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 On 03/27/2013 at 02:37 AM by KnightDriver See More From This User » |
So I said I'd devour this book and I did, in one week.
I won't spoil anything, but in the last few chapters everything was explained. The events that ended Halo 3 and begun Halo 4 finallly made sense to me. I understand now what that huge Forerunner artifact was that sent Master Chief into deep space at the end of Halo 3 and where he ended up at the beginning of Halo 4. I know the full origin of 343 Guilty Spark and how this monitor ended up on Halo Installation 04, the setting for Halo 1. I'm still a bit hazy about the origin of the Flood however. Who's responsible? The Humans or the Precursors? I'm not quite sure. And why is there Flood left on Halo Installation 04 in Halo 1? Perhaps I missed something, but the book seems to be vague on those points.
I kept thinking of that question in Halo 1 about why Sgt. Johnson wasn't infected by the Flood. I have an idea based on reading Silentium (it'd be a spoiler to explain it), but it's far from a conclusive answer. I think the human's relationship to the Flood was explained in Cryptum maybe, but I forget now. The whole origin of the Flood just seems a bit of a question to me still. I mean I think I know, but why it wasn't spelled out more explicitly in the books is a question. However, maybe it's just me and I missed it.
One thing this book does do is tie up all the loose threads from the previous two books. Pretty much all the characters from Cryptum and Primordium show up here and find their final destiny. Silentium wraps up the entire trilogy nicely and sets the table for events that will take place in all the Halo games.
Most of all, this book made me curious to learn the story of Halo 4, which I had stopped playing at the spot where you awaken the Diadact. Now I know who he is and why he is there, and so I want to go back and finish the game.
Nice writeup. I Didn't even know the book existed, and your blog got me interested to the point that I must buy it!
Just come over from 1up and this was the first user blog I read. feeling much better about having to change homes now. two feel-goods in one blog. sweet!
that was my comment above. just learning the ropes...
Cool. I was trying to figure out the Anonymous thing. Thanks for the comment!
I'd be a bit miffed if I bought a game whose story was explained elsewhere in parts, but at least it's cool it tied up loose ends, and sounds like a good book.
It's been a while since I've devoured a good book, my reading's been at a snail's pace lately. Going to try and change that soon, though.
Nice review! Even though I don't own the Halos, I am curious about its universe.
I would say Silentium starts out kind of slow. It's done throughout from the point of view of the Judicials who are taking down everything and requesting depositions from the main characters. Through most of the book, I was thinking that this seemed like reading the author's collection of notes before he actually put it all into a story, but the last few chapters really began to get exciting and feel like a traditional story, rather than just a collection of documents organized chronologically.
Judicial processes, first part going too slow, sci-fi ... if I didn't know better, I'd think you were describing Episode I: The Phantom Menace, but I'll take your word on it getting better, and what the hell, I actually liked that movie as a kid. lol
Well, you've inspired me to dip into this trilogy sooner rather than later. Sounds like it's just what I would want out of it.
@joestep - The Halo games are the worst at telling stories about a pretty rich and interesting universe. I have no idea why I got interested in the stories when the games do just about everything possible to keep me from caring.
Those terminals are totally an afterthought. You have to stop playing to read them and think about the story when the game should be delivering the story as you play it. The Halo games were always action first, story, maybe if we have time. Also, the games were a lot about location and visual cues, rather than dialog or cut scenes, although there are some of those. The locations in Halo are always stunning and interesting, but you really need the books if you want your story fix. The games just give me a good sense of place and fun things to do in them.
I agree with all of this.
I'm not a big fan of the Halo games, but I'm surprised that Greg Bear was roped into writing novels for it. I was a big fan of his books about 10 years ago. I might give these books a try now!
The more I think about it, his use of telling a story through found documents is not too interesting a device. When he gets into a longer chapter, I think that's where he begins to shine and the book gains some momentum.
I've always been interested in the Halo story but never really played. I tried Halo 4 but didn't like the single player. A friend told me that it was probably because I hadn't played the others to get into the storyline yet. I'd love to read the books, even if I don't play it again.
The books are more thoughtful than the games. If the books followed the style of the games, they would be all action and pretty forgetable. As they are, they go into detail about the technologies, history, and personalities involved, making them much more interesting than just space marines mowing down hoards of Covenant.
Hmm...maybe I'll get lucky and the library will have them. Not likely, but a girl can hope.
I've seen them in the library. The audio book versions as well.
Thanks for not using spoilers. Your blogs on this have inspired me to give these books a try. Such a deep storyline to the Halo world. Too good to pass up.
Sometimes in the Greg Bear books, I wish he would just come out and reveal all from the very beginning. I think he tries to withhold important information just to keep you turning the pages, and that annoys me a little bit. The first two books in the series had me scratching my head quite a bit, but it gets all tied up neatly, finally, at the end of Silentium. It seems like a lot of novel, three of them, to wait for the denouement.
A part of me wants to know the origin of The Flood but another part of me thinks "the mystery" make said enemy more menacing and frightening!
Truth be told though I only beat Halo 1 & briefly played Halo 2. Commence to telling me what a back water weaboo I am. lol.
Not at all. I just had a friend who was into shooters way back to the Doom days, and so it was just natural to start playing Halo with him when it came out. On my own, I probably would've choosen more RPGs to play, but I'm not complaining.
It's been a great ride up until Halo 4, but I feel my interest is waning just a little bit since Bungie isn't involved any more.
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