So far I’m only in the middle of the third chapter.
I don’t find anything confusing, or see reason why the book is bad.
Some of the Elites fear humans, while others want a peace treaty. Pretty much the same for Humans.
Halsey is trying to protect her Spartans, and now feels guilty for stealing, and destroying/manipulating their lives.
Everything seems to fit and doesn’t seen out of place. Why does everyone hate the book?
They hate the book because they disagree with the opinion that Halsey is a monster. They believe that what she did was for the greater good and her actions saved Humanity, which it did. But people seem to forget that even in past books Halsey personally felt terrible about what she had done and only used the “For the greater good” excuse to justify the terrible things she had done. As time went on it began to eat away at her and that’s why she kidnapped Kelly and tricked the other Spartans in going to Onyx to begin with.
The ODSTs in the book only hate Halsey because they never heard of her before now and all the information they learned about her comes from her enemies. Naturally those who hate Halsey are going to paint her in a very negative way. Mendez treats Halsey with disrespect even though he is just as guilty as she is but he pretty much admits it later on. He just points the blame at Halsey in the beginning in order to sooth his own conscious.
Travis’s hasn’t quite started pouring it on, yet. There’s a section later where, well, folks who don’t know the whole story will be filled in by a lass-than-impartial teller. It gets a bit heavy-handed.
> They hate the book because they disagree with the opinion that Halsey is a monster. They believe that what she did was for the greater good and her actions saved Humanity, which it did. But people seem to forget that even in past books Halsey personally felt terrible about what she had done and only used the “For the greater good” excuse to justify the terrible things she had done. As time went on it began to eat away at her and that’s why she kidnapped Kelly and tricked the other Spartans in going to Onyx to begin with.
>
> The ODSTs in the book only hate Halsey because they never heard of her before now and all the information they learned about her comes from her enemies. Naturally those who hate Halsey are going to paint her in a very negative way. Mendez treats Halsey with disrespect even though he is just as guilty as she is but he pretty much admits it later on. He just points the blame at Halsey in the beginning in order to sooth his own conscious.
She is a monster yet if she didn’t do the project then a civil war would have ripped humanity apart doing more damage than the covenant and weakining us when they arrived.
She is a monster yet she was approached to do the spartan II project saying if she turned it down somebody that didn’t actually care about the “subjects” would abuse the project. Oh, that sounds like Ackerson.
A monster that constantly expresses guilt for what she has done and knows it will come back to haunt her.
A monster that went over and about to give the spartan IIs the best of everything and to help them survive while Ackerson did what was best budget wise.
I seriously believe people have mental issues if you actually know every little fact behind halsey and ackerson (which majority obviously don’t) and then say halsey is the worse one.
Not to mention the book is biased; once somebody is told the SIIIs are suicide solders they just ignore it and still bash halsey.
> > They hate the book because they disagree with the opinion that Halsey is a monster. They believe that what she did was for the greater good and her actions saved Humanity, which it did. But people seem to forget that even in past books Halsey personally felt terrible about what she had done and only used the “For the greater good” excuse to justify the terrible things she had done. As time went on it began to eat away at her and that’s why she kidnapped Kelly and tricked the other Spartans in going to Onyx to begin with.
> >
> > The ODSTs in the book only hate Halsey because they never heard of her before now and all the information they learned about her comes from her enemies. Naturally those who hate Halsey are going to paint her in a very negative way. Mendez treats Halsey with disrespect even though he is just as guilty as she is but he pretty much admits it later on. He just points the blame at Halsey in the beginning in order to sooth his own conscious.
>
> She is a monster yet if she didn’t do the project then a civil war would have ripped humanity apart doing more damage than the covenant and weakining us when they arrived.
>
> She is a monster yet she was approached to do the spartan II project saying if she turned it down somebody that didn’t actually care about the “subjects” would abuse the project. Oh, that sounds like Ackerson.
>
> A monster that constantly expresses guilt for what she has done and knows it will come back to haunt her.
>
> A monster that went over and about to give the spartan IIs the best of everything and to help them survive while Ackerson did what was best budget wise.
>
>
> I seriously believe people have mental issues if you actually know every little fact behind halsey and ackerson (which majority obviously don’t) and then say halsey is the worse one.
>
> Not to mention the book is biased; once somebody is told the SIIIs are suicide solders they just ignore it and still bash halsey.
Who has been saying that Halsey is worse?
