Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Starting the Books
  • Subject: Starting the Books
Subject: Starting the Books

Hey, im a long time Halo fan but I have never read the books. My gf told me she would like to try to get into Halo because i like it so much but she doesnt like gaming. I told her there was novels and she said she would really be interested in reading them. So I was wondering, in your opinion which books are the best written and easiest to get into with almost no knowledge of the universe. Also are there any I should avoid because they aren't very good? Thanks Guys :D

I posted this on 343 as well and so far ive been told to go Fall of reach, skip flood, first strike and then onyx. any feedback would be great. Thanks :D

  • 10.25.2012 9:16 AM PDT

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


Posted by: kanu65
I posted this on 343 as well and so far ive been told to go Fall of reach, skip flood, first strike and then onyx. any feedback would be great. Thanks :D


Pretty much do this, but if your girlfriend doesn't want to play the games then The Flood is essential reading because it tells the story of Halo CE as well as adding in some great extras.

  • 10.25.2012 9:20 AM PDT

Supreme Dictator, Industrial Polluter, Megalomaniac, Corrupt Politician, Underhanded Reprobate, Rainforest Ravager, Puppy Kicker, Oil Spill Coordinator, Holiday Hater, and an Insurance Salesman.

No, don't skip The Flood. I really liked that book.

  • 10.25.2012 10:20 AM PDT

Since she probably never played CE, the Flood is almost an essential read since it's basically the game in book form. I would go in release order: Fall of Reach, Flood, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx, Contact Harvest, Cole Protocol, Evolution, Forerunner Saga, etc. If you would skip anything, it would be the Kilo-Five Trilogy. But if you do decide to read it, it would be last.

  • 10.25.2012 10:36 AM PDT

"I may not be perfect, but always been true."

-Forerunner trilogy first
-Contact Harvest*
-Cole Protocol*
-The Fall of Reach*
-The Flood
-First Strike*
-Ghosts of Onyx
-Kilo Five Trilogy
-Evolutions**
-Graphic Novel**

*This books have some continuity issues with each other, as in the original Fall of Reach no Elites had been seen until the battle of Reach, changed with Cole Protocol. No Brutes had been seen up until before Halo 2 (First Strike), changed by Contact Harvest.

**Evolutions is a series of short stories spanning several years all through the war, so this could be written in pieces as you advance with the other novels.
Same with the Graphic Novel, although most are set between the span of Halo: CE (Johnson escaping the Flood facility & Infinity Succor) and Halo 2 (Maria testing the Mark VI armor before it was given to John, attack on Earth).

If you want to avoid continuity issues, I recommend buying the newest editions and perhaps reading it in this order



-Forerunner Trilogy
-Fall of Reach
-The Flood
-First Strike
-Ghosts of Onyx
-Contact Harvest
-Cole Protocol
-Kilo Five trilogy (I don't recommend them because of the mayor stupidity dosage given to all characters, but it's up to you.)
-Evolutions
-Graphic Novel

[Edited on 10.25.2012 11:28 AM PDT]

  • 10.25.2012 11:27 AM PDT
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  • Exalted Heroic Member

Personally, my recommendation to get the full understanding of the Halo Universe is to read all of the books, and not only that, but to read them in the order in which they were published.

Many will advise you to read them in the chronological order by timeline - I recommend this when reading them another time around, but for the first time, I always recommend reading in the order of publishing.

Also - despite what others may say - I recommend all of them. All of the Halo books are great and help to expand understanding of the Halo Universe in some way. I don't recommend skipping any of them because quite often a subsequent book will make a reference to something from another book. They're all good, so read 'em all!

Cheers

  • 10.25.2012 12:06 PM PDT


Posted by: AH4L
Personally, my recommendation to get the full understanding of the Halo Universe is to read all of the books, and not only that, but to read them in the order in which they were published.

Many will advise you to read them in the chronological order by timeline - I recommend this when reading them another time around, but for the first time, I always recommend reading in the order of publishing.

Also - despite what others may say - I recommend all of them. All of the Halo books are great and help to expand understanding of the Halo Universe in some way. I don't recommend skipping any of them because quite often a subsequent book will make a reference to something from another book. They're all good, so read 'em all!

Cheers
This, except I say read it in chronological order.
It makes more sense, and honestly, in my opinion, there are no advantages to reading them in the order that they were published.

[Edited on 10.25.2012 12:15 PM PDT]

  • 10.25.2012 12:15 PM PDT