Forerunner Saga
The Forerunner Saga is a trilogy of science fiction novels by Greg Bear, based on the Halo series of video games. The books in the series are Halo: Cryptum (2011), Primordium (2012), and Silentium (2013). The books were released in hardcover, e-book, paperback, and audiobook. Bear was given little restriction on the story of the novel; the Halo universe had not yet been explored in that time period. Cryptum received mixed reviews; some critics liked the Forerunner culture and suspense that Bear created, but others disliked the characters, found the plot too slow, and concluded that the novel was suited only to existing fans of the Halo series. Cryptum appeared on multiple bestseller lists after promotion on Halo Waypoint, a website that serves as a hub for Halo-related information. Primordium reached number seventeen on the New York Times Bestseller List in Hardcover Fiction. Silentium reached number eight on the New York Times Bestseller List for Hardcover Fiction. Background Halo overseers 343 Industries wanted to produce novels that fleshed out the backstory of the ancient Forerunners. Franchise director Frank O'Connor suggested Greg Bear, saying that Bear was to sci-fi as Stephen King was to horror. "I basically said, we want someone of Greg Bear's caliber, that hard sci-fi grandeur that he handled so well in Eon and Anvil of Stars," O'Connor recalled. Bear was in the middle of writing Hull Zero Three when he was approached with the offer. 343 Industries told Bear they wanted a "classic" Bear novel, but inspired by Halo and its extended universe. Bear's three-novel deal was announced on April 6, 2009. Bear was aware of Halo through his daughter's experience playing the games, and recalled appreciating the hinted-at backstory. Writing for an established universe proved occasionally challenging, needing to respect the established tone of Halo. Bear was made privy to secret plot details 343 Industries had planned to inform his work. Although nothing was forced upon Bear in terms of story templates, he had numerous and comprehensive discussions about the history of the Halo universe and the major events of the Forerunner history that had already been established in Halo 3. Bear used the Forerunner designs and images from the Halo video games as an inspiration, and it showed him there had to be an emphasis on builders within the Forerunner civilization. O'Connor said that the book is meant to have a "hard sci-fi" feel with a "hint of space opera, in the mold of Banks, Reynolds and Bear himself." The book's cover was designed by Sparth, an artist at 343 Industries known for his "futuristic vistas", and who would later become a creative director at the company. The artwork was adapted from concept art for Halo 4, intended to capture the wondrous scope of the Forerunners. Sparth and Gabriel Garza collaborated for Silentium's cover. The second novel in the series was announced on July 19, 2011. The book was completed and submitted to the publisher in October. At a Comic-Con panel on the Halo universe,