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Halo #3
Halo: First Strike
The Human-Covenant war rages on as the alien juggernaut sweeps inexorably toward its final goal: destruction of all human life!
Halo has been destroyed, and the threat it posed to sentient life, neutralized. But victory has come at a terrible cost for the UNSC. Thousands of valiant soldiers fell in the battle to prevent the alien construct from falling into the enemy’s clutches.
Now, everything depends on the Spartan known as the “Master Chief.” Yet even with the aid of the artificial intelligence Cortana, the Master Chief will be hard-pressed to rescue survivors and evade the Covenant ships patrolling the remains of Halo in debris-strewn space.
Ahead lies a dangerous voyage home, through a gauntlet of Covenant forces. For the sake of all, the Master Chief and his war-torn squad must not only survive, but take the fight to the enemy with a decisive first strike.
This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.
Bungie, Halo, Xbox, the Microsoft Game Studios logo and the Xbox Logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Used under license. © 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Halo has been destroyed, and the threat it posed to sentient life, neutralized. But victory has come at a terrible cost for the UNSC. Thousands of valiant soldiers fell in the battle to prevent the alien construct from falling into the enemy’s clutches.
Now, everything depends on the Spartan known as the “Master Chief.” Yet even with the aid of the artificial intelligence Cortana, the Master Chief will be hard-pressed to rescue survivors and evade the Covenant ships patrolling the remains of Halo in debris-strewn space.
Ahead lies a dangerous voyage home, through a gauntlet of Covenant forces. For the sake of all, the Master Chief and his war-torn squad must not only survive, but take the fight to the enemy with a decisive first strike.
This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.
Bungie, Halo, Xbox, the Microsoft Game Studios logo and the Xbox Logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Used under license. © 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 558 reviews
April 7, 2022
Comparing this book to the last is a bit like night and day. Where night is nonstop action across the ringworld Halo (with very little in the way of character development), day is like building up many pathos heroes just to tear them down in glorious varied battles on planets, spaceships (human and alien), enough to satisfy any Duty nut.
In other words, the second book was a bit one-note and the third was a bit more like the first, with plenty of build-up and tons of varied encounters. This shouldn't be all that surprising, of course, since it was written by the same fun author that did book 1.
Quite enjoyable, really.
Near perfect if what you want are hard SF space battles and super-grunt work.
In other words, the second book was a bit one-note and the third was a bit more like the first, with plenty of build-up and tons of varied encounters. This shouldn't be all that surprising, of course, since it was written by the same fun author that did book 1.
Quite enjoyable, really.
Near perfect if what you want are hard SF space battles and super-grunt work.
February 26, 2010
A lot of people play games for the killing, but others like the story. People who have played the game Halo for the story should read Halo, First Strike, and the other halo books by Eric Nyluno. This book (Halo, First Strike) and the others are about the famous super soldiers called Spartan IIs that are hopelessly defending the Human race from the evil Covenant and finding an ancient super weapon called Halo. This is a great book to read because the plot is interesting, the conflict is simplistic, exciting, and the writing style is easy to follow.
All the halo books take place in the fictional future (about 500 years). This book begins and ends in the year 2552 near the end of the Human-Covenant war. Super human soldiers called Spartan IIs were created before the war to help quell a rebellion, but by the time they were battle ready the Human-Covenant war was in full swing. So they were deployed across the Human Empire. By 2552 the Covenant found the first Inner colony, Reach. This is where this book starts, aboard a ship called the Pillar of Autumn. Their leader (Master Chief) is split between sending his teams down to save the planet and securing Navigation data on a satellite that could lead the Covenant to earth. He decides to split the team so they can do both. When getting the Navigation data, all the Spartans on that team die except Master Chief. When he gets back to the ship, he and the ship’s crew assume the other team is dead and flee. What Master Chief doesn’t know is that the other team is still on the planet.
The conflict is very simple. It is man VS man or man VS supernatural depending on who you ask. To be more specific Humans VS the collection of evil aliens called the Covenant. It always stays like this throughout most other books in the halo series. The Covenant is always shown as the greatest evil ever. Even the fearless Master Chief is “tensed as he watched the Covenant crowding on the galleries.”(Nylund 200). The basic rule when near Master Chief is that when he is “tensed” you better be scared. This type of conflict is simple because you don’t question weather the bad guy is really bad or not.
Most halo books have the same type of writing style. This style is what most people call the “godly” third person view. The idea behind the godly view is that the narrator knows everything, what they are thinking what the enemy is thinking everything. “Dr. Halsey concentrated on Kelly’s internal scan” (124). This quote shows that the narrator knows what everyone is thinking, but is still talking in third person, because “I” is never said. Halo often switches between two different but connecting stories. One page the narrator is talking about “Fred’s head up display and he saw a Covenant Wraith tank” (21) the next chapter “the Master Chief settled into the pilot’s seat of the Longsword attack craft.”(30). Switching between stories gives the reader a greater understanding of the big picture. In these ways the halo series set themselves apart from other sci-fi action books.
This book and the other halo books are excellent to read because the story line is exciting, the common adventure theme is easy to read, and the way he writes is interesting and simple to follow. The constant action makes you want to read more. It’s easy to follow and goes hand in hand with the “godly” writing style to make a great book for sci-fi and action fans alike. If you ever want to know more about the halo story read this and all the other books.
All the halo books take place in the fictional future (about 500 years). This book begins and ends in the year 2552 near the end of the Human-Covenant war. Super human soldiers called Spartan IIs were created before the war to help quell a rebellion, but by the time they were battle ready the Human-Covenant war was in full swing. So they were deployed across the Human Empire. By 2552 the Covenant found the first Inner colony, Reach. This is where this book starts, aboard a ship called the Pillar of Autumn. Their leader (Master Chief) is split between sending his teams down to save the planet and securing Navigation data on a satellite that could lead the Covenant to earth. He decides to split the team so they can do both. When getting the Navigation data, all the Spartans on that team die except Master Chief. When he gets back to the ship, he and the ship’s crew assume the other team is dead and flee. What Master Chief doesn’t know is that the other team is still on the planet.
The conflict is very simple. It is man VS man or man VS supernatural depending on who you ask. To be more specific Humans VS the collection of evil aliens called the Covenant. It always stays like this throughout most other books in the halo series. The Covenant is always shown as the greatest evil ever. Even the fearless Master Chief is “tensed as he watched the Covenant crowding on the galleries.”(Nylund 200). The basic rule when near Master Chief is that when he is “tensed” you better be scared. This type of conflict is simple because you don’t question weather the bad guy is really bad or not.
