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Halo: The Fall of Reach
Unavailable
Halo: The Fall of Reach
Unavailable
Halo: The Fall of Reach
Audiobook11 hours

Halo: The Fall of Reach

Written by Eric Nylund

Narrated by Todd McLaren

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

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 first time, here is the full story of that glorious, doomed conflict.



While the brutal Covenant juggernaut sweeps inexorably through space, intent on wiping out humankind, only one stronghold remains-the planet Reach. Practically on Earth's doorstep, it is the last military fortress to defy the onslaught. But the personnel here have another, higher priority: to prevent the Covenant from discovering the location of Earth.



Outnumbered and outgunned, the soldiers seem to have little chance against the Covenant, but Reach holds a closely guarded secret. It is the training ground for the very first "super soldiers." Code-named SPARTANs, these highly advanced warriors, specially bioengineered and technologically augmented, are the best in the universe-quiet, professional, and deadly.



Now, as the ferocious Covenant attack begins, a handful of SPARTANs stand ready to wage ultimate war. They will kill, they will be destroyed, but they will never surrender. And at least one of them-the SPARTAN known as Master Chief-will live to fight another day on a mysterious and ancient, artificial world called Halo.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherTantor Audio
Release dateJul 15, 2008
ISBN9781400171125
Author

Eric Nylund

Eric Nylund is the author of many novels, including the New York Times bestselling works Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: First Strike, and Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, and the World Fantasy nominated Dry Water. As a writer for Microsoft Game Studios, Nylund helped develop such game franchises as Halo and Gears of War. He has also helped shape the intellectual property for some of the world’s best videogame developers, including Bioware and Epic Games, and also worked with Amazon’s game studios. Nylund lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, award-winning science fiction/fantasy writer Syne Mitchell, and their son.

