Book Preview

Canon Fodder

Fiction

Alex Wakeford

Issue 168

Canon Fodder: Casting Chronicles

Games

Halo: Campaign Evolved

This year, Halo celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. As we look back to where this great journey began, with Halo: Campaign Evolved releasing later this year, so too are we excited to delve back into the foundational fiction of the franchise with Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus.



Contained within this titanic tome are the first three novels that released from 2001-2003:



<ul>
<li>The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund</li>



<li>The Flood by William C. Dietz</li>



<li>First Strike by Eric Nylund</li>
</ul>



Today, we are thrilled to reveal the cover art and Halo ring-themed sprayed edge treatment of this special omnibus collection, illustrated by the legendary Isaac Hannaford to thematically represent all three stories.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-The-Master-Chief-Omnibus/Eric-Nylund/Halo/9781668241356"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1620" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr.jpg" alt="Image of the hardcover edition of Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus depicting the Master Chief, Cortana, Captain Keyes, Dr. Halsey, Reach, Alpha Halo, Flood infection forms, and the Halo ring-themed sprayed edges of the book." class="wp-image-163549" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr-200x300.jpg 200w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_HC_Cvr-1024x1536.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>



For series newcomers looking to explore the story that sets Halo: Campaign Evolved (and this science fiction universe!) into motion, and for long-time fans who want to revisit these foundational texts with updated corrections and edits, new adjunct stories, and a very pretty visual treatment for your shelves, this is the perfect way to return to where it all began as we celebrate a quarter century of Halo history.



Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus will be available on November 10.



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-The-Master-Chief-Omnibus/Eric-Nylund/Halo/9781668241356">PRE-ORDER HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF OMNIBUS</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



THE FALL OF REACH The 26th century. Humanity has expanded beyond Earth to hundreds of interstellar colonies, but the Unified Earth Government is struggling to control this vast empire. Dr. Catherine Halsey offers a solution and it starts with seventy-five children—trained to become super-soldiers to deliver humanity from seething colonial insurrections that threaten to erupt into full-blown interplanetary civil war. But an even greater peril lurks among the stars: the Covenant. A theocratic alliance of alien species hellbent on cleansing humanity from the galaxy.



This is the electrifying origin story of Spartan John-117—the Master Chief—and his legendary heroism in leading the fight against humanity’s annihilation.



THE FLOOD Having barely escaped the final battle for Reach aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, the crew of this lone ship—including the Master Chief and his AI companion Cortana—arrive at a place of untold mystery and peril: Halo. A massive artificial ringworld built one hundred thousand years ago by a long-lost civilization known as the Forerunners.



Forced to flee to the ring’s surface by a Covenant fleet that followed them from Reach, the Autumn’s crew find themselves in a desperate battle for survival while the Master Chief and Cortana uncover the Halo construct’s terrible purpose—even as a far more terrifying enemy than the Covenant is released and all sentient life in the galaxy is threatened.



This is the official novelization of Halo: Combat Evolved, the game that launched the Xbox console and began Halo‘s generational legacy.



FIRST STRIKE The Master Chief and Cortana regroup with a handful of survivors from the harrowing battle on Halo, including Sergeant Major Avery Johnson. Together, they take the fight to a gathering of Covenant warships as the United Nations Space Command’s worst nightmare has finally come true: Earth’s location is compromised, and the Covenant is massing a fleet to utterly destroy it.



Meanwhile, trapped on the glassed surface of Reach, the remaining Spartans—led by Fred-104 and Kelly-087—continue the fight for their home. Beneath this ruined world, Dr. Catherine Halsey has discovered an ancient secret…one that could alter the course of the war.



This tale bridges the events that take place in the game Halo: Combat Evolved (as novelized in The Flood) and its blockbuster follow-up, Halo 2.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



Whether you’re exploring Halo‘s fiction for the first time or returning to relive the story as it began in 2001—from the origins of the SPARTAN-II program and the Covenant invasion of Reach through the Master Chief’s journey to discover the truth about Halo and the immediate aftermath of those events—this is a great entry point to the universe.



