The first novel of the Kilo-Five Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss—part of the expanded universe based on the award-winning video game series Halo!2553. The theocratic military alliance known as the Covenant has collapsed after a long, brutal war with humanity that saw billions slaughtered on Earth and its colonies. For the first time in thirty years, however, peace finally seems possible. But though the fighting has stopped, the war is far from over: it’s just gone underground. The United Nations Space Command’s feared and secretive Office of Naval Intelligence recruits Kilo-Five—a clandestine team of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, a Spartan super-soldier, and a diabolical AI—to accelerate the insurrection within the Covenant’s warrior species, the Sangheili, even as their notable defector-turned-leader Thel ‘Vadam—the Arbiter—struggles to stave off civil war among his divided people.Across the galaxy, a woman thought to have died in the Covenant attack on the planet Reach is actually very much alive. Chief scientist Dr. Catherine Halsey broke every law in the book to create the Spartan program, and now she’s broken some more rules to save them. Marooned with Senior Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez and a Spartan team in a Forerunner slipspace bubble hidden in the destroyed planet Onyx, Halsey finds that this place has been guarding an ancient secret—a treasure trove of Forerunner technology that will change everything for the UNSC and mankind. As Kilo-Five joins the hunt for Halsey, humanity’s violent past begins to catch up with all of them as the disgruntled colony Venezia has been biding its time to strike at Earth…and its most dangerous terrorist has an old, painful link with both Halsey and Kilo-Five that will test everyone’s loyalty to the limit.
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"More than simply a science fiction novel this really does set the stage for serious questions about the future of the human species. If faced with near annihilation and brought back from the brink of the abyss, what are the new objectives of our security agencies? Do we abandon our morals of decency and goodwill and replace them with pragmatic subversion against our former executioners? Are our decisions of whittling down the capabilities of this old foe embittered vengeance? Or is it based on the security directors' maxim "It is not your adversary's intention you should trust, but their capability?" A good cloak and dagger tale; the first of three in this trilogy by Karen Traviss." — Jack (5 out of 5 stars)
"More than simply a science fiction novel this really does set the stage for serious questions about the future of the human species. If faced with near annihilation and brought back from the brink of the abyss, what are the new objectives of our security agencies? Do we abandon our morals of decency and goodwill and replace them with pragmatic subversion against our former executioners? Are our decisions of whittling down the capabilities of this old foe embittered vengeance? Or is it based on the security directors' maxim "It is not your adversary's intention you should trust, but their capability?" A good cloak and dagger tale; the first of three in this trilogy by Karen Traviss."
“Halo: Glasslands is a fantastic addition to the Halo universe, and is a stand-out military science fiction novel in and of itself. Thoughtful, energetic, complex.
" Overall a pretty good story. Although for being the last in the original Halo series it still left us hanging and raised new questions. I hope Microsoft gets around to answering them with the newest Halo Books. "
" Had a bit of trouble following this at first since it moves through a few stories at the same time but if you are a fan of Halo it is a great book. "
" Started out slow but then got very interesting very quickly. It could work as a "espionage" thriller without even being inside the Halo universe as well. "
" Ultimately I really enjoyed this book. Is it as action-packed as the last few books? No, but it has some good character development especially when it came to Spartans. They felt more deep and real person than just superhuman killing machine. You get learned a lot more about them and other characters. I can not wait to read the next book in this series. "
" 70% boring 30% interesting. It is supposedly some key piece of story for those who follow "Spartan Ops" CGI series on Halo Waypoint and those who want to know what the hell happened with team blue and Doc. C. E. Halsey but everyone is so out of character that it would made some sense converting this book into after action report and you would still get the same level of drama and satisfaction. "
" Not bad, but not great - different. Different from the previous Halo books. Read it if you're a fan of Halo because getting through this book preps you for the next one which I liked a lot, Halo: Thursday War. "
" A very good introduction to the Kilo-Five trilogy. "
" A decent addition too the halo series. Light on fighting and long on exposition but what do you expect for a novel that takes place after the war is over. "
" Four super soldiers trapped on a dyson sphere search for a way out. Suprisingly entergetic, and interesting. "
" One of the best books in the series I have ever read. Ms. Traviss does wonderful things with the setting she was left. I love a huge touch of realism in my fantasy, and she does this well. I also recommend her Republic Commando books. "
" A good read during jury duty waiting time "
" I enjoyed this audio book very much! it was very fun to listen to! the ending came out of the blue though!! but, I liked it a lot. "
" A bit dull and not much happened. "
" I was not by fond of this book, there did not seem to be enough action going on compared to previous Halo novels. I did not get a sense of liking to any of the characters or the plot. "
" It's great to see how the story continues after the end of Halo 3. I can't wait to see where the next book in the series goes after this. The fractured politics following the post-war years are even more tense than the human/covenant war. Great book! "
" Glasslands was a low point in the series of books inspired by the Halo games. Everything the author was trying to do seemed a little too deliberate and it felt like too much time was spent tossing around English puns rather than developing the enthralling plot I expected. "
" It was difficult for me to read the parts of the book that I believe were from a more antagonist character in the series but as part of the book I think it improved it. It is hard to wait for the next book in this series by Karen Traviss. "
" really good book. solid characterization. the Halsey stuff did get a but tiring but it didn't bother me as much as most. it didn't seem out of place either since I'm sure it was always on everyone's mind just thy never had time to think about it until the war was over "
Karen Traviss is a screenwriter, comic book author, and a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist. She has received critical acclaim for her award-nominated Wess’har series, as well as regularly hitting the bestseller lists with her Star Wars, Gears of War, and Halo work. She was also the lead writer on the blockbuster Gears of War 3 video game. A former defense correspondent and television and newspaper journalist, she lives in Wiltshire, England.
Euan Morton is an Earphones Award–winning narrator. As an actor and singer, he is best known for his role as Boy George in the musical Taboo, which earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination. He reprised the role on Broadway, earning him the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut, as well as nominations for the ony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama League awards. His other stage performances include Leaves of Glass, Sondheim on Sondheim, and Cyrano De Bergerac.
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