Of course the book presents a negative bias towards Halsey when the book presents characters whose viewpoints are shaped from the information given from other individuals who have an existing negative bias of Halsey rather than those sympathetic, neutral, or flat out do not take time to question every ethical action she has done before. The latter three of which were the only perspectives present in the previous novels, and even then it mainly concerns other characters not wanting to know the gritty details.
> They hate the book because they disagree with the opinion that Halsey is a monster. They believe that what she did was for the greater good and her actions saved Humanity, which it did. <mark>But people seem to forget that even in past books Halsey personally felt terrible about what she had done and only used the “For the greater good” excuse to justify the terrible things she had done.</mark> As time went on it began to eat away at her and that’s why she kidnapped Kelly and tricked the other Spartans in going to Onyx to begin with.
No, we state that. Yet even as an “excuse” it’s still perfectly valid. You know how dire the situation was with the insurrection was. The Spartans were a last resort. We can say “Should’ve tried more negotiations”, but negotiations with terrorists have a habit of failing.
> The ODSTs in the book only hate Halsey because they never heard of her before now and all the information they learned about her comes from her enemies. <mark>Naturally those who hate Halsey are going to paint her in a very negative way.</mark> Mendez treats Halsey with disrespect even though he is just as guilty as she is but he pretty much admits it later on. He just points the blame at Halsey in the beginning in order to sooth his own conscious.
I still call BS on Maggie’s explanation, how Halsey lied about the Spartan-II clones. Yeah, the head of ONI just didn’t know it was going on until after the fact because Halsey hid it in the budget. And even then, Vaz’s Mengele comparison is just way off base. Halsey at least had a purpose and legitimately cared about the children, Mengele was a murderer posing as a doctor, plain and simple.
> > They hate the book because they disagree with the opinion that Halsey is a monster. They believe that what she did was for the greater good and her actions saved Humanity, which it did. But people seem to forget that even in past books Halsey personally felt terrible about what she had done and only used the “For the greater good” excuse to justify the terrible things she had done. As time went on it began to eat away at her and that’s why she kidnapped Kelly and tricked the other Spartans in going to Onyx to begin with.
> >
> > The ODSTs in the book only hate Halsey because they never heard of her before now and all the information they learned about her comes from her enemies. Naturally those who hate Halsey are going to paint her in a very negative way. Mendez treats Halsey with disrespect even though he is just as guilty as she is but he pretty much admits it later on. He just points the blame at Halsey in the beginning in order to sooth his own conscious.
>
> She is a monster yet if she didn’t do the project then a civil war would have ripped humanity apart doing more damage than the covenant and weakining us when they arrived.
>
> She is a monster yet she was approached to do the spartan II project saying if she turned it down somebody that didn’t actually care about the “subjects” would abuse the project. Oh, that sounds like Ackerson.
>
> A monster that constantly expresses guilt for what she has done and knows it will come back to haunt her.
>
> A monster that went over and about to give the spartan IIs the best of everything and to help them survive while Ackerson did what was best budget wise.
>
>
> I seriously believe people have mental issues if you actually know every little fact behind halsey and ackerson (which majority obviously don’t) and then say halsey is the worse one.
>
> Not to mention the book is biased; once somebody is told the SIIIs are suicide solders they just ignore it and still bash halsey.
If you actually read what I wrote you’ll note that I was mentioning how Halsey herself was upset over the things that she had done. I never once said Ackerson wasn’t in anyway less of a monster as she was but the ODSTs in the book have absolutely no idea who Colonel Ackerson is so how are they supposed to know he was worse? How were they supposed to know what went through Halsey’s mind when she accepted the project. They don’t because all their information comes from Halsey’s enemies who wanted to make her look like an evil person.
All the blame was cast onto Halsey by her enemies. The ODSTs don’t know who Ackerson is and I’m pretty sure his name isn’t even mentioned in their presence. So how can they acknowledge or admit he’s worse when they don’t even know he exists? I’m pretty sure as far as they are concerned Halsey was the head of the Spartan Project and that includes the IIs and the IIIs. After learning the ages of the IIIs and getting upset they wonder what Mendez was doing while “Halsey was doing the Frankenstein stuff with the kids?” They’re completely unaware the III project was a different project run by different people.
> No, we state that. Yet even as an “excuse” it’s still perfectly valid. You know how dire the situation was with the insurrection was. The Spartans were a last resort. We can say “Should’ve tried more negotiations”, but negotiations with terrorists have a habit of failing.
