I’ve been pretty vocal about the fact that I’m not a huge fan of Troy Denning’s writing, particularly when it comes to “Halo” novels – his whole approI’ve been pretty vocal about the fact that I’m not a huge fan of Troy Denning’s writing, particularly when it comes to “Halo” novels – his whole approach to writing and scene-setting is a bit too descriptive and overly talky for my liking, and I often find myself skimming through some of his larger, more expository paragraphs. With “Divine Wind,” that penchant for over-description is still present, unfortunately; however, it’s tempered here ever so slightly, thanks to the presence of some really interesting lore that ties into the broader “Halo” narrative. I still don’t think I’ll ever love Denning’s approach to writing this universe, but as a singular story that sets up some intriguing avenues for down the line, “Divine Wind” represents a slight improvement over his past works for me. Take that for what you will....more
If nothing else, "Halo: Point of Light" stands as just one more piece of proof that writer Kelly Gay, and Kelly Gay alone, should be allowed to write If nothing else, "Halo: Point of Light" stands as just one more piece of proof that writer Kelly Gay, and Kelly Gay alone, should be allowed to write each and every Halo novel for the rest of time. Simultaneously funny, engaging, and rife with Halo lore, "Point of Light" is the type of tie-in novel that makes one grateful to be a Halo fan – it both rewards long-time lore-hounds by paying off plot threads that have literally been going for years now, while also ably setting up future stories in a way that feels organic and fresh. So yeah…long story short: 343, please – give Kelly Gay the keys to the “Halo” universe. She knows what she’s doing....more
I’ve made it very clear in the past that I am not a fan of Troy Denning’s writing-style – at least when it comes to “Halo” novels –This will be short.
I’ve made it very clear in the past that I am not a fan of Troy Denning’s writing-style – at least when it comes to “Halo” novels – and while I was optimistic that “Shadows of Reach” might prove an exception, if only for the fact that it’s set post-“Halo 5” and acts as a bit of an “in” to the events of the upcoming “Halo: Infinite,” sadly, I was let down once again. Cold, ultra-militaristic, and saddled with a writing style that remains focused on granular details that serve no real narrative or character function, “Shadows of Reach” represents yet one more “Halo” tale that, at least for this reader, never comes close to engaging in any real or meaningful way....more
Admittedly a slight step-up from its predecessor, both in writing-style and storytelling, “Halo: Meridian Divide” is another YA-style-take on the “HalAdmittedly a slight step-up from its predecessor, both in writing-style and storytelling, “Halo: Meridian Divide” is another YA-style-take on the “Halo” mythos that, while entertaining enough in its own right, also doesn’t do much to inspire. While never altogether unpleasant to read, Cassandra Rose Clarke’s follow-up to “Battle Born” is also never particularly compelling, either on a story or character level. Throw in the fact that much of what’s here is highly distinctive of other, better “Halo” novels, and it’s hard to recommend “Meridian Divide” to any but the most ardent of “Halo” completionists. ...more
Having now read all of the “Halo” comics, I can pretty firmly say that the majority of them – about 75% - fall squarely into the category of ‘entertaiHaving now read all of the “Halo” comics, I can pretty firmly say that the majority of them – about 75% - fall squarely into the category of ‘entertaining, but passable’: very few of them are complete disasters, but just as few of them are genuinely memorable or inspiring. “Halo: Lone Wolf,” written by Anne Toole with art by Kieran McKeown, is unfortunately no exception to the majority: while there’s some fun to be found in the way that Toole fleshes out Linda – a character that has more or less been a supporting player up till now in other tie-in media – too much of “Lone Wolf” feels derivative of other, better science fiction stories. It also doesn’t help that McKeown’s art often feels at odds with the tone that Toole is going for, giving certain scenes – especially towards the end of the series – an off-kilter, even erratic feel. It all adds up to a comic that is entertaining enough in the moment, but – unless you’re a “Halo” completionist – probably isn’t worth your time. ...more
I already felt pretty certain about it, but “Halo: Oblivion” just confirmed it: I just plain out do not like the way that Troy Denning writes “Halo.” I already felt pretty certain about it, but “Halo: Oblivion” just confirmed it: I just plain out do not like the way that Troy Denning writes “Halo.” It’s just not for me. Believe me, I wish that I did – and based on the user reviews for Denning’s “Halo” novels, it seems like most DO like his style – but for me, it’s too militaristic, too impersonal, and too cold. As a reader, I need an “in” to the story, and across all 4 of Denning’s “Halo” novels, I’ve consistently found that I’ve been unable to find it.
