Awesome stories that expand a lot further in detail than the actual game. Must have for any fan of the franchise. ( )

The first three halo books explore the halo universe in the events leading up to and past the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. The first book "Fall of Reach" illustrates the doomed defence of humanity's last major military stronghold (called Reach). Against the overwhelming force of the star-spanning Covenant empire, Reach's bravest defenders held the line; trading lives for time. Importantly it shows the might of humanity's greatest soldiers; the Spartan II's. Abducted from their families at the age of six and trained by the military; they are the best of the best. Biologically augmented and clad in MJLINOR mark V armor they are a nigh unstoppable force. Feared throughout the Covenant they have hundreds of military victories to their name. Deployed in the defence of Reach they are tasked with protecting the ground generators which power the only thing keeping the Covenant from completely overwhelming humanity's lines in space: the orbital MAC platforms. Without these weapons humanity doesn't stand a chance against the Covenant. Alas, the marine platoons sent ahead of the Spartans were all neutralised, leaving the vastly outnumbered Spartans against the imperial legions of the covenant. Most men and women would've turned tail and run, but these are not mortal men we are talking about. These brave soldiers live on in humanity's most hallowed of halls for their deeds. Their last stand at Reach was a fierce thing indeed. It is recorded that the Spartans traded their lives dearly; bringing destruction to thousands of Covenant soldiers before they died; each one fighting on to the bitter end; avenging the deaths of their brothers and sisters. Inevitably; the Spartans were overwhelmed; their armor charred and gore-splattered and surrounded by legions of Covenant soldiers; the generators were destroyed and the invasion and fall of Reach was only a matter of time.

(more coming soon!) ( )

It is a great series. I would not recommend it to 5th graders or below because of violence and language. Once you get pass the language it is a great story. The main character is the master chief. He is a spartan. He is the last survivor and the only spartan. The flood is a violent book, at lest I think it is. The halo books and video games are REALY good. ( )

It is a bit hard to read but it is fast paced once you get into it and I recommend it ( )

I think I preferred to play the video game itself more, but I thought these were a pretty interesting idea of the game. Well-written with great development on the backstory, though the first was by far my favorite. ( )