Editing Halo: Contact Harvest
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Following a failed anti-[[insurrectionist]] operation on the [[human]] [[Inner Colony]] of [[Tribute]] which leaves most of his unit killed, the [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marine]] [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] is sent on leave in the [[Greater Chicago Industrial Zone]] on [[Earth]]. When going to visit [[Marcille Johnson|his aunt]] in [[The Seropian|a retirement home]], he is shocked to discover her dead. As a result, he goes on a drinking spree. He eventually ends up being reassigned to the remote [[agriculture world]] of [[Harvest]] to get away from the frontlines of the [[Insurrection]]. Much to his surprise, he finds his former squad mate, [[Nolan Byrne|Staff Sergeant Byrne]], assigned there as well. | Following a failed anti-[[insurrectionist]] operation on the [[human]] [[Inner Colony]] of [[Tribute]] which leaves most of his unit killed, the [[UNSC Marine Corps|UNSC Marine]] [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Avery Johnson]] is sent on leave in the [[Greater Chicago Industrial Zone]] on [[Earth]]. When going to visit [[Marcille Johnson|his aunt]] in [[The Seropian|a retirement home]], he is shocked to discover her dead. As a result, he goes on a drinking spree. He eventually ends up being reassigned to the remote [[agriculture world]] of [[Harvest]] to get away from the frontlines of the [[Insurrection]]. Much to his surprise, he finds his former squad mate, [[Nolan Byrne|Staff Sergeant Byrne]], assigned there as well. | ||
On Harvest, there is only peace and prosperity. Watched by two [[artificial intelligence]]s, [[Sif]] and [[Mack]], the colony produces much of humanity's food. Under the supervision of Captain [[Ponder]], Johnson, Byrne, and [[Hospital Corpsman]] [[Healy]] are tasked with raising a [[Harvest militia|militia]] to protect Harvest from the growing threat of the Insurrection. This peace is interrupted when a [[Covenant]] [[missionary ship]], ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovers a malfunctioning [[Horn of Plenty|unmanned human cargo ship]]. The coordinates registered in the cargo ship's [[navigation computer]] lead the aliens to Harvest. An [[Unggoy]] [[deacon]], [[Dadab]], is alarmed when the ship's [[Luminary]] seems to register thousands of [[Forerunner]] artifacts and an [[Oracle]]. The opportunistic Kig-Yar plan to take some artifacts for themselves before reporting the discovery to the [[Hierarchs]], and begin surreptitiously raiding human [[freighter]]s | On Harvest, there is only peace and prosperity. Watched by two [[artificial intelligence]]s, [[Sif]] and [[Mack]], the colony produces much of humanity's food. Under the supervision of Captain [[Ponder]], Johnson, Byrne, and [[Hospital Corpsman]] [[Healy]] are tasked with raising a [[Harvest militia|militia]] to protect Harvest from the growing threat of the Insurrection. This peace is interrupted when a [[Covenant]] [[missionary ship]], ''[[Minor Transgression]]'', discovers a malfunctioning [[Horn of Plenty|unmanned human cargo ship]]. The coordinates registered in the cargo ship's [[navigation computer]] lead the aliens to Harvest. An [[Unggoy]] [[deacon]], [[Dadab]], is alarmed when the ship's [[Luminary]] seems to register thousands of [[Forerunner]] artifacts and an [[Oracle]]. The opportunistic Kig-Yar plan to take some artifacts for themselves before reporting the discovery to the [[Hierarchs]], and begin surreptitiously raiding human [[freighter]]s. Unfortunately for the Kig-Yar, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] has recently organized a strike team to counteract what they believe to be a growing insurrectionist group. Under the command of Lieutenant Commander [[Jilan al-Cygni]], Johnson and Byrne await for the expected insurgents aboard [[freighter]] ''[[Bulk Discount]]''. They successfully deceive the crew of ''Minor Transgression'' into boarding the freighter, where