Most halo books have the same type of writing style. This style is what most people call the “godly” third person view. The idea behind the godly view is that the narrator knows everything, what they are thinking what the enemy is thinking everything. “Dr. Halsey concentrated on Kelly’s internal scan” (124). This quote shows that the narrator knows what everyone is thinking, but is still talking in third person, because “I” is never said. Halo often switches between two different but connecting stories. One page the narrator is talking about “Fred’s head up display and he saw a Covenant Wraith tank” (21) the next chapter “the Master Chief settled into the pilot’s seat of the Longsword attack craft.”(30). Switching between stories gives the reader a greater understanding of the big picture. In these ways the halo series set themselves apart from other sci-fi action books.
This book and the other halo books are excellent to read because the story line is exciting, the common adventure theme is easy to read, and the way he writes is interesting and simple to follow. The constant action makes you want to read more. It’s easy to follow and goes hand in hand with the “godly” writing style to make a great book for sci-fi and action fans alike. If you ever want to know more about the halo story read this and all the other books.
March 23, 2019
Halo: First Strike is the third novel in the original Halo novel trilogy, taking place immediately after Halo: The Flood (and Halo: Combat Evolved) and right before Halo 2. For many fans of the Halo video games, that time period in-between the first two Halo games was always one of the franchise's greatest mysteries – Sgt. Johnson even relays that that information was “classified” in Halo 2, and so it was never mentioned in any of the games since. After Halo: Combat Evolved, so many things happened: the Covenant found Earth, Sgt. Johnson was alive and well, Master Chief got a new set of MJOLNIR armor, and new Covenant forces were introduced on the battlefield. For those like myself who had always wondered how such drastic changes took place between these two Halo games, this is the book for you; most of your answers will be answered in this novel...most, but not all.
One of my biggest gripes with Halo: First Strike is how it attempts to tell the untold story of the interim time between the first two Halo games, yet it stops just short of giving us all the answers despite being the last in the original book trilogy. Since no further books were planned at the time, having an ending as ambiguous as the one this book gave us is truly dumbfounding to me. I was not lying when I said that most of your questions would be answered by this book, but it will also leave you with an entirely new set of questions immediately afterwards. Basically, we trade one mystery for another, arguably more interesting mystery. I won't divulge exactly what prompts these new sets of questions so as not to spoil the story, but the ending leaves quite a significant hole in the Halo trilogy of books and games that will always irk me when thinking about it. Hopefully future Halo novels clear things up, but since this was supposed to be the end of a trilogy, I would have expected all loose ends to have been tied up by now rather than having more crop up in their stead.
One thing I noticed about the Halo book trilogy is that each book's title references something major in the Halo universe on which their plots are predicated – the destruction of the Human colony of Reach in Halo: The Fall of Reach; the outbreak of the parasitic Flood in Halo: The Flood – and although Halo: First Strike falls into that category as well, I felt that, ultimately, what took place in this novel was nowhere near as significant or impactful to the Halo universe as those other two novels' plots. Despite what the title would suggest, the operation in question, First Strike, does not take place until the very last section of the book, which consists of only a handful of chapters; the rest of the book preceding this section acts as build-up to this moment and establishing chapters for all the characters and locations. Now, none of this would be much of a problem if I thought that Operation First Strike was as huge a moment in the Master Chief's saga as the destruction of Halo or losing planet Reach to the Covenant. Alas, nearly everything about the main plot of this book is thrown by the wayside as soon as Halo 2 rolls around, making these supposedly major events in the book nothing more than a detour to the main action. I find this to be very disappointing because the stakes were so high in this novel – stakes exceeding or on par with the previous two novels – that it becomes sad to realize that very little of what happens here carries on in the games. Perhaps future books made more use of these events, but since this was originally meant to be the last in a trilogy of books, I found it to be a semi-lackluster end for a franchise as (formerly) great as Halo.
I said this was a semi-lackluster entry, but only because of its significance in the grand scheme of things. As far as entertainment value, this is definitely a great read throughout. Everything from the introduction of so many new and great characters and the further development of returning characters like the Master Chief, to the epic set pieces where tremendous battles take place and the emotional weight of the story, Halo: First Strike is rivaled only by Halo: The Fall of Reach in its storytelling. Truly, Eric Nylund was made to write for this series, which is a far cry for what I can say about William C. Diets, author of the excruciatingly average Halo: The Flood. Unlike the previous novel in this series, there is nary a dull moment of which to speak; the constant action is reminiscent of that found in the video games, which makes me wish that this book was adapted into a mainline Halo game. With the baffling direction that the latest Halo games have been taking these days, they would be fools not to utilize great stories like these from their past to bolster their newest entries.
My favorite aspect of this novel is easily the characters, both new and old. Of course, the Master Chief is present throughout, and I felt like this was a return of the complex character introduced in Halo: The Fall of Reach. In Halo: The Flood, the Master Chief was barely anything more than a cold, unfeeling killing machine with only a few sporadic emotions and free thoughts sprinkled in here and there. Thankfully, Nylund knows how to write this character perfectly, balancing his drive to kill with his desire to protect everyone around him beautifully.
The new characters were also written very well, and I felt like these were characters I could get used to reading about in future books. Each one brought a unique perspective to the plot, having their own motivations and reasons for fighting, and they worked well in the context of the story. Some of the most interesting moments of the novel included long stretches of dialogue between all the character because there was so much personality brimming from each line thanks to the diversity of character types. Admittedly, some character tropes were a bit cliché (like the tough guy who is always itching to kill something), but none were so egregiously stereotypical that I ever felt annoyed by these exaggerated traits. Overall, the characterization in Halo: First Strike is top notch (for a Halo novel) and will surely impress even the most ardent Halo fans.
With such great writing present this time around, I was a bit let down that the Covenant perspective was virtually absent in this novel. I will give Halo: The Flood credit for actually exploring this intriguing aspect of the Halo universe, something that was not done seriously until Halo 2. Though a disappointment, I am at least glad that a vast majority of the time and attention was paid exclusively to the human side of this event, reminding readers how dire the Human-Covenant War truly is when people without super human enhancements and power armor are so intimately involved.
More so than in other Halo novels, or frankly even other Halo games, Halo: First Strike delves more deeply into the idea that every single life has immeasurable value in this war, even that belonging to a lowly marine. Every death has weight in this novel, whereas the games and other books can easily kill off a handful of characters without so much as missing a stride in storytelling. I appreciate that this book stressed the importance of fighting for every last person's life.
In the end, your opinions about this book will boil down to where your priorities for reading a Halo book lie. If you are the type of Halo fan looking for major revelations about the Halo universe that would impact future titles, you may be left wanting. However, if you are more inclined to just sit back and enjoy whatever the book throws at you, then I think you will have a much better experience with this novel overall. Halo: First Strike offers very little in the way of universe building, at least to any significant degree, but where it falters in that regard it excels elsewhere in storytelling and characterization. This is a highly enjoyable Halo novel, one that should not be overlooked merely because of its smaller scope overall. Though it had some problems, Halo: First Strike is a must-read for die-hard Halo fans.
