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Summary: A MUST READ novel if you enjoy the game!
Review: The Fall of Reach is a prequel telling the story of humanity's war against a technologically superior race called the Covenant, a mysterious race on a religious crusade to destroy humanity. The story focuses on the hero of the Halo Xbox game and his fellow Spartans, enhanced human beings bred as soldiers for humanity's military and the best chance the humans have for victory in the losing war against the Covenant. The events in the book directly lead into the events in the game.Even without playing the game, it's a pretty good book by itself. The sci-fi universe created by Bungie (the makers of the game) which Nylund expands on is detailed and believable. Nylund's descriptions of space battles and futuristic militaries are excellent, as well as his portrayals of the human military strategy and tactics while fighting against a superior enemy. The book flows well and is an easy read. But the book is raised to a new level if you play the game alongside reading the novel. Nylund's otherwise average character development and background instead become outstanding insight into the life of the game's hero and opens your eyes to the bigger picture of the Halo universe. You become truly immersed, which makes both the book reading and video game experience that much more rich. Sci-fi nitpickers will criticize some of the technological aspects of the Halo universe (for example, it is 500 years in the future where humans have mastered faster-than-light travel and true artificial intelligence, yet soldiers and ships still use solid ammo as their primary weapons), but those issues are minor. Nylund is still able to suspend disbelief. And it doesn't hinder the overall good story. Overall, good book by itself. But I recommend you play the game as well. If you enjoy the game, then this novel is a must read! I can't wait until the sequel for both!
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Summary: The fall of reach review by andy
Review: I normally do not like science fiction but after playing halo and seeing how good the game was i couldn't wait to get my hands on the book. I reccomend that everyone who enjoyed halo will love eric nylund's the fall of reach.
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Summary: The Best Sci-Fi book I have read!
Review: So far I have read up to Chapter 3 because I just bought it today, but I already love it. I do have the game myself but I like the book for the book. The story as I can see from the other reviews is about the main character from the game, Master Chief, and his life becoming a super soldier. Although I am not the sci-fi military book reader I seem to really enjoy this one. It actually makes me feel like Star Wars, as if the main character is training to be a Jedi or something. If you want to get the game that's great, if not, that is great too. But do not think of this novel as a game novel, think of it as a novel novel, because that is what it is.
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Summary: Whooo taa whoottaaa
Review: Best Darn book i have ever read, I'm into books like "The Lucifer Factor" and i never read any of eric nylunds work, now i am! ill move onto "The Game Of Universe" This book is intriging, also has Excelente!~! Char development, it was like i grew up with them as a child hood friend or sumthen. I desperately urge you to read this book no matter what bad things u hear from people.
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Summary: A great read...no matter your platform affiliation
Review: I am a die-hard PS2 man. I don't plan to get an X box (now if someone wants to GIVE me one...). I don't like military science fiction--Starship Troopers was excrutiating! (I had to read it for a class). I am not a fan of FPS games (I like RPGs & survival Horror and weird stuff). And unlike some of my fellow reviewers, I have never heard of Eric Nylund (sorry Eric). Despite all that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I read a LOT, and it's rare a book will hang on to me when I have other things to do...this one made me late getting back from lunch because I just had to finish the chapter and kept me up too late, so the kiddies had a tired librarian for storytime. All I'm saying is this is well wrought, fun science fiction. It is WELL worth the tiny price and your time. Comparison to the excellent Hugo/Nebula award-winning Ender's Game is NOT unwarranted. So BUY it already! :-)
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Summary: A must have for Halo Fans
Review: Great book! Gives you a sense of history for Halo. Can't wait to get my hands on the game!
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Summary: Where did Eric's head go?
Review: I almost took a pass on this book - based on an action game for the XBox? C'mon. Then I noticed the author's name. Eric Nylund. I've read EVERYTHING he's ever written - most notably "Signal To Noise" and "A Signal Shattered". Even bought'em from an auction site in hardcover to add to my collection. His name on the cover of this book got me spending my hard earned cash (not something I think the author anticipated either). I'm not going to bother going over the plot. You can read an accurate description of the events in this book above. It reads like a cross between "Armor" by John Steakley, "Starship Troopers" by Robert Heinlein, and every other generic Military Science Fiction book you can mention...a genre I abandoned long ago. But this is Eric Nylund, I'm thinking!! A guy who writes good...no...GREAT and accurate and compelling hard sci-fi, selling out to write non-sensical, anti-compelling, non-thinking, empty headed military fiction. Egads. I was disappointed... ...until I got three-fourths of the way through the book, where it got interesting...and then it ends abruptly, telling you to go buy and XBox and a copy of Halo and play the game to figure out what happens next. No thanks. Eric, what happened? The "Signal" series was phenomenal...and you go and write this. Anyway, take a pass and read "Armor" or "Starship Troopers" or "The Forever War" if you want good military Sci-Fi. Better yet, click on "Eric Nylund" somewhere near the top of this page and buy everything else he's ever written. If you are a hard sci-fi fan, with a hankering for Dan Simmons, Gregory Benford, or David Brin, then Mr. Nylund deserves your cold hard cash. Buy all of his other books and send him a message - "Halo:The Fall of Reach does not need a sequel".
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Summary: Should be made into a movie
Review: For anyone that likes the suicide missions of Starship Troopers, or for those that like the thrill of Star Wars space warfare, or even the kick-ass genetically enhanced heroes of Dark Angel, this book is a definite read. I seriously think that Nylund's prequel to the excellent game is a wonderful stand-alone product. I bought the game and finished it, wondering what was next in store for the Master Chief (Halo's protagonist) when I discovered that his history was in print. Anyone who loved the game's engaging plot should pick up this title to hold them over until round two. Even if you don't like videogames, or don't intend to buy an Xbox , you should still give this book it's due attention. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: this book....
Review: this book is awsome i just bought it today page 21 and its already the best book ive read
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Summary: One Great Book!!!!
Review: This book is one of the best books I have read. It's got everything that a great sci-fi book needs, action, adventure, struggle, and that one hero who steps up to face the odds. The only reason that I gave it 4 stars is because it reminds me too much of Ender's Game (my all-time favorite book). The one boy carried away from his life, trained to fight and command, this person to save the human race from an insect-like alien race bent on destroying them. Even the A.I., Cortana, is like Ender's Game's Jane, not just merely a computer program, but something more. But that's not a bad thing. That's what made Ender's Game so enjoyable. Minus 1 star for either MINOR unoriginality or MINOR coincidence. Wither way, it's one book you shouldn't miss.
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