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The '''''Halo''''' '''novels''' are books about 340 pages each and have expanded heavily on the [[Halo Universe]]. The first three novels were published by [[Ballantine Books]], while the two after that are published by [[Tor Books]]. Because of a 3-book contract by TOR, there is one more planned novel, but so far these are the only known novels:
{{Title|''Halo'' novels}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
[[File:HaloBooksCollage.jpg|thumb|300px|A compilation of cover art for all of the ''Halo'' novels released between 2001 and early 2024.]]
The '''''Halo''''' '''novels''' are books that have expanded heavily on the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]]. This page documents the various novels, their series', and their orders. [[343 Industries]] also maintains an official, regularly-updated guide to the novels of the ''Halo'' series, which can be accessed [https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/official-halo-book-guide here].


*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', this book explains what happened before [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]. By [[Eric Nylund]].  
==Development==
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', the novelization of ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' by [[William C. Dietz]].  
[[File:HaloBookSleeve.png|thumb|250px|A box set of the first three ''Halo'' novels.]]
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', this book partially explains the [[SPARTAN Program]]s and fills in the gap between ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''[[Halo 2]]''. By Eric Nylund.
The Halo novel project was initiated with the intent of establishing an "expanded universe" for future content. Contrary to popular belief, the project was overseen by [[Microsoft Game Studios|Microsoft Game Studios Franchise Development Group]] and not by [[Bungie|Bungie Studios]] (though they were given a significant degree of creative control).<ref name="MGSFDG">[[Archive:Xbox.com/Halo|'''Halo: Combat Evolved''' portal page]]: [[User:Subtank/Archive|''MGS Development Group Expands'']] (archived page)</ref><ref name="creativecontrol">[http://uk.ign.com/articles/2010/10/19/beyond-the-ring-bungies-renegade-development-of-halos-fiction?page=3 '''IGN''': ''Beyond the Ring: Bungie's Renegade Development of Halo's Fiction''] (Staten said, emphasizing Bungie's role in outside projects: ''"Bungie was maintaining creative oversight over all these initiatives -- we really did have a lot of control over what stories got told. Historically, over the decade of Halo storytelling, Bungie would maintain creative ownership and direction of these various projects."'')</ref> The relationship between Bungie and Microsoft was somewhat rocky at this time,<ref>[https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/the-complete-untold-history-of-halo-an-oral-history '''Vice.com''': ''The Complete, Untold History of Halo'']</ref> with the former resenting Microsoft's creative interference in the ''Halo'' story and nearly having the first novel, ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', canceled.<ref name="trautmann">[http://scifishow.libsyn.com/005-dc-reboot-trautmann-interview-round-2-of-our-quiz '''The Sci Fi Show''': ''Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann'']</ref>
*[[Halo Box Set]], the box set featuring the three first Halo Novels.
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', the book introducing [[Onyx]]. By Eric Nylund.
*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'', by [[Joseph Staten]].


There is also:
Although the novels have always been considered canonical,<ref name="staten">[http://halostory.bungie.org/staten102204.html '''halo.bungie.org''': ''Halo Story Page | Joe Staten Interview - October 2004'']</ref> the stories they told were generally regarded as distinct from the ''Halo'' games' stories in some respects, with both games and the "expanded universe" forming their own standalone narratives.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnHPPsQFovY '''YouTube''': ''Halo 4 Panel | RTX 2012''] (39:30: [[Frank O'Connor]]: ''"[the books] are all canonical."'')</ref> Additionally, there were sometimes creative differences between Bungie and the novels' authors;{{Ref/Reuse|trautmann}} for example, Bungie's writing staff disliked the notion of [[Avery Johnson]]'s immunity to the [[Flood]] introduced in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]''{{Ref/Reuse|staten}} and retconned the circumstances of his survival in the ''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''. However, Bungie would nonetheless introduce several elements originating from the novels into their games; an example of this are the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] and the [[orbital defense platform]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|trautmann}} Following the advent of [[343 Industries]] and their philosophy of expanded connectivity between ''Halo'' media, the writing process of the novels has become more extensively intertwined with the planning of the stories of the games and other fiction.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNDQN7nwZlw&feature=related '''YouTube''': ''SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1'']</ref>
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', a comic book based on the Halo Universe.
*''[[The Art of Halo]]'', the Halo artists behind the scenes book.  
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]'', the official guide for [[Halo PC]].
*''[[Halo 2: The Official Game Guide]]'', the official guide for Halo 2.
*''[[Halo 3: The Official Guide]]'', similar to ''Halo 2: The Official Game Guide'', but with Halo 3.
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]'', Comic book series being made by [[Marvel Comics]].


