Halo: The Flood

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Title The Flood

1st edition cover
Author William C. Dietz
Country United States
Language English
Series Halo
Genre(s) Science fiction
Publisher Del Rey
Released April 2003
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 352
ISBN ISBN 0-345-45921-0
Preceded by The Fall of Reach
Followed by First Strike

Halo: The Flood is a 2003 novel based on the 2001 video game Halo: Combat Evolved. It is largely an adaptation of the game's story by William C. Dietz. Although the book roughly follows the same events of the Xbox game, it also describes the experiences of people other than the Master Chief and Cortana.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The book relates the tales of:

  • Major Antonio Silva, the ODST (or Orbital Shock Drop Trooper, commonly known as Helljumpers) commander who leads the human marines to form a base on Halo. It also chronicles the trials of his second in command, Lieutenant Melissa McKay.
  • Private Wallace Jenkins's traumatic experience after being possessed by the Flood.
  • Captain Keyes's experience after landing on Halo, being captured by the Covenant, leading the assault that gets him caught by the Flood, and later being possessed by the Flood.
  • An Elite named Zuka 'Zamamee and a Grunt named Yayap, as they seek to hunt the Master Chief. This story also reveals much about the Covenant's culture.

The book also makes light jokes at occurrences in the game, such as Cortana directing the Chief to an area, failing to tell him about the massed amount of Covenant troops located there.

The story is continued in the novel Halo: First Strike.


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