Halo: Silentium: Difference between revisions

{{Title|''Halo: Silentium''}}

{{Novel infobox

|author=[[Greg Bear]]

|media=Print (paperback, hardcover); audiobook

}}

==Official summary==

==Plot synopsis==

Like the first two novels in the ''Forerunner Saga'', ''Silentium'' is framed with an in-universe conceit, being presented as a series of Forerunner logs under investigation by [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] in the modern era. The files in question are said to have been extracted from two sources: the carapace of a deceased [[Catalog]] (designated Forerunner remains #879) and a damaged [[monitor]]. Both the "Bornstellar Relation", the fictional document that encompasses the narrative of ''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' and ONI's recovery of [[343 Guilty Spark]] which acts as the framing device for the plot of ''[[Halo: Primordium]]'', are referenced.

Over a thousand years earlier, shortly before the Ur-Didact went into exile, he and the Librarian gathered together at their estate on the world of [[Nomdagro]]. An associate of Haruspis visited their home and helped guide the Ur-Didact in the [[Cryptum]]'s preservation process. After the Didact's exile, things continued to deteriorate on the Forerunner political scene. To remain seen as an asset to the Master Builder, the Librarian proposed an expedition to a local galaxy known as [[Path Kethona]] to learn about the Flood's origins. Legend dictated that 10 million years ago, ancient Forerunners journeyed to Path Kethona, but actual records detailing this journey had long since vanished. The Old Council approved of this venture and the ship ''[[Audacity]]'' was constructed for the long journey to Path Kethona. The crew consisted of the Librarian, a Builder named [[Keeper-of-Tools]], a [[Miner]] named [[Clearance-of-Old-Forests]], and two Lifeworkers named [[Chant-to-Green]] and [[Birth-to-Light]]. Arriving at Path Kethona, the crew of ''Audacity'' would find it seemingly completely devoid of life. However, they discovered that Precursor architecture existed this far out of the Milky Way. Amongst the artifacts was a vast fleet of ancient Forerunner vessels of war. The Librarian and her crew scanned the Forerunner vessels and found nothing of true interest; any records inside had been destroyed thousands of years ago, as they were uploaded in binary.

Back in the present, the Ur-Didact emerges from a [[stasis bubble]] on a broken-down Builder hulk drifting in a [[Burn]] (a Flood-infected star system). Also on-board is a former Promethean named [[Sharp-by-Striking]], another Catalog and a Builder named [[Maker-of-Moons]]. Sharp lost favor with Faber and Maker was going to give Catalog testimony against Faber, so all three found themselves on the broken ship as well. Their destination is a Flood-infested world called [[Uthera Midgeerrd]]. Eventually a Precursor artifact composed of slithering [[star road]]s appears and threatens to destroy the ship. The Ur-Didact, willing to confront whatever lies in the Precursor artifact, remains on the ship while the others escape; only Catalog stays to accompany him.

===Epilogue===

A code to a hidden audio epilogue, titled ''"Rebirth"'', is included in the form of Forerunner symbols featured in some of the chapter headings for the novel. The code can be used on [[Halo Waypoint]] to unlock a forty-minute narration by Greg Bear, describing the [[reintroduction]] phase from the perspective of [[Riser]]. Having survived the destruction of the greater Ark, Riser, [[Vinnevra]] and other humans are relocated on Installation 00 among many other species, where Forerunners watch over them until they are returned to their homeworld. At Riser's request, [[Florian|his people]] are relocated on [[Wikipedia:Flores|a series of islands]]. Riser meets with the IsoDidact one last time before the Forerunners leave and the humans begin settling in their new home. Days after, a new code was revealed, adding 5 additional minutes to the epilogue, describing the trial of Mendicant Bias after its defeat at the [[Battle of the Maginot Sphere]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3YLl2NLVFA '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''The Trial of Mendicant Bias'']</ref>

{{Spoiler/end}}

*[[Bitterness-of-the-Vanquished]] {{1st}}

*[[Boundless (Forerunner)|Boundless]] {{Fm}}

*[[Catalog]] {{1st}}

*[[Chant-to-Green]] {{1st}}

*[[Clearance-of-Old-Forests]] {{1st}}

*[[Flood]]

*[[Forerunner]]

*[[Human]]

*[[Pheru]] {{Mo}}

**[[Cartographer#Installation 00|Installation 00's Cartographer]]

**[[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]]

*[[Installation 04]]

*[[Installation 07]]

*[[Large Magellanic Cloud]] {{1st}}

**[[Tarantula Nebula]] {{1st}}

*[[Omega Halo]]

*[[Orion complex]]

*''[[Audacity]]'' {{1st}}

*{{Class|Despair|fighter}}

*[[Forerunner cruiser]]

*[[Forerunner dreadnought]]

*[[Sentinel]]

**[[Aggressor Sentinel]]

*[[Shield world]]

*[[Slipspace bubble]]

==Production notes==

The preliminary cover art for the novel, illustrated by [[Nicolas Bouvier|Nicolas "Sparth" Bouvier]], depicts a vast Forerunner structure with a [[Cryptum]] floating in the center and several ships flying by, while the final cover art depicts the Ur-Didact observing a hologram of a Cryptum and his wife, the [[Librarian]]; the preliminary cover image remains in the background, although the Cryptum in the background is absent. The original cover illustration was used to promote the novel without giving spoilers as to the appearance of the Forerunner characters, which was not revealed until ''[[Halo 4]]''. The final cover art was done as a collaboration between Sparth and ''Halo 4'' concept artist [[Gabriel Garza]].<ref>[http://sparth.tumblr.com/post/37282071285/greg-bear-silentium-book-covers-we-actually-had '''SPARTH''']</ref>

==Promotion==

Similar to the preceding novels, a sneak peek of the first two chapters of the novel was released on Halo Waypoint and Tor.com on March 13, 2013.<ref>[http://blogs.halowaypoint.com/Headlines/post/2013/03/13/Silentium-Sneak-Peek.aspx '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Silentium Sneak Peek'']</ref>

==Trivia==

===Miscellaneous===

*The Ur-Didact exclaims "And loose damnation on the stars?" in retort to the IsoDidact's statement that using the Halos may be the Forerunners' only chance to stop the Flood.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 224''</ref> This is a reference to a line spoken by [[Cortana]] on the level ''[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]'' in ''[[Halo 3]]'': ''"For a moment of safety, I loosed damnation upon the stars."''.

*During his final conversation with 343 Guilty Spark, before deploying the Halo Array, the IsoDidact asks the monitor ''"Tell me, Chakas, if this was your choice, after all we have seen and survived... would you fire the rings?"''<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 314''</ref> This references a statement made by Guilty Spark to [[John-117]] in the opening cinematic of the level ''[[Two Betrayals]]'' in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'': ''"Last time, you asked me, if it were my choice, would I do it? Having had considerable time to ponder your query, my answer has not changed."''

*The description of the Halo Array being launched from the lesser Ark via a portal closely echoes the [[:File:Array.png|depiction]] of the event from ''[[Origins]]''. However, ''Origins'' shows all seven of the final Halos entering the portal, whereas in ''Silentium'' there are only six, as [[Installation 07]] had been deployed years earlier.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 315''</ref>

*The Didact's pose in the cover art (with his hands closing around his Cryptum) foreshadows the manner in which Precursor [[star road]]s destroy planets.

File:Halo Silentium Cover.jpg|The preliminary cover for ''Halo: Silentium''.

File:Silentium preliminary coverart.jpg|Full preliminary cover illustration.

</gallery>

==Sources==

[[Category:Novels|Silentium]]

[[Category:Canon|Silentium]]