- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
I literally just finished reading the novel 2001: A Space
Odyssey, and while reading, I found some interesting
Halo and Marathon connections.
*******SPOILERS********
In the novel, there is a strange object on the moon that
is excavated and is named Tycho Magnetic Anomaly
1. TMA-1 for short. I'm sure most of you know that
Tycho was a rampant A.I. in the Marathon series. The
scientists on the moon conclude it was extraterrestrial,
but I won't say any more. Read the book or watch the
movie. Both are equally amazing.
Another little tidbit is that the suit that the scientists
used on the moon was simply called Mk V. It's no
secret that Bungie and other great writers draw upon
other works, so I think it's safe to say that this is a
clue that Bungie may have drawn from 2001.
On the subject of the Forerunner in Halo, there is a
very similar concept in 2001. Clarke gives hints
toward the fate of the aliens that left TMA-1, and
their fate appeared to be a higher state of being
that allowed them to shed their fragile bodies, and
allow their "spirit" as Clarke puts it, to run their mech
form. It seems they eventually shed their form
completely, reaching a state of god-like conciousness.
If Bungie drew from 2001 this much, then the absence
of The Forerunner may be explained in this way.
If anybody on this forum has better understanding of
the novel or has read the entire series, please tell me
what you think and correct me if I'm way off on anything
I said. Remember I just finished reading it before
posting my thoughts.
P.S. There is also mention of an eye on the face of
one of Saturn's moons in the novel, and there was
a flurry of speculations on eyes when the Enkidu
transmissions started showing up. Congrats to
Steve (aka "Enkidu") for the excellent writing.