One of my biggest gripes with Halo: First Strike is how it attempts to tell the untold story of the interim time between the first two Halo games, yet it stops just short of giving us all the answers despite being the last in the original book trilogy. Since no further books were planned at the time, having an ending as ambiguous as the one this book gave us is truly dumbfounding to me. I was not lying when I said that most of your questions would be answered by this book, but it will also leave you with an entirely new set of questions immediately afterwards. Basically, we trade one mystery for another, arguably more interesting mystery. I won't divulge exactly what prompts these new sets of questions so as not to spoil the story, but the ending leaves quite a significant hole in the Halo trilogy of books and games that will always irk me when thinking about it. Hopefully future Halo novels clear things up, but since this was supposed to be the end of a trilogy, I would have expected all loose ends to have been tied up by now rather than having more crop up in their stead.
One thing I noticed about the Halo book trilogy is that each book's title references something major in the Halo universe on which their plots are predicated – the destruction of the Human colony of Reach in Halo: The Fall of Reach; the outbreak of the parasitic Flood in Halo: The Flood – and although Halo: First Strike falls into that category as well, I felt that, ultimately, what took place in this novel was nowhere near as significant or impactful to the Halo universe as those other two novels' plots. Despite what the title would suggest, the operation in question, First Strike, does not take place until the very last section of the book, which consists of only a handful of chapters; the rest of the book preceding this section acts as build-up to this moment and establishing chapters for all the characters and locations. Now, none of this would be much of a problem if I thought that Operation First Strike was as huge a moment in the Master Chief's saga as the destruction of Halo or losing planet Reach to the Covenant. Alas, nearly everything about the main plot of this book is thrown by the wayside as soon as Halo 2 rolls around, making these supposedly major events in the book nothing more than a detour to the main action. I find this to be very disappointing because the stakes were so high in this novel – stakes exceeding or on par with the previous two novels – that it becomes sad to realize that very little of what happens here carries on in the games. Perhaps future books made more use of these events, but since this was originally meant to be the last in a trilogy of books, I found it to be a semi-lackluster end for a franchise as (formerly) great as Halo.
I said this was a semi-lackluster entry, but only because of its significance in the grand scheme of things. As far as entertainment value, this is definitely a great read throughout. Everything from the introduction of so many new and great characters and the further development of returning characters like the Master Chief, to the epic set pieces where tremendous battles take place and the emotional weight of the story, Halo: First Strike is rivaled only by Halo: The Fall of Reach in its storytelling. Truly, Eric Nylund was made to write for this series, which is a far cry for what I can say about William C. Diets, author of the excruciatingly average Halo: The Flood. Unlike the previous novel in this series, there is nary a dull moment of which to speak; the constant action is reminiscent of that found in the video games, which makes me wish that this book was adapted into a mainline Halo game. With the baffling direction that the latest Halo games have been taking these days, they would be fools not to utilize great stories like these from their past to bolster their newest entries.
My favorite aspect of this novel is easily the characters, both new and old. Of course, the Master Chief is present throughout, and I felt like this was a return of the complex character introduced in Halo: The Fall of Reach. In Halo: The Flood, the Master Chief was barely anything more than a cold, unfeeling killing machine with only a few sporadic emotions and free thoughts sprinkled in here and there. Thankfully, Nylund knows how to write this character perfectly, balancing his drive to kill with his desire to protect everyone around him beautifully.
The new characters were also written very well, and I felt like these were characters I could get used to reading about in future books. Each one brought a unique perspective to the plot, having their own motivations and reasons for fighting, and they worked well in the context of the story. Some of the most interesting moments of the novel included long stretches of dialogue between all the character because there was so much personality brimming from each line thanks to the diversity of character types. Admittedly, some character tropes were a bit cliché (like the tough guy who is always itching to kill something), but none were so egregiously stereotypical that I ever felt annoyed by these exaggerated traits. Overall, the characterization in Halo: First Strike is top notch (for a Halo novel) and will surely impress even the most ardent Halo fans.
With such great writing present this time around, I was a bit let down that the Covenant perspective was virtually absent in this novel. I will give Halo: The Flood credit for actually exploring this intriguing aspect of the Halo universe, something that was not done seriously until Halo 2. Though a disappointment, I am at least glad that a vast majority of the time and attention was paid exclusively to the human side of this event, reminding readers how dire the Human-Covenant War truly is when people without super human enhancements and power armor are so intimately involved.
More so than in other Halo novels, or frankly even other Halo games, Halo: First Strike delves more deeply into the idea that every single life has immeasurable value in this war, even that belonging to a lowly marine. Every death has weight in this novel, whereas the games and other books can easily kill off a handful of characters without so much as missing a stride in storytelling. I appreciate that this book stressed the importance of fighting for every last person's life.
In the end, your opinions about this book will boil down to where your priorities for reading a Halo book lie. If you are the type of Halo fan looking for major revelations about the Halo universe that would impact future titles, you may be left wanting. However, if you are more inclined to just sit back and enjoy whatever the book throws at you, then I think you will have a much better experience with this novel overall. Halo: First Strike offers very little in the way of universe building, at least to any significant degree, but where it falters in that regard it excels elsewhere in storytelling and characterization. This is a highly enjoyable Halo novel, one that should not be overlooked merely because of its smaller scope overall. Though it had some problems, Halo: First Strike is a must-read for die-hard Halo fans.
November 18, 2024
I thought that Eric Nylund's "The Fall of Reach" was an excellent introduction to the Halo Universe. And then I thought that William C Dietz's "The Flood" was incredibly boring and dull. I am pleased to report that Eric Nylund's First Strike puts the series back on track.
This book has a lot of action like the other two, but I think that Nylund just has a way of writing action that Dietz just couldn't get. I also think there is a lot more dialogue and character growth in this book than in the The Flood.
I loved each element of the story, from escaping the Halo debries, to returning to Reach, to escaping Reach and trying to warn Earth about the Covenant. Overall, it was just an incredible story all the way through. I was never bored with the story at all. I even read it all in one afternoon!
I also thought that Nylund tackles great themes about saving the life of one vs saving the lives of many, a very Star Trek theme to explore. It works excellently here. As does the theme of when should a soldier not follow orders.
Overal, I loved this book. It's about the same at the moment as "The Fall of Reach" for me (time will tell which one is better). Overall, a 9 out of 10! Excellent work Eric Nylund!
This book has a lot of action like the other two, but I think that Nylund just has a way of writing action that Dietz just couldn't get. I also think there is a lot more dialogue and character growth in this book than in the The Flood.
