The fifth Halo novel centers around the first time the humans and Covenant interact. It focuses on a farming planet called Harvest and on Avery Johnson, a loved character from the games, who is training militia on Harvest while secretly working to try to stop supposed Ini (Insurrectionist) attacks on supply ships leaving the planet. The Covenant sections focus on the prophet who will become known as Truth, a grunt missionary named Dadap, and his huragok friend Lighter Than Some (a brilliant engineer and a pacifist).

The novel provides a wealth of information on Covenant organizational structure, why the human Covenant war began, what Mendicant Bias and Forerunner technology thought of humans (Reclaimers), and the coverup that followed. The novel is fast-paced with a number of interesting character, and it does not devolve into the dualistic simplicity many stories fail to avoid-- rather, Staten treats each of his characters carefully and courteously.

The Harvest smart AI Mack and the AI Sif form two central characters, and the way they are given emotional depth, personality, and various 'machine' ways of seeing and interacting with the world is artfully done. Their story, told throughout the novel, leaves readers questioning if machines can truly feel or have souls, and what it means that humans intentionally deny them that (deeming the self-actualization of smart AIs rampancy). This leaves the field wide open for opinions regarding a fan favorite of the games, the smart AI Cortana. ( )

If you ever wondered about the back story of the tough Sergeant in the Halo universe then this book will shed some light on the good Sergeant's back story as well as the back story of first contact between the Covenant and our people. Pretty well done for what it is. Not terribly long. I read it yesterday evening after work while eating ice cream and feeling grumpy. Books are a great cure for that. =) ( )

Ryan Healy 11/2/11
English-6 Book Report Critical Review

American best-selling author Joseph Staten first book paints a picture of the most exciting and destructive moments in the history of humanity. A distant planet, a farming colony, and a mysterious chain of space-ship raids all combine into the ultimate prequel to the Halo universe, book and game series combined, HALO: Contact Harvest, is an unbelievable story of survival and final stands, rescues and fights, and the revelation of the fact that humanity is not alone.
It starts with, as tradition in the Halo world, a prologue of the main character, Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson, on a raid mission for the bitter civil war known as Insurrection. An Insurrectionist truck had parked outside a restaurant, and the driver was inside. The driver, upon Johnson’s arrival, was neutralized, but who would ever notice a little old lady in the corner? A flash of light, a blast rivaling Hiroshima, and the restaurant is a smoldering crater, all because the Staff Sergeant didn’t pull the trigger. Moving forward, Johnson is put in charge of the 2nd Platoon of the Harvest Colonial Militia, where he finds his old partner, Staff Sergeant Byrne. After a brutal couple of weeks, a new war is begun. It will be humanity’s most incredible moment, and its condemnation. Lives will be lost, battles fought, and a new danger, bigger than the Insurrection, will emerge, and geared up for non-stop slaughter. Reminds me of Splinter Cell: Checkmate by Tom Clancy!
To even start to say that this book is epic is an understatement, so I’ll just say it’s an epic of total epicness with a topping of surprise and suspense to boot. I give it, on a scale of 1 to 5, a 5 out of 5, for excellent wording, great mental picture, and the feeling of being right there. I even felt the crackle of plasma bolts flying by my ear at one point! I’ll be eager to see what the HALO series, and Joseph Staten, throws next! ( )

Book 5 in the Halo series. Each book has its own special story but they're all in the same boat.
Summary:Above the far-flung colony planet of Harvest, humanity has trespassed on holy groung -- strayed into the path of an aggressive alien empire known as the Covenant. What begins as a chance encounter between an alien privateer and human freighter catapults mankind into a struggle for its very existence. One man must lead the fight to save Harvest from total annihilation...a young Marine staff sergeant named Avery Johnson.

it was okay but doesnt have the same halo feel.