The Literature on Video Games

Within the article, "The Literature on Video Games", published in August of 2022, William McNelis explores the authoring of novels that are based upon video games. McNelis writes how through the use of many authors game franchises, such as Microsoft, are able to expand their game's universes and lore. The article goes in depth on how authors do this, and lists Eric Nylund as an example amongst many others. McNelis explains how Nylund is able to expand upon the original Halo game released in 2001 through his writing style. Nylund is expertly able to give the readers a feeling as to what militaristic writing would be like, and makes the book and the Halo universe as a whole seem more probable and realistic. On top of this, McNelis writes how most video game-book adaptations during the time are guides, how-to's, or just simply biographies on the design process of the game as a whole. However, he later states how authors producing books expanding the universes of games, like Eric Nylund, allow for a more expansive and diverse array of book styles. This gives readers more of a chance to immerse themselves within video game-book adaptations and makes the entire genre as a whole more approachable.

Signal To Noise - Review

Within the article, "Signal To Noise" a review, published in 1998, Greg L. Johnson offers readers an extended review of Eric Nylund's fourth novel "Signal To Noise" which was originally published in 1998. The book has many science fiction elements to it that Eric Nylund is well known for writing. Greg L. Johnson points out how the novel is essentially a "...one character novel.", meaning that readers are allowed to stay focused on one characters viewpoint, ultimately giving them a more in-depth understanding of the main character within the book "Jack Potter". Johnson then goes on to state how there are multiple other characters within the book, like "Isabel" and "Zero", who aren't able to be fleshed out as much as the main character, therefore limiting the readers understandings of those characters. If Nylund would have given more insight into these characters, it would've made the book have additional layers to it and potentially even more stories to be told. Other characters besides Jack Potter are stated as interesting by Johnson, but because of the lack of insight into their characters because of the limited viewpoint, it misses out on a lot of opportunists to give the book additional layers.

Halo: Fall of Reach - Review

Within the article "Halo: Fall of Reach" a review, published in May of 2020, Frank Ormond gives readers a brief understanding of the first Halo book to have been published by Eric Nylund and what readers would be diving into if they choose to read the book. During the review, Ormond points out how the book can be slow at times due to Nylund's overuse of militarist blabber. He also exclaims how Nylund writes the main character, "John" aka "The Master Chief", as a truly perfect character. That makes it sound like a good thing, but if the main character is being written so perfectly then it doesn't give said character more development and depth. He references the character Ender from Ender's Game, giving further proof to his argument. Ormond then also goes on to say that the book focuses too much on the lore side of the Halo universe and less on the science fiction combat that so many readers enjoy. However, Ormond says that he very much enjoyed reading the book and liked Nylund's writing style, and goes on to say he would recommend the book to fans of the franchise, however doesn't think that anyone beyond that would find it very appealing.

Mortal Coils - Review

Within the article "Mortal Coils" a review, published in January of 2009, Robert Thompson reviews one of Eric Nylund's more fantasy based novels called Mortal Coils. Thompson during his analysis of the novel starts off by saying how amazing the writing is, and goes on to say "Basically, Eric really knows what he's doing...", and states that Nylund uses prose, characterization, plotting, pacing and research in order to achieve such expertise writing. Focusing more on the characterization aspect of things, Thompson talks about how Nylund uses characterization to give the characters, like "Fiona" or "Eliot", more depth and personality. These two characters are very book smart, and yet are very shy and naive to the world around them. Thompson writes "...their fears and desires; and unique traits like the vocabulary insult game they always play...". Nylund's astounding way of writing his characters within the book it allows the reader to get a further understanding of the characters and make them seem more realistic and interesting.