Review: Halo Primordium (mild-medium spoilers)

       Halo Primordium. I really don't even know where to start with this book. This book really defines the term, mind = blown. I mean, so many questions were answered in this book, but it raised 2 times as many more.

       I don't want to spoil too much, but... the book is told from a very... interesting point of view. I'll leave it at that. It picks up where Cryptum left off. Chakas lands on a mysterious planet, and after a little observation, he discovers he's on a Halo. He meets another human, Vinnevra, and her grandfather, Gamelpar. They spend most of the book trying to find a way off of the Halo, and searching for Chakas' friend from Halo: Cryptum, Riser. But they soon encounter bigger problems, and cross paths with evil itself. They soon realize that getting off of the Halo isnt their top priority.

       There really isnt much to say without giving away too much of the book. But it definitely confirms that Halo 4 will have much to do with the Forerunners, and quite possibly Precursors and (brace yourselves) the Flood. While the latter may turn many Halo fans off, it just shows that Halo has never really been about the Covenant, but the Flood. Thats the true enemy here.

       While the book started off quite slow (like Cryptum), it soon picked up and became full of suspense and mystery. This is truely one of the best books of the Halo franchise, and is a must-read before playing Halo 4. 5 out of 5, 9 out of 10.

Coming soon: Halo Primordium Review

       After much difficulty getting my copy (the bookstore was out of stock, despite my pre-order...), Halo Primordium arrived yesterday, and I have been reading it avidly since. Expect a review either next week or the week after.

Prologue, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and part of the 4th chapters of Halo: Primordium online!!!

       Can't wait 5 days for the new Halo book, Primordium to come out? Or maybe you want to check it out before buying it? Well Tor Books and Halo Waypoint have got you covered. Today, Tor released the Prologue and 1st chapter of the book, and Halo Waypoint released the 2nd, 3rd, and part of the 4th. Halo Primordium releases this Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. So these excerpts should hold you until then.

Prologue and 1st Chapter
2nd, 3rd, and part of 4th chapters

Halo 4 story clues

         I'm sure if you're a Halo fan, you can't wait for Halo 4. You probably wonder what the story is going to be about. Here are some clues from other Halo media as to what it may be about.

          Halo 4. Set to release "Holiday 2012", part of a the new Reclaimer Trilogy. 343 says that it will "definitely" have "resonant connections" with Halo Glasslands, Halo Primordium, and the Terminals in Halo CEA. Based on what I know about Glasslands and Primordium, this gives a pretty good picture of Halo 4. Halo 4 will explore Master Cheif's character, who he is, and his relationship with Cortana.
          Many people think that the Legendary Planet is Onyx. That is a poor assumption, because the Onyx Shield world is located in slipspace. Many also think we will fight against the Forerunners. I hope not, I'd rather fight alongside the Forerunners. We could possibly see flood and covie stragglers, new enemies, and maybe even Precursors....

          Halo Glasslands was released yesterday, and is to be part of the "post-war series" by Karen Traviss. I read the first 2 chapters online, as well as other articles. It's going to be about humanity getting back on their feet after the nearly three decade war with the Covenant. We will also read about the Spartan III's and Dr. Halsey in the Shield world.

         Halo Primordium is to be released January 3rd, 2012. It will be the second book of the three-book series called the Forerunner Saga. It will follow the humans Chakas and Morning Riser, after Mendicant Bias' assault on the Forerunner capital. It will also delve deeper into the story of the Precursors and the Timeless One.

Halo CEA is set for release ten years to the day from Halo CE, November 15th, 2011. It runs on the same engine as the original, so it plays and feels exactly like CE. It has HD like in Halo 3. Don't know why they dropped it in Reach.... It will have Terminals like in Halo 3, which 343 has hinted will give insight and clues about the story of Halo 4.