they are immediately attacked by Johnson and Byrne. Johnson receives a cracked skull from their meeting and Byrne is stabbed in the leg with an [[energy cutlass]], though the humans manage to defeat the Kig-Yar boarders. This raid marks the first meeting of the humans and Covenant forces, and makes the humans aware of a brand new threat they may be facing. The Kig-Yar vessel's [[self-destruct]]ion sequence is activated by its dying [[Chur'R-Yar|shipmistress]], and Johnson and Byrne barely manage to escape the resulting explosion. Among the missionary ship's crew, only Dadab and his [[Huragok]] friend [[Lighter Than Some]] flee the destruction of their ship aboard an [[Covenant escape pod|escape pod]]. | ||
While Ponder, Johnson, Byrne, and Healy work to prepare the Harvest militia for a possible alien invasion, the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] is confronted by the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] on [[High Charity]]. The [[Vice Minister]] reveals the discovery of the large amount of "relics" found on Harvest and, after some convincing, Fortitude agrees to initiate a coup of the current [[Hierarch]]s with Tranquility, using the Vice Minister's discovery as a fulcrum. To keep the [[Sangheili]] from using this discovery as a way to upset the balance of power, they utilize a [[Jiralhanae]]-controlled ship, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', captained by [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Maccabeus]] and crewed by his [[Maccabeus' clan|clan]] of Jiralhanae—including a youthful [[Tartarus]], the chieftain's nephew. ''Rapid Conversion'' arrives in [[Epsilon Indi system|the system]] and discovers the escape pod containing Dadab and Lighter Than Some. Maccabeus is delighted to have a Huragok aboard his cruiser, as the Sangheili only permit Jiralhanae ships to employ [[Yanme'e]] workers in maintenance roles. Maccabeus tasks Lighter Than Some with making repairs to the ship's weaponry, which was disabled by the Sangheili. Meanwhile, the Yanme'e are relegated to menial roles or combat positions, much to their chagrin. The chieftain uses the deacon as a way to motivate the cruiser's own lackluster complement of Unggoy. Upon arriving at the planet, the crew of ''Rapid Conversion'' soon discover Harvest's vast store of Forerunner relics and a message of peace left by Sif and Mack in the form of a crude pictogram displaying a desire for peace. Their Luminary also indicates that there is an Oracle on the planet. The Jiralhanae land two [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] [[dropship]]s at the specified date to meet with the human peace delegates, though the Jiralhanae only desire to capture the entire planet and its relics. The peace talks falls apart after [[Yull|an errant Unggoy]] attacks and kills Harvest militiaman [[Osmo]], and the one-sided [[First Battle of Harvest|Battle of Harvest]] begins. | While Ponder, Johnson, Byrne, and Healy work to prepare the Harvest militia for a possible alien invasion, the [[San'Shyuum]] [[Prophet of Truth|Minister of Fortitude]] is confronted by the [[Prophet of Regret|Vice Minister of Tranquility]] on [[High Charity]]. The [[Vice Minister]] reveals the discovery of the large amount of "relics" found on Harvest and, after some convincing, Fortitude agrees to initiate a coup of the current [[Hierarch]]s with Tranquility, using the Vice Minister's discovery as a fulcrum. To keep the [[Sangheili]] from using this discovery as a way to upset the balance of power, they utilize a [[Jiralhanae]]-controlled ship, ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'', captained by [[Jiralhanae Chieftain|Chieftain]] [[Maccabeus]] and crewed by his [[Maccabeus' clan|clan]] of Jiralhanae—including a youthful [[Tartarus]], the chieftain's nephew. ''Rapid Conversion'' arrives in [[Epsilon Indi system|the system]] and discovers the escape pod containing Dadab and Lighter Than Some. Maccabeus is delighted to have a Huragok aboard his