Oh, well. I guess there’s a writer for everyone. ...more
Set directly after the events of her previous “Halo” story, “Smoke and Shadow,” Kelly Gays’ “Halo: Renegades” is a tie-in novel that manages to both cSet directly after the events of her previous “Halo” story, “Smoke and Shadow,” Kelly Gays’ “Halo: Renegades” is a tie-in novel that manages to both contribute to an ongoing narrative satisfactorily, while also finding a way to incorporate elements from the broader “Halo” mythos in a way that doesn’t feel forced, but actually well thought-out and substantive. That it also happens to provide us characters that we actually care about and is paced about as well as any “Halo” novel written to present is just the cherry on top of the pie. ...more
Hey, look: it’s another “Halo” comic in which Master Chief goes on a high risk combat mission to take out some Covenant baddies. How…exciting?
Maybe I Hey, look: it’s another “Halo” comic in which Master Chief goes on a high risk combat mission to take out some Covenant baddies. How…exciting?
Maybe I shouldn’t be so glib, but I’m sorry – there’s just only so many ultra-militaristic, combat-heavy, character-and-plot-light stories set in this universe that I can read before my eyes start to glaze over and I lose interest. It’s not even that “Collateral Damage” is bad – writer Alex Irvine does a commendable job of moving things along at a brisk pace (at a scant 3 issues, there’s not much room here for flab), and artist Dave Crosland brings a distinct enough style to the proceedings that is instantly eye-catching. Unfortunately, after umpteen number of comics and novels that have already tread this exact same narrative ground, this type of “Halo” story now feels well past its expiration date. Pass. ...more
A YA-“Halo” novel? Yes, you read that right….and yes, it reads about exactly as you would expect.
To be fair: “Halo: Battle Born” isn’t BAD, at least sA YA-“Halo” novel? Yes, you read that right….and yes, it reads about exactly as you would expect.
To be fair: “Halo: Battle Born” isn’t BAD, at least so far as readability goes – the story moves at a decent clip, the characters are likable, and all in all, there’s an affability to the thing that’s not un-charming. Writer Cassandra Clarke is clearly enjoying herself here, and it shows – one thing that “Battle Born” isn't is dull. The problem is less execution and more conceptual – for all its appeals to the younger demographics, “Battle Born” still looks and feels EXACTLY like the same “Halo” we’ve gotten for going on 20 years now, except now it’s just a little more watered down, a teensy bit safer, and with an ounce more “teen-iness.” It’s pretty standard-issue stuff, which – if that’s all you’re looking for out of the ten-millionth “Halo” novel – is fine. If, however, you’re craving something – ANYTHING – new or different from “Halo” as a franchise, then be prepared to be disappointed: “Battle Born” ain’t what you’re looking for....more
Having now read 3 of his 4 total “Halo” novels, I think I just have to be honest: I am not a fan of Troy Denning’s writing style.
Or maybe a fairer waHaving now read 3 of his 4 total “Halo” novels, I think I just have to be honest: I am not a fan of Troy Denning’s writing style.
