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sage_owl's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wasted's review
2.0
Skimming literature is a regrettable act. Even if a good friend humbly acknowledged skimming my amateur writings, I'd be disappointed.
Unfortunately, there is very little value in reading the first 24 Chapters of Halo: Primordium. Even skimming through to read about the Forerunner architecture wasn't rewarding. The entire first half of the book is from a deevolved human's perspective who naturally doesn't understand that construction (a logistic closely associated with the downfall of the human race).
Below is an example of a disheveled passage about a Forerunner platform with compounding confusion from the equally affect-less relationship building:
"A disk cut itself out of one side and descended to the platform. Again, I flinched - but it was just a disk, curved like the part of the wagon it had come from, blank on both sides. A series of smaller poles rose up around the outside of the disk, minus one, where, I supposed, we were expected to step up and get on.
…
'What do you think?' I asked.
…
She took my hand. 'I go where you go.' "
I attempted to look past these demoralizing sections and enjoy the lengthened human wanderings across Halo's habitats. There were interesting descriptions of the harsh valleys and cliffs but these were rare gems amongst the dirt fields.
In my opinion, this disjointed human-told story could have benefited by providing the reader more information related to The Librarian's plan and less about the grassy green hillsides. Compared to the exciting start of the third book, Halo: Silentium, events progress at a slow crawl. With only obscure bits of information from humanity's ancestor "geas" spirits, there is too much vagueness. I abhorred getting weary with the Lord of Admiral's dialogue - a true human warrior meant for better portrayal!
The Forerunner Saga is an absolute worthwhile read for every Halo fan. However, save time skimming by starting Primordium at Chapter 25 and conducting brief online research regarding the outcomes of the first half of the book. Don't forfeit and stop here - more interstellar mystique awaits towards the conclusion of the saga.
Unfortunately, there is very little value in reading the first 24 Chapters of Halo: Primordium. Even skimming through to read about the Forerunner architecture wasn't rewarding. The entire first half of the book is from a deevolved human's perspective who naturally doesn't understand that construction (a logistic closely associated with the downfall of the human race).
Below is an example of a disheveled passage about a Forerunner platform with compounding confusion from the equally affect-less relationship building:
"A disk cut itself out of one side and descended to the platform. Again, I flinched - but it was just a disk, curved like the part of the wagon it had come from, blank on both sides. A series of smaller poles rose up around the outside of the disk, minus one, where, I supposed, we were expected to step up and get on.
…
'What do you think?' I asked.
…
She took my hand. 'I go where you go.' "
I attempted to look past these demoralizing sections and enjoy the lengthened human wanderings across Halo's habitats. There were interesting descriptions of the harsh valleys and cliffs but these were rare gems amongst the dirt fields.
In my opinion, this disjointed human-told story could have benefited by providing the reader more information related to The Librarian's plan and less about the grassy green hillsides. Compared to the exciting start of the third book, Halo: Silentium, events progress at a slow crawl. With only obscure bits of information from humanity's ancestor "geas" spirits, there is too much vagueness. I abhorred getting weary with the Lord of Admiral's dialogue - a true human warrior meant for better portrayal!
The Forerunner Saga is an absolute worthwhile read for every Halo fan. However, save time skimming by starting Primordium at Chapter 25 and conducting brief online research regarding the outcomes of the first half of the book. Don't forfeit and stop here - more interstellar mystique awaits towards the conclusion of the saga.
mattpfarr's review against another edition
1.0
If you see my review of the first book, not much changed. Still a boring, bland, uneventful read. Tried to trudge through because I love the Halo lore but I finally worked up the courage to value my time and put the book down about 2/3 through. I finished the story on wiki. Won't be reading the final installment.
necronizer's review against another edition
3.0
Really was a drag to read through but at the end it picked up. Not the best but not the worst
jdelnaza's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
The second entry of the Forerunner Saga, Primordium takes a journey exploring the mysteries hidden within Installation 07, which plays a significant role in the inevitable downfall of Forerunner society—as well as diving more into humanity's ancient past against the Forerunners. We also discover the true nature of the Flood and how they relate to the Captives master plan.
While it does a good job setting the events that lead to the eventual firing of the Halo rings, the story meanders on the details and it's a struggle to keep up with the story. The cast of characters do experience some growth as the story progresses, but some of them don't get satisfying closure for their arcs, aside from the protagonist Chakas.
I'd still give this book a try if you're well invested into the Halo lore, but it can be a slog to read through.
While it does a good job setting the events that lead to the eventual firing of the Halo rings, the story meanders on the details and it's a struggle to keep up with the story. The cast of characters do experience some growth as the story progresses, but some of them don't get satisfying closure for their arcs, aside from the protagonist Chakas.
I'd still give this book a try if you're well invested into the Halo lore, but it can be a slog to read through.
fangsgirl99's review against another edition
4.0
The second of the Forerunner series was a bit of a let down for me, in comparison to the first book. It had the intensity, the drama, the ability to sway your sympathies from one species to another simply by change of perspective, all the power of a well-written book but in the end i was disappointed. The author changed one of his characters (the main from his first book, Cryptum) very drastically, turning him from a soul searching, true-to-himself young man into an exact copy of his mentor with no willful thought of his own. A huge letdown for a character that was so dynamic in the first book.
This book was also more confusing and without an easily followable central plotline. I think more could have been delivered but it was still a gripping read as far as the series storyline goes.
This book does give a more rounded perspective to the series though, which I appreciate. In this series, a universe is falling apart and the different perspectives of this reality-bending catastrophe from different individuals is wonderfully eye-opening.
This book was also more confusing and without an easily followable central plotline. I think more could have been delivered but it was still a gripping read as far as the series storyline goes.
This book does give a more rounded perspective to the series though, which I appreciate. In this series, a universe is falling apart and the different perspectives of this reality-bending catastrophe from different individuals is wonderfully eye-opening.
richard_mzk's review
adventurous
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
winstonholyfield's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book follows Chakas as he journeys across one of the Halos to reunite with Riser or find some other Forerunners to continue his journey. It explores the impact of the Halo array on the people and animals who live on them and the innocent lives that get caught in the crossfire between the master builder and the Librarian. Bornstellar Makes Eternal Lasting is almost completely absent in this novel and most of the grand politics of Forerunner life is ignored. Instead the civilizational conflict between the Flood and all life in the galaxy takes center stage as Chakas and his band travel. Toward the end of the novel it is revealed that this is not being told by Chakas contemporary to the actions occurring but is being remembered by 343 Guilty Spark and told to human scientists investigating the Halos closer to the year 2552.
Like its predecessor Halo: Primordium is rich in lore and detailed world-building. It expands upon the premises introduced in the previous books and fills in the history of the Halo universe.