: The Spartan Program is a moral black mark, but the criticism that Traviss put
: in the mouths of her characters is... what, Halsey is Josef Mengele
: because the Spartan II program had strict genetic requirements?

I feel like I said this before, and maybe I misunderstand you, but the criticism put into the mouths of those characters is partially valid among a sea of bullshit. Just because they're the protagonist of a book doesn't mean they're right about everything they say or that the author agrees with them. Even just the actions they undertook, actions that take place in our real world today, are hardly justifiable. Does Traviss believe those actions to be justifiable? Or the character?

: I'd say that the Nylund novels were more morally complex because they
: presented these programs (And later the justifications in the Carver
: Findings) and let the reader decide whether it was justified. And at least
: Halsey had consistent characterization in that she knew she was crossing
: moral lines, but did so because she believed it was necessary.

She did it to crush justified Human Rebellion. The UEG and the UNSC were unrightfully abusing the Outer Colonies and the Spartans were created to ensure that could continue.

That said, have you watched Brian David Gilbert's video on reading all the Halo books? I generally agree with his stance on TFoR and K5 in hindsight.

: Folks need heroes.

I agree.

: The UNSC is always going to be the good guy...

They've never been the good guy. The Chief is the good guy. If you go back to First Strike, you see Halsey give John a choice to sacrifice Johnson for the potential salvation of Mankind from the Flood. The Greater Good vs. a single life. Halsey, when she was younger, chose The Greater Good. Cortana, who was established even back in TFoR that she would be willing to sacrifice either of them to complete their mission, was designed/directed to prioritize The Greater Good. John did not. John chose to save Johnson's life. That encapsulates the difference between John and everyone else, and that's old material.

: Shit. Sorry. I am quite drunk at the moment and not sure which idea I am
: trying to articulate. Let's try bullet points.

: »Readers are intelligent. You don't have to beat theem over the head with a
: message or turn established characters into hypocrites to explore a moral
: theme.

Other than Parangoski, who was a hypocrite in K5? And Paragonski was always a trash human. Also, you give consumers too much credit. I see far too many people unable to grasp themes and messages even when the narrative is clonking them over the head with it.