I loved each element of the story, from escaping the Halo debries, to returning to Reach, to escaping Reach and trying to warn Earth about the Covenant. Overall, it was just an incredible story all the way through. I was never bored with the story at all. I even read it all in one afternoon!
I also thought that Nylund tackles great themes about saving the life of one vs saving the lives of many, a very Star Trek theme to explore. It works excellently here. As does the theme of when should a soldier not follow orders.
Overal, I loved this book. It's about the same at the moment as "The Fall of Reach" for me (time will tell which one is better). Overall, a 9 out of 10! Excellent work Eric Nylund!
May 28, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, but I can't remember anything about it! It's not because the book was forgettable, but because half an hour after reading it I suffered a mild concussion and I seriously cannot rememeber A THING about the novel. I remember I really enjoyed that other Spartans were found and that they had distinct personalities (at least Kelly, Fred, and Linda anyway), and the action scenes were quick-paced and realistic (they actually run out of ammo quite a bit, unlike in The Flood where MC kills thousands of those creatures and never runs out. Does he dispense it like pez out of his helmet or something? Sheesh). Oh, and I recall that the inclusion of other non-Spartan soldiers was a nice touch as well. I especially liked the tragic romance between Locklear and Polaski.
Memory loss aside, I flew through this novel and it was a lot of fun!
Memory loss aside, I flew through this novel and it was a lot of fun!
February 23, 2021
Damn, a lot was achieved in this book. The pace was blistering. I honestly feel this one could've made a great game.
Master Chief literally saves the Human Race once again in here. The final act was as epic as it possibly could've been. The build-up was great too. I have no idea where Dr. Halsey and Kelly have gone, but I guess that is revealed in Ghosts of Onyx.
The UNSC capture two massive victories, perhaps their greatest in the whole war, against the Covenant in the span of a few weeks. The destruction of Installation 04 AND the destruction of the Unyielding Hierophant. Yes, they just lost Reach, which was their greatest defeat. But they honestly hit back hard with two huge victories. Millions of Covenant died from those two efforts.
It's interesting to see the other Spartans be so important to the overall war effort. In the games you never hear about them once (In the original trilogy, I mean). Which is weird, considering these books came out in that time and are canon. I wonder why Bungie didn't take more advantage of Blue Team.
My only possible complaint is that there is one persistent typo in this book. Very often, the word 'Through' is replaced with 'Though'. This happens roughly ten whole times throughout the novel. Maybe even more than that. That is kinda unacceptable. Don't know how the editor didn't catch that.
Master Chief literally saves the Human Race once again in here. The final act was as epic as it possibly could've been. The build-up was great too. I have no idea where Dr. Halsey and Kelly have gone, but I guess that is revealed in Ghosts of Onyx.
The UNSC capture two massive victories, perhaps their greatest in the whole war, against the Covenant in the span of a few weeks. The destruction of Installation 04 AND the destruction of the Unyielding Hierophant. Yes, they just lost Reach, which was their greatest defeat. But they honestly hit back hard with two huge victories. Millions of Covenant died from those two efforts.
It's interesting to see the other Spartans be so important to the overall war effort. In the games you never hear about them once (In the original trilogy, I mean). Which is weird, considering these books came out in that time and are canon. I wonder why Bungie didn't take more advantage of Blue Team.
My only possible complaint is that there is one persistent typo in this book. Very often, the word 'Through' is replaced with 'Though'. This happens roughly ten whole times throughout the novel. Maybe even more than that. That is kinda unacceptable. Don't know how the editor didn't catch that.
February 28, 2017
This is the 3rd book in the Halo series. This one is by Eric Nylund. In this one Halo has been destroyed and the Master Chief is searching for survivors. After finding a drop ship with several survivors including Linda, a Spartan who was placed in cryo suspension after a serious injury he returns to Reach to search for survivors there and finds that more of his Spartan team along with Dr. Halsey have survived deep in an underground base. After a harrowing rescue they learn that the Covenant's fleet is massing around a distant star with a huge repair and supply base in preparation for an attack on Earth. The Master Chief decides to make a first strike against the Covenant in order to give Earth time to prepare it's defenses even though he knows that it is probably a suicide mission for himself and his team. This is a great example of Military Science Fiction and I recommend it to fans of Halo and of Eric Nylund.
August 22, 2021
Eric Nylund is an absolutely incredible author. This and The Fall of Reach are not just interesting Halo books, but phenomenal works of fiction that could easily interest someone who has never even heard of Halo. This was no exception, answering every question I had about the events between Halo 1 and 2. The characters were awesome, the plot was compelling, and I have no complaints whatsoever. This book, written in 2003, sets up plot elements for the series up to 8 years later. Easy 5 stars.
April 13, 2017
I liked this book because it had fighting in it and battle plus its about one of my favorite video game series, Master Chief needs to get him and his team with the Covenant vessel with the crystal before the covenant reach earth and destroy humanity, Id recommend this book to someone who likes action and adventure but lots of action.
July 14, 2023
Best of the OG 3 books imo
April 6, 2023
Eric Nylund keeps surprising me with his twists and turns that it excites me everytime. A masterful pacing as well as getting to dive deeper in the characters' minds. We get to see how everything ties together from the first game to its sequel and it is a satisfying read. Overall, it is amazingly written that I might give it another read next year.
June 19, 2023
Much more of a romp than Fall of Reach and thus lacking some of the lore/depth, but returns to the level of craftsmanship and care that Nylund brings to the series that was missing in The Flood. Not award material for sure, but quite a fun read that fixes the biggest issue/distraction I had with Nylund’s previous installment (he got rid of all the damn saluting).
September 20, 2025
Obviously these aren’t high art and the books aren’t going to impact my life, so calling it 4 stars compared to other books I consider 4 stars feels a little weird, but gosh darn in these books are just so fun. It’s everything I want in my mindless sci fi popcorn fiction.
November 24, 2022
A brilliant strategic victory 🥲
January 25, 2011
This book kicks off with two story arcs, being continuations of the events depicted in both The Fall of Reach and Halo: The Flood. As such, the first three novels in the Halo series form a fairly cohesive whole. There are a few reasonably spectacular action sequences, especially the events concerning Master Chief in the early chapters of the book. However, that's about as good as it gets this time round. A few new characters are introduced, but I didn't particularly care much about any of them or what happened to them. Even some of the familiar characters were written a bit weak this time round. For example, in The Fall of Reach Nylund took pains to flesh out Master Chief's character development. Not so this time round. Master Chief only follows orders. Master Chief is a military poster boy. Master Chief is apparently unable to think or reason for himself. Oh, and Master Chief is extremely lucky. Still, it's not a major problem, considering. If you're a Halo fan or looking for a tactical military sci-fi roller coaster ride, you could do worse than the Halo books.
