|
The Fall of Reach (Halo (Audio)) | 
 enlarge | Author: Eric S Nylund
Creator: Todd Mclaren
Publisher: Tantor Media
Category: Book
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $21.93
You Save: $13.06 (37%)
New (12) Used (3) from $21.93
Avg. Customer Rating:  250 reviews
Sales Rank: 955235
Format: Audiobook, Cd
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.4 x 5.5 x 1.1
ISBN: 1400101123
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781400101122
ASIN: 1400101123
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: I20080924021124S
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
This explosive military science fiction epic is presented in the tradition of Del Rey's Starfist novels. The human race is pitted against a powerful alien enemy, the Covenant, which is determined to lead humans into a devastating intergalactic war on a distant planet---a planet that is crucial to each side's victory.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 245 more reviews...
 Astoundingly Good September 16, 2008
You'd think that a prequel book written for a videogame would not have a very solid storyline. This couldn't be further from the truth. Eric Nylund paints a vivid picture of the Halo universe which centers around the Master Chief's life. He begins the story with "John" as a 6 year old boy. John is found to be a suitable candidate for the Spartan II program as he is physically and mentally superior to average children. In fact the first quarter or third of the book chronicles his life in this secretive super soldier Spartan program. His first combat experience occurs at the tender age of eight years old. Nylund quickly establishes the UNSC jargon. Everything you see in the game including the specifics of: the rounds used, types of weapons, both Covenant and human, vehicle names and descriptions, some of the science involved, the details about the legendary suit (which is actually the fourth incarnation)"The Chief" wears as well as how he acquired the energy shield surrounding it. The infrastructure and protocol of the Navy is also very well done.
Please stop reading if you don't want spoilers!!!
What is most impressive about the book is the psychology involved. Not only the thoughts of The Chief, but all the people he interacts with as well play into the vibrant plotline in The Fall of Reach. The Spartan II program kidnapped the children they used for training and replaced them with clones. So in a way the Spartans were John's family. Because of this his commanding officer (Chief Mendez) was like his father and even later on in the book he goes back to what Petty Officer Chief Mendez told him throughout his training. When he first talks to Captain Keyes, Keyes says "There are more important things than winning, son." John wonders what is more important than winning. Even at 42 and decades of combat experience, the Chief ponders what could be more important than winning. It also shows he still is a human inside that suit of armor.
In the beginning there were over 100 Spartan soldiers, but at 14 modifications were made to every one of them and around half died. Many of John's dear friends were permanently mangled. He of course took to the enhancements well, which increased his strength many times over, reinforced his skeletal structure, lowered his reaction time and subsequently took him one step further to becoming THE Master Chief.
The action sequences are also very well done and keep you captivated constantly. Each of the major characters in the game is also brought into the mix. Commander Keyes at first is the commanding officer on the Iriquois. Dr. Halsey - who isn't in the game, but is the Doctor who started the Spartan program and is the closest thing John has to a mother - is where the book starts out. The book is just a brilliant example of when the writer created a whole universe instead of a story. It almost appears as if Halo: Combat Evolved took it's story from Eric Nylund. I will be reading more of his books.
I was pleasently surprised August 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In the terms of a direct videogame adaptation that is hands down the best I have ever read and that's saying something I didn't think anything could beat the Warcraft books. Its really great how the author fleshes out the personalities of each of the characters. In spite of that the book reads fairly quickly.
Overall-I had never heard of this author before but he is very good.
 Actually pretty good? July 31, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Cobra was the first of a series about medically "improved" warriors. In this book the plot also involves wars in space that remind one of Invaders from the Infinite which is one of the oldest space operas from the 30's. Earth is behind in a war with an Alien confederation/ society and must come up with new weapons fast or have all their planets "glassed". This book is obviously a serial type of
wars in space with a hero who is "designed" to be a deadly killer.
Dark Angel - The Complete Series is about a girl much like John 117 in this novel, but done better? Eric Nylund has done pretty good on a writing "contract" here, but it could have been better.
Very Impressed! Learn about the man behind the armor...and then some! April 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had reservations about reading this book. Was this truly a good book to read or was all the great reviews on this site just fluff from Halo fans? Would reading this take the mystique away from the legendary Master Chief?
I just finished reading the e-book format on my Palm Z22 PDA and all I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW! This story blew me away!
Not only was this a fantastic book to read, it was incredibly well done and Master Chief is as legendary as ever. I was pleased to be able to put a human face on Master Chief in my imagination and know that it did not spoil who MC is or what he's all about - it only made him more respectable. I am in as much awe of John 117 (aka Master Chief) out of armor just as much as he is in armor. Kudos to the author for pulling this off in this very well written book.
I'm ready for the next book in the series!
 I Love This Book April 9, 2008
Eric Nylund wrote a book called Halo: Fall of Reach. It is a very good book and all through it you can't wait to see what happens next. I think if the made books more based on the games the series, it would be much better than it ever would be I think It's about a group of highly trained soldiers called Spartans after the Spartans at Thermopylae over 2500 years before the books timeline.
I think that it's a great book because it's a non-action book. It starts with a Woman named Dr.Hasley who finds children to have for The Spartan II program, and they have to go through many surgeries to become the super soldiers they are. The main character is John, one of the children picked for the Spartan II program. After the first big mission John became the Master Chief, the best of all the Spartans. As the book progresses John and his Spartans encounter an alien race called the Covenant, an enemy of the UNSC.
The message I see is that no matter who or what you lose you have to keep going especially in combat because if you don't you'll end up dead, like your friend.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
