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Halo is one of those franchises that never go out of style, especially considering the momentum it has received with the Paramount series and the good shape that the multiplayer of its latest installment is going through: Halo Infinite. Despite having gone through some difficulties, it is still one of the most popular and beloved sagas in the history of video games.
Halo’s plot takes place in the distant future in which humanity has attained the technology to travel through space and colonize other planets. The game centers on the main character, the Master Chief, a cybernetically enhanced super-soldier who is part of a secret military program called Spartan.
This epic action-mystery space adventure has captured the attention of gamers since its release in 2001, thanks to a rich and detailed mythology, memorable characters and exciting gameplay, but also the various writers who have extended their universe towards literature.
About the Halo books
The Halo novels are a series of science fiction books based on the Halo video game universe. Since the publication of the first novel in 2001, several more novels have been released that expand the history and mythology of the Halo universe. Written by various authors, the novels explore the history of the characters and the events of the saga, as well as the consequences of the actions of the protagonists.
With each new novel, the Halo universe is further expanded, offering readers an exciting and enriching experience in an imaginary world full of action and adventure.
In what order to read the Halo books?
They are not easy to find and there is practically only stock in English now, but here is our recommended reading guide for Halo novels or books. you can read them out of orderbut this list includes the chronology of the story and the relationships between the characters and the events.
1. Halo: The Fall of Reach
By Eric Nylund, narrates the origin of the Spartan-II program and the creation of the Master Chief. After being kidnapped as a child, the Master Chief is trained in combat to fight the alien Covenant in a war for control of the universe.
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Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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2. Halo: The Flood
By William C. Dietz, it is a novel that tells the events of the first game in the Halo series from the perspective of various characters, including the Master Chief. The history Continue humanity’s fight against the Covenant and the threat of the Flood, a parasitic race that can turn any living thing into a monster.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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3. Halo: First Strike
By Eric Nylund, continues the story of “Halo: The Fall of Reach.” The Master Chief leads a group of Spartans in a mission to destroy a Covenant base and discover information about a secret weapon called “Halo”. The race to stop the Covenant and the Flood continues in a new battle for humanity’s survival.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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4. Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
By Eric Nylund, follows the story of a group of Spartans and a team of scientists who travel to a artificial world called Onyx. There they discover a dangerous secret and must battle a shocking threat that could change the course of the war against the Covenant.
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5. Halo: Contact Harvest
By Joseph Staten (original writer of Halo), tells how humanity met the alien Covenant. The novel follows a group of soldiers and civilians who fight to maintain the control of the Harvest colony as the Covenant invade and a rogue artificial intelligence threatens to destroy all that remains.
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6. Halo: The Cole Protocol
By Tobias S. Buckell, follow Lt. Jacob Keyes on a mission to protect the secrets of humanity of the Covenants. The novel follows the fight to preserve Cole’s protocol, which keeps the secrets of human shipping lanes safe, as the Covenant threaten to expose them.
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7. Halo: Evolutions
By various authors, it is a collection of short stories that explore different aspects of the Halo universe, including stories about the Spartans, Artificial Intelligence, the Marines, and the ODSTs. The novel also contains a story that expands on the plot of “Halo 3” and sheds light on the fate of the Master Chief after the war.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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8. Halo: Cryptum
By Greg Bear, it’s the First book in the Forerunner Saga trilogy which explores the history of the ancient Forerunner race and their fight against the threat of the Flood. The book follows a Forerunner named Bornstellar who seeks the help of the mysterious warrior Didact to save his world from destruction, while uncovering secrets about the history of civilization from him.
Last update on 2023-03-25. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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9. Halo: Primordium
By Greg Bear, it is the second book in the Forerunner Saga trilogy and follows a human who wakes up in a mysterious world and must fight to survive while uncovering secrets about the Forerunners and their fight against the Flood. The novel also explores the relationship between the human and an artificial intelligence called Catalog.
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10. Halo: Silentium
By Greg Bear, it is the third and final book in the Forerunner Saga trilogy and explores the Forerunners and their fight against the threat of the Flood. The novel follows the story of Bornstellar, the Didact, and the Librarian as they fight to save their world from destruction and discover secrets about the creation of the universe and the nature of the Precursors.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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11. Halo: Broken Circle
By John Shirley, it follows the story of the Covenant alliance and their fight for survival after the destruction of their religious leader. The novel introduces us to a Sangheili leader and a Jiralhanae leader, who must work together to maintain alliance stability while facing an internal and external threat.
Last update on 2023-03-25. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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12. Halo: New Blood
By Matt Forbeck, it follows Edward Buck, an ODST soldier who fights in the war against the Covenant and then the fight against the Prometheans. The novel explores his life after the war and how to join a spartan-iv team while putting up combat against a new threat.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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13. Halo: Hunters in the Dark
By Peter David, tells the story of a team of humans and Sangheili who travel to a mysterious world to explore an ancient Forerunner structure. The novel depicts the characters’ fight for survival as they uncover secrets about the Forerunners and battle a surprising threat.
Last update on 2023-03-25. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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It is important to note that the novels “Halo: Last Light” and “Halo: Retribution” by Troy Denning are not included in this list, but are also considered as part of the Halo novel series and can be read after “Halo: Hunters in the Dark.”
Some novels can be read in a different order than presented in this list, and some of the “Halo: Evolutions” short stories can also be read at alternate times. This reading guide provides a correct sequence and general of most novels in the Halo universe.
I hope that this guide to reading the Halo books has been useful to you and that you begin to enjoy one of the deepest and most exciting universes in the history of video games without fear.
Last update on 2023-03-24. Prices and availability may differ from those published.
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