Should I Read "The Fall of Rech" before I play Halo: Reach?

[TheInfomaniac]

Hi all! I picked up Halo MCC a while ago but haven't started it yet (I heard there were some audio bugs but it seems like they won't be fixed soon so I'm going to go ahead and start it soon).

I've only played Halo 1 and 2, but when I played them years ago I did get a copy of the novel "The Fall of Reach" which I never actually read. I know there are some lore inconsistencies, but it also seems like the novel provides a lot of backstory to what happens before reach (just based on the limited wiki stuff I read). It seems the actual "Reach" story doesn't even start in the book until a good chunk into the book.

It also seems that the Fall of Reach is focused on Master Chief, while the game doesn't seem to even have MC in it. For the record, even though I played the first two games I never looked into the lore back then so I'm essentially a new fan.

So my question is - should I read the fall of reach before I play Halo Reach? Does Halo Reach assume players know about the events that occur or does it explain everything for new fans? Or, since the novel is so focused on Master Chief, would it be better to play reach first and then read the novel while I wait for Halo 1 to come out. Basically, what story does the novel serve better, reach or halo 1?

Thanks so much!

[Komen]

Nah, the book and the game actually tell completely different stories with different characters. As far as Bungie was concerned, the novels (outside the ones Joseph Staten wrote or were involved with) were non-canon, and they even objected to Microsoft publishing them in the first place. They wanted Halo's story to be a video game story and primarily told through the video games.

I haven't read it, but I generally hear good things about the Fall of Reach novel. One of the things people really got hyped about when Halo 5 was announced was that Blue Team, characters from that novel, were going to be in that game.

As for what connection they have to CE? I think the novel gives you some backstory on Chief and what he was up to during Reach. The game reveals how the UNSC learned about Installation 04 and how the Pillar of Autumn got there.

[ColdNhungry]

I imagine they follow the same story, the book presenting more of the lore. It comes down to which medium you'd like to experience the story first. Maybe both at the same time?

I'd probably read it afterwards. I'm not always paying attention to everything in fps games when it comes to the story. So filling in the blanks afterwards is something I would do personally. The game might be slightly less engaging if I know how everything is goin to turn out as well.

On the other hand, 343 have decided to go in chronological order this time, so if the book actually does begin slightly before the game, then that might be another reason to read it first. Also, you'll be able to actually see locations described in the book as you progress.

In the end.. I'd lean towards reading it afterwards.

[AquaDuck]

The game retconned a lot of the book, but it's still a really good book and even has some amazing space combat that would make for a great Battlestar-esque show.

[Halcyform]

You should probably play the games first so you don't spoil anything or dampen the experience. The games are best played not knowing what you're walking into.

I didn't find out about the books until after I played at least the first three titles. Since I played them pretty much all at release, the books were probably just coming out as well.

The books definitely go into much more detail about what's going on behind the scenes as well as side stories. Well worth the reads - especially Nylund's novels.

Play the games first then read the book(s).

[TheInfomaniac]

Thanks everyone! I'll play Reach first and then read the novel while I'm waiting for Halo 1 to come out, as it does seem like the novel is very focused on master chief and Reach isn't.

[Psychedelic Adventurer]

There's a few narrative tensions between the books and the games (not as many as some in this thread have said), but, OT, no you don't have to have read the book.

Alternatively, you could watch 'The Fall of Reach' animated movie. It's out on Netflix now I think.

[Duranu Lithdel]

343 and microsoft have said the book canon beats game canon in any instance the two contradict each other

[TheFranubian]

Originally posted by Duranu Lithdel:

343 and microsoft have said the book canon beats game canon in any instance the two contradict each other

NO.

Bungie is the one that said "Games canon > Books canon."

The current leadership at 343Industries released some documentations and stuff that bridge the canon differences between the books and the game, because they consider them equally valid.
Otherwise, Halo 5 wouldn't require you to read a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ library in order to understand what the hell is even going on in that stupid plot.

What you need to understand to have the book and game match is (spoilers for both down below):

— The Army (which Noble works for) and the ONI kept the early events of the game a secret so that nobody knew there were Covenant attacking Reach so RED FLAG, as shown in the book, wouldn't get cancelled.

— The Fleet that found Reach at the beginning of the game was not working under the Arbiter, and it's different from the fleet that finishes Reach off, which was lead to Reach as shown in the book.

— The Pillar of Autumn is unable to enter and exit the atmosphere... on its own, as the book describes. That's why it has auxiliary yellow units attached to it in the game.

— The Cortana that appears in-game is the half of Cortana that stayed with Halsey, Noble's efforts make Cortana whole aboard the Autumn.

— The Cote d'Azure and the Sword Base data, together, make up the coordinates for Halo, with the Cote d'Azure helping as a translator, which coincided with the info Kat recovered at the beginning of the game.

— The final level of Halo Reach happens during one of the last chapters in the book, the one that focuses on Chief's, Johnson's and Linda's fight on the MAC station in orbit. The game is what happens in the mean time, there is more than 1 hour the book doesn't cover, regarding what happened on the Autumn while Chief was in orbit, this is when the game level takes place.

— When the Autumn leaves, it picks up Chief and company from the MAC station and leaves the planetary system as shown in the book.

And yes, you should read the book, and look for these fixes after you're done with the book and games, there should be links in halopedia or whatever to the Documents released by 343I.