First Strike

In this third novel in the highly original Halo series, the Human-Covenant war rages on as the alien juggernaut sweeps inexorably toward its final goal: destruction of all human life!

Denise A. Garofalo - Library Journal

Bestselling writers Nylund (www.ericnylund.net) and Dietz (williamcdietz.com) expand on the foundations of the megapopular Xbox videogame series of the same name (Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3) in the first three of five entries in this military sf epic.

The Fall of Reach is a sort of prequel, describing the life and background of Halo hero Master Chief and more. The saga continues in The Flood, essentially a novelization of the first Halo game. The third entry, First Strike, provides a transition from the end of the first Halo game to the beginning of its followup, Halo 2.

Nylund's two titles are more satisfying than Dietz's, perhaps because he had the liberty of supplying details and cohesion in the Halo universe, while Dietz had the difficult task of rendering a videogame into prose. The narration by multitalented Todd McLaren (toddmclaren.com) is flexible and intense across all three titles. Part of a franchise, these audiobooks are of definite interest to public libraries. [Audio clips available through www.tantor.com; also available as a boxed set (3 MP3CDs. retail ed. ISBN 9781400120314. $29.95).-Ed.]

Eric Nylund is the author of many novels, including "A Signal" "Shattered," "Signal to Noise," "Pawn's Dream," "Dry Water" (a World Fantasy Award nominee), "A Game of Universe," "Crimson Skies," and "Halo: The Fall of Reach," the official prequel novelization of the Xbox game. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in chemical physics. A graduate of the Clarion West Writer's Workshop, he lives near Seattle with his wife, Syne Mitchell.

"From the Paperback edition."