Can't get a better deal than this
In a few words: The Halo trilogy boxed set is a great read not just for fans of the Halo games but sci fi readers in general.
Of course before I got this I saw a few reader reviews before picking up a copy and must agree that they were very helpful in helping me make my decision.
I'll start with the very book that prompted me to drop this review, which is THE FALL OF REACH. The very first Halo book I read was the GHOSTS OF ONYX by ERIC NYLUND. I just have to agree with majority of the people about Mr. Nylund knowing how to get the job done when it comes to Halo fiction.
What the FALL OF REACH does for anyone who's played the Halo games, is it helps you relate better with the characters to the point that they're no longer cardboard cut outs like most video game characters usually are. Starting with the back story on Captain Keyes which I loved very much to what actually makes the Spartans tick.
In the book you get to see the harsh military lives the Spartans were put through even as little kids. Mr. Nylund guides you step by step through the Spartan Program and how these super soldiers were formed mentally, physically, and biologically. To the point that when you're done reading the book, you just want to slot in a Halo game and play it all over again.
All in all, if you don't play games but are a fan of good science fiction, be careful reading the books in this Halo boxed set, it might just convert you into a full time gamer.
As for HALO THE FLOOD. by William C. Dietz. I don't know why a lot of people wrote the book of as being not up to par. In fact I just finished the FLOOD tonight and think it's equally a great read. Why I think a lot of people did not feel this book as much as the others is because it's actually based on one of the games, and apart from this, Mr. william did not do much work in trying to tell the games story from another point of view, so basically it was more of a walk through of the game rather than a different experience.A thing I suspect may have been instructions from the creators of the fiction.
For people who have not played the first Halo game, this book will be a reasonably good read. But if you've played the game, you'll get bored in several sections, for the simple fact that you know it all. Personally I think Mr. William is a very good writer but he just wrote the book in the wrong way, by duplicating the game almost step by step. But I really enjoyed characters like Mc'kay.
I just always wanted to see what was happening with her. Also Zamamee, an Elite that was on a mission to destroy the Master Chief. If for nothing else I enjoyed HALO THE FLOOD for sake of these two well thought out characters.
Well guess what? I'm currently on HALO THE FIRST STRIKE but if the book is half as good as THE FALL OF REACH or as good as THE FLOOD, then you haven't put your money in the wrong place.
As a Halo fan these books have made me love the fiction even more. I actually also have HALO EVOLUTIONS waiting for me when I'm done with FIRST STRIKE. Not as if I've not stolen a read of one or two of the mouth watering short stories already, anyway, and so far I've been having a blast.
I also recommend GHOSTS OF ONYX and HALO EVOLUTIONS. I'm yet to check out the rest anyway. cheers.
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Overview
The official novels of the award-winning Xbox game! This set contains The Fall of Reach, First Strike, and The Flood — the complete chronicles of the bloody Human-Covenant War on Halo.
The Fall of Reach
As the bloody Human-Covenant War rages on Halo, the fate of humankind may rest with one warrior, the lone SPARTAN survivor of another legendary battle . . . the desperate, take-no-prisoners struggle that led humanity to Halo—the fall of the planet Reach. Now, brought to life for the ...