Mark those calendars and secure your copy today!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-The-Master-Chief-Omnibus/Eric-Nylund/Halo/9781668241356"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1640" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr.jpg" alt="Cover art of Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus depicting the Master Chief, Cortana, Captain Keyes, Dr. Halsey, Reach, Alpha Halo, and Flood infection forms." class="wp-image-163535" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr-198x300.jpg 198w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr-674x1024.jpg 674w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr-768x1166.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2026/02/Halo_Master_Chief_Omnibus_Ebook_Cvr-1012x1536.jpg 1012w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>

Halo: The Master Chief Omnibus | Cover Reveal

Halo Infinite

Halo: Edge of Dawn, the latest novel by acclaimed author Kelly Gay, is out now!



Taking place in the immediate aftermath of Halo Infinite‘s campaign, Edge of Dawn follows the Master Chief, the Weapon (now having chosen the name Joyeuse), and pilot Fernando Esparza as they embark on a journey to fight back against the Banished and uncover ancient secrets hidden within Zeta Halo.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



2560. After eliminating War Chief Escharum and sending the Banished leadership into chaos, the Master Chief continues the fight on Zeta Halo, accompanied by his new AI companion and their loyal pilot Fernando Esparza.



As Spartan-117 searches for scattered allied forces, a young combat medic—tortured and imprisoned for months by the Banished and the enigmatic Harbinger—may hold the key to unlocking deeper mysteries within this ancient ringworld. But every step toward answers is haunted by the sinister and elusive blademaster Jega ‘Rdomnai, who is hellbent on vengeance….



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



Halo: Edge of Dawn is available in trade paperback, ebook, and unabridged audiobook formats.



Audiobook listeners are in for a treat as this story is narrated by the following video game voice talent:



<ul>
<li>Nicolas Roye – Fernando Esparza, Narrator</li>



<li>Jen Taylor – Joyeuse, Cortana, Dr. Halsey</li>



<li>Steve Downes – John-117</li>



<li>Debra Wilson – The Harbinger</li>
</ul>



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555">PURCHASE HALO: EDGE OF DAWN</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CHAPTER PREVIEW</h2>



Check out a preview of the book’s first chapter where the AI known throughout Halo Infinite as “the Weapon” chooses her name.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Halo: Edge of Dawn | Chapter 1 Preview | Audio Excerpt" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vtkYIwMXG5U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



You can also read the text <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/halo-edge-of-dawn-preview">here on Halo Waypoint</a>.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVAILABLE NOW!</h2>



Halo: Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay is out now! Whether you’re intending to listen to the audiobook, grab a digital copy, or read the physical paperback edition, hit the link below and prepare to return to Zeta Halo.



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555">PURCHASE HALO: EDGE OF DAWN</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Edge-of-Dawn/Kelly-Gay/Halo/9781668017555"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1676" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal.jpg" alt="Halo: Edge of Dawn novel cover depicting the Master Chief and the Weapon" class="wp-image-142242" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-193x300.jpg 193w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-660x1024.jpg 660w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-768x1192.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/EdgeOfDawnCover_TallFinal-990x1536.jpg 990w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>

Halo Studios

Halo: Edge of Dawn | OUT NOW

NOVEL DATABASE

Official Halo Book Guide

DESIGNATION: JOYEUSE

Halo: Edge of Dawn – Preview

Community

December 2559. The UNSC faces its darkest hour.



Set during the six months that follow the UNSC Infinity getting ambushed by the Banished, Kelly Gay’s novel, Halo: The Rubicon Protocol, takes us along the journey as humanity fights for survival on Zeta Halo. 



Wrapping up our <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/audiobook-club">Audiobook Club series with Simon & Schuster</a>, we joined Franchise Writer Alex ‘Haruspis’ Wakeford to delve into the pivotal moments after the Master Chief is neutralized by Atriox, including Cortana’s sacrifice and the ring’s slipspace departure.



A fight against impossible odds and heroes pushed to their limits, Halo: The Rubicon Protocol is a must-read.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spartan Chatter: The Rubicon Protocol" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzbeZYuUEPw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<a href="https://bit.ly/485gDEh" data-type="link" data-id="https://bit.ly/485gDEh">You can pick up your own copy today!</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Spartan Chatter is an audio series, a podcast if you will, hosted on our <a href="https://discord.gg/Halo">official Halo Discord</a> which brings members of the studio together to discuss all things Halo with a live audience.