[[Category:Books]]
The first three novels were published by [[Del Rey Books]]. Microsoft Studios' next publishing partner was [[Tor Books]], which published all ''Halo'' novels from [[2006]] to early [[2014]]. The three initial ''Halo'' novels were reissued by Tor in [[2010]]. While mostly unchanged, the new versions feature additional content and [[List of rectified inconsistencies in the Halo series|several alterations]]. In 2014, 343 Industries entered a contract with [[Gallery Books]] as the publisher of subsequent ''Halo'' literature.<ref name="gallery">[https://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2014/02/04/Gallery-Books-and-343-Industries-Announce-Multi-Book-Fiction-Publishing-Program-For-Halo-Franchise.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Gallery Books and 343 Industries Announce Multi-Book Fiction Publishing Program'']</ref>
[[Category:The Real World]]
 
==List of novels==
===The Original Series===
{{Main|The Original Series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''
| [[File:HTFOR Cover 2010 edition.jpg|50px]]
| [[Eric Nylund]]
| Todd McLaren
| [[2001]]
| Details the [[SPARTAN-II program]], the [[Covenant]] attack on [[Reach]], and how the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}} escaped to [[Installation 04|Halo]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
| [[File:The Flood CVR.jpg|50px]]
| [[William C. Dietz]]
| Todd McLaren
| [[2003]]
| The novelization of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''. Also features a number of additional subplots which expand on [[Battle of Installation 04|the events]] on [[Installation 04]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
| [[File:Firststrike2.jpg|50px]]
| Eric Nylund
| Todd McLaren
| 2003
| Fills in the gap between ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''[[Halo 2]]'', explaining the Master Chief's return to Earth and the survival of a number of characters from [[Reach]] and Halo.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
| [[File:Onyx cover.jpg|50px]]
| Eric Nylund
| Jonathan Davis
| [[2006]]
| Follows [[Kurt Ambrose|Kurt-051]], the training of the [[SPARTAN-III program|Spartan-IIIs]] on [[Onyx]], and the [[Onyx Conflict|three-sided battle]] for the planet in [[2552]].
|}
 
===Gray Team series===
{{Main|Gray Team series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
| [[File:Halocole.png|50px]]
| [[Tobias Buckell]]
| Jonathan Davis
| [[2008]]
| Introduces [[Gray Team]] and details the backstories of [[Jacob Keyes]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
| [[File:HaloEnvoy.png|50px]]
| Tobias Buckell
| Scott Brick
| [[2017]]
| Follows [[Melody Azikiwe]] on a diplomatic mission on [[Carrow]], while searching for a way to rescue Gray Team from captivity.
|}
 
===The Forerunner Saga===
{{Main|The Forerunner Saga}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
| [[File:Cryptum - Cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Greg Bear]]
| Holter Graham
| [[2011]]
| Describes the experiences of the [[Forerunner]] [[Manipular]] known as [[IsoDidact|Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting]] and [[Ur-Didact|the Didact]] during the [[Forerunner-Flood war]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
| [[File:HPrimordium - Cover.jpeg|50px]]
| Greg Bear
| [[Tim Dadabo]]
| [[2012]]
| Details the story of a human known as [[Chakas]] and his odyssey across [[Installation 07]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
| [[File:Silentium cover front.jpg|50px]]
| Greg Bear
| [[Wikipedia:Euan Morton|Euan Morton]]
| [[2013]]
| Recounts the twilight years of the Forerunner civilization, the [[Ur-Didact]]'s descent into insanity, and the firing of the [[Halo Array]].
|-
|}
 
