Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Glasslands? What was this? Spoiler Alert
  • Subject: Glasslands? What was this? Spoiler Alert
Subject: Glasslands? What was this? Spoiler Alert
  •  | 
  • Honorable Member

I just finished Glasslands and Im not sure what I think about it. I havent read any of the other K. Traviss books but she killed the story for me. Maybe its her style, but there was so much emphasis on the Halsey Mendez fight and the Parangosky Halsey fight that the actual progression of the Onyx story was lost. Halsey and Mendez are fighting over how either could do what they did, nether one of them was a saint, far from it, so what was the point of taking up a fifth of the book with a pointless argument. Then one of the stronger themes was dose the end justify the means. Well, Im all for a philosophical book, but this is Halo. Where was the action? Then in the end Parangosky is drilling Halsey about how she expects to get away with anything she's done when Parangosky is the one who green lit Halsey's research. Obviously taking Kelly was not included in that. Then, what was with everyone ready to kill Halsey for what she did with the Spartan II program. Ya it was morally wrong, but was it not completely necessary. Granted, it was before the covenant war, but there seemed to be so much excess hatred toward her for the program, and I dont fell it added to the book in any way what so ever. I like the setup for the next book with Osman and Infinity, but man I was left wanting with this book. Am I missing something or did this novel really miss the mark by that far.

[Edited on 12.06.2011 8:19 PM PST]

  • 12.06.2011 7:42 PM PDT
Subject: Glasslands? What was this?

Sir, I applaud you. You have done what I could not; finished "Glasslands"

Also, spoiler alert next time.

[Edited on 12.06.2011 8:03 PM PST]

  • 12.06.2011 8:02 PM PDT
Subject: Glasslands? What was this? Spoiler Alert

I'm waiting on my copy of Grasslands but I've been disappointed Bungie/343 not hiring Eric Nylund to finish his series of Halo books/story.

Seems Nylund had the mystery and action mix perfect by extending the lore and not short cutting things. He built so much up and then Grasslands (from what I've gathered so far) simply focused on the character interactions more than the epic space opera mystery.

Not really my cup of tea, if I wanted character interactions to be deep and meaningful I'd watch a chick-flick.

[Edited on 12.07.2011 5:07 PM PST]

  • 12.07.2011 5:06 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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


Posted by: Oddley765
I'm waiting on my copy of Grasslands but I've been disappointed Bungie/343 not hiring Eric Nylund to finish his series of Halo books/story.

Seems Nylund had the mystery and action mix perfect by extending the lore and not short cutting things. He built so much up and then Grasslands (from what I've gathered so far) simply focused on the character interactions more than the epic space opera mystery.

Not really my cup of tea, if I wanted character interactions to be deep and meaningful I'd watch a chick-flick.



Um Eric was done when his contract was over. And at this point we need more things explained than Action Though Glasslands doesn't do that any better than Eric.


Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.

  • 12.07.2011 5:12 PM PDT

"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't."
-- General George S. Patton

I am merely a soldier in the massive army commonly known as the Internet.


Posted by: grey101

Posted by: Oddley765
I'm waiting on my copy of Grasslands but I've been disappointed Bungie/343 not hiring Eric Nylund to finish his series of Halo books/story.

Seems Nylund had the mystery and action mix perfect by extending the lore and not short cutting things. He built so much up and then Grasslands (from what I've gathered so far)
simply focused on the character interactions more than the epic space opera mystery.

Not really my cup of tea, if I wanted character interactions to be deep and meaningful I'd watch a chick-flick.



Um Eric was done when his contract was over. And at this point we need more things explained than Action Though Glasslands doesn't do that any better than Eric.


Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


I felt the same way.

  • 12.07.2011 5:14 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

SC = Supreme Commander/Supreme Canadian.

De Facto leader of the military of the APE (Allied Planets Empire).

Coup = Admiral Asskicker, ZPM hive ship


Posted by: grey101

Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


Something like Star Wars' Incredible Cross Sections?

Hell yeah. Hopefully the art booklet would have some hard calcs on the Forerunner weaponry, and said calcs would be huge. The rabid Trekkies and Warsies would probably shoot fire out of their eyeballs upon reading that.

  • 12.07.2011 5:26 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Five exclamations marks are a good signifier of an insane mind. As is trying to hide from Death in an airtight room. Silly wizard.


Posted by: SC Matt Klassen

Posted by: grey101

Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


Something like Star Wars' Incredible Cross Sections?

Hell yeah. Hopefully the art booklet would have some hard calcs on the Forerunner weaponry, and said calcs would be huge. The rabid Trekkies and Warsies would probably shoot fire out of their eyeballs upon reading that.

Are you suggesting math in an art book?

  • 12.07.2011 5:30 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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


Posted by: MAC Blast

Posted by: SC Matt Klassen

Posted by: grey101

Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


Something like Star Wars' Incredible Cross Sections?

Hell yeah. Hopefully the art booklet would have some hard calcs on the Forerunner weaponry, and said calcs would be huge. The rabid Trekkies and Warsies would probably shoot fire out of their eyeballs upon reading that.

Are you suggesting math in an art book?


He just gets carried away?

  • 12.07.2011 5:35 PM PDT


Posted by: Quozo
Well, Im all for a philosophical book, but this is Halo. Where was the action?


I stopped reading right there. Action must never take precedence over story. My main problem with the Nylund books was the over emphasis on action.

