Even though I think that 343 Industries is still a little green around the edges, personally, they have proven themselves capable of handling the narrative aspect of the HALO universe, thanks to the release of HALO 4.
However, I feel as if when it comes to the next era of HALO in the form of books, I cannot help but feel like they are royally botching the job in that area.
Here is a list of the pieces of 2nd-gen HALO literature that they have released so far, as well as my opinions as to why the following entries have ruined HALO.
(Note: I have not read the books myself; however, I have looked up the summaries for them after they came out.)
The Kilo-Five Trilogy [Glasslands, The Thursday War, Mortal Dictata]These 3 books are solely responsible for bringing about the ruin of HALO and the sole reason why the universe is what it is right now. Here, 343i shows us that the fighting never ended after the Human-Covenant War, the Office of Naval Intelligence becomes the [primary/secondary] bad guy, and, most shamefully, they treat Catherine Halsey as a bad guy, when she was partly responsible for saving the galaxy.
InitiationThis comic book brought back a character who should have died at the Fall of Reach [HALO: REACH]. Not only that, they make him work for the SPARTAN-IV Program; making him a traitor to his own kind (that being the true Spartans ->SPARTAN-IIIs).
New BloodThis story completely and utterly ****s with the characters from HALO 3: ODST in a bad way. 'Nuff said.
Hunters in the DarkThis book brought back a location from the 1st generation of HALO that should have been destroyed [The Ark from HALO 3].
Last LightI cannot help but feel like this book ruins HALO, but I cannot think of a reason as to how. Plus, I cannot find a good enough summary for the book.
Also, here are some others in the 2nd-gen line-up that I cannot seem to place a finger on; the ones I consider the odd ones out.
The Forerunner Saga [Cryptum, Primordium, Silentium]Although these 3 books reveal some of the mysteries behind the Forerunners themselves, I just cannot seem to make much sense of them, probably because we haven’t seen much of their society in the games. It would be preferable to see their civilization explored in the games first, therefore making it all the more easier to appreciate this trio more.
Broken CircleI fail to see the point of a story like this that doesn’t do much to move the overall narrative forward.
Saint’s TestimonyAgain, I do not see the point of a story like this. Could someone please explain it to me?
The only piece of 2nd-gen literature that I consider safe is the comic book series Escalation. Like the 1st-gen batch of books, it expands upon the universe while not compromising the source material.
Again, these are my opinions. I would very much like the insight from fans who have been with the series since November 15, 2001only, thank you very much.
Plus, spoilers are very much appreciated.
I’m really confused. Every bullet point is just you saying you dislike it with barely a reason to it.
While I certainly get why there’s a rather large dislike for the Kilo Five series, the broad reasons you gave as negatives seem to contradict your approval of their handling of Halo 4’s narrative. Without the Kilo Five books to even try and attempt it there would be no other way for people to understand or even get a hint as to what the hell is remotely going on in Halo 4 from Halsey’s imprisonment, post war politics involving various factions, etc. It’d be an incredibly jarring transition more so than it already is.
Then you talk about Jun being a traitor simply because he’s working on the next generation of Spartans? A generation of Spartans founded by a Spartan-II no less? Why is there a war between Spartan generations in your mindset?
Forerunner novels by your admission seems to boil down to your own personal ability to as you say, “make sense of things.” and nothing more beyond that.
While 343i have certainly stumbled in their execution of certain elements here and there, they have made far more strides in making coherent a vast fictional universe that is all interconnected on an equal field. Hell they managed to do this before Star Wars did.
So, I along with many other forum people in the Universe section have been reading since 2001. Your one line random conclusions on some pretty decent novels, others not so much, don’t really help you build a good argument. All in all, you could of just said at the beginning you’re not a fan of 343 in any way, shape, or form and we would of got the clue.
Also you didn’t bother to read like any of them so, why bother posting unless wanting attention?
TLDR: The point of the books is to expand the Halo universe, not consistently be about Master Chief or even humans and the UNSC. Yes, omg, the Halo universe is big enough for there to be different stories all across it, where ever that may take us. I suppose you will get your story fill in with Halo 5 since you seem to only care about the games, which is fine.
Summaries are not good ways to make bold statements about books. Why is Halo Evolutions not on this list? It was produced by 343.
Kilo-V TriologyNot many here will defend it. Its been beaten to death. If you actually read the more recent books, a fair chunk of it has been retconned by them. However conflict continuing after the war was already established in Halo: Evolutions, nor does a massive galactic empire based on faith ripping itself apart in 28 days and everything being sunshine and roses after make a spit of sense.
InitiationYour bias against S-IV’s is clouding your judgement, Jun helping the S-IV’s is no different than Kurt or Jorge helping the S-III’s. There is no known animosity between the programs. Jun himself was never stated to be dead.
New BloodNot really from what I read. But I haven’t read the actual book either.
Hunter’s in the DarkYou’ve been out of the loop, Ark’s been confirmed to be damaged but repairing itself for years. “Did a number on the Ark” does not mean utterly destroyed.
Last LightWell that’s an awkward complaint. I haven’t read it myself, but most people consider it a proper sequel to ghosts of onyx.
The Forerunner SagaThese are the best written books in the entire franchise and actually legitimately great works of hard science fiction. You reaaaly need to read them carefully.
Broken CircleI’ll agree it felt a bit flat, but was meant as an expansion of elite/covenant lore.
Saint’s TestimonyDelves deeply into the subject of AI’s and machine intelligence.