===Kilo-Five Trilogy===
{{Main|Kilo-Five Trilogy}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
| [[File:Glasslands cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Karen Traviss]]
| Euan Morton
| 2011
| Details the state of the ''Halo'' universe after the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]] and serves as a follow-up to ''Ghosts of Onyx''.
|-
| ''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
| [[File:HThursday War - Cover.jpeg|50px]]
| Karen Traviss
| Euan Morton
| 2012
| Continues the story of [[Kilo-Five]] and humanity's involvement in the [[Blooding Years]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
| [[File:HaloMortalDictata.jpg|50px]]
| Karen Traviss
| Euan Morton
| 2014
| Focuses on the [[Venezia]]n rebel movement threatening Earth and the terrorist [[Staffan Sentzke]]'s connection to Kilo-Five's [[Naomi-010]].
|-
|}
 
===Alpha-Nine series===
{{Main|Alpha-Nine series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
|''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
| [[File:Halo New Blood cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Matt Forbeck]]
| Scott Brick
| [[2015]]
| Explores the story of the Gunnery Sergeant [[Edward Buck]] and his squad [[Alpha-Nine]] during and after the Human-Covenant War.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Bad Blood]]''
|[[File:Halo Bad Blood.jpg|50px]]
| Matt Forbeck
| Scott Brick
| 2018
|Sees Spartan [[Edward Buck]] reform his old squad [[Alpha-Nine]] to undertake a daring mission following the rise of [[Cortana]]'s [[Created]].
|}
 
===The Ferrets series===
{{Main|The Ferrets series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
| [[File:HaloLastLight.jpg|50px]]
| [[Troy Denning]]
| Scott Brick
| 2015
| A detective story following [[Blue Team]] and [[Special Inspector]] [[Veta Lopis]] as they investigate murders on a [[Gao|human colony]] which harbors Forerunner technology.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
| [[File:Halo Retribution.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Scott Brick
| 2017
| Returns to [[Veta Lopis]] and the [[Ferret]]s on a joint mission with [[Blue Team]] to identify the assassin of Admiral [[Graselyn Tuwa]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
|[[File:HDW CoverArt.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Aida Reluzco
| 2021
| Sequel to ''Halo: Shadows of Reach''. Follows Veta Lopis and the Ferrets in their attempts to stop the Keepers of the One Freedom from firing the Halo Array.
|}
 
===Rion Forge & Ace Of Spades series===
{{Main|Rion Forge & Ace Of Spades series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Smoke and Shadow]]''
| [[File:Halo Smoke and Shadow cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Kelly Gay]]
| Scott Brick
| [[2016]]
| Follows [[Rion Forge]] on her quest to discover the fate of her [[John Forge|father]] and his ship, the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Renegades]]''
|[[File:Halo Renegades cover.jpg|50px]]
| Kelly Gay
| Justine Eyre
| 2019
|Sequel of ''Halo: Smoke and Shadow'', and follows Rion Forge and the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' crew to find Rion's father and the ''Spirit of Fire'', while are pursued by ONI and Covenant remnants.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Point of Light]]''
|[[File:Halo Point of Light cover.jpg|50px]]
| Kelly Gay
| Scott Brick, Tim Dadabo
| 2021
|Sequel of ''Halo: Renegades'', and follows Rion Forge, Spark and the ''[[Ace of Spades]]'' crew being pursued by ONI, while they try to complete the Librarian's plan.
|}
 
===A Master Chief Story===
{{Main|A Master Chief Story}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
|[[File:Halo Silent Storm.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Scott Brick
| 2018
|Sees John-117 and some SPARTAN-IIs trying to gather information about the Covenant in the first year of the Human-Covenant War, and the insurrectionists' attempts to stop their mission.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
|[[File:Halo Oblivion cover.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Scott Brick
| 2019
|Sequel to ''Silent Storm'', sees John-117 and some SPARTAN-IIs trying to capture a [[Covenant frigate]], while [[Fleetmaster]] [[Nizat 'Kvarosee]] tries to kill them.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
|[[File:HSOR Cover.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Sean Patrick Hopkins
| [[2020]]
|Taking place one year after the events of ''Halo 5: Guardians'', sees Blue Team returning to Reach to recover assets hidden in Dr. Halsey's abandoned laboratory on [[CASTLE Base]] that could be humanity's last chance against Cortana and the Created.
|-
|}
 