Or maybe a fairer way to put it would be - I am not a fan of Troy Denning’s writing style when it comes SPECIFICALLY to “Halo” novels. Having not read anything else by the man, it’s entirely possible that his prose – which tends to lean heavily on world-building details and dump trucks-levels of exposition - might pair better with a franchise that, at its core, is a little more character-centric, like “Star Wars” or “Forgotten Realms,” both of which Denning has contributed quite a bit to in the past. But in “Halo” – a franchise that, in and of itself, is already extremely descriptive in its world building - Denning’s already heavy style feels excessive, even burdensome, bogging down the narrative at what consistently feels like exactly the wrong times. In “Last Light,” “Retribution,” and now “Silent Storm,” I struggled mightily to find an “in” with the characters – there’s just too much militaristic doo-dah going on, too much stylistic filler that serve to continually shove the emotional beats – the stuff that I personally gravitate most towards - to the background.
I want to make clear: I don’t think Troy Denning is a bad writer – he knows how to set a scene, and the core of his narratives are sound. Unfortunately, for me, at least when it comes to his “Halo” output, those strengths are nearly always buried under a prose and a style-of-writing that I just don’t respond to. ...more
“Halo: Bad Blood” is writer Matt Forbeck’s fourth and – I’m not mistaken – currently the furthest-set piece of material released thus far in the “Halo“Halo: Bad Blood” is writer Matt Forbeck’s fourth and – I’m not mistaken – currently the furthest-set piece of material released thus far in the “Halo” timeline, taking place immediately after the events of “Halo 5” and detailing the further adventures of Spartan Edward Buck. As a look at the state of the universe in the wake of “Halo 5”s climax, “Bad Blood works slightly better than it does as a fully satisfying story in its own right: Forbeck, for all his skills at interweaving various bits of canon into interesting new cohesive wholes, never quite manages to find an “in” here that’s sufficiently compelling, and overall it feels as if there are one too many characters clogging up the joints of “Bad Blood”s story engine. That being said, Forbeck still does a commendable job at moving things along in a way that’s at least never uninteresting. “Bad Blood” may not attain the high level of Forbeck’s best output – “Legacy of Onyx” or “New Blood,” this is not - but as a palette-wetter for “Halo Infinite,” it works well enough....more
“Halo: Legacy of Onyx” is what every tie-in novel to a popular franchise should strive to be: quickly paced, respectful to the broader narrative arc o“Halo: Legacy of Onyx” is what every tie-in novel to a popular franchise should strive to be: quickly paced, respectful to the broader narrative arc of the series, and above all, FUN. Author Matt Forbeck works the same exact magic he did previously in “Halo: New Blood” and his short “Fractures” story “Lessons Learned,” picking up stray bits of lore and other canon stories – including Karen Traviss’ “Kilo-Five” trilogy, “Ghosts of Onyx,”, and even “Halo 5” - and threading them all into his own impressive yarn. The fact that he manages to do that as well as he does, while also imbuing his story with characters we care about and stakes that we actually feel invested in, only make “Legacy of Onyx” all the more impressive an addition to the “Halo” universe....more
Essentially a direct sequel to his previous “Halo” novel “Last Light,” Troy Denning’s “Retribution” is, by most accounts, a superior follow-up – the pEssentially a direct sequel to his previous “Halo” novel “Last Light,” Troy Denning’s “Retribution” is, by most accounts, a superior follow-up – the plot is faster paced and the writing feels more confident. Alas, for all the ways that it improves upon its predecessor, “Retribution” neglects to provide readers with the same exact thing “Last Light” did: characters to glom onto.
Much like “The Cole Protocol” and “Contact Harvest,” both “Last Light” and especially “Retribution” feel hollow, less fully fleshed stories than narrative exercises – a lot technically “happens” in both books, but without characters that we care about to anchor the proceedings around, the end result is a lot of noise and chaos, ultimately signifying, if not nothing, then…well, not much more than nothing. What makes the experience of reading Denning’s novels even more frustrating is that they’re both LOADED with cool allusions and tie-ins to the broader “Halo” universe – there are a lot of exciting ideas here, begging for a better story to flesh it all out. Unfortunately, most of it is buried under a mountain of “who cares?”-ness.
Looking ahead, it appears that Denning has written two more “Halo” novels, both set in the midst of the Human-Covenant War. That’s an intriguing story decision; here’s hoping we finally get some solid character work to go along with them....more
There are few things I love more in life than a pleasant surprise.