Yes because the Spartans totally succeed in ending the Insurrection. Oh wait, they didn’t.
> I still call BS on Maggie’s explanation, how Halsey lied about the Spartan-II clones. Yeah, the head of ONI just didn’t know it was going on until after the fact because Halsey hid it in the budget. And even then, Vaz’s Mengele comparison is just way off base. Halsey at least had a purpose and legitimately cared about the children, Mengele was a murderer posing as a doctor, plain and simple.
She’s not omniscient. Being the head of ONI meant she signed off on a lot of projects not just one. If she signed off on a team and told them to get to work it doesn’t mean she personally knew every single micro detail about what they were doing. She would only know project updates which Halsey’s team gave her or what ever her own AI were able to hack into. And Halsey was constantly fighting to keep AI out of her stuff.
I’m on Chapter 14 and the book is amazing. You guys are too picky, seriously.
> Yes because the Spartans totally succeed in ending the Insurrection. Oh wait, they didn’t.
Never said it did, hence a last resort.
> She’s not omniscient. Being the head of ONI meant she signed off on a lot of projects not just one. If she signed off on a team and told them to get to work it doesn’t mean she personally knew every single micro detail about what they were doing. She would only know project updates which Halsey’s team gave her or what ever her own AI were able to hack into. <mark>And Halsey was constantly fighting to keep AI out of her stuff.</mark>
Yet potentially millions of dollars of equipment, scientists and material all just vanish and Parandoksy is none the wiser? The mere fact Halsey was doing what I bolded in your statement should’ve made Maggie curious and I honestly believe if she tried harder, she would’ve known. All this seems to me is that Maggie is mad because she was incompetent at garning info, a probably she didn’t seem to have much issue with in other cases. Totally justifies keeping Halsey in a secret prison. Oh wait…no it doesn’t. Office of Naval intelligence…ha…more like Office of Naval Incompetence.
Glasslands was literally the worst halo book I have ever read. It ruined basically the whole story and I wish I could have never read it and my imagination take over. I’ve decided to write my own version on fan fiction. Call me obsessed my I usually re read the series once a year or twice because of the epic story of amazing characters and their adventures. But I’m never reading another book by Karen again. I can’t help but hate her. reason im obssesed Super soldier is my dream because of my longing to be the best possible soldier when I enlist it’s very kiddish and naive but I’m still young and impressionable I do not take the book literal and I’m glad halsey made the super soldiers because they made the story I’m not thinking of basic human morals I’m more into the story of cortana and master chief kicking but and racing across the galaxy fighting for humans that is what made the story before glasslands came and ruined it
> Glasslands was literally the worst halo book I have ever read. It ruined basically the whole story and I wish I could have never read it and my imagination take over. I’ve decided to write my own version on fan fiction. Call me obsessed my I usually re read the series once a year or twice because of the epic story of amazing characters and their adventures. But I’m never reading another book by Karen again. I can’t help but hate her. reason im obssesed Super soldier is my dream because of my longing to be the best possible soldier when I enlist it’s very kiddish and naive but I’m still young and impressionable I do not take the book literal and I’m glad halsey made the super soldiers because they made the story I’m not thinking of basic human morals I’m more into the story of cortana and master chief kicking but and racing across the galaxy fighting for humans that is what made the story before glasslands came and ruined it
I’m sorry, but a “Good Book” can’t be all about kicking -Yoink- and taking names. If it was, it would be very boring. All shoot this and that with no narrative or character development.
So far, I’m really liking it. I really like the part with Lucy and the Engineers, and want to know what’s going to happen to Vadam.
Hmmmmm I’ve read all the books thus far, and to be honest very few if any have been all about the chief and cortana. As a matter of fact other than a few chapters here and there I think the novels have done a good job of telling the story on the other side of the coin. And glasslands is no different. Yes it was a little heavy handed here and there but as things go on and move around I think we all have to atone for our sins. Each and every one, now wether these sins are self imposed guilt or the sin of complete moral ambiguity is completely beside the point, yes Ackerson was much worse than Halsey on the one hand, on the other his children were volunteers who’s lives had already been stolen by the covenant. Halsey did kidnap children, and her use of flash clones was not sanctioned or approved and infact probably put the families of the future spartans through more pain and suffering in the long run but it atleast gave them closure.