===Battle Born: A Halo Young Adult Novel Series===
{{Main|Battle Born: A Halo Young Adult Novel Series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Battle Born]]''
| [[File:Halo Battle Born cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Cassandra Rose Clarke]]
| Therese Plummer
| 2019
| Sees a group of four teens and a Spartan supersoldier surviving during the [[Battle of Meridian]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]''
| [[File:Halo Meridian Divide cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Cassandra Rose Clarke]]
| Therese Plummer
| 2019
| Sequel to ''Halo: Battle Born'', follows Saskia, Dorian, Evie, and Victor in their return to Meridian and monitor the Covenant's efforts to retrieve an ancient Forerunner artifact.
|-
|}
 
===A Halo Infinite Story===
{{Main|A Halo Infinite Story}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
| [[File:HTRP FrontCover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Kelly Gay]]
| Scott Brick
| [[2022]]
|Follows members of the [[United Nations Space Command]] as they [[Battle for Zeta Halo|fight back]] against the [[Banished]] on [[Installation 07]].
|-
|}
 
===Individual novels===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''
| [[File:Contact Harvest Cover.JPG|50px]]
| [[Joseph Staten]]
| [[Wikipedia:Holter Graham|Holter Graham]], [[Jen Taylor]]
| [[2007 (real world)|2007]]
| Follows [[Avery Johnson|Sergeant Avery Johnson]] and features the events leading up to [[First Battle of Harvest|first contact]] with the Covenant at [[Harvest]] and the beginning of the [[Human-Covenant War]].
|-
|''[[Halo: Broken Circle]]''
| [[File:HaloBrokenCircle.jpg|50px]]
| [[John Shirley]]
| [[Wikipedia:Scott Brick|Scott Brick]]
| [[2014]]
| A story told from the perspective of several [[Sangheili]] and [[San'Shyuum]] characters during both the beginnings of the [[Covenant]] and the [[Great Schism]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
| [[File:Halo-HuntersInTheDark-CoverArt.jpg|50px]]
| [[Peter David]]
| Scott Brick
| 2015
| Follows a joint [[Operation: FAR STORM|human-Sangheili expedition]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]] in the post-war era.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''
|[[File:Halo Legacy of Onyx.png|50px]]
| Matt Forbeck
| Scott Brick
| 2017
| Follows [[Molly Patel]] as she adjusts to her new life living inside the [[Onyx]] Forerunner [[Sarcophagus|shield world]] and deals with a looming threat from the [[Servants of the Abiding Truth]].
|-
| ''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
|[[File:HOut FrontCover.jpg|50px]]
| Troy Denning
| Scott Brick
| 2023
| Follows [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] and Spartan [[Olympia Vale]] as they seek out a rumored ancient artifact capable of liberating their peoples from Cortana and the Created's rule.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Epitaph]]''
|[[File:HaloEpitaph Cover Front.jpg|50px]]
| Kelly Gay
| [[Keith Szarabajka]]
| 2024
| Follows the [[Ur-Didact]] after the events of ''[[Halo 4]]'' and ''[[Halo: Escalation]]''{{'}}s [[The Next 72 Hours]] arc.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Empty Throne]]''
| [[File:Halo Empty Throne Cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Jeremy Patenaude]]
|
| 2024
| Follows the UNSC's attempts to steal the Domain from Cortana through an ancient access point on a seemingly insignificant human colony.
|}
 
===Individual novellas===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Saint's Testimony]]''
| [[File:Halo Saint's Testimony cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Frank O'Connor]]
| Scott Brick
| 2015
| Explores the world of [[smart AI]]s through the eyes of [[Iona]] as she attempts to prevent her own decommissioning.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
| [[File:HSOI-Cover.jpg|50px]]
| Joseph Staten
| Scott Brick
| 2015
| Focuses on a conflict between [[Tem'Bhetek]], a vengeful San'Shyuum [[Prelate]], and [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] several months after the Covenant War.
|}
 
