Halo isn’t just about the standard fair of shooting aliens, it’s about reading about how aliens got shot. Sarcasm aside this isn’t only done through a Xbox controller or Keyboard and mouse, but by doing that old fashion thing many of us don’t like to do anymore, reading.

Halo has had several novels up until this point, so why not knock out another one? Posted up by Bungie’s Frankie, the creative force on this one is Joseph Staten. The interview done with Staten can be found after the break or by visiting Bungie.net.

-William “thewilleffect” Bell- 

Q: This is your first novel, but you’ve written a lot of Halo fiction before. Can you tell us about that?

A: Sure. I headed up the writing for Halo and Halo 2, and I’m currently working on Halo 3. After Halo 2 shipped, we realized there was enough work to support a whole team of Bungie writers. Over the last few years I’ve been helping with the fiction on a number of external projects including the Halo film and Ensemble Studios’ “Halo Wars.”

Q: What’s the premise of your Halo novel?

A: The title says it all: it’s the story of “first contact” between the Covenant and us. The book’s an ensemble piece – tells the story of how the war began from multiple points-of-view, human and alien. But the lead character on our side is a young UNSC Staff Sergeant named Avery Johnson.

Q: Not an unpopular guy with Halo fans.

A: That’s the idea!

Q: Without giving away any juicy details, what can you tell us about the book’s plot or other characters?

A: Well…maybe the safest way to answer is to tell what won’t be in the book. [Ed. Note: JERK!] As folks familiar with the fiction know, first contact occurred in 2525 – almost 30 years before the events of Halo. At that point the Master Chief and the rest of the Spartans were in their early teens, getting prepped for a fight against other humans (the “Insurrection” in Epsilon Eridanus). So there won’t be any Spartans in the book, but…Oh, all right. I can’t resist: in addition to Avery, there will be some major Covenant characters from Halo2. Can you guess which ones?

Q: Arbiter?

A: No…

Q: “Crazy Grunt #1”?

A: Now that’s a strong possibility!

Q: Speaking of characters from Halo2, how does it feel to go back in time? To explore characters you created in ways you can’t in a video game?

A: Honestly, this book’s been the most difficult mental challenge I’ve ever tackled. That includes anything I wrote in college or grad-school and even the Halo game scripts. But it’s also been really liberating. Games and books both have the power to immerse – to draw you deep into compelling fiction. But as rich as the Halo games’ stories are, they’re bound by pretty rigid constraints. I’ve wanted to tell Avery’s back-story for years, knowing that the tale I had in mind was probably too complex for a game to support. I’m very happy I get to write it with all depth and detail a novel allows. But I’m also humbled too.