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8th out of 155 books
—
134 voters
Halo: First Strike (Halo #3)
by
Eric S. Nylund (Goodreads Author)
The Human-Covenant war rages on as the alien juggernaut sweeps inexorably toward its final goal: destruction of all human life!
Halo has been destroyed, and the threat it posed to sentient life, neutralized. But victory has come at a terrible cost for the UNSC. Thousands of valiant soldiers fell in the battle to prevent the alien construct from falling into the enemy’s clu...more
Halo has been destroyed, and the threat it posed to sentient life, neutralized. But victory has come at a terrible cost for the UNSC. Thousands of valiant soldiers fell in the battle to prevent the alien construct from falling into the enemy’s clu...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
December 18th 2007
by Del Rey
(first published 2003)
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First Strike is one of the many books set in the Halo Universe to fill in the gaps of story between the trilogy of games. This story takes place in the time frame between the first two games. The book is sent in the 26th century and describes a small part of a huge on-going war between the human race and a alien race, known as the Covenant. The Covenant have superior technology, allowing them to win almost any engagement. There is a small hope for humanity, and that lies in a group of super-sold...more
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EDITORIAL REVIEW: ***The Human-Covenant war rages on as the alien juggernaut sweeps inexorably toward its final goal: destruction of all human life!***Halo has been destroyed, and the threat it posed to sentient life, neutralized. But victory has come at a terrible cost for the UNSC. Thousands of valiant soldiers fell in the battle to prevent the alien construct from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Now, everything depends on the Spartan known as the “Master Chief.” Yet even with the aid of th...more
It's been a long time since I read any good Science Fiction book. At this point, I even surprise myself that I have appreciated the Halo Universe on which I may consider myself a late member. I have not yet played the Halo on Xbox 360 because I still don't have that expensive game console, but I look forward to getting the PC version. Meanwhile, I got myself a copy of the novel to better understand why I liked the Halo game at the first place when I discovered a lot of those videos on YouTube.co...more
The third novel based on the Xbox-exclusive video game "Halo", this story takes place between the original Halo game and Halo 2. It tells the story of how the technologically enhanced super-soldier known as Master Chief survived the destruction of the first Halo (where Halo ended) and returned to Earth, where Halo 2 begins. The plot is straightforward with minimal character development, except perhaps for the character of Cortana, the artificial intelligence that guides Master Chief on his adven...more
A lot of people play games for the killing, but others like the story. People who have played the game Halo for the story should read Halo, First Strike, and the other halo books by Eric Nyluno. This book (Halo, First Strike) and the others are about the famous super soldiers called Spartan IIs that are hopelessly defending the Human race from the evil Covenant and finding an ancient super weapon called Halo. This is a great book to read because the plot is interesting, the conflict is simplisti...more
This book was really good. The only reason I'm not giving a full five starts was the EVERYBODY dies in this book, save the augmented, super-soldiers. Granted, characters that you already know survive (from having played the game) will obviously live but it doesn't help the story any because of that. There can never be any suspense, wondering if they'll die or not because you already know the answer (one of the many problems with the newest Star Wars as well). I like the underdog characters and w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Nylund,Eric(2003)HALO First Strike.The Random House Publishing Group(340pp.).
Are you ready to read about a war torn sci-fi world? Well if so this book will be perfect.It takes place in the year 2554, when humans accidently stubble upon an aggressive alien race.
Now in the year 2554 a lot is going on, not only are humans expanding their domain in the process they run into an alien race.They are known as the covenant, and are following a prophecy on which everything that is in the way is destroyed....more
Are you ready to read about a war torn sci-fi world? Well if so this book will be perfect.It takes place in the year 2554, when humans accidently stubble upon an aggressive alien race.