I’m not taking a side of the whole argument. But as far as the books go I felt that glasslands explored character DEVELOPEMENT in ways hat many of the novels almost avoided. I could be wrong because it’s been awhile since I read all of them. But I enjoyed the exploration into the emotional status of the characters. And I’m looking forward to the way 343 is hinting at exploring the chief’s character more in the new trilogy. There is a time and a place for non stop action but as the halo universe ages and evolves that time passes and consumers tend to favor a more visceral representation of characters and tend to crave relatability in turn. Just what I think, hate on Travis all you want, but I think given what she was told to work with she did a damn fine job and I’m looking forward to the next book.
> Hmmmmm I’ve read all the books thus far, and to be honest very few if any have been all about the chief and cortana. As a matter of fact other than a few chapters here and there I think the novels have done a good job of telling the story on the other side of the coin. And glasslands is no different. Yes it was a little heavy handed here and there but as things go on and move around I think we all have to atone for our sins. Each and every one, now wether these sins are self imposed guilt or the sin of complete moral ambiguity is completely beside the point, yes Ackerson was much worse than Halsey on the one hand, on the other his children were volunteers who’s lives had already been stolen by the covenant. Halsey did kidnap children, and her use of flash clones was not sanctioned or approved and infact probably put the families of the future spartans through more pain and suffering in the long run but it atleast gave them closure.
>
> I’m not taking a side of the whole argument. But as far as the books go I felt that glasslands explored character DEVELOPEMENT in ways hat many of the novels almost avoided. I could be wrong because it’s been awhile since I read all of them. But I enjoyed the exploration into the emotional status of the characters. And I’m looking forward to the way 343 is hinting at exploring the chief’s character more in the new trilogy. There is a time and a place for non stop action but as the halo universe ages and evolves that time passes and consumers tend to favor a more visceral representation of characters and tend to crave relatability in turn. Just what I think, hate on Travis all you want, but I think given what she was told to work with she did a damn fine job and I’m looking forward to the next book.
This.
I never said I wanted was non stop action. The books would get old if that happened plus I’m really into the Lore. (really want halo rpg) I just don’t want to ever read another one of Travis books again I’m into the story a lot been in love with it since I was 6 and I feel like she just ruined it for me… I really liked the spartan/Halsey relationship and I’m mad (spoiler) the last few chapters were all about hating Halsey
> I never said I wanted was non stop action. The books would get old if that happened plus I’m really into the Lore. (really want halo rpg) I just don’t want to ever read another one of Travis books again I’m into the story a lot been in love with it since I was 6 and I feel like she just ruined it for me… I really liked the spartan/Halsey relationship and I’m mad (spoiler) the last few chapters were all about hating Halsey
See what I feel like your missing is the Halsey hate came from a failed spartan and a spartan who hadn’t been around Halsey in years, these were just opinions expressed by a new set of characters. And I thought they were quite refreshing. Not everyone thinks that my hero’s are good people just like I don’t think some people’s hero’s good people at all. Take into account that during the NSDAP’s rise to power in Germany many people idolized -Yoink!-, but the rest of the world thought he was a monster. Now I’m not saying she was a -Yoink!- by any means, im just using him as an example.
> Some of the Elites fear humans, while others want a peace treaty. Pretty much the same for Humans.
Not from what I read. The division in this regard with the Elites is between those who want to continue with the war immediately, and those who want to merely postpone Humanity’s genocide until later, once things are set in order. None of them want a peace treaty, it’s just that those who appear to think that merely recognise that they need one, for the short term; but they don’t really want one. Want =/= need. Even the Arbiter thinks this, which was pretty disgraceful. This robbed them of their potential, and one of their biggest appeals for me; the idea that many of them opposed the war on some sort of ethical/empathic grounds and were ultimately failing to be brainwashed by Truth’s propaganda; ergo causing Truth to view them as dangerous enough to be purged. There is no battle between those that represent a positive future and those who represent another war, which I -Yoink!- well expected to happen. They are all the same. Aside from finding out if the Sangheili attempt to kill Humanity just now, or merely later on, there is no point in them even getting focus over any other species. (Well maybe they might also completely fail as a self-sufficient society, and collapse back into the stone ages, which is about the closest to a positive future as one is likely to get now) It was the line that differentiated them from the Brutes more than anything else. I could say that the two may as well be the same culture and species now for all intents and purposes. That, and it felt like the very theme of the book is on the conclusion that the two cannot possibly co-exist, which Bungie never hinted at in Halo 3 at all; it’s absurd, and sort of an assault upon Halo 3’s closure. It took what was a race with some intrinsic worth as significantly relatable and sympathizable characters, and the potential to be something great, and reduced them to an entire race of warmongering rednecks with a severely truncated sense of what is right and wrong.
