Line #13 Literature/HaloShadowsOfReach


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hsor_fullcover_art.jpg]]
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3	''Halo: Shadows of Reach'' is the 30th ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' novel, released in 2020 and intended to bridge the gap between ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' and ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite''. It is written by Creator/TroyDenning, making this his fifth ''Halo'' novel, and the third book in the ''A Master Chief Story'' sub-series.
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5	One year after the events of ''Guardians'', much of the galaxy is under martial law enacted by the Created. Blue Team, under the command of John-117, are assigned a mission named Operation: WOLFE. They are to return to the ruins of CASTLE Base on Reach, which they have known since their early days in the Spartan-II program, and retrieve sensitive information that could turn the tide against the Created. Upon arriving on Reach however, they soon discover that an alien armada named the Banished have taken a foothold on the planet, and have their own interest in the secrets that lie within.
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7	A limited edition version of the book additionally features a standalone short story, ''Sacrifice'', which was written by Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries staff and serves as a prequel to the events of ''Shadows of Reach''. It was made publicly available [[https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/community/CANON_FODDER_Franchise/halo_sacrifice-352e807233c6432e8d0e2102c733732b.pdf in a PDF]].
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9	!!Tropes featured:
10	* ContinuityNod: [[spoiler:When Blue Team discover a container with the SWORD Base logo in Dr Halsey's lab, the Chief brings up [[VideoGame/HaloReach NOBLE Team's mission to destroy the base]], and wonders if there was something more to that mission]].
11	* EarlyBirdCameo: The book features the first appearances of a few characters and equipment that later appear in ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'', including antagonist Escharum.
12	* InternalHomage: The [[https://www.halopedia.org/images/5/55/HSOR_Cover.jpg book's cover art]] is a deliberate throwback to [[https://www.halopedia.org/images/5/53/HTFOR_original_cover_art.png the original cover]] for ''Literature/HaloTheFallOfReach''.
13	* MacGuffin: What Blue Team are sent to retrieve from CASTLE Base: [[spoiler: A trio of cryo bins and a container with the SWORD Base logo on it. The cryo bins are very heavily signposted to be Dr. Halsey's preserved cloned brains that she kept after using one to create Cortana. The contents of the container are much more of a mystery]].
14	* MythologyGag: [[spoiler:The Banished's goal on Reach is to discover a Forerunner slipspace portal that connects the planet to the Ark. It turns out that this is the same portal that was previously depicted in the ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' multiplayer map "High Noon"]].
15	* SpiritualSuccessor: As the title implies, the book is a clear throwback to ''Literature/HaloTheFallOfReach'', with both books being set on the titular planet and acting as prequels to their respective games; on that front the fact that ''VideoGame/HaloInfinite'' is being pitched as being a throwback to the narrative style of ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' is a bonus.
16	* StealthSequel:
17	** [[spoiler:To ''Literature/HaloFirstStrike''. The Forerunner crystal, a PlotDevice which was established in ''First Strike'' but [[AbortedArc promptly forgotten about]] for the next 17 years, ''finally'' gets a payoff in this book]].

Context Literature / HaloShadowsOfReach