100,000 years ago, the galaxy was populated by a great variety of beings.
But one species--eons beyond all others in both technology ... read full description
reviews
Jan 17, 2012
Fred
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This is the start of a trilogy detailing the rise of the Forerunners in the Halo world. The first book is by Greg Bear as is the second.
In this start to the Forerunner Saga we meet a very young Forerunner named Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting who just can’t sit still it appears. He is obsessed with the past and sneaks away to look for lost treasures.
Contrary to his Dad’s instructions he strikes out for a planet called Erde-Tyrene where it is rumoured that ancient Fore More...
In this start to the Forerunner Saga we meet a very young Forerunner named Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting who just can’t sit still it appears. He is obsessed with the past and sneaks away to look for lost treasures.
Contrary to his Dad’s instructions he strikes out for a planet called Erde-Tyrene where it is rumoured that ancient Fore More...
Nov 19, 2011
Daena
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The story is a bit confusing and the Forerunner names are cumbersome. My husband pointed out that the Forerunners probably wouldn't have called themselves the Forerunners, since the name Forerunners is a human construct.
The Forerunner mutations are very confusing and I don't understand why they occur, or even it's purpose. And I can't seem to wrap my head around beings who live for millennia who seem to do nothing for long periods of time. I can't believe their arrogance hadn't ki More...
The Forerunner mutations are very confusing and I don't understand why they occur, or even it's purpose. And I can't seem to wrap my head around beings who live for millennia who seem to do nothing for long periods of time. I can't believe their arrogance hadn't ki More...
Sep 10, 2011
Max
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I have been a halo fan since 2008, the late halo 2 days. I have every game and every book, and all along the biggest mystery has never been revealed. The Forerunners. Why did the massive weapon, halo, have trees and wildlife? How did the Forerunners disappear so suddenly? This book had answers to many, but not all of, my questions about them. Of course, other questions will no doubt be revealed later in the series. Finishing this book left me wanting more.
The first part of the book wa More...
The first part of the book wa More...
Feb 23, 2012
Richard
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Posted 2/23/2012: This is the first book of the "Forerunner Saga" from the "Halo" series that appears to have been written by multiple authors. The conceptual basis for the story is a somewhat unique variation on a previously-used theme.
The book leaves the reader with a lot of unanswered questions, which is frustrating. If this is just a partial story, however (first of a series), then the lack of answers might be understandable. The book seems to have been written More...
The book leaves the reader with a lot of unanswered questions, which is frustrating. If this is just a partial story, however (first of a series), then the lack of answers might be understandable. The book seems to have been written More...
Feb 08, 2011
Aubrey
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I have never played Halo, I've never read any of the other Halo books---I was a little worried that I was going to be lost because I wasn't already a Halo fan----but I loved this book----I had just read EON by Greg Bear so I had faith that he would deliver something truly good----but I loved the characters in this book---all of them have their flaws----and while most of them are aliens---Greg gave them something that I can only describe as humanity-----like Eon, he unfolds the story bit by bit--
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Sep 14, 2011
Cory
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It's been a while since I took a stroll in the Halo universe. My first contact with the Halo was The Fall of Reach, which came out before the original Xbox game was released. Since then I've been more interested in watching a science-fictional universe grow up with me than, say, playing Halo multiplayer death matches and shouting obscenities at 11 year old opponents. I'm into Halo for the story, not just for the FPS.
My fondest memories of the Halo games come from the first one releas More...
My fondest memories of the Halo games come from the first one releas More...
Nov 06, 2011
Rob
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I was surprised by how different this book is from the other books in the Halo series. It is entirely focused on the Forerunners, and since the Forerunners existed so long before the events in the Halo games there is no Spartans in the plot at all. This initially turned me off because the Spartans are really fun to follow and read about.
During the entire first chapter I was entirely lost. Sometime in the second chapter the book started clicking and I was slowly sucked in from there a More...
During the entire first chapter I was entirely lost. Sometime in the second chapter the book started clicking and I was slowly sucked in from there a More...
Oct 23, 2011
Christopher
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Allow me to open this review with one statement: Even for Halo fans, Cryptum may be hard to follow at times.
That being said, author Greg Bear crafts a science fiction novel that even people who aren't fans of the Halo franchise will appreciate for its complexity. Honestly, the complexity of this novel is what makes it enjoyable, if not hard to read at times. For example, Bear introduces new words and concepts without, in most cases, any explanation up front, leading the reader along More...
That being said, author Greg Bear crafts a science fiction novel that even people who aren't fans of the Halo franchise will appreciate for its complexity. Honestly, the complexity of this novel is what makes it enjoyable, if not hard to read at times. For example, Bear introduces new words and concepts without, in most cases, any explanation up front, leading the reader along More...
Jan 27, 2011
Jesse
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I have always been a Halo fan since its release in 2001. Since then I have always wanted to know the story of the Forerunners. They were always so mysterious, and their installations and structures seemed remarkably awesome. And finally, I am fortunate to know how the Halos really came to be...
What can I say? I started the book with the expectation that nobody could create such a fantastic story around the Forerunners because of their previous mysteriousness. Boy was I wrong. Greg Be More...
What can I say? I started the book with the expectation that nobody could create such a fantastic story around the Forerunners because of their previous mysteriousness. Boy was I wrong. Greg Be More...