Generalizing an entire culture is flat out poor writing in either scenario of making them all liking or all hating of Humanity. I don’t care which one it is; the former doesn’t make any sense, the latter is completely ignorant of the greater context of the story other than a superficial treatment of the most obvious aspects, i.e. a war happened. Both fail to give a decent conflict in the end, and an arena for a range of decent characters and issues to emerge from. Pretty shallow stuff, although I can understand why it was allowed, given that it appears that 343i’s intention all along was to just have us fight the Elites again in Halo 4. It all makes sense now.
I finished Glasslands monday. I like the book. I didn’t see Halsey bring portrayed any more evil than normal.
Though Maggie seems very hypocritical. In one of the quotes at the beginning of the chapters Maggie says she resumes responsibility for her acting no mater what they were, yet she despises Halsey for using flash clones. I was expecting Maggie to say that she was the mother, or grandmother of one of the Spartans and the flash clones death was significant, or devastating to her or her family. 
I will end up buying The Thursday War when it comes out. I have to find out what happens on Sangheilios!
I don’t really think Traviss was wrong about Halsey, but I didn’t like to see her cast in a negative light.
> > Some of the Elites fear humans, while others want a peace treaty. Pretty much the same for Humans.
>
> Not from what I read. The division in this regard with the Elites is between those who want to continue with the war immediately, and those who want to merely postpone Humanity’s genocide until later, once things are set in order. None of them want a peace treaty, it’s just that those who appear to think that merely recognise that they need one, for the short term; but they don’t really want one. Want =/= need. Even the Arbiter thinks this, which was pretty disgraceful. This robbed them of their potential, and one of their biggest appeals for me; the idea that many of them opposed the war on some sort of ethical/empathic grounds and were ultimately failing to be brainwashed by Truth’s propaganda; ergo causing Truth to view them as dangerous enough to be purged. There is no battle between those that represent a positive future and those who represent another war, which I -Yoink!- well expected to happen. They are all the same. Aside from finding out if the Sangheili attempt to kill Humanity just now, or merely later on, there is no point in them even getting focus over any other species. (Well maybe they might also completely fail as a self-sufficient society, and collapse back into the stone ages, which is about the closest to a positive future as one is likely to get now) It was the line that differentiated them from the Brutes more than anything else. I could say that the two may as well be the same culture and species now for all intents and purposes. That, and it felt like the very theme of the book is on the conclusion that the two cannot possibly co-exist, which Bungie never hinted at in Halo 3 at all; it’s absurd, and sort of an assault upon Halo 3’s closure. It took what was a race with some intrinsic worth as significantly relatable and sympathizable characters, and the potential to be something great, and reduced them to an entire race of warmongering rednecks with a severely truncated sense of what is right and wrong.
>
> Generalizing an entire culture is flat out poor writing in either scenario of making them all liking or all hating of Humanity. I don’t care which one it is; the former doesn’t make any sense, the latter is completely ignorant of the greater context of the story other than a superficial treatment of the most obvious aspects, i.e. a war happened. Both fail to give a decent conflict in the end, and an arena for a range of decent characters and issues to emerge from. Pretty shallow stuff, although I can understand why it was allowed, given that it appears that 343i’s intention all along was to just have us fight the Elites again in Halo 4. It all makes sense now.
I didn’t get that vibe at all. But then again that’s why the written word is so great. We all understand the things written in a slightly different way. While the arbiter is openly for peace with the humans (which to me seemed pretty obvious) the servants of abiding truth are willing to have dealings with the humans as long as it is a means to their end. While the arbiter and his ilk wish for a mutually beneficial peace, the servants wish to reunite their people under the banner of their ancient religion. Both are noble causes, both have their benefits and draw backs and both will have similar outcomes.
In the end the outcome of a treaty or battle isn’t what matters, it’s the means to which the end was achieved. That’s the things that are written most about in the annals of history. It’s the adventure one or the other has in finding what was meant to happen all along.
In the end I see peace between the two species,mow peace to what extent will be determined by who wins out in the end.
Umm the arbiter doesn’t want peace with the humans he just knows they both can’t afford to fight each other right now.