And Traviss does character studies primarily. Obviously, you haven't read her books before so this may have come as a surprise in a series that has been thus far mainly event driven. Essentially, she takes characters and does a journalistic psycho-analysis, and puts that into a story. That's what she did with Gears, SW: RC and the Wess'Har Wars. It was obvious that's what she was going to do here. The point of the arguments was to develope the characters in a way that will lead into further plot points, and to make the characters actually human in a completely character driven story, a concept that has been almost foreign to Halo so far.

Really the only difference between the previous Halo books and Glasslands is that Glasslands put emphasis on characters and the previous ones put emphasis on long term events or action. I prefer characters over action, so I liked Glasslands. Odds are, you went in not knowing what to expect so just assumed you'd be getting the usual Halo style, so feel like they dropped the ball when they went at it with a different approach.

343i has been changing up the formula; you must have noticed that they're in the buisness of more character-crentric stories by now.



Posted by: SC Matt Klassen

Posted by: grey101

Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


Something like Star Wars' Incredible Cross Sections?

Hell yeah. Hopefully the art booklet would have some hard calcs on the Forerunner weaponry, and said calcs would be huge. The rabid Trekkies and Warsies would probably shoot fire out of their eyeballs upon reading that.


You're predilection for the Forerunners' OPness is turning into an unhealthy obession. I almost never see you write a single post without bringing up the Forerunners and how they'd whoop Wars' and Trek's asses (which, in the case of Trek, is false all on the account of one letter: Q). Seriously, it's really getting annoying, and I get the impression the only reason you're reading the Forerunner saga is for the reason of proving to your friends that the Halo universe is amongst the most OP'ed in sci-fi. It's even gone as far as appearing as if it's not the Forerunners, it's not worth your time.

Now, whatever floats your boat, I'm not one to judge your reasoning for delving into Halo lore, but can the Forerunner weapons discussion be reserved for a discussion on Forerunner weapons?

[Edited on 12.07.2011 6:05 PM PST]

  • 12.07.2011 5:58 PM PDT


Posted by: SC Matt Klassen

Posted by: grey101

Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


Something like Star Wars' Incredible Cross Sections?

Hell yeah. Hopefully the art booklet would have some hard calcs on the Forerunner weaponry, and said calcs would be huge. The rabid Trekkies and Warsies would probably shoot fire out of their eyeballs upon reading that.


Oh yes, because they must be huge just to blast start wars and star trek fans *rolls eyes*

Edit: Roberto, then how come what I read in glasslands seemed like Hasley and Mendez were NOWHERE close to how they acted before?

And Travis said she rebuilt the characters, and from what I her the Spartans became like rookies/children in behavior instead of how they acted before.

[Edited on 12.07.2011 6:06 PM PST]

  • 12.07.2011 5:58 PM PDT

@accordingto343

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

Posted by: ROBERTO jh
343i has been changing up the formula; you must have noticed that they're in the buisness of more character-crentric stories by now.


Halsey: Mean, aggressive -blam!-.

Mendez: Mean, aggressive son of a -blam!- who apparently hates what he did for the Spartans even though he supported both programs.

Every S-III besides Lucy: Bland, cut-outs that do nothing.

Every Spartan-II besides Naomi: Bland, cut-outs that do nothing.

The ODSTs: Typical hardass space marines.

Every major Elite character besides Thel Vadam: Grr, we hate humanity! Glass them all!

Parangosky: Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance!

Amazing characters.

/sarcasm

The only characters she did right were Philips and Lucy.

  • 12.07.2011 6:06 PM PDT


Posted by: grey101

Um Eric was done when his contract was over. And at this point we need more things explained than Action Though Glasslands doesn't do that any better than Eric.


Greg Bear is doing good with the forerunners though he is breaking new ground. Even somebody spatial as me has trouble envisioning some of the concepts he introduces. Cryptum should have came with an art booklet or something.


That is exactly why I wanted Nylund for a return book or series in place of Traviss, to finish all the sweet story branches and mysteries he began.

His style was perfect, easy to relate to, easy to read, full of action and had that special mystery mix when expanding the universe.

I find Bear's writing puts me to sleep but I also find that with all his books (non-Halo related) as well though.

The information in Cryptum is great but that's more 343 opening the flood gates rather than Bear's contribution in my opinion. Again I personally would have preferred Nylund there.

  • 12.07.2011 6:13 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Honorable Member

Thank you ROBERTO jh. Thats the answer I was Looking for. Not having read any of the other Traviss books I assumed that was her style. I can appreciate her individual style, while I did enjoy Glasslands, it was a little bit of a letdown from what I was expecting. It just felt that she focused on the characters a little to hard, and in return we lost the details of the halo universe that weve really come to love about the Halo series. Not to mention that while I like Halsey, Mendez and Parangosky, I would really like to know more about Fred and how hes dealing with command or Ash and how hes dealing with his new responsibilities. Point being I hope she at least expands her character building to characters were already invested in from five previous novels. Maybe thats my biggest issue with this book. While its a great insight into Halsey, Mendez and Parangosky, it completely left out those other characters we already love.

Oddley765 I completely agree with you. Nylands books probly wont win any prizes or bring about world peace, but it did a fulfilling job of creating and filling in all the little blanks and tid bits of information that keeps us scoring the games, books and the internet trying to piece together this story we call the Halo Universe. I hope 343/the new authors dont stray to far from what Bungie and their collaborators had started.

  • 12.07.2011 10:21 PM PDT

Why would anyone read a book... for action?

  • 12.08.2011 12:33 AM PDT