I will probably continue following the series, as I am VERY keen to see what Greg Bear is going to do with the source material. He is the author of a new Halo novel titled Halo: Cryptum, being the first in a trilogy. A real hard sci-fi author and a fascinating universe. It can only be good!
I will probably continue following the series, as I am VERY keen to see what Greg Bear is going to do with the source material. He is the author of a new Halo novel titled Halo: Cryptum, being the first in a trilogy. A real hard sci-fi author and a fascinating universe. It can only be good!
October 24, 2014
This book was very refreshing after the underwhelming slog that was "The Flood". Mr. Nylund writes the Halo stories I want to read.
Plus more Sgt. Johnson. <3
Master Chief is back to true form and is no longer a knuckle-dragging, gun-happy 'derp' that he was in The Flood. No more endless descriptions of ammo that never ends, no more uninspired and recycled battle scenes, and no more stereotypical military jargon spewing just because it's a 'military' book.
We begin the story with John and Cortana essentially stranded after the destruction of Halo. He soon finds allies and we are treated with all kinds of lovely character development. Along the course of the novel Master Chief works with various members of the UNSC, all of whom are well fleshed out for a relatively short book, and his fellow Spartans. All the interactions felt real.
All the action scenes were fun and well paced. Including
I loved all the characters we were introduced to, especially Admiral Whitcomb, certified Four-Star Badass. Even the ODST muscle head Locklear grew on me by the end.
All in all a very fun read and I'm looking forward to Ghosts of Onyx.
Plus more Sgt. Johnson. <3
Master Chief is back to true form and is no longer a knuckle-dragging, gun-happy 'derp' that he was in The Flood. No more endless descriptions of ammo that never ends, no more uninspired and recycled battle scenes, and no more stereotypical military jargon spewing just because it's a 'military' book.
We begin the story with John and Cortana essentially stranded after the destruction of Halo. He soon finds allies and we are treated with all kinds of lovely character development. Along the course of the novel Master Chief works with various members of the UNSC, all of whom are well fleshed out for a relatively short book, and his fellow Spartans. All the interactions felt real.
All the action scenes were fun and well paced. Including
I loved all the characters we were introduced to, especially Admiral Whitcomb, certified Four-Star Badass. Even the ODST muscle head Locklear grew on me by the end.
All in all a very fun read and I'm looking forward to Ghosts of Onyx.
April 16, 2015
SPANISH: ESSSSSSELENTE!!!
-------------------------
ENGLISH:
SPARTANS never die.
And, apparently, they never eat, sleep, go to the bathroom or shower in weeks, either. I like Eric Nylund's writing on this universe VERY MUCH because he knows his trade and you can see that he likes these characters and respects them. He knows these characters. This is the MC I want to read about, obviously. Anyway, although I liked this book incredibly much, sometimes I open my eyes and wonder about how unbelievable some situations are -not much for the wounds, we know these guys are super-soldiers and they were made to take it. I really don't care about how many times the Chief eats or sleeps, but it would be more realistic at least to mention it from time to time. There's only so much you can do with your stomach empty. Alas, sleep deprivation it's a really, really bad thing. No wonder why this guy gets grumpy :P
I understand that not mentioning these things helps to settle that atmosphere about the SPARTANS being trained to be efficient war machines, but, come on. Although, seeing how long it takes to attach or deattach pieces ofthe MJOLLNIR armor, maybe I'll hold my piss too. IDK.
I loved this book. I devoured it just as I did with Fall of Reach, and I'm going straight forward into Ghosts of Onyx, so wish me luck. I know GOO characters are different, but hey, it's Mr. Eric Nylund. I'm sure I'll have fun.
PD: In this book, I think John has a thing for Linda xD he's just too aware of her, something that doesn't happen with Kelly.
-------------------------
ENGLISH:
SPARTANS never die.
And, apparently, they never eat, sleep, go to the bathroom or shower in weeks, either. I like Eric Nylund's writing on this universe VERY MUCH because he knows his trade and you can see that he likes these characters and respects them. He knows these characters. This is the MC I want to read about, obviously. Anyway, although I liked this book incredibly much, sometimes I open my eyes and wonder about how unbelievable some situations are -not much for the wounds, we know these guys are super-soldiers and they were made to take it. I really don't care about how many times the Chief eats or sleeps, but it would be more realistic at least to mention it from time to time. There's only so much you can do with your stomach empty. Alas, sleep deprivation it's a really, really bad thing. No wonder why this guy gets grumpy :P
I understand that not mentioning these things helps to settle that atmosphere about the SPARTANS being trained to be efficient war machines, but, come on. Although, seeing how long it takes to attach or deattach pieces ofthe MJOLLNIR armor, maybe I'll hold my piss too. IDK.
I loved this book. I devoured it just as I did with Fall of Reach, and I'm going straight forward into Ghosts of Onyx, so wish me luck. I know GOO characters are different, but hey, it's Mr. Eric Nylund. I'm sure I'll have fun.
PD: In this book, I think John has a thing for Linda xD he's just too aware of her, something that doesn't happen with Kelly.
April 2, 2023
Halo: First strike is the second installment of Eric Nylund’s Halo Trilogy based on the hit Halo FPS video game series from Bungie/343 studios.
I highly recommend anybody planning on reading these books to start with Halo: Fall of Reach, as it takes care of the majority of the world building and character development for the series. A knowledge of the plot of the first game “Halo: Combat Evolved” is also needed to understand First Strike, however there is a novelization of the game called “Halo: The Flood,” which is a suitable supplement for the games story.
This novel is down right brilliant, with its amazing array of characters and plot points, coming together to form a well written and very entertaining novel for an entertaining read. You’ll find yourself turning page after page just waiting to find out what happens next. That said, there is still some things that interrupted an otherwise seamless flow.
We start off during the end of the previous novel, where John-117 must make the decision to split his Spartans into 2 teams. In the prequel, We followed John on his mission and subsequent endeavor the the Halo ring. In this book, we follow the other team on their mission to defend the planet Reach. We jump back and forth between this team, and John following the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, with each story following its own path. It isn’t always easy to write a book which follows two different story-lines, buy Nylund finds a few clever ways to merge the two into one coherent story with plenty of twists and turns along the way. He continues the spot-on character development from the previous novels, allowing for more emotion to break through the SPARTAN’s hard shells and solid power armor. Their relationship between regular military personnel as well as Doctor Halsey gives insight into the minds of these unique individuals and the social anxiety that comes with being a augmented superhuman.
A lot of stories fall victim to repeating plot-lines or caricatures of previous installments, but Nylund does a great job at giving First Strike an original and entertaining story. I went through this book pretty fast, which I blame on the page-turning, nail-biting aspects of the novel, and anybody invested in the characters and story will find a hard time putting this book down.