You can find previous episodes of Spartan Chatter on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SWLEPaTx4c&list=PLn5QvCoiY3w7t84T_MFkGl8qvYI_q148-">YouTube channel’s Podcasts page</a>.

snickerdoodle

Halo: The Rubicon Protocol | Spartan Chatter

“Mission failure is not an option.”



Blue Team returns to Reach, seven years after the planet fell to the Covenant. The legendary squad is on a mission to reach Halsey’s lab, deep within CASTLE base to retrieve assets that could turn the tide of war against Cortana and the rogue AIs of the Created.



But they’re not alone. Between Blue Team and their objective are three Banished clans, led by War Chief Escharum, searching for a portal to bring Atriox back to the galaxy from the Ark.



As part of our ongoing <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/audiobook-club">Audiobook Club in partnership with Simon & Schuster</a>, we sat down with Franchise Writer Alex ‘Haruspis’ Wakeford on our latest episode of Spartan Chatter to explore how Troy Denning’s novel sets the stage for what’s to come leading up to the events of Halo Infinite.



From the Spartans’ homecoming to the ruins of Reach to the rise of the Banished, this is Halo at its most reflective. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spartan Chatter: Shadows of Reach" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MX8DKNh-iDc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Want to tag along with the legendary heroes as they navigate the lechatelierite of Reach? <a href="https://bit.ly/41kPh90">Grab a copy of the audiobook today!</a>

Halo: Shadows of Reach | Spartan Chatter

“Just because the Covenant War is over doesn’t mean there aren’t battles to be fought.”



Halo: New Blood follows the personal journey of Edward Buck, a seasoned ODST who is offered the chance to become a Spartan-IV. Told as a reflective memoir, the novella explores Buck’s early days in the UNSC to his leadership of Alpha-Nine, and touches on the emotional weight of leaving behind his old identity to embrace a new role. 



We suited up for another Spartan Chatter episode of our ongoing <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/audiobook-club">Audiobook Club in partnership with Simon & Schuster</a>, this time featuring Halo: New Blood by Matt Forbeck. Joined by Franchise Writer Alex “Haruspis” Wakeford, we followed the personal journey of Edward Buck through his journey from an ODST in the squad Alpha-Nine to Spartan-IV. From the gritty streets of Draco III to the halls of Spartan Command, New Blood offers a grounded, character-driven look at what it means to evolve in a galaxy still healing from conflict.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spartan Chatter: New Blood" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Knxs7NDk6ME?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Halo: New Blood Spartan Chatter Episode</figcaption></figure>



If you want to take a peek behind Buck’s visor, you can <a href="https://bit.ly/44NldoH">grab a copy of the Audiobook</a> and listen in today!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Community Highlights</h2>



Catch up on the community audiobook club with great shouts from folks in our <a href="https://www.discord.gg/halo">official Discord server</a>!



<ul>
<li>Merty: Easily one of my favorites, and it’s very rich in lore for those who want to learn more about the Spartan-IVs. Highly recommended.</li>



<li>Kot_Box: I just finished reading it a couple weeks ago and LOVED it! So much so that I just ordered a copy of Halo: Bad Blood. I’m always happy to see more Buck.</li>



<li>MOK: I love this month’s pick!</li>



<li>AshamanND: I just recently finished this! Great story.</li>



<li>VysorinIV: First Halo book I ever read—it got me hooked on the fandom!</li>



<li>Briarfox13: Oh, this is one of my favorites! Thoroughly enjoyed reading New Blood.</li>



<li>Aaron: I’ve loved the new artwork they’ve been releasing with these previews!</li>



<li>DDog Dazamaan: Just wanted to chime in to say I’m really enjoying this one, too! Pretty fun having it all from a character’s recollection of events.</li>
</ul>

Halo: New Blood | Spartan Chatter

“You are what you dare.”



As part of the ongoing <a href="https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/audiobook-club">Audiobook Club in partnership with Simon & Schuster</a>, we joined up with Franchise writer Alex ‘Haruspis’ Wakeford and special guest Chloe Bear to reflect on the late Greg Bear’s novel, Halo: Cryptum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Spartan Chatter: Cryptum" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YvkBkzx0BGc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



If you want to explore the Forerunner origins, learn more about Bornstellar, Chakas, and discover the Didact, <a href="https://bit.ly/3FMiJND">grab your own copy of the audiobook today</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Looking Ahead</h2>



Next up is Matt Forbeck’s novella, Halo: New Blood.



