- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Definition of canon from wikipedia:In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. that are considered to be genuine (or "official"), and those events, characters, settings, etc. that are considered to have inarguable existence within the fictional universe.
No matter what you argue, the books are still canon, which means that the other Spartans are real. You said yourself, the books are canon. Bungie has also said it. And as canon, the events and characters inside cannot be argued against.
Now, you have misinterpreted the quote. If this were an essay, you would get a zero. All shishka is saying is that the games do not bend to the whim of the books. More specifically, he is saying that certain things in Halo and Halo 2 were going to be there anyway, and the books had nothing to do with them being there. Here are a few examples:
> Tartarus and Truth
> M6C and BR55
> Lord Hood
> AIs going crazy
> Covenant AI
> Slipspace jumps inside a planet's atmosphere
> The crystal and atmosphere in slipspace
These things were explained in the novels, and they appeared there first before they appeared in Halo 2. What Shishka is saying is that these things were not "ideas taken from the books", but "ideas that were there all along, and were explained better in the books".
That means that the other Spartans were there all along, just they were explained in the Halo books. Remember, everything in the books is based off of the Halo Bible, which is the single almightly unrefutable source of information on the Halo universe. That means that the other Spartans are in the Halo Bible, and they are part of the Halo universe.
What Shishka says is correct, it would not be wise to just insert the Spartans in to the storyline of Halo 3. It would be very awkward, and would confuse many of the fans. However, it could be done. Flashback sequences, even a flashback level, could be used to explain the other Spartans' existence.
For example. Here's how you get Linda back in. You show a sequence of 5 clips:
1) Linda, with John, on the space station above Reach, getting shot multiple times, and falling.
2) John, on the Pillar of Autumn, carrying Linda in, and placing her in a cryotube. Some scientist would say "She can go either way. Once we're secure, we can try to revive her".
3) On the Pillar of Autumn, you here an announcement that the ship is going to crash land, and you see all the cryo-tubes ejected.
4) You see, after the destruction od Halo, the MC picking up her cryo-tube
5) You see Linda getting revived.
There. a 2 minute, maybe 3 minute cutscene, that explains the entire thing. This could be done for any character.
By the way, Linda was shown in Halo 1. In another cryo-tube, there was also a Spartan II display, but you couldn't see inside.