Nov 05, 2011
Phillip
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at first this book was very hard to follow. between the two different kinds of humans and the very confusing names of the humans and the forerunners, it was hard to follow for me and i felt a bit disconnected. it did pick up near the end however and i began to become more interested in the diadact and his adventures with the librarian. this book does something interesting by telling a story in the Halo universe that isn't about the covenant or about spartans or the UNSC. but rather about forerun
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Feb 08, 2012
Morgan
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This book was way better than I expected!! I'm not a big sci fi fan when it comes to books- it's usually a bit too complicated and technological for me. However, I really enjoyed this book. It definitely helped having a background in the Halo universe. My boyfriend is a huge Halo fan, comparable to how I feel about Harry Potter, and he was the one that told me to read this. I've also played all the games with him and really enjoyed them. This book is set thousands of years before the games, but
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Nov 12, 2011
Moayad
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Halo Cryptum tells the story of the Halo universe centuries before the history of the game. It focuses on the story of a young Forerunner who is quite the an adventurer and does not like to abide to the ways of the Forerunners. On one of his adventures he goes to earth where he meets two humans and discovers an old grave of a warrior Forerunners which unfolds a chain of events that would involve the young Forerunner in over his head along with his two newly found human friends.
The st More...
The st More...
May 03, 2011
Jack
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Starting this tonight. As a matter of full disclosure, I love the game, and was inspired to read most of the other Halo universe novels and - more importantly - the Ringworld books by Larry Nevin, though the two have no connection except for one rather obvious similarity. Thank you Bungie and <cough>microsoft</cough>.
++Update++
Cryptum was interesting, but not nearly as "alien" as I had hoped. Written with a very tight point-of-view from a single More...
++Update++
Cryptum was interesting, but not nearly as "alien" as I had hoped. Written with a very tight point-of-view from a single More...
Feb 18, 2012
Carl
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Finished this a while back, and just a few weeks ago finished the sequel. This is a cool series! I'm giving it the full 5 stars, though I admit that may be partly b/c I'm just impressed that an "expanded universe franchise" book is this cool. More later-- hopefully I'll be doing a blog post on these books sometime. Original review is below.
Ok, I don't have an x-box, and haven't read any of the books, but if Greg Bear, one of the big names in sci fi since t More...
Ok, I don't have an x-box, and haven't read any of the books, but if Greg Bear, one of the big names in sci fi since t More...
Feb 16, 2012
Mitchell
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Only read this one for the Endeavour - never even played Halo. I was expecting worse - in fact the first 10 pages were as bad as I expected. But then Bear pulled out a readable book - not a good one unfortunately. I didn't care for the character or setting or idea or technologies or aliens but at least the plot moved along and it wasn't overly thick. 2.5 of 5.
Jan 07, 2012
Sean
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Cryptum was a fun read but I felt that it lacked the excitement and personality to really draw me in. Being a huge Halo fan I still enjoyed it, the fleshing out of the back story behind the Halo universe was more than enough to keep me intrigued, but I don't think it was gripping enough to be entertaining for the average person not a fan of Halo.
Dec 07, 2011
Kuroi
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An extremely interesting first glance at the Forerunner civilization. Greg Bear does a masterful job of bringing the once mysterious race to the forefront without diminishing the majesty that had been built up in the rest of the Halo universe.
Mar 20, 2011
Philip
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Not being much of a gamer, I've not been exposed to Halo beyond hearing the name. I found the story interesting and look forward to the rest of the trilogy. I may look up some of the other books set in the universe or even try the game.
Jan 03, 2012
Robert
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I really enjoyed the book, that is until the ending. I like full endings even in a trilogy I felt left with almost the same amount of answers that I had in the beginning. With that said I am anxiously awaiting Halo: Primordium
Jan 10, 2012
Mike
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As one who has played through the Halo games without memorizing the cut scenes, this is a pretty good piece of science fiction. Since it is authorized by Microsoft, it must be the official version of things, but regardless it is pretty good and I'll continue to read the series.
Mar 31, 2011
Mack
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A wonderful addition to the origins of the Halo Universe. The novel goes deeper into the history of the Forerunners and sheds some light on my key elements to the Halo storyline. In addition, other mysteries are unraveled, such as the beginning of the Flood outbreak and the appearance of the Halo superweapons. I cannot wait for book two.
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Nov 22, 2011
This book, so far, has an amazing feel to it. It really captures foereruner life greatly. The names and descriptions are clever, and I feel like this could be a book I really like.
Sep 15, 2011
Fredrick
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The forerunners have evolved over millenium and had destroyed most of the human race. Bornstellar is shipped off to live with another family has he does not conform to his family standards. He revives an ancient warrior who causes him to mutate while war is resumed.
Jun 28, 2011
Matt
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Totally rewriting the canon would be acceptible, if it was at least done well. If this is the best 343 has to offer, the franchise should have ended with Bungie.
Jul 24, 2011
Kevin
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So far I have to say I am disappointed. The writing seems good but a bit convoluted so I find myself getting lost in the descriptions if that makes sense. Also, the forerunners seem so far advanced that they can do pretty much anything without difficulty and that kind of takes away the excitement for me. And my last gripe....at 60% through it there is basically no action. Disappointing for a Halo book and I might abandon it if it doesn't pick up soon.
update: had to abandon this after a More...
update: had to abandon this after a More...
Jan 26, 2012
Butterflykatana
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A interesting read as its 343's Halo now not Bungies. So there is a few thigns added and to keep the halo fan guessing. Looking forward to the second book.
May 15, 2011
Cole
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Awesome Book. It took just a little time to jump into it, but after a while it really takes off. Thought provoking and an enjoyable read.
Feb 02, 2011
Chonaic17
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A nice but not altogther welcome change from the usual gung-ho all-action style of the rest of the series. Very informative though and it adds much more to the great series.
Jan 05, 2012
Francis
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Greg Bear's writing style took a bit to get adjusted to. He is a bit more wordy and has a higher vocabulary than any authors I have read in the past few years. That being said, the book is really good and the ending is one of the biggest twists I've ever read.
MIND=BLOWN
MIND=BLOWN