cruiser, as the Sangheili only permit Jiralhanae ships to employ [[Yanme'e]] workers in maintenance roles. Maccabeus tasks Lighter Than Some with making repairs to the ship's weaponry, which was disabled by the Sangheili. Meanwhile, the Yanme'e are relegated to menial roles or combat positions, much to their chagrin. The chieftain uses the deacon as a way to motivate the cruiser's own lackluster complement of Unggoy. Upon arriving at the planet, the crew of ''Rapid Conversion'' soon discover Harvest's vast store of Forerunner relics and a message of peace left by Sif and Mack in the form of a crude pictogram displaying a desire for peace. Their Luminary also indicates that there is an Oracle on the planet. The Jiralhanae land two [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] [[dropship]]s at the specified date to meet with the human peace delegates, though the Jiralhanae only desire to capture the entire planet and its relics. The peace talks falls apart after [[Yull|an errant Unggoy]] attacks and kills Harvest militiaman [[Osmo]], and the one-sided [[First Battle of Harvest|Battle of Harvest]] begins. | ||
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*[[JOTUN Heavy Industries]] {{1st}} | *[[JOTUN Heavy Industries]] {{1st}} | ||
*[[Reformists]] {{Fm}} | *[[Reformists]] {{Fm}} | ||
*[[Stoics]] {{Fm}} | *[[Stoics]] {{Fm}} | ||
*[[Unified Earth Government]] | *[[Unified Earth Government]] | ||
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*[[SKT-13 shuttlecraft]] {{1st}} | *[[SKT-13 shuttlecraft]] {{1st}} | ||
*[[Sloop]] {{1st}} | *[[Sloop]] {{1st}} | ||
*[[ | *[[Type-25 Chopper]] | ||
*{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}} | *{{Pattern|Dextro Xur|Spirit}} | ||
*[[UNSC corvette]] | *[[UNSC corvette]] | ||
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*[[Maser]] {{1st}} | *[[Maser]] {{1st}} | ||
*[[Mass driver]] {{1st}} | *[[Mass driver]] {{1st}} | ||
*[[ | *[[Metarch]] | ||
*[[Methane recharge station]] | *[[Methane recharge station]] | ||
*[[Methane tank]] | *[[Methane tank]] | ||
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==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
Critical reception to ''Halo: Contact Harvest'' was generally positive. Upon the novel's release on [[2007 (real world)|October 30, 2007]], ''Contact Harvest'' was placed on ''[[Wikipedia:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'' Best Sellers list at #3, where it remained for four weeks.{{Ref/Reuse|nytimes}} Staten was complimented on linking ''Contact Harvest'' to the rest of the ''Halo'' game series, such as introducing the [[ | Critical reception to ''Halo: Contact Harvest'' was generally positive. Upon the novel's release on [[2007 (real world)|October 30, 2007]], ''Contact Harvest'' was placed on ''[[Wikipedia:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'' Best Sellers list at #3, where it remained for four weeks.{{Ref/Reuse|nytimes}} Staten was complimented on linking ''Contact Harvest'' to the rest of the ''Halo'' game series, such as introducing the [[Type-25 Chopper]]s and explaining the origins and intent of the [[Covenant]]'s genocidal war against [[human]]ity. ''Contact Harvest'' was praised for being a sufficient standalone novel which could be read without having any prior knowledge of the ''Halo'' universe.<ref name="bella">[http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art48925.asp '''BellaOnline''': ''Halo - Contact Harvest'']</ref> Some reviewers of the novel perceived that ''Contact Harvest'' was "overly descriptive" and used too much military slang and jargon,<ref>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/02/try_a_halo_novel_before_you_buy_or_dont-2/ '''Kotaku Australia''': ''Try A Halo Novel Before You Buy (Or Don't)'']</ref> while others were pleased that each military or fictional term was explained and noted that the novel was descriptive, but not enough to detract from the action and story.{{Ref/Reuse|bella}} The novel's audiobook, featuring the voices of [[Jen Taylor]] and [[Wikipedia:Holter Graham|Holter Graham]], was generally well-received, though ''[[Wikipedia:Publishers Weekly|Publishers Weekly]]'' believed that Taylor's over-emphasis, cheesy dialects, and over-the-top accents detracted from the tension within the novel.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4272-0249-9 '''Publishers Weekly''': ''Audio Book Review: Halo: Contact Harvest'']</ref> | ||