The ending of the novel sets the stage for Halo 2 as well as Nylunds Final Halo Novel, Ghosts of Onyx. The places and the situations which everybody arrives to offers a satisfying end to the novel, allowing those who somehow manage to stay unimpressed with the series with at least an adequate feeling of completion.
The novel is well balanced, has great progression, and attention to detail. The one problem with the book is how Nylund gets some of the moral quandaries across. During battle, the SPARTANs are perfect soldiers, but instead of having to face morally questionable decisions during battle, he has these moments during the in-between sections of the story. During ship travel, mostly. These quieter parts of the plot is where we see the ethical breakdown of John and his friends in decision making. Although this gives them more time to ponder their choices, it doesn’t give the same type of influence as if they were making a snap judgement. Although he changes this later on in the series, First Strike is left to suffer with this seemingly care free approach. That said, it still gives great retrospect and insight into the quandary that’s required to fully enjoy this book, and how he manages to keep it impactful despite its execution makes his skills as a writer even more apparent.
All in all, This is a fun, quick read that pulls readers further into the Halo universe and the incredible lives of the Spartan IIs.
I highly recommend anybody planning on reading these books to start with Halo: Fall of Reach, as it takes care of the majority of the world building and character development for the series. A knowledge of the plot of the first game “Halo: Combat Evolved” is also needed to understand First Strike, however there is a novelization of the game called “Halo: The Flood,” which is a suitable supplement for the games story.
This novel is down right brilliant, with its amazing array of characters and plot points, coming together to form a well written and very entertaining novel for an entertaining read. You’ll find yourself turning page after page just waiting to find out what happens next. That said, there is still some things that interrupted an otherwise seamless flow.
We start off during the end of the previous novel, where John-117 must make the decision to split his Spartans into 2 teams. In the prequel, We followed John on his mission and subsequent endeavor the the Halo ring. In this book, we follow the other team on their mission to defend the planet Reach. We jump back and forth between this team, and John following the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, with each story following its own path. It isn’t always easy to write a book which follows two different story-lines, buy Nylund finds a few clever ways to merge the two into one coherent story with plenty of twists and turns along the way. He continues the spot-on character development from the previous novels, allowing for more emotion to break through the SPARTAN’s hard shells and solid power armor. Their relationship between regular military personnel as well as Doctor Halsey gives insight into the minds of these unique individuals and the social anxiety that comes with being a augmented superhuman.
A lot of stories fall victim to repeating plot-lines or caricatures of previous installments, but Nylund does a great job at giving First Strike an original and entertaining story. I went through this book pretty fast, which I blame on the page-turning, nail-biting aspects of the novel, and anybody invested in the characters and story will find a hard time putting this book down.
The ending of the novel sets the stage for Halo 2 as well as Nylunds Final Halo Novel, Ghosts of Onyx. The places and the situations which everybody arrives to offers a satisfying end to the novel, allowing those who somehow manage to stay unimpressed with the series with at least an adequate feeling of completion.
The novel is well balanced, has great progression, and attention to detail. The one problem with the book is how Nylund gets some of the moral quandaries across. During battle, the SPARTANs are perfect soldiers, but instead of having to face morally questionable decisions during battle, he has these moments during the in-between sections of the story. During ship travel, mostly. These quieter parts of the plot is where we see the ethical breakdown of John and his friends in decision making. Although this gives them more time to ponder their choices, it doesn’t give the same type of influence as if they were making a snap judgement. Although he changes this later on in the series, First Strike is left to suffer with this seemingly care free approach. That said, it still gives great retrospect and insight into the quandary that’s required to fully enjoy this book, and how he manages to keep it impactful despite its execution makes his skills as a writer even more apparent.
All in all, This is a fun, quick read that pulls readers further into the Halo universe and the incredible lives of the Spartan IIs.
February 14, 2025
Halo: First Strike is the third and final book in the original Halo trilogy. It bridges the gap between the video games Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2.
The story follows Master Chief and Cortana as they link up with other survivors from the destruction of the Halo ring and make their way back to planet Reach with a stolen Covenant ship by the name of Ascendant Justice, hoping that some of Master Chief’s fellow Spartans have survived the cataclysmic battle of Reach.
First off, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading the original Halo trilogy again. It’s been 10+ years since I’ve last read them, and they most definitely hold up today, minus a few lore issues and inconsistencies, which I believe have been ironed out in later editions of these books.
Halo: First Strike is my least favourite and the worst of the trilogy, in my opinion. I’m not saying it’s bad, mind you, just that Halo: Fall of Reach and Halo: The Flood are better stories. The plot of First Strike was weakest for me, especially in the beginning, but it did eventually improve as the story went on.
One thing that didn’t sit well with me in the story was how the Forerunner crystal that the surviving Spartans and Dr. Halsey found deep underground in a Forerunner ruin on Reach was destroyed. To me, it was quite abrupt to just have Locklear cover the crystal in C-7 foaming explosive and kill himself in the ensuing explosion that shatters the crystal into tiny shards, rendering it useless. It just seems weird how such an important object is removed from the story that way.
The section of the story near the end when the Spartans board the Unyielding Hierophant battle station and blow it up by overloading its reactors was probably my favourite part of the story. It was sad that Grace didn’t make it; at least she went out in a blaze of glory. Another note: I think this story may be the first piece of Halo media to introduce the Brutes in the Halo universe.
In conclusion, despite some issues I may have had with the plot of Halo: First Strike, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and I do recommend it. All Halo fans should read this trilogy. After some thought, I give this book a 3/5 stars.
The story follows Master Chief and Cortana as they link up with other survivors from the destruction of the Halo ring and make their way back to planet Reach with a stolen Covenant ship by the name of Ascendant Justice, hoping that some of Master Chief’s fellow Spartans have survived the cataclysmic battle of Reach.
First off, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading the original Halo trilogy again. It’s been 10+ years since I’ve last read them, and they most definitely hold up today, minus a few lore issues and inconsistencies, which I believe have been ironed out in later editions of these books.
Halo: First Strike is my least favourite and the worst of the trilogy, in my opinion. I’m not saying it’s bad, mind you, just that Halo: Fall of Reach and Halo: The Flood are better stories. The plot of First Strike was weakest for me, especially in the beginning, but it did eventually improve as the story went on.
One thing that didn’t sit well with me in the story was how the Forerunner crystal that the surviving Spartans and Dr. Halsey found deep underground in a Forerunner ruin on Reach was destroyed. To me, it was quite abrupt to just have Locklear cover the crystal in C-7 foaming explosive and kill himself in the ensuing explosion that shatters the crystal into tiny shards, rendering it useless. It just seems weird how such an important object is removed from the story that way.
