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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Impressively colorful language and a really interesting POV as the Forerunner character, providing an interesting timescale and lots of deep lore. This book series really does get more sophisticated with each entry.
Some great backstory for the Halo world and the forerunners, felt myself drifting in and out though
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am intensely biased as a massive Halo fan, and I read this book years ago, but revisiting it with a refreshed and matured palate gave me new appreciation for the thrilling adventure that Bear and 343 Industries crafted in this book. Bear flexes his sci-fi expertise to temper and expand the dense lore of the Halo series with the perspective of our protagonist Bornstellar, whose own tragic journey becomes inextricably linked with the fate of the galaxy. This is a story about identity and the forces that shape us beyond our control; of the folly of those struggling to remain in power; the last days of a nigh-invincible empire; and the generational scars that haunt us from battles long fought.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Xenophobia, Colonisation, War
Minor: Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
“There are points in life when everything changes, and changes in a big way. The old sophistic texts refer to these points as synchrons. Synchrons supposedly tie great forces and personalities together. You can’t predict them and you can’t avoid them. Only rarely can you feel them. They are like knots creeping forward on your string of time. Ultimately, they tie you to the great currents of the universe - bind you a common fate.”
Cryptum’s grandiose sci-fi space opera is punctuated with many moments like this: from reflective and philosophical to meandering and simply lost from the point of view of protagonist Bornstellar, a rebellious young Forerunner thrown amidst an intergalactic moment of great change in which he finds himself a reluctant centre of attention. Initially a Manipular, an adolescent stage of Forerunner life, from the rate of Builders, one of several societal castes of the Forerunner ecumene, the novel follows the main character’s personal recollection of events that transpired in what is now a deep past to him. We follow his journey through the vastness of a cosmos until now either unexplored in previous novels or visited in the Halo game franchise on a surface level. Greg Bear’s writing elevates the series canon from military fiction set in space to a genuinely grand science-fiction tapestry rich with political history, growing mysteries to be pieced together and a more mature set of themes which develop with the characters throughout: themes of exile and change, family and rejection, shared consciousness, and frequent exploration of character archetypes’ responses to an impending final doom.
The first act follows Bornstellar in his most arrogant and immature persona: a disregard for humans, a now devolved species maintained by a higher power of Forerunner on a proto-Earth planet known as Erde-Tyrene, as well as a generally apathetic disregard for responsibility, duty or appreciation of wider Forerunner societal demands. It is interesting that this rebellious behaviour - running away from his step-family on Edom (Mars), recruiting a pair of humans to assist him in a quest to locate an ancient Precursor artefact - is exactly what sets in motion the wider scale of events he then finds himself bound to. Bear makes frequent reference to a level of ‘programming’ inherent in the pair of humans, Chakas and Riser, known as a geas: that is, they were predestined to follow this path, their lived chosen to be a part of a larger importance, mostly unbeknownst to them in the form of genetic memory. Bornstellar is also subject to this, arguably more so, as by the end of the novel we learn much of the plot’s momentum was by design of The Librarian, a higher ‘rate’ Forerunner privy to existential threats who guided the fates of multiple protagonists throughout. The theme of fates, of the individual and of a group or species, is already prevalent in the series, but by the end of the novel, Bear presents the idea as a light against dark that is almost cyclic, but also doomed to fall to the side of destruction and ruin - a revelation that the intertwined fates of both Bornstellar and The Didact share struggles with across their journey.
The presentation and development of characters in Cryptum is excellent: complex, flawed, driven by formative experiences, each protagonist furthers the plot or delivers explorative dialogue in captivating ways that feels much less cut and dry or stereotypical than prior novels often led with. Greg Bear pulls no punches in presenting callous genocidal military leaders with charisma, themes of suicide, fraternal rejection, and perhaps most interestingly the idea of mutations as a means of advancing intelligence and development as a species. Bornstellar experiences a non-standard Brevet-mutation, binding shared memory and experiences with a an ancient Forerunner who for all intents is an outcast and branded criminal, effectively in part becoming this being himself, or at least evolving with him to become something new entirely. This idea of internal change from intense relationships and the fluidity of the physicality and the mind when experiences are so intimately combined is a fascinating central theme when set to the backdrop of how the actions of the few can define eons of intergalactic history for all life to come. It also conjures consideration of those we walk the paths of life with shape our understanding of our reality and even our own experiences, acting as a cautionary tale but also an exploration that not all pivotal acts of civilisations are formed from daring and heroism, but from trying to find oneself in the world, of trying to be true to ones identity even as it changes and is folded by experience, and of simply trying to survive.
Overall, this first entry to the Forerunner saga is a bold deviation from the initial military action storytelling in the franchise; and it lands. It is a masterstroke in thematically enriching what would otherwise be a linear action sci-fi shooter series to one with complex themes, struggling characters and a vibrant setting that is in equal parts full of splendour and horror. It answers some crucial questions from previous instalments fundamental to the internal canon of the series, whilst introducing many more, maintaining a suspenseful mystery for book two and momentum both through perfect pacing and excellent writing. It is clear why many regard the trilogy (but particularly this novel) as among the very best of the lengthy series of Halo novels, but further, Greg Bear’s storytelling here makes for a novel that anyone, Halo veteran or sci-fi newcomer, can find great enjoyment in as a standalone piece of fiction.