While Spartans get all the glory, no soldier―not even the legendary Master Chief―wins a war on his own. Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck and his team of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) played a major role in saving Earth from all-out invasion at the end of the Covenant War―acts of bravery and ingenuity that did not go unnoticed by the United Nations Space Command.



Now, after many Spartans have been killed in battle and the Master Chief is listed as MIA, the UNSC decides to create a new generation of Spartans to defend humanity from threats both outside―and within. When they come to Buck with an extraordinary proposition, he is forced to make a life-altering decision. With the Covenant War finally over, is it time for him to retire to the sidelines for a life he could only dream about…or is he prepared to step up and become part of the military’s new blood?



We’ll see you at the end of the month for the next episode of Spartan Chatter!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS</h2>



Catch up on the community book club with great shouts from folks in our <a href="https://discord.gg/halo">official Discord server</a>!



<ul>
<li>Gamehero24: Excited to join! I’m going to go back to June to catch up so I can dive in on this next!</li>



<li>Attorney: Personally, Forerunners are the most fascinating aspect of Halo. Gives me vibes of how the European generations that grew up after the fall of the Western Roman Empire marveled at these structures and technologies that were far beyond their own capabilities and wondered about this advanced civilization which came before and built them.</li>



<li>Cydon505: This book, and entire trilogy by extension, are the best stories in the entire Halo franchise, hands down. I love the cosmic horror elements of this book and the inevitable tragedy of the Forerunners’ fate as the overwhelming forces of the Flood close in. I reread this trilogy probably about once a year it’s just so good.</li>



<li>DDog Dazamaan: Definitely found this book hard to get through on my first read; I wasn’t much of a reader, and generally had a difficult time wrapping my head around the concept of greater tech 100,000 years ago while the humans are almost cavemen-like. I’m enjoying it much more on this rereading, especially Riser!</li>



<li>Almond: I get so much more from the book now that time has passed to make more connections.</li>



<li>pins before posting: There is something so different about these books, a type of different alien wonder.</li>



<li>Aaron: I think this book improves on repeat reading. The first time I read it I found it quite challenging as it’s essentially a whole new universe to learn and doesn’t have the familiar qualities of previous Halo books. However, as I’ve become more familiar with the characters, species, and politics of that era, I’ve enjoyed revisiting this book. Also, I love the new artwork that’s been made for this month and last month’s audiobook previews! Definitely looking forward to more of them with the next book clubs.</li>



<li>Austin @ JumperScape: So glad we’re going over Cryptum. The Forerunner trilogy of books from Greg Bear are some of my favorite reads in the whole book series.</li>



<li>JimFrigginLahey: Honestly that was such a great read. I immediately picked up Primordium after I closed the last page of Cryptum. I’ve only read the first chapter but I’m excited to catch back up with Bornstellar…</li>



<li>GuyverTron: I love these Forerunner books so much. They have been called the “Dune of the Halo universe” for a reason. Every time I read them I pick up a detail I missed on previous reads. For instance, the end of chapter describes the remnants of where the Star Roads connected to the surface of this world.</li>



<li>faded_scope: Just finished this one and definitely going to need another few listens to fully comprehend it all! Really enjoyed the perspective shifts and felt it worked really well, given it was “two characters” built into the same perspective at certain points.</li>
</ul>



We’ll see you at the end of the month to discuss Halo: New Blood!

Halo: Cryptum | Spartan Chatter

Waypoint Chronicles

A new Halo short story anthology is on its way!



For almost three years, the series of online short stories known as “Waypoint Chronicles” have been released in support of Halo Infinite’s ongoing updates, notable game anniversaries, and even the odd Flood-infested Halloween special.



Coming in March 2026, all of these stories and more will be collected in the print edition of Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



Delve once more into stories of legendary heroism and star-spanning conflicts—from the time of the ancient Forerunners to the perils of a twenty-sixth century clash between the United Nations Space Command and the Banished alien alliance.   Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One collects over thirty short stories from all corners of the Halo universe, including twenty-four adventures previously only available online, plus ten brand-new tales exclusive to this collected volume! Also included are dozens of additional pieces of lore-laden intel items and story vignettes connected to the Halo Infinite game experience.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



The cover art was made by Levi “Leviathan” Hoffmeier, who has previously contributed illustrations to the likes of the Halo Encyclopedia (2022) and Halo: Evolutions.



