Haven’t read it yet, so no spoilers, please.
I read the first two books. I loved them. I found Silentium hard to find in the books stores. I am probably going to order it online soon.
Did you like the book?
Why has it been so hard to find?
Did it explain any of the inconsistencies with the Didact’s character in H4?
My top two favorite Halo books are Ghosts of Onyx and Silentium. So yes, I really did like (love) the book.
Dunno why it’s hard to find for you. And I thought my city sucks at getting stuff.
It definitely explained the Didact’s motives in Halo 4.
IMO, Silentium was the best of the three. I don’t know why it’d be hard to find as I know my local book store still carries some. If you can’t find it locally you could always order one online. As for the Didact, yes it explains why he is a bad guy in Halo 4.
Thanks!! Looking forward to reading this!
Thanks for all the responses.
> My top two favorite Halo books are Ghosts of Onyx and Silentium. So yes, I really did like (love) the book.
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> Dunno why it’s hard to find for you. And I thought my city sucks at getting stuff.
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> It definitely explained the Didact’s motives in Halo 4.
Yup. Silentium is probably my favorite Halo book.
Great read, and it provides a very interesting look at the Flood and what might be coming next in the franchise.
Greg truly saved the best for last. Silentium is not only the best Halo novel, but toppled Hyperion as my favourite sci-fi novel overall.
You’re in for a treat when you read it, you should just get it off Amazon.
Most people tend to agree that Silentium is the best of the Forerunner Trilogy and one of the bests of all the Halo novels.
Its probably my 3rd favorite after Ghosts of Onyx and The Fall of Reach.
I almost cried while reading it.
It was amazing.
Silentium is VERY good. But it also has some very disappointing and boring parts.
But that’s IMO
Overall it’s a Good book.
Great book. It’s a must read. It’s probably so hard to find because it’s so good.
As for the Didact’s inconsistencies in Halo 4 compared to Cryptum and Primordium…
First off, you are given the Domain Terminals.
Secondly, the in game dialogue provides information on who he is and why he’s like that.
“Mankind spread into the stars with an unexpected, desperate violence. Entire systems fell before the Didact’s Warrior-Servants rose to halt the aggression.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4
We annihilated entire systems of Forerunners before they could properly mobilize against us.
“When the Didact finally exhausted the humans after a millennia, his sentence was severe.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4
The imagery provided in the cutscene shows how brutal the fighting was. And that brutal fighting continued for 1,000 years of war as evident by the quote.
“The Forerunners made plans for a final, great journey. But the Didact refused to yield our Mantle of Responsibility. He would save all life in the galaxy… at a cost.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4
“The Mantle of Responsibility for the galaxy shelters all, human. But only the Forerunners are its masters.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4
With the Flood closing in, the Forerunners prepared the Halo Array and pass on the Mantle. However, the Didact believed Forerunners were the Mantle’s masters and was quite insistent the Halos didn’t need to be fired and he could save everyone.
“Such moral concerns faded from the Didact’s attention. The Flood only assimilated living tissue. The Composer would provide the Didact his solution… and his revenge.”
-Cutscene, Reclaimer, Halo 4
OK, this is a big red flag. Shadow-of-Sundered-Star’s nickname is Didact, a derivative of the word didactic, meaning a strict teacher of morals. If the Didact starts to disregard his morals, I think it’s pretty obvious his mind has been touched by insanity.
Everything above is further supported and elaborated upon in the Terminals which are included in every copy of Halo 4.
The Didact’s relationship with Chief also changes throughout Halo 4.
He originally saw Chief as a tool. A means to an end. He manipulated him to release him. And after that, the Didact has no further use for him, so he discards him.
“The Forerunners… have returned. This tomb… is now yours.”
-Cutscene, Forerunner, Halo 4
When Chief escapes his doom, the Didact is impressed but still doesn’t consider him a threat. In fact, he even tries to persuade Chief with logic to turn back and live out the rest of his life as long as he can.
“Your actions tread between honor and foolishness.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4
“Do you truly believe these theatrics can prevent my departure? Embrace your sad fate and retain your nobility. I am already beyond you.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4
“You will relent, human, or you will perish. All in life is choice. And your day to choose has come.”
-Gameplay, Shutdown, Halo 4
And as the Didact prepares to leave Requiem, he informs Chief that he has a choice to save his life, or foolishly die trying to stop him.
“You impress me, human. Your singular valor will be preserved and studied, once your Composition has been completed.”
-Gameplay, Composer, Halo 4
Despite the warning, Chief continues anyway and pursues the Didact. The Didact reveals he is impressed that he chose to fight against impossible odds, but reveals he will be killed (obviously not knowing the Librarian inoculated him)
“Where reason does not stop you, perhaps force can at least delay you.”
-Gameplay, Midnight, Halo 4
This is a pretty big change, as this is the first time the Didact actually considers Chief a threat, but knowing what Chief went through, he understands that he won’t be able to kill him, so he’ll have to delay him until he fires the Composer. And when he does succeed (which is a first considering no Halo antagonist has ever been successful in their goal.)
And when Chief finally approaches him, the Didact treats him as an equal, something he didn’t do before.
Notice the fact that the Didact waits until Chief is fully turned around before he attacks him. A sign of equality and fairness.
That’s all in the game.
Let’s just say that if anyone were to say Silentium was bad, they are automatically wrong. It’s just too good. As for you having trouble finding it, now I feel bad for buying two copies.
I have a question.
Why was the Domain destroyed as a result of the Halos firing? Don’t the Halos destroy the flood’s food? Physical forms? How can it possibly destroy the domain, something that is not physical at all?
Also, The IsoDidact asks Guilty Spark about whether he would fire the Halo array by choice. In CE, Guilty Spark says to Chief “Last time YOU asked me, if it were my choice, would i do it? Having had considerable time to ponder YOUR query, my answer has not changed…” Could this mean, that Bungie had always intended the chief to be the new Didact of the present? Could Chief be the reincarnation of the Didact? Sounds cheesy as hell, but what else does it mean?
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The Domain is a Precursor creation and thus based on neural physics, ie a thing the Halos consequently destroy. As for Chief and Bungie, I doubt they had this in their minds. The whole “Chakas/Guilty Spark” things is a 343i creation.
> I almost cried while reading it.
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> It was amazing.
When Librarian sees the Ur-Didact compose the humans on Omega Halo and completely loses her -Yoink-, screaming that “all he does is kill my children”. D’:
It is a great book, with notable moments that will stick with you over time. You definitely should pick it up and pay close attention to everything being thrown around.
For some reason I can’t remember much of the Forerunner Trilogy’s little details. There were plenty of moments in this novel where I found the technology and locations difficult to picture and stay with. I found it to be frustrating at times, as I normally can recall tons of misc. and useless info from books I’ve read, but for the life of me I struggle to recall anything other than major lore points after reading the trilogy twice. >.<
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> The Domain is a Precursor creation and thus based on neural physics, ie a thing the Halos consequently destroy. As for Chief and Bungie, I doubt they had this in their minds. The whole “Chakas/Guilty Spark” things is a 343i creation.
Thank you.
Op the reason you can’t find the book anywhere is probably due to the fact that it is in the process of switching to soft cover from hard cover. It is a great book that is a must read.
This is the best book in the franchise by far. It goes beyond just the story of Halo and makes you contemplate the universe itself as it is, and what is possibly beyond it. Great read, great information, great overall book.
Best Halo book ever. Greg Bear needs to come back.