By the time I finish writing this article, another book is bound to be added to the ever-expanding series of the Halo universe. There are some truly outstanding entries in this list, as well as some that may not be quite as remarkable. However, if you’re eager to fully comprehend the lore of the series, it’s definitely worth a read. Here is the recommended order in which I believe you should read the Halo books for the most immersive experience.
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So Many Halo Books
The world of Halo offers a wealth of opportunities for expansion, covering aspects such as the prelude, the histories of both races, the flood, and much more. Because of this, there is a vast array of books that expand upon the universe. It can be quite overwhelming, so start with this definitive list of the Halo literature reading order and proceed from there.
I firmly believe that the Halo books should be read in the order of their release. The chronology jumps back and forth, but not in a confusing or disjointed manner. As the books are published, they reference each other, gradually fleshing out the Halo universe in its entirety. Trying to read them in chronological order can quickly become extremely complex and may even result in missing important details.
Every Halo Book, in Order of Release
- Halo: The Fall of Reach (October 30, 2001)
- Halo: The Flood (April 1, 2003)
- Halo: First Strike (December 2, 2003)
- Halo: Ghosts of Onyx (October 31, 2006)
- Halo: Contact Harvest (October 30, 2007)
- Halo: The Cole Protocol (November 25, 2008)
- Halo: Evolutions (November 24, 2009)
- Halo: Cryptum (January 4, 2011)
- Halo: Glasslands (October 25, 2011)
- Halo: Primordium (January 3, 2012)
- Halo: The Thursday War (October 2, 2012)
- Halo: Silentium (March 19, 2013)
- Halo: Mortal Dictata (January 21, 2014)
- Halo: Broken Circle (November 4, 2014)
- Halo: New Blood (March 2, 2015)
- Halo: Hunters in the Dark (June 16, 2015)
- Halo: Saint’s Testimony (July 27, 2015)
- Halo: Last Light (September 15, 2015)
- Halo: Shadow of Intent (December 7, 2015)
- Halo: Fractures (September 20, 2016)
- Halo: Smoke and Shadow (November 28, 2016)
- Halo: Envoy (April 25, 2017)
- Halo: Retribution (August 29, 2017)
- Halo: Legacy of Onyx (November 15, 2017)
- Halo: Bad Blood (June 26, 2018)
- Halo: Silent Storm (September 4, 2018)
- Halo: Battle Born (January 1, 2019)
- Halo: Renegades (February 19, 2019)
- Halo: Oblivion (September 24, 2019)
- Halo: Meridian Divide (October 1, 2019)
- Halo: Shadows of Reach (September 22, 2020)
- Halo: Point of Light (March 2, 2021)
- Halo: Divine Wind (October 19, 2021)
- Halo: The Rubicon Protocol (August 9, 2022)
- Halo: Epitaph (February 27, 2024)
This is an extensive list, but there are a few you can potentially skip if you have recently played the games. To shorten it a bit, it is possible to overlook Halo: The Flood since it mainly covers the plot of Halo 1. If you have recently played through the game or prefer to obtain the same information in the convenience of gaming, you can skip this reading in the Halo order and simply play the game instead.
Image via Xbox
What Are the Halo Books About?
If you are a fan of the video game franchise, you are likely already familiar with a great deal of the lore that is incorporated into the games. Ancient histories and epic battles that span eons add depth to the action-packed scenes as you follow the story of Master Chief and beyond.
Many aspects of history and events can be gleaned simply by playing the game and listening to the various clips within the games. Characters cleverly provide exposition through dialogue and situations. However, this has left both me and many other writers and readers craving something more.
The Halo book series arranges the universe in a coherent manner as you read through them. They delve much deeper into the world, history, politics, and battles of the franchise, providing the fans with the content they desire. History and expansions related to the games are seamlessly integrated throughout the narratives.
Are the Halo Books Canon?
The ever-evolving team behind the Halo franchise states that “the Official” Halo canon can only be created by the developers of the Halo franchise.” This means that for a book to be considered part of the official reading order of the Halo canon, it needs to be officially sanctioned by the team. This helps to prevent inconsistencies, although there are a few exceptions.
Of course, like any major gaming franchise, there are numerous excellent fanfiction additions to the reading list. However, if you truly want to immerse yourself in them, it is advisable to finish playing the games and the official book series first. This will give you the context and knowledge to easily identify anything that is out of sync or adheres to the source material. You don’t want to inadvertently reference something that is not canon without realizing it; that would be quite embarrassing.
There are many amazing video game tie-in books available, ranging from Assassins Creed to the Souls games. Halo, although perhaps one of the most extensive, is not the only outstanding one out there.