To boot: I wasn’t the biggest fan of Tobias Buckell’s first “Halo” novel, “The ColeThere are few things I love more in life than a pleasant surprise.
To boot: I wasn’t the biggest fan of Tobias Buckell’s first “Halo” novel, “The Cole Protocol” – to me, it was a classic case of “too much exposition, not enough heart.” As a result, I went into Buckell’s follow-up,” Halo: Envoy,” basically expecting more of the same militaristic, hyper-detailed plotting that caked the wheels of that novel. But shocker of all shocks: not only is “Halo: Envoy” a SIZEABLE improvement over its predecessor, but I would contend that it’s also one of the strongest pieces of tie-in media the franchise has delivered yet. Who’da thunk it?
The biggest difference between “The Cole Protocol” and “Envoy” is the way that they handle their protagonists – although both novels share a few notable characters, “Envoy” does a considerably better job at actually making us understand and care about them, which in turn provides the story with actual emotional stakes. Buckell also does exemplary work maintaining a laser-focus in guiding his story – this is very much a “bottle episode” of a novel, in that most of the action takes place in and around one main planet. It’s definitely a calculated approach, one that gives Buckell the permission as a storyteller to focus in exclusively on a handful of characters and plotlines, without ever feeling the pressure to overreach or over-do it on subplots (something that badly hampered the plotting and flow of “The Cole Protocol”). We’re locked in on this core story with these core characters, which means we can invest in both fully.
It also doesn’t hurt that “Envoy” also happens to just be a lot of fun to read. One of the more frustrating recurring elements I’ve noticed in many of the “Halo” novels is that, more often than not, their writers tend to lean heavily into self-seriousness; that’s not a bad thing, necessarily, but after reading 13 “Halo” novels in a row, the overall effect can and has become slightly monotonous. “Envoy,” on the other hand, is a different beast than its brethren – there’s a spryness to the proceedings that feels unusual and unexpected for the franchise, and it really does do wonders for the flow of the novel. The fact that Buckell – of the oh-so-serious “The Cole Protocol” – managed to turn around and deliver what is easily the funniest and most fast-paced “Halo” novel yet isn’t just impressive – it’s also, for my money, deeply appreciated....more
I’ve noticed that with the majority of these “Halo” novels and novellas, I typically find myself coming out of them asking the same two questions: 1.)I’ve noticed that with the majority of these “Halo” novels and novellas, I typically find myself coming out of them asking the same two questions: 1.) was it interesting? and 2.) how familiar did it feel?
Some – like Halo: First Strike” and “Halo: Ghosts of Onyx” – are undeniably familiar, story-wise, but thanks to decent pacing and engaging characters, manage to still be compelling. Others – like “Halo: Last Light” and “Halo: The Cole Protocol” – feel distinct and unique in their narrative focus, but despite their fresh perspectives, never quite manage to fully engage the way that they should. “Halo: Smoke and Shadow,” unfortunately, falls more into the latter category.
I think most of the blame for “Smoke and Shadow”s overall shrug-worthiness is a result of what feels like a blasé approach to a great premise – for all the cool new things that writer Kelly Gay tries to do, there just isn’t enough meat on this bone, even for a story that clocks in at just under 200 pages. Sure, in theory, a “Heart of Darkness”-esque jaunt into the far-off reaches of the “Halo” galaxy to find the protagonist’s long-lost father sounds AWESOME…but without interesting plot developments or story wrinkles that we actually care to dig deeper into, it’s just that – an awesome-sounding idea that never manifests itself into anything exciting or particularly memorable.
Still – even though “Smoke and Shadow” didn’t work for me as well as I would have hoped, I am eager to see what else Gay can come up with in the “Halo” universe. She’s clearly someone who’s capable of coming up with cool new ideas, something that I feel like the franchise could REALLY use more of. Now all she has to do is conjure those great ideas into equally great stories....more
“Halo: Tales from Slipspace” is not what I would call a “great” comic anthology.