===Anthologies===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; border:1px solid #999999; background: #FFFFFF;"
! style="width:100px;" | Title
! style="width:50px;" | Cover
! style="width:100px;" | Author
! style="width:100px;" | Audio book narrators
! style="width:100px;" | Publication
! Summary
|-
| ''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
| [[File:Halo Evolutions cover.jpg|50px]]
| [[Eric Nylund]], [[Tobias Buckell]], [[Karen Traviss]], [[Robert McLees]], [[Wikipedia:Brian Evenson|B.K. Evenson]], [[Jonathan Goff]], [[Kevin Grace]], [[Frank O'Connor]], [[Eric Raab]], [[Fred Van Lente]], [[Wikipedia:Jeff VanderMeer|Jeff VanderMeer]] and Tessa Kum
| [[Steve Downes]], Holter Graham, [[Frank O'Connor]], and [[Jen Taylor]]
| 2009
| When humanity expanded beyond the safety of Earth to new stars and horizons, they never dreamed what dangers they would encounter there.  When the alien juggernaut known as the Covenant declared holy war upon the fragile human empire, millions of lives were lost—but, millions of heroes rose to the challenge.  In such a far-reaching conflict, not many of the stories of these heroes, both human and alien, have a chance to become legend.  This collection holds eleven stories that dive into the depths of the vast Halo universe, not only from the perspective of those who fought and died to save humanity, but also those who vowed to wipe humanity out of existence.
|-
| ''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
| [[File:Halo Fractures.jpg|50px]]
| [[Tobias Buckell]], [[Troy Denning]], [[Matt Forbeck]], [[Kelly Gay]], [[Christie Golden]], [[Kevin Grace]], [[Morgan Lockhart]], [[John Jackson Miller]], [[Frank O'Connor]], [[Brian Reed]], [[James Swallow]], [[Joseph Staten]]
| Scott Brick
| 2016
| Launch once more into galaxy-spanning conflict and legendary heroism…shards of an ever-expanding journey where human and alien alike find their finest hours in facing their greatest challenges. These scattered stories span untold millennia, from the age of the ancient custodial race known as the Forerunners…to the aftermath of the Covenant’s bloody war against humanity…and even the shocking events surrounding the resurrection of the mysterious Guardians. Halo: Fractures explores mythic tales of bravery and sacrifice that blaze brightly at the very heart of the Halo universe.
|}
 
===Box sets===
*[[Halo Box Set]], the box set featuring the three first ''Halo'' novels by [[Del Rey Books]].
*[[Halo Boxed Set]], featuring the first three novels by [[Tor Books]].
{{Clear}}
 
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
==External links==
*[https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/official-halo-book-guide ''Halo Waypoint'' - Official Halo Book Guide] - an officially-published list of ''Halo'' novels.
 
{{Navbox/Media/Novels}}
[[Category:Novels| ]]
[[Category:Lists]]

Revision as of 22:17, May 20, 2024

A compilation of cover artworks for all of the Halo novels published 2001-2024.
A compilation of cover art for all of the Halo novels released between 2001 and early 2024.

The Halo novels are books that have expanded heavily on the Halo universe. This page documents the various novels, their series', and their orders. 343 Industries also maintains an official, regularly-updated guide to the novels of the Halo series, which can be accessed here.

Development

A box set of the first three Halo novels.

The Halo novel project was initiated with the intent of establishing an "expanded universe" for future content. Contrary to popular belief, the project was overseen by Microsoft Game Studios Franchise Development Group and not by Bungie Studios (though they were given a significant degree of creative control).[1][2] The relationship between Bungie and Microsoft was somewhat rocky at this time,[3] with the former resenting Microsoft's creative interference in the Halo story and nearly having the first novel, Halo: The Fall of Reach, canceled.[4]

