Hey Everyone,
Would like to start getting into the expanded Halo Universe, but unsure where to start, what series to start with?
I remember trying years ago and I think I had the book ‘The Flood’ or something similar. I honestly didn’t get very far into it, was written pretty poorly and it turned me off.
I’ve been reading 40K fiction such as Horus Heresy, and Abnett’s 40K Gaunts/Eisenhorn/Ravenor books for years and a bit of Stephen King too. So I’m used to a more adult writing style and tone.
Happy to start with some recommendations or books/series to give the wide berth.
Regards,
Ryno
The Eric Nylund books (Fall of Reach, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx) are all great and I’d recommend starting there. Contact Harvest is also good, and is written by the guy who come up with the lore in the first place. If you can find a copy of the Halo Graphic Novel, that’s also worth a look.
I didn’t care for the Karen Traviss books though.
I would recommend Halo Mythos as it gives an overview of the entire Halo time line then go through human covenant war in chronological order.
> 2533274902628105;3:
> I would recommend Halo Mythos as it gives an overview of the entire Halo time line then go through human covenant war in chronological order.
So glad Mythos was put together so well (unlike it’s predecessor). Easily the best choice to get a quick overview of the universe in a convenient and visually enjoyable way.
For OP, as you read Mythos, take note of the various stories that are touched on that you find interesting. Then go get the book/comic/whatever that corresponds to that story. I understand why you weren’t a fan of The Flood. I personally enjoyed that it took the original game and added new material that was more or less behind the scenes while Chief was fighting his way across Installation 04. However, because it is a novelization of a story that is largely made up of game play, it’s hard to make those parts very unique or interesting.
I would recommend The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund, as it’s basically the prequel to Halo Combat Evolved and gives you a really solid grounding in the greater Halo universe. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, the Forerunner trilogy by Greg Bear is fantastic as well.
I would recommend the two short story compilation books: Evolutions and/or Fractures.
Lot’s of different types of short stories/novellas. If one doesn’t suit your fancy, skip to the next, but imo, they’re all decent to great.
> 2533274871070538;1:
> Hey Everyone,
>
> Would like to start getting into the expanded Halo Universe, but unsure where to start, what series to start with?
>
> I remember trying years ago and I think I had the book ‘The Flood’ or something similar. I honestly didn’t get very far into it, was written pretty poorly and it turned me off.
> I’ve been reading 40K fiction such as Horus Heresy, and Abnett’s 40K Gaunts/Eisenhorn/Ravenor books for years and a bit of Stephen King too. So I’m used to a more adult writing style and tone.
>
> Happy to start with some recommendations or books/series to give the wide berth.
>
> Regards,
> Ryno
I initially started reading from a chronological standpoint, but due to real life put Halo away for a few years. On returning, not only were there the books I had intended to read, but a whole slew if new ones which led me to a different approach.
I would start with a question or concept from the games that you want to expand on. For me, I’m a big fan of the Halo Wars/Spirit of Fire storyline which now includes the Ark and its callbacks to Halo 3. This led me to Hunters in the Dark and the Rion Forge books, which then connects back to the Forerunner trilogy.
Surprisingly, these in turn, has led to some aspects in game that I never noticed before.
My 2 cents.
Cheers,
Brad
Cheers everyone, might check out Halo: Mythos. Sounds like an apt starting point. *Runs off to BookDepository
EDIT: Ok, I didn’t realise it was such a pretty book, not just a novel! I can get it in hardcover too for under $50. Thanks for the tip! Also, what books are in the Forerunner arc!? I found the Terminal lore from Halo3 super interesting, does it encompass that?
> 2533274871070538;8:
> Cheers everyone, might check out Halo: Mythos. Sounds like an apt starting point. *Runs off to BookDepository
>
> EDIT: Ok, I didn’t realise it was such a pretty book, not just a novel! I can get it in hardcover too for under $50. Thanks for the tip! Also, what books are in the Forerunner arc!? I found the Terminal lore from Halo3 super interesting, does it encompass that?
All the books by Greg Bear:
- Cryptum (2011) (Forerunner trilogy book 1) - Primordium (2012) (Forerunner trilogy book 2) - Silentium (2013) (Forerunner trilogy book 3) make up the Forerunner trilogy. And yes, the Halo 3 terminals are kind of used as seeds that were more or less developed into the entire backstory of the Forerunners.
> 2533274871070538;8:
> Cheers everyone, might check out Halo: Mythos. Sounds like an apt starting point. *Runs off to BookDepository
>
> EDIT: Ok, I didn’t realise it was such a pretty book, not just a novel! I can get it in hardcover too for under $50. Thanks for the tip! Also, what books are in the Forerunner arc!? I found the Terminal lore from Halo3 super interesting, does it encompass that?