Seeing as I have read all of these pieces of work, I cannot help but laugh at your critical opinions of the stories that you have not even taken the time to give a fair shake. The stories are great and help usher in the new era of Halo. You sir couldn’t be more wrong. Tsk tsk
When one of your criticisms for a book is, “I cannot help but feel like this book ruins HALO, but I cannot think of a reason as to how.” why should anybody take anything you have to say seriously? I can only surmise you are just trolling and if so, congrats I fell for the bait. Even suggesting you want fans who have been with the series since November 2001 seems to confirm that. If you aren’t trolling, then I just seem ridiculously misinformed opinions.
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> - Last Light
> I cannot help but feel like this book ruins HALO, but I cannot think of a reason as to how. Plus, I cannot find a good enough summary for the book.
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> … I would very much like the insight from fans who have been with the series since November 15, 2001only,…
I’m sure there are plenty of Halo fans who joined later in the series, but have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the lore than those who joined back in 2001. I wouldn’t limit your feedback to people who happened to have heard of Halo a few months or years earlier than someone else.
So comes on here and bashes the books based on a minority of cynical summaries probably found on amazon and claims 343i’s books are the ruin of Halo. Hell he never even read some of them. Yep totally legitimate arguments buddy.
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> > … I would very much like the insight from fans who have been with the series since November 15, 2001only,…
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> I’m sure there are plenty of Halo fans who joined later in the series, but have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the lore than those who joined back in 2001. I wouldn’t limit your feedback to people who happened to have heard of Halo a few months or years earlier than someone else.
Yeah I have been with the series since 2001, but it was not until this last year that I have actually started reading all of the books. I have gotten through The forerunner saga, kilo-5, Books 1-6, and I am working on Book 7 Halo Evolutions right now. I can honestly say the only book in his list that I personally felt was bland was Mortal Dictata, but even then I still enjoyed it some.
When I can earn some extra cash I am going to move onto the Escalation comics, but as it stands they are too pricey for me atm.
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> Seeing as I have read all of these pieces of work, I cannot help but laugh at your critical opinions of the stories that you have not even taken the time to give a fair shake. The stories are great and help usher in the new era of Halo. You sir couldn’t be more wrong. Tsk tsk
Agreed. Plus from what it looks like. It seems op read summaries and never actually read the books. The 343I series of books have been getting better and better with each books. Especially ever since 343I have been keeping a close eye on their products ever since Traviss went wild with the Kilo-Five Trilogy (what happened, the Republic Commando and Gears of War books were soooo good, why couldn’t you give the same detail for halo ;-
Bit even then, I like all the books and find the 343I era books far more entertaining to read over the early generations of novels of the halo series
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> > Seeing as I have read all of these pieces of work, I cannot help but laugh at your critical opinions of the stories that you have not even taken the time to give a fair shake. The stories are great and help usher in the new era of Halo. You sir couldn’t be more wrong. Tsk tsk
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> Agreed. Plus from what it looks like. It seems op read summaries and never actually read the books. The 343I series of books have been getting better and better with each books. Especially ever since 343I have been keeping a close eye on their products ever since Traviss went wild with the Kilo-Five Trilogy (what happened, the Republic Commando and Gears of War books were soooo good, why couldn’t you give the same detail for halo ;-
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> Bit even then, I like all the books and find the 343I era books far more entertaining to read over the early generations of novels of the halo series
I actually enjoyed the Kilo-5 books, yes the author really painted Halsey in a horrible light, but I only saw that as the other side of the coin for her actions.
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> > > … I would very much like the insight from fans who have been with the series since November 15, 2001only,…
> >
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> > I’m sure there are plenty of Halo fans who joined later in the series, but have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the lore than those who joined back in 2001. I wouldn’t limit your feedback to people who happened to have heard of Halo a few months or years earlier than someone else.
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> Yeah I have been with the series since 2001, but it was not until this last year that I have actually started reading all of the books. I have gotten through The forerunner saga, kilo-5, Books 1-6, and I am working on Book 7 Halo Evolutions right now. I can honestly say the only book in his list that I personally felt was bland was Mortal Dictata, but even then I still enjoyed it some.
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> When I can earn some extra cash I am going to move onto the Escalation comics, but as it stands they are too pricey for me atm.
If you buy the digitally they’re only like 3 dollars each and for the most part they finish spartan ops and feel good; though still jarring at times
I only liked two authors in the halo series. Eric Nylund because he understands military protocol and his surface explanations behind future astrophysics and technology seems credible. And finally Greg Bear. His meticulously crafted Forerunner trilogy simply brought an ancient civilization to life with such vividity, I didn’t have to strain to envision it’s wondrous segments. K5 draaaaaagged. It could have easily been one book. The newer stuff seems hastily and poorly written. I’m actually done reading the books. More games, please!
The K-5 series is garbage and should remain garbage. The ham-fisted preaching by Vaz and Mal was horrendous, ESPECIALLY because they consider NOT shooting Halsey worse than NOT going back and save the women of the Keep that Philips was stranded at.
I feel like this is satire but it didn’t make me laugh.
I do find some humor in someone named “BookWormGamer01” bringing criticisms of books without even reading them, claiming two separate stories have ruined Halo (double-ruined! in my best Steitzer voice) with one not having an actual reason for it, and generally having a bunch of words written with no actual substance to them. Maybe this is funny, and I’m just too sleepy to catch it.
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> > I have not read the books myself; however, I have looked up the summaries for them after they came out.
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> This is like reviewing restaurants then saying, “I haven’t actually eaten at them but I read other people’s reviews of them.”
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> Renders your opinion and input kind of moot.
“I’ve read the menu, and this restaurant offers primarily a seafood menu. I like cheeseburgers. I don’t see why this restaurant exists.”