The majority of the 7 stories contained in the anthology tend to fall“Halo: Tales from Slipspace” is not what I would call a “great” comic anthology.
The majority of the 7 stories contained in the anthology tend to fall into either one of two camps: either weirdly abridged or way too padded out. It also doesn’t help that the quality of the art tends to vary wildly in quality from story to story, with some stories – like “Dominion Splinter” – being absolutely stunning to look at, while others - like “Fireteam Majestic Poker Night” – being…well, less so. As a singular work, divorced from any and all baggage that comes with the “Halo” name, I think an argument can be made that “Tales from Slipspace” misses about as much as it hits – it’s the primo example of a “mixed bag.”
That being said…for “Halo” fans, “Tales from Slipspace” is a mixed bag that’s also a must-read.
Looking over all of the stories in “Slipspace,” it strikes me that there’s not a single one that doesn’t either tie up loose ends from past stories, fill in blanks to long-lingering questions, or serve as direct tie-ins to future narrative - it’s actually impressive how clearly and deliberately “Tales from Slipspace” was designed for the “Halo” completionist. Does that make it a great comic? Not really. But for the “Halo” fan who desires to know each and every piece of the “Halo” storyline, it’s very hard not to recommend “Tales from Slipspace."
Just don't expect much beyond the cool cover....more
“Halo: Fractures” is an interesting collection. Comprised of 14 short stories – many of which act as direct lead-ins to upcoming novels – the majority“Halo: Fractures” is an interesting collection. Comprised of 14 short stories – many of which act as direct lead-ins to upcoming novels – the majority of the content in “Fractures” is set post-“Halo 3,” with some of the tales even extending up to and beyond the events of “Halo 5.” The post-war setting is a refreshing change of pace from the prior “Halo” anthology collection, “Halo: Evolutions,” which devoted nearly all of its length to stories set during and directly involving the Human-Covenant War. “Fractures” is a decidedly more diverse beast than “Evolutions,” with the focus of its stories ranging from the ongoing adventures of some of our favorite Spartans to A.I.-centric courtroom dramas (you have to read it to believe it). Not all of the stories work – I could give or take anything set in the Forerunner era, frankly – but on the whole, it’s hard not to appreciate the effort that was clearly made to do something new here. ...more
Now THAT is how you conclude your comic book series.
Picking up directly after the events of Volume 3, Volume 4 of “Halo: Escalation” ties up storylinNow THAT is how you conclude your comic book series.
Picking up directly after the events of Volume 3, Volume 4 of “Halo: Escalation” ties up storyline threads not only from the series, but also those that were left hanging all the way back in “Halo 4” and “Halo: Spartan Ops." As someone who’s more or less consumed every piece of “Halo” canon in the order that it was released, I can't begin to emphasize what a treat it is to read something that was clearly put together by individuals both a. )familiar with the broader lore and history of the franchise, and b.) knowledgeable of how to most satisfactorily resolve and conclude these multi-year story arcs. That kind of reward-on-investment is a rare thing and should be celebrated, especially when it’s done as well as it is here. ...more
After two prior volumes that were fine, if not particularly inspiring, “Halo: Escalation” finally kicks into gear wNow THIS is what I’m talking about.
After two prior volumes that were fine, if not particularly inspiring, “Halo: Escalation” finally kicks into gear with a six-issue arc that serves not only as a direct sequel to the events of “Halo 4” and “Halo: Spartan Ops,” but also slowly plants the seeds for events to come in “Halo 5.” Writer Duffy Boudreau feels like he’s finally being allowed to cut loose and have fun here – the character interactions feel looser and more in line with the characters’ personalities from the games, the pacing is faster, and the story actually feels like it has (gasp!) genuine stakes. It also doesn’t hurt that Juan Castro and Douglas Franchin’s art is stellar, nicely capturing the look and feel of its videogame inspiration in a way that feels perfectly in-universe without ever being slavish or stilted. Good stuff. ...more