The section of the story near the end when the Spartans board the Unyielding Hierophant battle station and blow it up by overloading its reactors was probably my favourite part of the story. It was sad that Grace didn’t make it; at least she went out in a blaze of glory. Another note: I think this story may be the first piece of Halo media to introduce the Brutes in the Halo universe.
In conclusion, despite some issues I may have had with the plot of Halo: First Strike, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and I do recommend it. All Halo fans should read this trilogy. After some thought, I give this book a 3/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
really good actually - probably even better if you don't take a 2 year break in between starting and finishing it. as with The Fall of Reach, Nylund is impressively good at vividly describing the world of Halo, from the complex Covenant technology to the alien landscapes and sprawling galactic set piece battles, all whilst maintaining concise militaristic vocab and prose which lends a dire and serious tone to these books that really doesn't quite come across in the same way in the games, and which really helps to make you feel as if you're there and part of the futile plight to try and save Earth.
Master Chief also begins to show a lot more personality and even a smidge of humanity here, as his moral horizons are expanded through the sacrifices made by his friends and squadmates, and the strength and selflessness of the human spirit in the face of certain destruction - although he still feels a bit off kilter in comparison to his characterization in the games, particularly in relation to his moral quandaries about doing what's right vs doing what he was trained to do - seeing that he's almost 50 years old during Halo 2!! the wording often inadvertently gives the impression that he is stunted intelligence wise, when I think rather they're trying to convey more of a general emotional hardness resultant of the childhood trauma and navy upbringing, but it regularly tends to just hurt his character in my opinion because how has this 50 year old superhuman man seemingly never in his life attempted to see or understand things from someone elses perspective (yet it's nowhere near as jarring as in The Fall of Reach, and maybe it's just because he does a lot more talking in the books).
the only other part I really took issue with is how abruptly the book seems to end, it's almost like they couldn't figure out a way to properly finish it and just slapped on a teaser linking it to the beginning of Halo 2 in the epilogue.
I also listened to this on audible and as always Todd McLaren's narration is amazing and he really seems to understand the way these characters present themselves, it's just a shame that over the course of these first three books nobody told him how to pronounce Mjolnir correctly because it is said a LOT in this book and hearing him say MAJOLNEER every time is hard to ignore
thx for reading
Master Chief also begins to show a lot more personality and even a smidge of humanity here, as his moral horizons are expanded through the sacrifices made by his friends and squadmates, and the strength and selflessness of the human spirit in the face of certain destruction - although he still feels a bit off kilter in comparison to his characterization in the games, particularly in relation to his moral quandaries about doing what's right vs doing what he was trained to do - seeing that he's almost 50 years old during Halo 2!! the wording often inadvertently gives the impression that he is stunted intelligence wise, when I think rather they're trying to convey more of a general emotional hardness resultant of the childhood trauma and navy upbringing, but it regularly tends to just hurt his character in my opinion because how has this 50 year old superhuman man seemingly never in his life attempted to see or understand things from someone elses perspective (yet it's nowhere near as jarring as in The Fall of Reach, and maybe it's just because he does a lot more talking in the books).
the only other part I really took issue with is how abruptly the book seems to end, it's almost like they couldn't figure out a way to properly finish it and just slapped on a teaser linking it to the beginning of Halo 2 in the epilogue.
I also listened to this on audible and as always Todd McLaren's narration is amazing and he really seems to understand the way these characters present themselves, it's just a shame that over the course of these first three books nobody told him how to pronounce Mjolnir correctly because it is said a LOT in this book and hearing him say MAJOLNEER every time is hard to ignore
thx for reading
April 8, 2023
“Spartans never die?” She whispered. Dr Halsey swivelled out of the contour chair and pushed the monitors out of her way with sudden violence. “If only that were true.”
Halo First Strike is the best Halo book I have read so far. It takes what Halo The Fall Of Reach began and perfectly expands upon it. Everything Halo TFOR did , Halo FS does better. The naval combat is explosive and intense, the playing field is finally levelled and the Covenant get a taste of their own medicine. The character are excellently written with Vice Admiral Whitcomb being one of best Halo characters ever introduced, he is a true hero of humanity.
Halo FS story is also a masterpiece, with the stakes high from the beginning , the book is never slow , there is never a moment to reflect on all the lives lost , the close calls and the true courage of its characters actions. It’s a intricately woven jump from one fight to another , with the cast barely scraping by each time , but some how each time you are left on the edge of your page not knowing who’s going to make it and how they are going to make it out.
In the end , Halo FS is a story of sacrifice and hope, so many Spartans are sacrificed , so many good soldiers and even so many civilians , just to give humanity another day to fight, and even after all that loss the master chief keeps going , every human keeps hoping , they keep fighting. That’s what Halo is about , it’s about hope against all odds , one man fighting an innumerable amount of enemies and still beating the odds. Halo FS’s ending perfectly encapsulates the whole book , all but 5 Spartans are dead , only 2 other people made it off Reach and the Halo ring. Yet Master Chief looks off into slip space , not beaten down and broken , but ready to bring the fight right back to the covenant again.
Halo First Strike is the best Halo book I have read so far. It takes what Halo The Fall Of Reach began and perfectly expands upon it. Everything Halo TFOR did , Halo FS does better. The naval combat is explosive and intense, the playing field is finally levelled and the Covenant get a taste of their own medicine. The character are excellently written with Vice Admiral Whitcomb being one of best Halo characters ever introduced, he is a true hero of humanity.
Halo FS story is also a masterpiece, with the stakes high from the beginning , the book is never slow , there is never a moment to reflect on all the lives lost , the close calls and the true courage of its characters actions. It’s a intricately woven jump from one fight to another , with the cast barely scraping by each time , but some how each time you are left on the edge of your page not knowing who’s going to make it and how they are going to make it out.