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Reviews for Halo

Rating: 3.9385475240223466 out of 5 stars
4/5

358 ratings23 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fun and worthy introduction to the Halo universe and in particular, the origins of Master Chief and his first team of Spartans. Although we all know the outcome, it was never-the-less a compelling read and well written. Action scenes were clear and easy to follow, characters were well-developed considering the space limitations, and overall, a great way to introduce new, unfamiliar readers to this series and game.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is actually a really good book. Good characters, good story and good action. If you like the game this is a bit of fun to go with it
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is a fun extension of the Halo universe for fans of the record breaking game series. The novel is a fast read aimed at teens and tweens. Though the universe lends itself well to world building novels, this story includes little of the overall political/social/economic situation, instead focusing on the Spartans' training and actions. In the earliest sections I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief while reading Halsey's attempts to justify her own actions (especially given Cortana's markedly different response to learning the history of the Spartan project). The early training does not come across as believably as that described in Ender's Game, but the early life of John-117 and his fellow Spartans is skimmed through relatively quickly. The plot of the novel revolves mainly around the early Spartan missions and the battles for Sigmas Octanas and Reach.The military action is well written; the characters are sympathetic and fun to read. Captain Keys steals the scenes he is in, while the inevitability of many of the military encounters makes the characters and group moving, adding a slight gravity to an otherwise light read. The reader gains significantly more insight into Keyes, Cortana, and John as they see the characters and the universe through a different lens. I am happy to continue reading the series though I enjoyed the novel purely as a popcorn story (it does that well, and it never claims to be anything else).
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book follows the first Spartan program and the fall of the Planet Reach, one of the first planets to fall by the Covenant. If your a fan of the Halo series then this book will be a treat for you. It answers a lot of questions that the video game series doesn't answer.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A good story but not great. It tells you some of the beginning of the story of John aka Spartan 117 aka Master Chief aka the Demon. I would have liked more insight into the background of Master Chief. Instead it tells more about the Spartan program which if fine but not great.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tons of backstory on the Spartans and where they came from. Awesome read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I read this book back when it came out and was impressed then. I've had some more years and turned a lot more pages since then, primarily Sci-Fi. The Fall of Reach may not be a masterpiece but I have to say Nylund does an excellent job with the story Bungie gave him and would recommend this book (and audio-book) to anyone who is a fan of the Halo universe.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was surprised by how much I liked it. I tend to avoid things set in space and I'm not into the Halo-type games at all, but everyone was right and I enjoyed it because of the characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    my Q4 SSR book.340/ 340This book was a nice backstory of how John-117, better known as Master Chief, came to be the deadly and perfect soldier that he is in the games and in the other novels. It shows his growth of how before he thought only of how he can succeed and win as a child back in the training camp, but then he learns how to be part of a team. This is shown when during an assault on a Covenant ship that he decides to leave his friend and comrade Sam behind on the exploding ship in order to buy time for him and another Spartan, Kelly, to escape, which teaches the Cheif a lesson between the difference of a life wasted and a life spent
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    See the story of John obtucted at a young age, drugged and trained in the spartan program to create a super soldier to keep humanity safe.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a book based off of Halo Combat Evolved. It starts with a boy named XXX,John, a boy that was taken away form his family to serve the UNSC. He made freinds quickly, but sone lost most of them due to the program named "Spartan". Afterwards, there was contact from an alien speices called the "Covenant" who said, "Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their instuments." Soon, over the planet of Reach, the Human-Covenant war began. In the middle of the war, John, now known as Master Chief, meet his A.I.(Artiffical Intelegence) partner, Cortana. But eventually, Reach fell and Master Cheif was the last known "Spartan" left alive. I like this book because it is based off my favorite game saga, Halo. I also like this book because it is a Si-Fi novel. I always liked futuristic books. It shows that at even at a young age, John can adapt to his enviornments and make a new family.I would recomed this book to Si-Fi readers. If i were in John's shoes, i would do the last thing i know, survive. War ravages everyone.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I have never played the game, Halo. Maybe this clouded my view, but I read this for a literary value only. As such, it left a lot to be desired. It started with a battle then reverted to the beginning, which I liked. The story never went back to the beginning battle, so it left me wondering why it was even in the book. Unfortunately, it was not complete or chronological, seeming to go back and forth. The story took me to the point John made Petty Officer Third Class, then straight to Master Chief, leaving a huge gap in the story. To me, one of the worse things an author can do is not end a story. I hate cliff hangers. Apparently the series will be never-ending. I did, however, like the story arc and the premise and give this book a two star rating.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After playing Reach, I just wanted to read the book to explain the action even more and the whole story of the Nobles. However, this is not so, Halo: The Fall of Reach is nothing like the game, it doesn't even includes parts of the games except the 'Covenants' (of course...) But this book was also highly enjoyable, and it quickly drew me in despite my early disappointment. It's about how Master Chief (John 117) came to be and I truly loved the ending. As Bungie.net puts it: Epic.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Thsi book is amazing especially if you've played the Halo games. This book has lots of action. It shows you the past of Spartan 117 and how the Spartan training program started.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book started out ridiculous (6-year-old kids in boot camp, really?), but it quickly drew me in. The story was easy enough to follow and some of the maneuvering was impressive from my non-authoritative opinion. A fun book and a quick read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the part of the story of Master Chief from the Halo games, before the games would have happened. This is another video game book I picked up for my article and because I liked the game. Like the Gears of War book, this is meant to flesh out the game's story and characters. The story follows different characters, like Master Chief, Dr.Catherine Halsey, and Jacob Keyes, just to name a few. A huge downfall of this book is the amount of characters that it tries to follow and place the story from their point of view. All the switching made it hard to read and you only got a glimpse of the character. I feel that it would be harder for a younger child to read because of this. It was hard for me to keep focused on the book and I found myself losing intrest because it didn't seem to engage the reader. The game puts you in Master Chief's shoes and I feel the book would've been more of a success if it did the same. However, this book did fill in many of the gaps in the game, like explaining the backstory of the war and of the Spartan project. Because it is a prequel, you don't have to play the game to understand it. I would recommend this book to older middle school/high school age children. It could be used a gateway book to introduce children who are more likely to play video games to reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the back story to the characters and settings in the video game Halo, something in which I have no interest at all, so it's not something I would ever have picked up to read. But my 14-year old nephew was very insistent that I try it, and I've been very pleasantly surprised.In a future in which humans have spread throughout the galaxy, two events coincide: a scientist who fears for the future of humanity begins kidnapping and experimenting on selected children to produce super soldiers (Spartans), and the galaxy is invaded by outsiders who have superior technology and no desire to communicate or make peace. Some of the Spartans survive and grow to adulthood, and as they do they take on the most hazardous of the alien threats. As the prequel ends, the aliens have destroyed Reach, the planet on which the Spartans were trained and which houses the headquarters of humanity's intelligence and military organizations.The main character is the leader of the Spartans, but the doctor and various military officers are also treated with depth. There is some discussion of the ethics of what is done to the children (the needs of the many vs. the needs of the few), but for all that the Spartans grow to feel they lead the life they should, it's an unsettling premise. I don't know if it's presented in the game itself.Exciting, decent space opera. I intend to read at least the next in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Good book for any fan of the Halo video game who just wants to know more about the backstory of the game.Gives a very intricite history of the Human-Covenant war.As well as the oragins of the Spartans.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I liked this book alot because it was action packed(mostly) and always someone in the wrong palce at the wrong time....i give this book 5 stars because of this and paln to read the next one in this series. the main characters are Jon, Linda, cortana. little do the covenant know, but the marines(UNSC) has a secret weapon.... the sparten super soldier.While they are training Reach is being taken over little by little.there are battles in space mostly and some on land....
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the part of the story of Master Chief from the Halo games, before the games would have happened. This is another video game book I picked up for my article and because I liked the game. Like the Gears of War book, this is meant to flesh out the game's story and characters. The story follows different characters, like Master Chief, Dr.Catherine Halsey, and Jacob Keyes, just to name a few. A huge downfall of this book is the amount of characters that it tries to follow and place the story from their point of view. All the switching made it hard to read and you only got a glimpse of the character. I feel that it would be harder for a younger child to read because of this. It was hard for me to keep focused on the book and I found myself losing intrest because it didn't seem to engage the reader. The game puts you in Master Chief's shoes and I feel the book would've been more of a success if it did the same. However, this book did fill in many of the gaps in the game, like explaining the backstory of the war and of the Spartan project. Because it is a prequel, you don't have to play the game to understand it. I would recommend this book to older middle school/high school age children. It could be used a gateway book to introduce children who are more likely to play video games to reading.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Well written, and a page turner from cover to cover. The Fall of Reach tackles the task of expanding the halo universe from game series to book format. While playing through the games and reading the book series together is the best experience, Nylund sets the book series up for success apart from any other content. This first work takes place before the first game, and gives a great beginning for those who have begun playing as Spartan-117 and want to know a bit more about where he came from, and for those who are completely new to the halo universe.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Eric Nylund has a degree in physical science, and it shows. Rather than getting him lost in the details, his background in chemistry and physics greatly adds to his ability to describe the events surrounding relativistic naval combat and high-intensity planetary warfare with beautiful clarity that doesn't disenfranchise a lay person (or a game junkie whose only education comes from a TV screen)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not a masterpiece of writing, but still a very good page turner. Better written than, say, Da Vinci Code.