Eric Nylund Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Mai Tsuji SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
" On the planet Reach, a huge secret lays hidden within the military base. Kidnapped young girls and boys are brutally trained to be the strongest, fastest, and most intelligent humans. The future depends on them as the super soldiers, or the SPARTANS.
The story focuses mainly on a particular boy named John. Competitive, strong, and smart, he quickly strives to be the best in the training camp. Although only seven or eight years old, the children become close as brothers and sisters. However, the secret is even bigger. Dr. Halsey, a scientist, knows that the training will be the easiest compared to what will come next. The next thing they know, John and his companions are changed forever, their bodies altered to become the super soldiers, to be able to see in the dark, move with unnatural speed, and possess extreme strength. Through a series of painful experiences, several lie dead from the experiments.
John and his remaining friends fight for their lost comrades, but now a bigger threat is near. A mysterious alien race who hold themselves in a religious light by calling themselves the "Covenant" destroys whole planets, planning to take over the universe. War is quickly started, and John and his extended family are introduced to MJOLNIR, the next part of their bodies that will change the world. "
Mai Tsuji, Resident Eric Nylund Scholar
"This book, while presented as a prequel to the Xbox game "Halo", is also readable as standalone SF.
It describes the beginnings and origins of the main character from the game, the Master Chief.
Taken from his family at the age of six, along with 149 others, John-117 is considered genetically superior and chosen for training in a new military program, code named Spartan.
Half the recruits wash out in boot camp, and yet more are killed or maimed when the bio-enhancements are applied to improve strength, reflexes and senses.
After all is done, 34 Spartans remain.
At first, the Spartans are used to combat pirates and rebels among Earth's fledgling Empire. Shortly after, humanity comes under attack by an alliance of alien races bonded by their religious fanaticism, referred to as The Covenant.
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 40% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- great warrior
Training/Apprent.
Yes
Working up the ranks of...
- armed forces
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV:
- fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- lasers
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- infantry soldier
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- bulging muscles
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Profession/status:
- killer
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human warship
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- unfriendly aliens
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a significant amount of technical jargon
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