the story written and given like a tv show, something you just need to watch but as a puzzle something you have to understand solve and discuss.

There is a reason why bungie left they thrive in new universes they are pioneers, when they create something they do not stop and try to build on it but instead make a great foundation beutifully build and move on to make something new. A legacy for other to see.

  • 11.01.2011 6:51 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: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.

I think that is the problem here. If you know nothing about the IP and don't have a pre-existing opinion, how can you contribute in a way that meshes well with the rest of said IP? You should have some knowledge of it before entering it or else you are learning everything as a newcomer who has not seen any nook and cranny a veteran of the IP has.

  • 11.01.2011 6:58 PM PDT


Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in that bit of the sentence? :/

  • 11.01.2011 8:10 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: OrderedComa

Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in that bit of the sentence? :/


Bingo.

  • 11.01.2011 8:16 PM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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


Posted by: OrderedComa

Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in

that bit of the sentence? :/


You do know that she IS a fan of gears right?

  • 11.01.2011 8:20 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: grey101

Posted by: OrderedComa

Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in

that bit of the sentence? :/


You do know that she IS a fan of gears right?


You know she wasn't when she started the gig right?

That's her whole method of operation. When she digs into a new IP, it's one where she doesn't have any preexisting bias towards characters. That way, when she gets to writing it she won't intentionally or unintentionally hold up a character in high praise because he, she, or it was her favorite.

  • 11.01.2011 8:32 PM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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


Posted by: StealthSlasher2

Posted by: grey101

Posted by: OrderedComa

Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in

that bit of the sentence? :/


You do know that she IS a fan of gears right?


You know she wasn't when she started the gig right?



Irrelvant. She constantly talks about not liking what she writes to give the best PoV from the characters. Yet regardless of when,how,or why; she does like Gears and still writes for it. Thus she could possibly be contaminating it with her own bias since she now likes the series.

Point being if every little word she said was true then she should be able to hold that ideology of writing indefinitely bot for a book or two.

  • 11.01.2011 8:51 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: OrderedComa

Posted by: jack0fhearts
If it's military, if it's a game, if it's an IP I know nothing about (essential--I can't work on things that I might have a pre-existing opinion on) and it has the moral grey areas I work best in, then I'll probably give it a go if I have the time.
This seems like a terrible idea.


Does no one get what she's really saying?!? I don't see her saying that she doesn't ever research a series she's going to be writing for or anything like that. What Traviss was saying essentially boils down to something like, "I'm not going to write for a series I'm already a fan of", hence the whole "an IP I know nothing about" statement, the rest of it clarifies what she means (that lovely little bit in the parentheses).
Why are so many people seemingly missing the meaning in that bit of the sentence? :/

Alright, I will admit that I was wrong. The way it was phrased was probably part of the problem. However, I still think that you should have some pre-existing knowledge or opinions when writing a book, if only to have a foundation to build upon when writing. Without this I feel Traviss loses some of her full potential.

  • 11.01.2011 9:09 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: grey101
Irrelvant. She constantly talks about not liking what she writes to give the best PoV from the characters. Yet regardless of when,how,or why; she does like Gears and still writes for it. Thus she could possibly be contaminating it with her own bias since she now likes the series.

Point being if every little word she said was true then she should be able to hold that ideology of writing indefinitely bot for a book or two.


Irrelevant?

First of all, if you were paying attention to the interview above, her particular quote in that situation full context considered involves her stance getting into writing on new subjects that she hasn't traversed before. Her talk about that is all about coming in and writing for a new IP for the first time.

Second off, the timing of her like of Gears of War does matter. Why? Because that's how she got into it as it was pitched to her. She was not a fan and held no bias. Once she continued working on the series the notion of working on an "IP [she] knows nothing about" no longer applies.

After writing that first book she'll have in-depth knowledge of the universe from doing research into it once writing that first book in addition to the fiction she creates herself. What she likes or dislikes after that no longer matters as she's now involved herself in a piece of work, then proceeds to continue off of that. She's a series writer. Once she gets involved with an IP she usually ends up continuously writing for it and jumping off the existing groundwork she laid coming into the IP in question. Does she seriously need to have a press conference to point out that after she writes a single book for any series she now knows what it is about?

You're taking things rather literally without considering the surrounding context both in the interview and the author's history as a whole.

  • 11.01.2011 9:11 PM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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

Then Karen travis isn't different from any other writer than.

  • 11.01.2011 9:14 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: grey101
Then Karen travis isn't different from any other writer than.


So then what's the problem you're trying to point out in regards to Coma's post and how it ties in with you pointing out Traviss is a fan of Gears of War?

Or was the initial question in of itself pointless to begin with?

  • 11.01.2011 9:18 PM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

Posted by: risay_117
anton for me this is the biggest problem
sympathizers scared of showing their colours as they fear as they may be ripped in half by others or disowned by their family. These are dangerous time and sometimes supporting those who can protect you is a better cause than showing your true colours.

The "sympathizers" don't exist anymore, it is as simple as that. 343 obviously forgot to mention that on the "cold hard fact sheet" that they handed to Traviss. It is not like 343i have been meticulous in the past anyway, with things like the Encyclopaedia or the reprints tarnishing their reputation.

  • 11.01.2011 10:11 PM PDT


Posted by: anton1792
Posted by: risay_117
anton for me this is the biggest problem
sympathizers scared of showing their colours as they fear as they may be ripped in half by others or disowned by their family. These are dangerous time and sometimes supporting those who can protect you is a better cause than showing your true colours.

The "sympathizers" don't exist anymore, it is as simple as that. 343 obviously forgot to mention that on the "cold hard fact sheet" that they handed to Traviss. It is not like 343i have been meticulous in the past anyway, with things like the Encyclopaedia or the reprints tarnishing their reputation.