In the end , Halo FS is a story of sacrifice and hope, so many Spartans are sacrificed , so many good soldiers and even so many civilians , just to give humanity another day to fight, and even after all that loss the master chief keeps going , every human keeps hoping , they keep fighting. That’s what Halo is about , it’s about hope against all odds , one man fighting an innumerable amount of enemies and still beating the odds. Halo FS’s ending perfectly encapsulates the whole book , all but 5 Spartans are dead , only 2 other people made it off Reach and the Halo ring. Yet Master Chief looks off into slip space , not beaten down and broken , but ready to bring the fight right back to the covenant again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2018
جان از ماجرای انفجار هالو زنده مونده و تو فضا با یک سفینه کوچیک گیر افتاده و اگر یک سفینه بزرگ پیدا نکنه، کارش تمومه. چون به موقع به هیچ جا نمیرسه و اکسیژنش هم محدوده. ولی موفق میشه وسط زبالههای فضایی حاصل از انفجار هالو یکی از سفینههای پلیکان انسانها رو با چند سرنشین پیدا کنه و با هم برند به سمت ریچ. سیارهای که منفجر شدنش رو دیدند. از طرفی تعدادی از اسپارتانهایی که به ریچ رفته بودند هم زنده موندند و دو دسته شدند. یک دسته با دکتر هالسلی توی تاسیسات زیرزمینی گیر افتادند و یک کریستال پیدا کردند که ظاهرا فضاییها دنبال همین کریستال بودند و خواص عجیبی از جمله انحنای اضافه در فضا-زمان داره. یک دسته دیگه هم با یک ادمیرال توی یک سری غار گیر افتادند. جان به ریچ میرسه و این افراد بازمانده رو پیدا میکنه و همگی یک کشتی بزرگ فضاییها رو در اختیار میگیرند که به زمین برگردند...ولی می فهمند که فضاییها موقعیت زمین رو کشف کردند و دارند توی یک ایستگاه جمع میشند تا یک حمله بزرگ ترتیب بدند. جان به همراه اسپارتانها تصمیم میگیره بره اونجا و جلوی حمله رو بگیره. بقیه هم برگردند به زمین و خبر بدند. این وسط دکتر هالسلی با یکی از اسپارتانها فرار میکنه و معلوم نیست کجا میره.
جان موفق میشه مرکز فرماندهی فضاییها توی ایستگاه بینراهی رو نابود کنه و ادمیرال و یک ستوان هم به جای برگشتن به زمین با یک تکنیک همه لشگر فضاییها رو نابود میکنند. حالا جان و چندتا اسپارتان باقیمونده و دو تا درجهدار دیگه دارند برمیگردند زمین که خبر بدند...
جان موفق میشه مرکز فرماندهی فضاییها توی ایستگاه بینراهی رو نابود کنه و ادمیرال و یک ستوان هم به جای برگشتن به زمین با یک تکنیک همه لشگر فضاییها رو نابود میکنند. حالا جان و چندتا اسپارتان باقیمونده و دو تا درجهدار دیگه دارند برمیگردند زمین که خبر بدند...
March 1, 2018
The book, First Strike, By Eric S. Nylund centers in on the time gap spanning Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo: 2. The novel is centered around the storys of the spartans John (the master chief), and Fred. The story tells the duel tale of how the Master Chief survived the reckage of Halo and reunited with the UNSC and also how Fred and the rest of his team got off the vanquished fortress world Reach. The Author is very adept at piecing together the narratives while staying true to the Halo lore and all of the games that these novels concern. Never shying away from near suicidal plans, Master Chief manages to hijack a covenant flagship, reunite with his team and capture a space bending crystal, and finally blow up a covenant resupply station and a fleet of five hundered ships bound for earth. The book never veers from intence combat, like all Halo novels, "Grace hit the floor and rolled away. plasma bolts sizzled over their heads, and the Master Chief's shield drained as a shot hit too close. The barrage turned several of the blue tiles around him into a crater of blackened glass." (228) The novel also is very good about making sure to imerse the reader in the depth and technology of the Halo universe, "There-a jump to the Lambda Serpentis system to gather tritium gas for their reactors. And there-another jump to the Hawking system to meet with three dozen carriers and effect a transfer of seraph fighters." (240) I would personally recomend this book to anyone who read the firts two books, or anyone who has played combat eveolved and halo 2 and has been wondering what happened in the middle. This book is an exelent read, but only (in my opinion) will people who have read the first two books really appreciate this one (and that's fine. it's the third book in a trilogy).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2018
Halo: First Strike describes another brilliant adventure lead by the franchises’ main protagonist, the Master Chief. Like the Halo video games that came before it, First Strike gives the reader dramatic space battles and gripping fight scenes as the enemy faction known as the Covenant seeks to destroy humanity. In the beginning, The Master Chief and his squadmates are tasked to protect one of the last human strongholds, the planet Reach, from Covenant annihilation. But because of their seemingly impossible task, other characters and events come into play, making the experience even more interesting and engaging. I will say though, that the book does lack some needed emotion and depth as well as occasional humour. Being a fan of the franchise, I enjoyed the books similarities to the video games, which is why people who don’t know what Halo is may have a harder time liking it compared to people that do know.
February 13, 2022
Surprisingly, for a novel set based on a game, this was very good. It is set right after the first Halo game ends and fills in the gap between that and Halo 2. After all, Master Chief was stranded in a spaceship that didn’t have a slip space drive. And how did Sergeant Johnson survive? You’ll enjoy this more if you’ve played the Halo game (or watched cutscenes from it) and read the first book by Nylund, The Fall of Reach. There is some impressive world building here, probably a collaboration between Nylund and the people at Bungie at the time. In the games, Master Chief is pretty much the sole Spartan, but in the books it is revealed there are more. This book is packed with space opera type “battle action” with insights on Covenant ships and how slipspace works. There is so much material here that can be mined for the soon to be premiering TV show on Paramount.
November 30, 2018
Eric Nylund is great! Brought this series back on track after a very subpar 2nd book. This one was excitement throughout. I was plowing through this to find out how it ended, it was really cool. I haven't done that to a book in a while (well maybe the 1st book in this series). Anyways, I really appreciate that this book is not just a placeholder for backstory on the Halo series between the first two games, but it really stands out as a great novel in its own right. Can't wait to read the next few books!
April 4, 2019
I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was decent enough. I wasn’t really as invested as I felt I should be, and I think some of that comes from the escalation that happens. A lot of the threats just seem too big to handle too often, and the way these are resolved often seems just due to luck, which I suppose is at least fitting for John, but it pulls me out of the story when each solution feels too close to being contrived.
That aside, the story is generally pretty good, mostly in regards to the characterisation and interactions between people. Overall, I’d say it’s fine.
That aside, the story is generally pretty good, mostly in regards to the characterisation and interactions between people. Overall, I’d say it’s fine.
February 19, 2019
Effectively, the inspiration for HALO: REACH along with the original novel in the trilogy. A lot of it has since been overwritten in Halo canon but it was still enjoyable. It also gives a lot of focus to the members of Master Chief's squad in HALO V: GUARDIANS. Eric Nylund loves throwing guns, explosions, and military jargon into his works so if you're in the mood for an original "classic" Halo story then this will certainly work for you.
9/10
9/10
December 20, 2023
Silent (or nearly silent) video game protagonists do not make good book protagonist. Relatively flawless characters that always do the right/coolest/most-efficient thing are not interesting to read about or get in the mind of. The parts in this book from Master Chiefs perspective are so awkward feeling, it quite literally causes pain...but the other characters are good enough to make the book enjoyable.
July 3, 2025
Great bridge of the story of Reach/Halo 1 into Halo 2, plenty of action and expands the lore and background of the Spartans and the UNSC and the motives of their fight for survival against the Covanent onslaught. Great to see Cortana and especially Master Chief as more than mindless video game characters.
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