Cryptum’s grandiose sci-fi space opera is punctuated with many moments like this: from reflective and philosophical to meandering and simply lost from the point of view of protagonist Bornstellar, a rebellious young Forerunner thrown amidst an intergalactic moment of great change in which he finds himself a reluctant centre of attention. Initially a Manipular, an adolescent stage of Forerunner life, from the rate of Builders, one of several societal castes of the Forerunner ecumene, the novel follows the main character’s personal recollection of events that transpired in what is now a deep past to him. We follow his journey through the vastness of a cosmos until now either unexplored in previous novels or visited in the Halo game franchise on a surface level. Greg Bear’s writing elevates the series canon from military fiction set in space to a genuinely grand science-fiction tapestry rich with political history, growing mysteries to be pieced together and a more mature set of themes which develop with the characters throughout: themes of exile and change, family and rejection, shared consciousness, and frequent exploration of character archetypes’ responses to an impending final doom.
The first act follows Bornstellar in his most arrogant and immature persona: a disregard for humans, a now devolved species maintained by a higher power of Forerunner on a proto-Earth planet known as Erde-Tyrene, as well as a generally apathetic disregard for responsibility, duty or appreciation of wider Forerunner societal demands. It is interesting that this rebellious behaviour - running away from his step-family on Edom (Mars), recruiting a pair of humans to assist him in a quest to locate an ancient Precursor artefact - is exactly what sets in motion the wider scale of events he then finds himself bound to. Bear makes frequent reference to a level of ‘programming’ inherent in the pair of humans, Chakas and Riser, known as a geas: that is, they were predestined to follow this path, their lived chosen to be a part of a larger importance, mostly unbeknownst to them in the form of genetic memory. Bornstellar is also subject to this, arguably more so, as by the end of the novel we learn much of the plot’s momentum was by design of The Librarian, a higher ‘rate’ Forerunner privy to existential threats who guided the fates of multiple protagonists throughout. The theme of fates, of the individual and of a group or species, is already prevalent in the series, but by the end of the novel, Bear presents the idea as a light against dark that is almost cyclic, but also doomed to fall to the side of destruction and ruin - a revelation that the intertwined fates of both Bornstellar and The Didact share struggles with across their journey.
The presentation and development of characters in Cryptum is excellent: complex, flawed, driven by formative experiences, each protagonist furthers the plot or delivers explorative dialogue in captivating ways that feels much less cut and dry or stereotypical than prior novels often led with. Greg Bear pulls no punches in presenting callous genocidal military leaders with charisma, themes of suicide, fraternal rejection, and perhaps most interestingly the idea of mutations as a means of advancing intelligence and development as a species. Bornstellar experiences a non-standard Brevet-mutation, binding shared memory and experiences with a an ancient Forerunner who for all intents is an outcast and branded criminal, effectively in part becoming this being himself, or at least evolving with him to become something new entirely. This idea of internal change from intense relationships and the fluidity of the physicality and the mind when experiences are so intimately combined is a fascinating central theme when set to the backdrop of how the actions of the few can define eons of intergalactic history for all life to come. It also conjures consideration of those we walk the paths of life with shape our understanding of our reality and even our own experiences, acting as a cautionary tale but also an exploration that not all pivotal acts of civilisations are formed from daring and heroism, but from trying to find oneself in the world, of trying to be true to ones identity even as it changes and is folded by experience, and of simply trying to survive.
Overall, this first entry to the Forerunner saga is a bold deviation from the initial military action storytelling in the franchise; and it lands. It is a masterstroke in thematically enriching what would otherwise be a linear action sci-fi shooter series to one with complex themes, struggling characters and a vibrant setting that is in equal parts full of splendour and horror. It answers some crucial questions from previous instalments fundamental to the internal canon of the series, whilst introducing many more, maintaining a suspenseful mystery for book two and momentum both through perfect pacing and excellent writing. It is clear why many regard the trilogy (but particularly this novel) as among the very best of the lengthy series of Halo novels, but further, Greg Bear’s storytelling here makes for a novel that anyone, Halo veteran or sci-fi newcomer, can find great enjoyment in as a standalone piece of fiction.
A nice but not altogther welcome change from the usual gung-ho all-action style of the rest of the series. Very informative though and it adds much more to the great series.
I loved the forerunner saga, great way to establish a universe that existed before the Covenant was even a thing!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sigh.
I give this a 4 stars, but just barely. I may be tempted to knock it down a step soon enough.
It started off decently and only got better. But from the second third, things progressed quite arbitrarily. Plot twists had little to no buildup or foreshadowing. No real character development took place beyond the halfway point. The worldbuilding can be quite wonderous, especially in the structural department, but the two main alien species had less cultural differences than cultures on Earth just a few hundred years ago.
My biggest point of contention remains the handling of the IsoDidact. This is a bit spoilery so feel free to skip the following paragraph.
It's literally just the "old person in young body" trope from sketchy animes, but here it's a ten thousand year old person in a twelve year old's body, and that too just partially, like a split personality. It was fine till he met the Ur Didact's (the older person) wife and she began to insist on how Bornstellar (the twelve year old younger person with the body) was her husband and should treat her as such, it began to get quite creepy. Sure, it all takes place for just two pages, but the diminishing quality of the story leading up to it didn't help.
Disappointed. This is my least favourite of the Halo books I own, save for perhaps The Flood. At least that had one cool infected plotline.
I give this a 4 stars, but just barely. I may be tempted to knock it down a step soon enough.
It started off decently and only got better. But from the second third, things progressed quite arbitrarily. Plot twists had little to no buildup or foreshadowing. No real character development took place beyond the halfway point. The worldbuilding can be quite wonderous, especially in the structural department, but the two main alien species had less cultural differences than cultures on Earth just a few hundred years ago.
My biggest point of contention remains the handling of the IsoDidact. This is a bit spoilery so feel free to skip the following paragraph.
Disappointed. This is my least favourite of the Halo books I own, save for perhaps The Flood. At least that had one cool infected plotline.