My latest novel, Halo: Bad Blood, hit shelves (virtual and physical) around the US today. It should find its way out in other parts of the world soon after.
This is my third novel for Halo, the bestselling military science-fiction series of video games from Microsoft, and it’s my second one that takes up the continuing story of the heroes from Halo 3: ODST, Eddie Buck and his pals in Alpha-Nine. I also wrote New Blood, the first of those novels. You don’t have to read that to be able to read Bad Blood, but hey, it sure couldn’t hurt.
This story picks up seconds after the end of Halo 5, and it rolls on from there. As the back cover copy says:
Just hours following their climactic battle on the Forerunner planet Genesis, the Spartans of Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris find themselves running for their lives from the malevolent machinations of the now-renegade artificial intelligence Cortana. But even as they attempt to stay one step ahead, trouble seems to find Spartan Edward Buck no matter where he turns.
A secret mission enacted by the Office of Naval Intelligence could possibly help turn the tide, and has Buck reluctantly agreeing to reform his old team, Alpha-Nine. Because if the band is really getting back together for this one, that means everybody–including the Spartan who Buck never wants to see again, the one who committed the ultimate betrayal of trust…
I want to thank all the people at Gallery/Pocket/Simon & Schuster who worked on the book and helped promote it, as well as all the folks at 343 Industries (the part of Microsoft that works on Halo). They all did an amazing job of making me look sharper and smarter than I actually am, and they were a pleasure to work with every step of the way. I need to particularly call out Ed Schlesinger, Jeremy Patenaude, and Tiffany O’Brien, who have worked with me on all three books and have always been tremendously helpful and understanding throughout.
On top of that, big thanks to Isaac Hannaford, the artist who created the covers for both New Blood and Bad Blood. They’re both deadly attractive.
The book’s already selling well it seems, to thanks also to all you wonderful readers out there, including my fellow Halo fans. It’s a privilege to be able to work in this awe-inspiring universe, and I’m thrilled to have you all along for the ride.
If you want it signed, I’m going to be at Comic-Con International and Gen Con this summer. Hope to see you there!