Although the novels have always been considered canonical,[5] the stories they told were generally regarded as distinct from the Halo games' stories in some respects, with both games and the "expanded universe" forming their own standalone narratives.[6] Additionally, there were sometimes creative differences between Bungie and the novels' authors;[4] for example, Bungie's writing staff disliked the notion of Avery Johnson's immunity to the Flood introduced in Halo: First Strike[5] and retconned the circumstances of his survival in the Halo Graphic Novel. However, Bungie would nonetheless introduce several elements originating from the novels into their games; an example of this are the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers and the orbital defense platforms.[4] Following the advent of 343 Industries and their philosophy of expanded connectivity between Halo media, the writing process of the novels has become more extensively intertwined with the planning of the stories of the games and other fiction.[7]

The first three novels were published by Del Rey Books. Microsoft Studios' next publishing partner was Tor Books, which published all Halo novels from 2006 to early 2014. The three initial Halo novels were reissued by Tor in 2010. While mostly unchanged, the new versions feature additional content and several alterations. In 2014, 343 Industries entered a contract with Gallery Books as the publisher of subsequent Halo literature.[8]

List of novels

The Original Series

Main article: The Original Series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: The Fall of Reach HTFOR Cover 2010 edition.jpg Eric Nylund Todd McLaren 2001 Details the SPARTAN-II program, the Covenant attack on Reach, and how the UNSC Pillar of Autumn escaped to Halo.
Halo: The Flood Front cover of Halo: The Flood. William C. Dietz Todd McLaren 2003 The novelization of Halo: Combat Evolved. Also features a number of additional subplots which expand on the events on Installation 04.
Halo: First Strike Firststrike2.jpg Eric Nylund Todd McLaren 2003 Fills in the gap between Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, explaining the Master Chief's return to Earth and the survival of a number of characters from Reach and Halo.
Halo: Ghosts of Onyx Onyx cover.jpg Eric Nylund Jonathan Davis 2006 Follows Kurt-051, the training of the Spartan-IIIs on Onyx, and the three-sided battle for the planet in 2552.

Gray Team series

Main article: Gray Team series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: The Cole Protocol Halocole.png Tobias Buckell Jonathan Davis 2008 Introduces Gray Team and details the backstories of Jacob Keyes and Thel 'Vadam.
Halo: Envoy HaloEnvoy.png Tobias Buckell Scott Brick 2017 Follows Melody Azikiwe on a diplomatic mission on Carrow, while searching for a way to rescue Gray Team from captivity.

The Forerunner Saga

Main article: The Forerunner Saga
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Cryptum Cryptum - Cover.jpg Greg Bear Holter Graham 2011 Describes the experiences of the Forerunner Manipular known as Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting and the Didact during the Forerunner-Flood war.
Halo: Primordium HPrimordium - Cover.jpeg Greg Bear Tim Dadabo 2012 Details the story of a human known as Chakas and his odyssey across Installation 07.
Halo: Silentium Silentium cover front.jpg Greg Bear Euan Morton 2013 Recounts the twilight years of the Forerunner civilization, the Ur-Didact's descent into insanity, and the firing of the Halo Array.

Kilo-Five Trilogy

Main article: Kilo-Five Trilogy
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Glasslands Glasslands cover.jpg Karen Traviss Euan Morton 2011 Details the state of the Halo universe after the end of the Human-Covenant War and serves as a follow-up to Ghosts of Onyx.
Halo: The Thursday War HThursday War - Cover.jpeg Karen Traviss Euan Morton 2012 Continues the story of Kilo-Five and humanity's involvement in the Blooding Years.
Halo: Mortal Dictata HaloMortalDictata.jpg Karen Traviss Euan Morton 2014 Focuses on the Venezian rebel movement threatening Earth and the terrorist Staffan Sentzke's connection to Kilo-Five's Naomi-010.

Alpha-Nine series

Main article: Alpha-Nine series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: New Blood Halo New Blood cover.jpg Matt Forbeck Scott Brick 2015 Explores the story of the Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck and his squad Alpha-Nine during and after the Human-Covenant War.
Halo: Bad Blood Halo Bad Blood.jpg Matt Forbeck Scott Brick 2018 Sees Spartan Edward Buck reform his old squad Alpha-Nine to undertake a daring mission following the rise of Cortana's Created.

