: My feelings about New Blood are all over the place right now. On one hand, I
: enjoy the focused insight into one of Halo's lesser known leading figures.
: Buck's early life, his exploits throughout the Great War, and ultimately
: his relationship with Veronica Dare are explained in great detail. That
: was fantastic. Each little bit breathed new, substantial life into the
: universe. A lot of the action, especially with old Alpha-Nine, falls a
: little flat and such a lengthy summary of the events of ODST seem
: unnecessary in hindsight. So much of the imagery, however, is as clear as
: day. I appreciate that more than anything with the considerably foreign
: Forerunner and Covenant novels.

: There were a few minor things that really caught my attention, some annoying,
: others disappointing, and the rest that I'll need time to wrap my head
: around. Noble Six's gender was an unnecessary addition for a character we
: could truly consider ourselves in the universe.

I'll agree with you here. Either don't bring the character up, or refer to character in an ambiguous form (ex SPARTAN or just Noble 6 would suffice).

On the flip side, I think you nit pick too much. Head canon goes a long way for changing little things about a story that don't sit well with you.

:Having to explain Buck's
: comment about a woman having "balls" was really gross and
: off-putting. Every major character in Halo being required to know each
: other remains to be annoying as hell considering the scope of the
: universe.

So what?

This "book" is fantasy, about fantasy war.
War is not politically correct. Unpleasant things will be said, done, thought etc.

I'm glad it makes some people uncomfortable, otherwise it can't be taken seriously.

I can't stand the thought of putting a filter on everything just because it might make someone uncomfortable- what a travesty!

: Lastly, the Rookie and his untimely demise. I totally get warriors falling in
: battle in seemingly insignificant ways. That's unavoidable. But the Rookie
: is not just your ordinary warrior. This guy is someone you played as for
: almost an entire game in a narrative that told us everything about
: everyone save for him. Bungie's love for silent protagonists and having
: 343 sit on this story arc for so long robbed us of what could have become
: a rich figure. Instead his brains are painted up, down, left, and right in
: Draco III's parliament. His only significant accomplishment as an actual
: human being is bringing everyone together at his burial in a grand display
: of feels. I don't know. Like I said before, I need to really think about
: this some more.

They should have just left his story alone. Why 343 chooses to wrap up some story threads and not others baffles me. I don't follow their thought process at all.

Some things are just better left un-finished.

Why try to put a resolution on every little thing?

Whatever.

: As for Mickey betraying Buck and Romeo, and defecting to the United Rebel
: Front? I thought the whole time that he'd end up trying to show the two of
: them that he was winking underneath his helmet. He'd lure all those rebel
: soldiers away from Sadie and Vergil, then they'd all escape in the
: transport he would pilot. I guess not. I suppose I can get on board with
: him being an Insurrectionist. Earth deserves no respect and I'd probably
: be just as willing to defect as him, but with Mickey, I don't know. Of
: course his parents would have imparted a lot of these anti-imperialist
: feelings in him. But being all subversive as he was? I just can't see that
: in him. Then again, maybe I didn't know him as well I could have,
: something his own comrades would share later on.

Crap writing at it's finest.

I always assumed that Buck and his team were more loyal to each other, rather than the UNSC. Akin to staying and working at a job you hate because you really like your co-workers.

This is nothing more than a forced plot twist, for a forced conflict. I always feel that stuff like this is paper-clipped on by a board of suits. Naturally, I don't know that was the case here, the author may have put this in themselves. Barf.

: What you get in this novel is worth the small price tag. It has a little for
: everyone from action to mild romance, all the way to culture and
: espionage. Despite all its flaws, it was still great to see what some long
: forgotten characters have been up to. No matter how you feel about the
: newest Spartans, imperialism, rebellion, or any controversial characters,
: I encourage you to download New Blood.

On that note, read the preview, realized it is digital only, and then the rest of your summary and decided
this is where I get off.

I don't like everything in Halo 3: ODST to be thrown under the bus.

I continue to keep up with the story bits of Halo more than the games at this point, because that is what I enjoy. That way, even if I don't like the game, I still know what is going on in the universe.

I'm really starting to care less and less about anything new in the series. I continue to labor for "old" Halo though. I wonder if this is what it's like to be a Star Wars fan....