Which company published Halo: The Fall of Reach, the first Halo novel?

Del Rey Books published Halo: The Fall of Reach, the first Halo novel.

Written by Eric Nylund, the novel was published in 2001 and serves as a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved. It introduces important background about the Spartan-II program, Dr. Catherine Halsey, John-117, and the military history leading to the game’s opening.

The book was part of the franchise’s early expansion beyond video games. Rather than retelling the game’s campaign, it explains how John became a Spartan and how the UNSC prepared for its war with the Covenant. This made it a key source for readers seeking more context about Master Chief.

The publisher is sometimes confused with Microsoft, Bungie, or the game’s publisher because Halo began as a video-game property. Del Rey was the book publisher, while Eric Nylund was its author and Microsoft licensed the wider franchise.