The Flood (Halo #2)
by William C. Dietz
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Book Summary Information
Author: William C. DietzEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-04-01
ISBN: 0345459210
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of The Flood (Halo #2)
Book Review: One Long Firefight
Summary: 5 Stars
The Flood is the second novel in the Halo series, following The Fall of Reach. In the previous volume, the Covenant forces discovered Reach and invaded in force. They also used a new weapon system, a sort of sniper ship that could cut Human warships in half at great range.
The Pillar of Autumn was outbound on a mission when the aliens arrived, but her orders were changed and she immediately decelerated to return to the rally point. In the ensuing fighting, the ship was heavily damaged, but managed to kill several Covenant vessels, including the sniper ship. When a scan detected aliens dropships entering the Reach atmosphere at the poles, the Master Chief ordered most of his SPARTANs down to the surface to protect the energy sources for the orbital superMAC weapons and he himself led a small group to destroy the navigational data on an unregistered ship in spacedock.
Despite all SPARTAN efforts, the Covenant forces on Reach took out the superMAC power units and the planet fell. SPARTANs in the spacedock penetrated enemy forces and pulverized the navigation memory in the unregistered ship, but only the Master Chief survived the mission. The Pillar of Autumn, despite her damage, picked up the Master Chief and fled on a randomized evasion course. The ship exited Slipspace in a stellar system containing a huge ring-like object, the Halo artifact. Ten thousand kilometers in diameter and twenty-two point three kilos thick, the Halo is made of unknown materials, but apparently has some form of artificial gravity and a breathable atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the Pillar of Autumn has been followed by Covenant forces through Slipspace and others were already there when they arrived, swarming on and around the artifact. Shortly after exiting Slipspace, the ship was attacked and boarded. Sailors and marines resisted the intruders, but Captain Keyes was forced to call for an evacuation.
In this novel, Human dropships, lifeboats and one-man reentry vehicles land in a widely scattered, but still limited area on the Halo. Captain Keyes and a minimal flight crew stay on the ship to guide her into a crash-landing nearby, waiting to the last moment to evacuate. The Master Chief, with the AI Cortana within his armor, rides one of the lifeboats down to a crash-landing on the surface.
Most of the Humans soon find themselves in firefights with Covenant forces. The ODST marines manage to land is a relatively small area and immediately secure the DZ. Major Silva has his AI Wesley, named for the Duke of Wellington, scan the area for defensible positions and selects a very tall, slender butte-like formation for his future firebase. Of course, it is already occupied by Covenant forces, but that is a mere detail to the Helljumpers.
Captain Keyes doesn't even reach the surface before he encounters a stealthed Elite within his lifeboat. Once they hit the surface, they flee through the most rugged country available with alien dropships on their tail. For some reason, however, the aliens seem to be trying to capture them.
In this story, the Master Chief has some problems with the ODST Major, who is unusually prejudiced against SPARTANs. However, Major Silva soon learns that he is the only one so prejudiced and his own marines would welcome the SPARTAN along on any patrol. The body count racked up by the Master Chief is impressive, but the Covenant forces also notice his effectiveness and target him for special attention.
The Humans quickly discover that the Halo is an artifact of a species called the Forerunners by the Covenant. Apparently Covenant technology largely derives from Forerunner artifacts and they would like to reverse engineer the Halo, which they are convinced is a very powerful weapon. Cortana investigates the Forerunner information systems and is beginning to think that the Covenant are correct in assessing the artifact's lethality. Then the Humans encounter the Flood.
This story is a convincing portrayal of surface and space combat in the 26th century, but the hand weapons and vehicles used by the Humans seem to be rather primitive considering their FTL drives and other advanced technology. However, Human space has apparently suffered a socioeconomic collapse at some time in the past and now has a regressive government that may not allow much basic research due to the destabilizing effects of new technology. The SPARTAN II project itself was hampered by bureaucratic objections and obstructions, so maybe only a few projects with politically adept directors are being funded.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys combat on the ground and in space, with deadly foes equipped with more advanced weaponry.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of The Flood (Halo #2)
The Human-Covenant War, a desperate struggle for humankind?s very survival, has reached its boiling point on the mysterious, ring world called Halo. But the fierce Covenant warriors, the mightiest alien military force known, are not the only peril lying in wait.As the fortress world of Reach and its brave defenders were bombarded to rubble, a single cruiser fled the carnage with the battle?s only human survivors?Captain Keyes, his crew of a few hundred Marines, and the last remaining SPARTAN super-soldier, the Master Chief.
With the cruiser?s artificial intelligence, Cortana, concealed in his battle armor, the Master Chief crash lands on Halo in the midst of a massive Covenant occupation. Curiously, the alien soldiers appear to be searching for something hidden on the ring. Built by a long-dead race, Halo harbors many deadly secrets, but one overshadows them all. Now the Master Chief must lead the scattered troops in a brutal race to unravel Halo?s darkest mystery?and unleash its greatest source of power. . . .
This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.
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