The success of ''Contact Harvest'' came as a surprise to the hosts of [[Wikipedia:National Public Radio|National Public Radio]]'s "All Things Considered" segment. NPR's Chana Joffe-Walt interviewed Staten after the novel's release and acted surprised that ''Halo'' had a story beyond shooting aliens.{{Ref/Reuse|npr}}<ref name="npr transcript">[http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=17938562 '''NPR''': ''Best-Selling Book Shows 'Halo' Game's Wide Appeal'']</ref> The interview sparked some controversy among the gaming community; many game review sites criticized NPR's comments for implying that "gamers can't read" and "games do not have stories", citing that Joffe-Walt was ignorant to the gaming world. In turn, several critics and reviewers praised ''Contact Harvest'' and its success.<ref>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/01/do-gamers-read/ '''Kotaku''': ''"Do Gamers Read?"'']</ref><ref>[http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/npr-takes-a-condescending-look-at-stories-in-games/ '''Engadget''': ''NPR takes a condescending look at stories in games'']</ref><ref>[http://www.cinemablend.com/games/All-Things-Considered-Thinks-You-re-Illiterate-8267.html '''Cinema Blend''': ''All Things Considered Thinks You're Illiterate'']</ref> Will Tuttle, an editor of [[Wikipedia:GameSpy|GameSpy]], claimed that ''Contact Harvest''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s success "makes sense" as the ''Halo'' series had sold tens of millions of games at the time of the novel's release and noted that video games are increasingly becoming story-focused.{{Ref/Reuse|npr}}{{Ref/Reuse|npr transcript}} | The success of ''Contact Harvest'' came as a surprise to the hosts of [[Wikipedia:National Public Radio|National Public Radio]]'s "All Things Considered" segment. NPR's Chana Joffe-Walt interviewed Staten after the novel's release and acted surprised that ''Halo'' had a story beyond shooting aliens.{{Ref/Reuse|npr}}<ref name="npr transcript">[http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=17938562 '''NPR''': ''Best-Selling Book Shows 'Halo' Game's Wide Appeal'']</ref> The interview sparked some controversy among the gaming community; many game review sites criticized NPR's comments for implying that "gamers can't read" and "games do not have stories", citing that Joffe-Walt was ignorant to the gaming world. In turn, several critics and reviewers praised ''Contact Harvest'' and its success.<ref>[http://www.kotaku.com.au/2008/01/do-gamers-read/ '''Kotaku''': ''"Do Gamers Read?"'']</ref><ref>[http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/npr-takes-a-condescending-look-at-stories-in-games/ '''Engadget''': ''NPR takes a condescending look at stories in games'']</ref><ref>[http://www.cinemablend.com/games/All-Things-Considered-Thinks-You-re-Illiterate-8267.html '''Cinema Blend''': ''All Things Considered Thinks You're Illiterate'']</ref> Will Tuttle, an editor of [[Wikipedia:GameSpy|GameSpy]], claimed that ''Contact Harvest''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s success "makes sense" as the ''Halo'' series had sold tens of millions of games at the time of the novel's release and noted that video games are increasingly becoming story-focused.{{Ref/Reuse|npr}}{{Ref/Reuse|npr transcript}} | ||
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{{Navbox/Media/Novels}} | {{Navbox/Media/Novels}} | ||
[[Category:Novels|Contact Harvest]] | [[Category:Novels|Contact Harvest]] | ||
[[Category:Canon|Contact Harvest]] | [[Category:Canon|Contact Harvest]] | ||