What are you talking about? Half the book wouldn't exist if there weren't any sympathizers. True, the plot is focused the other factions, but the whole conflict is about people who want to work together vs. people who don't think it's possible.

In fact, it's not even about sympathizing/hating/or liking the other species. It's a cold war. Some Sangheili simply don't trust humans and vice-versa. So instead, they fell it is best to look after themselves.

I liked the book.

As for Karen Traviss's methods, I don't really care what they are if the result is good.

  • 11.01.2011 10:51 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: anton1792
Posted by: risay_117
anton for me this is the biggest problem
sympathizers scared of showing their colours as they fear as they may be ripped in half by others or disowned by their family. These are dangerous time and sometimes supporting those who can protect you is a better cause than showing your true colours.

The "sympathizers" don't exist anymore, it is as simple as that. 343 obviously forgot to mention that on the "cold hard fact sheet" that they handed to Traviss. It is not like 343i have been meticulous in the past anyway, with things like the Encyclopaedia or the reprints tarnishing their reputation.


What do you mean they "don't exist"?

In regards to the Elites the perspective of the book is tied to what the Stanley team and Jul see. Both of which are focused on dealing with Telcam and his lot. Just because they're not dealing with the sympathizers directly does not mean they don't exist. And clearly given the fact that Telcam must resort to underhanded schemes to oust the Arbiter and his ideals, it would mean that the sympathizers represent a significant enough population to prevent Telcam from outright killing the Arbiter openly and usurping control of the planet.


As for risay, how many instances were shown that involved sympathizers being scared of showing their 'true colors'? Aside from the lack of consensus on either end when the Arbiter called an assembly there is not much to indicate that the sympathizers are the ones that are afraid (mainly because they are not presented as the main focus in the book and thus not much is present to go on). The only instance I can recall that would somewhat fit the bill would be the Elites who openly defiled a Forerunner relic which led to Telcam's group killing them. But it did not exactly spark a message to any sympathizers that they should be afraid from speaking out regarding human relations or even Elite-only cultural standards. It merely only established the Order's active presence.

Though, I would be grateful if you could post a quote from the book detailing such a scenario. Given the focus on the dissident faction, there's more of an impression that they are the ones afraid to voice their opinions disagreeing with the Arbiter. Telcam and his order are forced to plot in secret and are unable to challenge the Arbiter's position openly. Meanwhile you get an individual like Jul who wants to do so, but has no clue what to do and ends up following the lead of a lunatic like Telcam and forcing himself to be okay with working under him rather than doing things his way without all the deeply religious undertone.

Ultimately, the story just simply doesn't follow the sympathizers for this particular book. Considering it's a new series, there will no doubt be expansion upon this concept when the two sides (assuming of course there's only two sides) inevitably clash with a victor left in the end. Until then, Glasslands represents the necessary groundwork that needs to be laid in order to establish the opposing view that has yet been explored. It doesn't negate the other end.

  • 11.02.2011 12:12 AM PDT

Didact's Reprisal -
Now is the time of our unworlding
One final effort is all that remains
And I am not afraid
We shall fulfill our promise
We fight for the grace of the Mantle
And this time none of you will be left behind

Not even a serial killer sees himself (or herself - let's not be sexist) as evil. Their world makes perfect sense to them. I don't inject my opinions or steer readers

But, but...the entire Spartan program was a guilt trip for Halsey. Did she really interpret this character so badly??

  • 11.02.2011 4:14 AM PDT

I am a monument to all your sins


Posted by: anton1792
Posted by: Darthbill99
people also need to understand that the views of jul, and 'telcam are not the views of all elites. they are hypocritical bastards. the fact that the Arbiter is still in charge without much rebellion against him shows that most elites agree with him to some extent at least.

They do not represent all of them, just most of them. Those under 'Telcam have ideological reasons to destroy Humanity, so they are a ticking timebomb. Humanity tampering with Forerunner technology would be considered sacrilege to them.

Those who are like Jul have obvious intentions.

The other main group that we see so far are those who follow the Arbiter, whom we all assume do not want to destroy Humanity and may view Humanity with some some measure of respect like was hinted at so often before. However the Arbiter's camp is broken in two as well:

There are cold hearted Pragmatists and then there are those who we assume are like Thel, Rtas or N'tho. There exist those who follow the Arbiter not because they do not want to continue war against Humanity, but because they simply cannot continue war and are intelligent enough to understand that. However, given enough resources and ships then it is likely that they would be on Jul and Telcam's side of the camp. Levu and Raia are examples of this.

There is all of this negativity, but not a single, simple positive. Sympathizers will exist, but they are probably impotent and hiding in the closet.
how do you know that even most elites are like Jul? as you said, we really don't get to see the views of the elites following Thel, so just because a few hypocrits want him dead doesn't mean more of them don't want peace.

  • 11.02.2011 5:02 AM PDT

"Where ere thou hast been, here or in yon world manifest? Canst thou tell what is, or what was, or what is to come? No thing shall last. Yet there are some things that will never change. History is written in blood, yet are battles really lost on the battlefield? Canst thou tell me where thou comest, and where thou goest, and what is, or what was, or what will be? For everything remains, AS IT NEVER WAS."

Posted by: OrderedComa
Does no one get what she's really saying?!?

I can get what she's trying to say, and I still think it a terrible idea. Not only should you know what you're writing into/about, but you should enjoy it. Otherwise it becomes cliche and not genuine.

Have you ever really tried to write for something you have no opinion or "bias" on?

  • 11.02.2011 9:37 AM PDT

Welcome to bungie, you have no rights. play nice!
CLICK!

The source of the root of that type of thinking.

  • 11.02.2011 9:50 AM PDT