The Ferrets series

Main article: The Ferrets series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Last Light HaloLastLight.jpg Troy Denning Scott Brick 2015 A detective story following Blue Team and Special Inspector Veta Lopis as they investigate murders on a human colony which harbors Forerunner technology.
Halo: Retribution Front cover of Halo: Retribution. Troy Denning Scott Brick 2017 Returns to Veta Lopis and the Ferrets on a joint mission with Blue Team to identify the assassin of Admiral Graselyn Tuwa.
Halo: Divine Wind Cover art of Halo: Divine Wind. Troy Denning Aida Reluzco 2021 Sequel to Halo: Shadows of Reach. Follows Veta Lopis and the Ferrets in their attempts to stop the Keepers of the One Freedom from firing the Halo Array.

Rion Forge & Ace Of Spades series

Main article: Rion Forge & Ace Of Spades series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Smoke and Shadow Halo Smoke and Shadow cover.jpg Kelly Gay Scott Brick 2016 Follows Rion Forge on her quest to discover the fate of her father and his ship, the UNSC Spirit of Fire.
Halo: Renegades Halo Renegades cover.jpg Kelly Gay Justine Eyre 2019 Sequel of Halo: Smoke and Shadow, and follows Rion Forge and the Ace of Spades crew to find Rion's father and the Spirit of Fire, while are pursued by ONI and Covenant remnants.
Halo: Point of Light Halo Point of Light cover.jpg Kelly Gay Scott Brick, Tim Dadabo 2021 Sequel of Halo: Renegades, and follows Rion Forge, Spark and the Ace of Spades crew being pursued by ONI, while they try to complete the Librarian's plan.

A Master Chief Story

Main article: A Master Chief Story
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Silent Storm Halo Silent Storm.jpg Troy Denning Scott Brick 2018 Sees John-117 and some SPARTAN-IIs trying to gather information about the Covenant in the first year of the Human-Covenant War, and the insurrectionists' attempts to stop their mission.
Halo: Oblivion Halo Oblivion cover.jpg Troy Denning Scott Brick 2019 Sequel to Silent Storm, sees John-117 and some SPARTAN-IIs trying to capture a Covenant frigate, while Fleetmaster Nizat 'Kvarosee tries to kill them.
Halo: Shadows of Reach Halo: Shadows of Reach cover art Troy Denning Sean Patrick Hopkins 2020 Taking place one year after the events of Halo 5: Guardians, sees Blue Team returning to Reach to recover assets hidden in Dr. Halsey's abandoned laboratory on CASTLE Base that could be humanity's last chance against Cortana and the Created.

Battle Born: A Halo Young Adult Novel Series

Main article: Battle Born: A Halo Young Adult Novel Series
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Battle Born Cover art of Halo: Battle Born Cassandra Rose Clarke Therese Plummer 2019 Sees a group of four teens and a Spartan supersoldier surviving during the Battle of Meridian.
Halo: Meridian Divide Halo Meridian Divide cover.jpg Cassandra Rose Clarke Therese Plummer 2019 Sequel to Halo: Battle Born, follows Saskia, Dorian, Evie, and Victor in their return to Meridian and monitor the Covenant's efforts to retrieve an ancient Forerunner artifact.

A Halo Infinite Story

Main article: A Halo Infinite Story
Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: The Rubicon Protocol Front cover of Halo: The Rubicon Protocol. Kelly Gay Scott Brick 2022 Follows members of the United Nations Space Command as they fight back against the Banished on Installation 07.