As Xwing pointed out, the arc also tentatively continues in fractures. One of the important human characters from the forerunner trilogy also has their arc continued in the second book focusing on Rione Forge, Halo: Renegades.
> 2533274871070538;8:
> Cheers everyone, might check out Halo: Mythos. Sounds like an apt starting point. *Runs off to BookDepository
>
> EDIT: Ok, I didn’t realise it was such a pretty book, not just a novel! I can get it in hardcover too for under $50. Thanks for the tip! Also, what books are in the Forerunner arc!? I found the Terminal lore from Halo3 super interesting, does it encompass that?
The above two posts got you covered for sure on the trilogy. Just wanted to point out that there might be some continuity issues you may notice between the terminals and the books. Not to worry, it’s a few minor details like where exactly the Iso-Didact was during the destruction of The Greater Ark (if I recall correctly), just wanted to let you know before you dive in.
Have fun with it! Some amazing books to be sure 
Thanks everyone! Good community!
I would start with the Halo: Mythos book. It gives a pretty accurate timeline of the Halo universe pre and post Halo firing so you can get context on what you’re reading once you go onto the novels mentioned above (Fall of Reach, First Strike, The Flood, etc). I would also check out the website Halopedia.com, it gives really in depth descriptions of almost everything in Halo if you want to learn more.
> 2533274871070538;1:
> Hey Everyone,
>
> Would like to start getting into the expanded Halo Universe, but unsure where to start, what series to start with?
>
> I remember trying years ago and I think I had the book ‘The Flood’ or something similar. I honestly didn’t get very far into it, was written pretty poorly and it turned me off.
> I’ve been reading 40K fiction such as Horus Heresy, and Abnett’s 40K Gaunts/Eisenhorn/Ravenor books for years and a bit of Stephen King too. So I’m used to a more adult writing style and tone.
>
> Happy to start with some recommendations or books/series to give the wide berth.
>
> Regards,
> Ryno
It would probably be better to "hear the book read to you. Try Audible. I can give you the book you got for free. If it is your first time getting an Audiobook.
I’ve listened to an Audible book you might enjoy. It’s totally free, if it’s your first time accepting a book from a friend. Audible, try it free - 30 day audiobooks free trial from Audible | Audible.com
It is the book you got. Halo: The Flood. If you like it, consider a subscription. It is a great service.
> 2533274832784144;2:
> The Eric Nylund books (Fall of Reach, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx) are all great and I’d recommend starting there. Contact Harvest is also good, and is written by the guy who come up with the lore in the first place. If you can find a copy of the Halo Graphic Novel, that’s also worth a look.
>
> I didn’t care for the Karen Traviss books though.
Thanks. I recently bought and started to read the novels myself and am currently about a quarter through Fall of Reach as my first book because it was also the first book to be released to begin with.
Though from a Halo time line perspective, anyone knows in which order would I need to read the books to read them in the correct chronological order to go from the “earliest to latest” events?
> 2535451042842615;15:
> > 2533274832784144;2:
> > The Eric Nylund books (Fall of Reach, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx) are all great and I’d recommend starting there. Contact Harvest is also good, and is written by the guy who come up with the lore in the first place. If you can find a copy of the Halo Graphic Novel, that’s also worth a look.
> >
> > I didn’t care for the Karen Traviss books though.
>
> Thanks. I recently bought and started to read the novels myself and am currently about a quarter through Fall of Reach as my first book because it was also the first book to be released to begin with.
>
> Though from a Halo time line perspective, anyone knows in which order would I need to read the books to read them in the correct chronological order to go from the “earliest to latest” events?
This might work: https://www.alltimelines.com/halo/?sort=chronologicalorder&per_page=100
> 2533274895694844;16:
> > 2535451042842615;15:
> > > 2533274832784144;2:
> > > The Eric Nylund books (Fall of Reach, First Strike, Ghosts of Onyx) are all great and I’d recommend starting there. Contact Harvest is also good, and is written by the guy who come up with the lore in the first place. If you can find a copy of the Halo Graphic Novel, that’s also worth a look.
> > >
> > > I didn’t care for the Karen Traviss books though.
> >
> > Thanks. I recently bought and started to read the novels myself and am currently about a quarter through Fall of Reach as my first book because it was also the first book to be released to begin with.
> >
> > Though from a Halo time line perspective, anyone knows in which order would I need to read the books to read them in the correct chronological order to go from the “earliest to latest” events?
>
> This might work: https://www.alltimelines.com/halo/?sort=chronologicalorder&per_page=100
Thanks! That site is definitely worth bookmarking for the future.