<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PRE-ORDER HALO: WAYPOINT CHRONICLES – VOLUME ONE</a> 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1680" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall.jpg" alt="Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One cover art with mechanicals illustrated by Levi Hoffmeier depicting Despondent Pyre, a Promethean Knight, Ilsa Zane, a Flood-infected Spartan, Laurette Agryna, Escharum, Fahl 'Nto, and Jun-A266" class="wp-image-142567" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall.jpg 1080w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-193x300.jpg 193w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-658x1024.jpg 658w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-768x1195.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WaypointChroniclesVolumeOneSocialTall-987x1536.jpg 987w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /></a></figure>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT’S IN THE BOOK?</h2>



Waypoint Chronicles seek to provide greater texture to the grand tapestry of the Halo universe.



These stories explore concepts that have lived in the periphery of the franchise’s extensive lore, expanding on moments referenced or only glimpsed in the games, or simply spending more time with beloved characters in the gaps between their grand battles against overwhelming odds.



What does a typical day look like for the UNSC Spirit of Fire’s crew on the Ark, or the humans and Sangheili working together on Anvil Station? What did Noble Team look like before the fall of Reach when Thom-A293 and Rosenda-A344 were around? How does a Promethean Knight see the world? What happens when a Spartan is compromised and infected by the Flood? What are the Created up to in the wake of Cortana’s demise on Zeta Halo?



And, perhaps most importantly… what did the Master Chief and the Arbiter discuss after that legendary barbeque on Sanghelios at the end of Halo 5?



All this and more is explored within!



Included in this anthology are the following short stories from 2022-2025:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Vertical Umbrage</td><td>Winter Contention</td><td>Precipice</td><td>Duality</td></tr><tr><td>Sunrise on Sanghelios</td><td>Saturn Devouring His Son</td><td>Battle for the Blood-Moon</td><td>Trial of Reckoning</td></tr><tr><td>Hippocratica</td><td>Fireside</td><td>The Third Life</td><td>Anvil Accord</td></tr><tr><td>The Machine Breaks</td><td>Venezian Sonata</td><td>Age of Retribution</td><td>Whispers from the Pyre</td></tr><tr><td>From the Soil to the Stars</td><td>Tulpamancy</td><td>Battle for the Academy – Part 1</td><td>Battle for the Academy – Part 2</td></tr><tr><td>Moonrise Over Mombasa</td><td>‘Ghosts & Glass’ by B. Giraud</td><td>Ascension on Atropos</td><td>Fifth Canticle</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



There are also ten new short stories that will be added to this print anthology novel.



Further additional content includes all of the Halo Infinite Intel drops that spanned Season 2: Lone Wolves through Season 5: Reckoning, along with every Armory Infinitum entry from the last few years of Canon Fodder issues—micro-stories that detail a moment in time when the special weapons in Halo Infinite were used.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/>



Published by Gallery Books and our friends over at Simon & Schuster, Halo: Waypoint Chronicles – Volume One is currently scheduled for release in March 2026.



Stay tuned as there are still four more Waypoint Chronicles to be released over the next few months, concluding in October with a story celebrating the tenth anniversary of Halo 5.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Halo-Waypoint-Chronicles/Jeff-Easterling/Halo/9781668215227"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1420" src="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover.jpg" alt="Full Halo: Waypoint Chronicles - Volume One cover art illustrated by Levi Hoffmeier depicting a Halo ring, a UNSC frigate, a Warthog driving past a Forerunner beam tower, Despondent Pyre, a Promethean Knight, Ilsa Zane, a Flood-infected Spartan, Laurette Agryna, Escharum, Fahl 'Nto, and Jun-A266" class="wp-image-142581" srcset="https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover.jpg 2048w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-300x208.jpg 300w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1024x710.jpg 1024w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-768x533.jpg 768w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1536x1065.jpg 1536w, https://wpassets.halowaypoint.com/wp-content/2025/06/WC_FullCover-1568x1087.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /></a></figure>