Individual novels

Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Contact Harvest The final cover for Halo: Contact Harvest. Joseph Staten Holter Graham, Jen Taylor 2007 Follows Sergeant Avery Johnson and features the events leading up to first contact with the Covenant at Harvest and the beginning of the Human-Covenant War.
Halo: Broken Circle HaloBrokenCircle.jpg John Shirley Scott Brick 2014 A story told from the perspective of several Sangheili and San'Shyuum characters during both the beginnings of the Covenant and the Great Schism.
Halo: Hunters in the Dark Halo-HuntersInTheDark-CoverArt.jpg Peter David Scott Brick 2015 Follows a joint human-Sangheili expedition to the Ark in the post-war era.
Halo: Legacy of Onyx Front cover of Halo: Legacy of Onyx. Matt Forbeck Scott Brick 2017 Follows Molly Patel as she adjusts to her new life living inside the Onyx Forerunner shield world and deals with a looming threat from the Servants of the Abiding Truth.
Halo: Outcasts Front cover of Halo: Outcasts. Troy Denning Scott Brick 2023 Follows Arbiter Thel 'Vadam and Spartan Olympia Vale as they seek out a rumored ancient artifact capable of liberating their peoples from Cortana and the Created's rule.
Halo: Epitaph Cover art for the book. Kelly Gay Keith Szarabajka 2024 Follows the Ur-Didact after the events of Halo 4 and Halo: Escalation's The Next 72 Hours arc.
Halo: Empty Throne Cover art for the novel. Jeremy Patenaude 2024 Follows the UNSC's attempts to steal the Domain from Cortana through an ancient access point on a seemingly insignificant human colony.

Individual novellas

Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Saint's Testimony Halo Saint's Testimony cover.jpg Frank O'Connor Scott Brick 2015 Explores the world of smart AIs through the eyes of Iona as she attempts to prevent her own decommissioning.
Halo: Shadow of Intent HSOI-Cover.jpg Joseph Staten Scott Brick 2015 Focuses on a conflict between Tem'Bhetek, a vengeful San'Shyuum Prelate, and Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum several months after the Covenant War.

Anthologies

Title Cover Author Audio book narrators Publication Summary
Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Halo Evolutions cover.jpg Eric Nylund, Tobias Buckell, Karen Traviss, Robert McLees, B.K. Evenson, Jonathan Goff, Kevin Grace, Frank O'Connor, Eric Raab, Fred Van Lente, Jeff VanderMeer and Tessa Kum Steve Downes, Holter Graham, Frank O'Connor, and Jen Taylor 2009 When humanity expanded beyond the safety of Earth to new stars and horizons, they never dreamed what dangers they would encounter there. When the alien juggernaut known as the Covenant declared holy war upon the fragile human empire, millions of lives were lost—but, millions of heroes rose to the challenge. In such a far-reaching conflict, not many of the stories of these heroes, both human and alien, have a chance to become legend. This collection holds eleven stories that dive into the depths of the vast Halo universe, not only from the perspective of those who fought and died to save humanity, but also those who vowed to wipe humanity out of existence.
Halo: Fractures Halo Fractures.jpg Tobias Buckell, Troy Denning, Matt Forbeck, Kelly Gay, Christie Golden, Kevin Grace, Morgan Lockhart, John Jackson Miller, Frank O'Connor, Brian Reed, James Swallow, Joseph Staten Scott Brick 2016 Launch once more into galaxy-spanning conflict and legendary heroism…shards of an ever-expanding journey where human and alien alike find their finest hours in facing their greatest challenges. These scattered stories span untold millennia, from the age of the ancient custodial race known as the Forerunners…to the aftermath of the Covenant’s bloody war against humanity…and even the shocking events surrounding the resurrection of the mysterious Guardians. Halo: Fractures explores mythic tales of bravery and sacrifice that blaze brightly at the very heart of the Halo universe.

Box sets

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved portal page: MGS Development Group Expands (archived page)
  2. ^ IGN: Beyond the Ring: Bungie's Renegade Development of Halo's Fiction (Staten said, emphasizing Bungie's role in outside projects: "Bungie was maintaining creative oversight over all these initiatives -- we really did have a lot of control over what stories got told. Historically, over the decade of Halo storytelling, Bungie would maintain creative ownership and direction of these various projects.")
  3. ^ Vice.com: The Complete, Untold History of Halo
  4. ^ a b c The Sci Fi Show: Episode 005: DC Reboot/Eric Trautmann
  5. ^ a b halo.bungie.org: Halo Story Page | Joe Staten Interview - October 2004
  6. ^ YouTube: Halo 4 Panel | RTX 2012 (39:30: Frank O'Connor: "[the books] are all canonical.")
  7. ^ YouTube: SDCC 2011: Halo Universe Panel Part 1

External links

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Halo novels
Individual novels
Compilations
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Italics indicate items yet to be released.
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