Now in the year 2554 a lot is going on, not only are humans expanding their domain in the process they run into an alien race.They are known as the covenant, and are following a prophecy on which everything that is in the way is destroyed....more
When I first read this book several years ago, I enjoyed it immensely. Upon re-reading it this year, I find myself wondering which book my younger self read, because it clearly wasn't this one. The plot is paper-thin and inconsistent, character development is virtually non-existent and there is little sense of the passage of time. Flashbacks occur, but they're only barely connected to the primary plot, such as it is. Nylund seems more interested in describing ordnance and combat than in giving h...more
This book kicks off with two story arcs, being continuations of the events depicted in both The Fall of Reach and Halo: The Flood. As such, the first three novels in the Halo series form a fairly cohesive whole. There are a few reasonably spectacular action sequences, especially the events concerning Master Chief in the early chapters of the book. However, that's about as good as it gets this time round. A few new characters are introduced, but I didn't particularly care much about any of them o...more
Halo: First Strike, though perhaps not as interesting as Fall of Reach, is still a well written novel and is continued evidence of Eric Nylund's gift for military science fiction. There are a number of big flaws that the good details can't quite make up for, but in general it's a good sequel to a good game.
The further development of the character of Master Chief is one of the best elements of this book. He is not just a mindless super soldier like he may have seemed in the novelization of Halo:...more
The further development of the character of Master Chief is one of the best elements of this book. He is not just a mindless super soldier like he may have seemed in the novelization of Halo:...more
I really enjoyed this book, but I can't remember anything about it! It's not because the book was forgettable, but because half an hour after reading it I suffered a mild concussion and I seriously cannot rememeber A THING about the novel. I remember I really enjoyed that other Spartans were found and that they had distinct personalities (at least Kelly, Fred, and Linda anyway), and the action scenes were quick-paced and realistic (they actually run out of ammo quite a bit, unlike in The Flood w...more
This book is like candy for anyone who enjoys the Halo games. Being a fan myself, I loved it. It has enough action and plot that even those who don't follow the games can enjoy it (although some parts/descriptions might be confusing for them). This is third book of a trilogy and should be read after the other two. Eric Nylund wrote the first book and this one and they both shine. It's unfortunate you have to wade through the second book to get to this one (my review of Halo: The Flood: http://ww...more
Jan 12, 2011
Omar Ouenniche
added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Aug 04, 2011
Jason
added it
Eric Nylund returns and saves the Halo franchise from the previous lackluster "The Flood". Think of this book as the true sequel to "The Fall of Reach". And to those who are playing Halo: Reach, you'll notice this book follows more of the events of the Spartan Red Team's "defeat" on Reach than "The Fall of Reach" book.
And it's encouraging to know that the Master Chief isn't the only Spartan left (though the events of this books occur before Halo 2).
In all, a riveting story that I found hard to p...more
And it's encouraging to know that the Master Chief isn't the only Spartan left (though the events of this books occur before Halo 2).
In all, a riveting story that I found hard to p...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!
The novel Halo: First Strike by Eric Nylund, bridges the gap between the Xbox 360 game Halo: Combat Evolved, and Halo 2. After the Master Chief destroys the ring world known as Halo, also known as Installation 04, he is drifting in space in a Longsword space fighter away from the debris. He, and his AI companion Cortana, are hoping they can make it to a friendly base, outpost, planet, etc. If there are any left. The Covenant have stopped at nothing to eradicate as many...more
The novel Halo: First Strike by Eric Nylund, bridges the gap between the Xbox 360 game Halo: Combat Evolved, and Halo 2. After the Master Chief destroys the ring world known as Halo, also known as Installation 04, he is drifting in space in a Longsword space fighter away from the debris. He, and his AI companion Cortana, are hoping they can make it to a friendly base, outpost, planet, etc. If there are any left. The Covenant have stopped at nothing to eradicate as many...more
First Strike is a superb piece of science fiction set in the Halo universe, and mostly fills the gap between Halo and Halo 2, although it leaves many other questions unanswered.
The book actually starts before the first Halo book, The Fall of Reach, ends. Instead of following the Master Chief, however, it follows the story of Blue Team on the surface of the planet. Soon though, the action moves back to the newly-destroyed Halo ring and John as he makes his escape. The two storylines eventually co...more
The book actually starts before the first Halo book, The Fall of Reach, ends. Instead of following the Master Chief, however, it follows the story of Blue Team on the surface of the planet. Soon though, the action moves back to the newly-destroyed Halo ring and John as he makes his escape. The two storylines eventually co...more
It took me a couple of tries to read First Strike. This was where I left off the first time I tried to get through the Halo series. This second time around I got through it a bit quicker.
I think a lot of folks hold the first three Halo novels (this being the third) in special regard compared to the handful of titles out now. Even Tor Books chose to re-release an updated version of these in anticipation for the upcoming Halo: Reach on the Xbox 360. This in mind, First Strike was good, not great.
E...more
I think a lot of folks hold the first three Halo novels (this being the third) in special regard compared to the handful of titles out now. Even Tor Books chose to re-release an updated version of these in anticipation for the upcoming Halo: Reach on the Xbox 360. This in mind, First Strike was good, not great.
E...more
Sep 08, 2010
cheri
is currently reading it
Ok, I'm not really READING this book, I rented the CD from the public library and I am listening to it with my boys. Surprisingly I am enjoying it. A little too sci-fi for my regular taste but as it is being read to me it seems more interesting. Since I am a country girl at heart I enjoyed how they described the new colonies that are growing their own food for survival. Not sure if I will finish it before it is due back at the library, but I would have to rate this one a decent read.
I feel sorry for Dietz, who was given the novel adaptation of the first Halo video game to write, while Nylund had the liberty of filling in the gaps between games, giving him significantly more creative freedom.
'First Strike' begins both somewhere near the end of 'The Fall of Reach' and after 'The Flood'. This is the first time that multiple timelines were being followed simultaneously, but it doesn't ever detract from the feel of the story. Not quite as smooth as 'The Fall of Reach', 'First St...more
'First Strike' begins both somewhere near the end of 'The Fall of Reach' and after 'The Flood'. This is the first time that multiple timelines were being followed simultaneously, but it doesn't ever detract from the feel of the story. Not quite as smooth as 'The Fall of Reach', 'First St...more
The last Halo in the trilogy. Epicest, most adrenaline pumping book out of all three. It continues the story after "Halo: The Flood" Where Chief has to fight his way through the ring-world's inner core battling infectious creatures known as "flood". In here, battles take place on more human vs. covenant bases than ones with the "flood" in them. I really love this book. I'd recommend this to anyone who is willing to go "inside" the book and play along as a character in the story.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Halo First Strike by Eric Nylund is the third book in the continuing series that I consider to be one of the most exhilerating available. Though, this book seemed to be lacking in overall plot and suspense that the previous two books were developed with so fluently. Continuing the story of John, or Spartan 117 and his fight against an alien race for the fate of humanity after he has destroyed the Halo ring weopon and now forced to confront the covenant once again, and attempt to recover technolo...more
I'm not the biggest fan of Science Fiction books, but I really enjoyed First Stike. It had an excellent stroy following the events of the first Halo. Eric Nylund portays the action, emotions and characters greatly in this novel. If you are in to Halo, Science Fiction or even just a good story I would recommend reading Fisrt Strike. I will ashure you that you won't be dissapointed.
As any Halo fan would agree with, this book adds much more canon store in to the timeline of the Halo Universe. The storyline through this novel isn't the best although it isn't boring.
I believe this book though, adds a lot more context and meaning to character within the Halo games as well making them more enjoyable, and other Halo novels more enjoyable also.
I believe this book though, adds a lot more context and meaning to character within the Halo games as well making them more enjoyable, and other Halo novels more enjoyable also.
This book is all about the first strike at the human home world earth. This was when th covnent first touched down and attacked the humans. The book is still based on survivle and i love this due to how creative I can get. I would recomend this book to anyone interested in science fiction. Halo is a wonderful series and I am happy to read over it every time.
I found this book as good as "Halo: The Fall of Reach". Eric Nylund does an great job explaining the events between Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2.Chapter transistions are full of suspense. The characters have good personalities. The settings are described as good as the first book. The action scenes are very good. This is over all a very good book.
And the plot thickens. Read most of this on a long plane ride and it really helped the time pass. It's action-packed, gives tantalizing hints of things to come, and further develops and has you fall more in love with characters. More and more the series makes me think of "if W.E.B. Griffin wrote a sci-fi" and that, for me, is a very good thing.
Those that have read the earlier books in the series and played the games will get a lot more out of this book. Being a big Halo fan, I loved this book. It's also very well written which was a pleasant surprise.
I enjoyed the Fall of Reach more, but this book is still very good.
I enjoyed the Fall of Reach more, but this book is still very good.
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