Eric S. Nylund
Encyclopedia
Eric S. Nylund is an American
novelist and professional technical
writer
. His wife, Syne Mitchell
, is also a science fiction
writer. He holds a B.Sc.
in chemistry
from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.Sc.
in chemical physics
from the University of California, San Diego. He lives in North Bend, Washington
.
Nylund is the author of three novels set in the Halo
universe: Halo: The Fall of Reach
, Halo: First Strike
, Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
and part of Halo: Evolutions. He is employed as a writer for Microsoft Game Studios
. His duties include the development of story bibles and other such fictional assets
, the preparation of materials for marketing
, and coordination with Microsoft
localization, legal, and geopolitcal departments.
In the 1990s he was hired by Microsoft to help rewrite and edit portions of Microsoft's multi-media encyclopedia. Since then, he has written several novels based on Microsoft-published games, including the aforementioned Halo novels, and Crimson Skies
, which was written collaboratively with Eric S. Trautmann
.
Nylund has written many original novels as well, including Signal to Noise
, A Signal Shattered
and Dry Water.
He has recently finished All That Lives Must Die the sequel to Mortal Coils. Mortal Coils and All That Lives Must Die are books 1 and 2 in a proposed 5 book series. Publisher Tor Books
has yet to officially purchase the next novel What Fools These Mortals, which is currently being written by Nylund. As of June 2011, no word has been publicly given on the status of the Moral Coils series.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and professional technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. His wife, Syne Mitchell
Syne Mitchell
Syne Mitchell is a novelist in the science fiction genre. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in physics. She lives in Seattle, Washington and is married to author Eric S. Nylund. Her first science fiction novel was Murphy’s Gambit which won the Compton Crook...
, is also a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer. He holds a B.Sc.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.Sc.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in chemical physics
Chemical physics
Chemical physics is a subdiscipline of chemistry and physics that investigates physicochemical phenomena using techniques from atomic and molecular physics and condensed matter physics; it is the branch of physics that studies chemical processes from the point of view of physics...
from the University of California, San Diego. He lives in North Bend, Washington
North Bend, Washington
North Bend is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The town was made famous by David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks Since the Weyerhaeuser sawmill closed, North Bend has become an upscale bedroom community for the Eastside of Seattle, Washington, with property values more than...
.
Nylund is the author of three novels set in the Halo
Halo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
universe: Halo: The Fall of Reach
Halo: The Fall of Reach
Halo: The Fall of Reach is a 2001 science fiction novel by Eric Nylund based on the Halo series of video games and acts as a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, the first game in the series. It is set in the fictional Halo universe, taking place in the 26th century across several planets and locations...
, Halo: First Strike
Halo: First Strike
Halo: First Strike is the third novel in the Halo series and the second Halo novel written by Eric Nylund. Published in 2003, it serves as a bridge between the events of the video games Halo: Combat Evolved and its 2004 sequel Halo 2...
, Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
Halo: Ghosts of Onyx
Ghosts of Onyx is a novel by Eric Nylund, set in the universe of the Halo video game series and released on October 31, 2006. Ghosts of Onyx was the fourth Halo novel published, and Nylund's third contribution to the series...
and part of Halo: Evolutions. He is employed as a writer for Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
. His duties include the development of story bibles and other such fictional assets
Back-story
A back-story, background story, or backstory is the literary device of a narrative chronologically earlier than, and related to, a narrative of primary interest. Generally, it is the history of characters or other elements that underlie the situation existing at the main narrative's start...
, the preparation of materials for marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, and coordination with Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
localization, legal, and geopolitcal departments.
In the 1990s he was hired by Microsoft to help rewrite and edit portions of Microsoft's multi-media encyclopedia. Since then, he has written several novels based on Microsoft-published games, including the aforementioned Halo novels, and Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
, which was written collaboratively with Eric S. Trautmann
Eric Trautmann
Eric S. Trautmann is an American comic book creator. He began his career in publishing as a freelance writer in the print roleplaying game industry in 1992...
.
Nylund has written many original novels as well, including Signal to Noise
Signal to Noise (novel)
Signal to Noise is a 1998 cyberpunk novel by Eric S. Nylund. It is the first half of a duology, the second half being A Signal Shattered.-Plot summary:...
, A Signal Shattered
A Signal Shattered
A Signal Shattered is a 1999 cyberpunk novel written by Eric Nylund. It is the second half of the story began in Signal to Noise and concludes the story of Jack Potter. This novel contains many of the same themes, imagery, and technology as its prequel....
and Dry Water.
He has recently finished All That Lives Must Die the sequel to Mortal Coils. Mortal Coils and All That Lives Must Die are books 1 and 2 in a proposed 5 book series. Publisher Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
has yet to officially purchase the next novel What Fools These Mortals, which is currently being written by Nylund. As of June 2011, no word has been publicly given on the status of the Moral Coils series.
Novels
- Pawn's Dream (1995)
- A Game of Universe (1997)
- Dry Water (1997)
- Signal to NoiseSignal to Noise (novel)Signal to Noise is a 1998 cyberpunk novel by Eric S. Nylund. It is the first half of a duology, the second half being A Signal Shattered.-Plot summary:...
(1998) - A Signal ShatteredA Signal ShatteredA Signal Shattered is a 1999 cyberpunk novel written by Eric Nylund. It is the second half of the story began in Signal to Noise and concludes the story of Jack Potter. This novel contains many of the same themes, imagery, and technology as its prequel....
(1999) - Halo: The Fall of ReachHalo: The Fall of ReachHalo: The Fall of Reach is a 2001 science fiction novel by Eric Nylund based on the Halo series of video games and acts as a prequel to Halo: Combat Evolved, the first game in the series. It is set in the fictional Halo universe, taking place in the 26th century across several planets and locations...
(2001) - Crimson SkiesCrimson SkiesCrimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
(2002) - Halo: First StrikeHalo: First StrikeHalo: First Strike is the third novel in the Halo series and the second Halo novel written by Eric Nylund. Published in 2003, it serves as a bridge between the events of the video games Halo: Combat Evolved and its 2004 sequel Halo 2...
(2003) - Halo: Ghosts of OnyxHalo: Ghosts of OnyxGhosts of Onyx is a novel by Eric Nylund, set in the universe of the Halo video game series and released on October 31, 2006. Ghosts of Onyx was the fourth Halo novel published, and Nylund's third contribution to the series...
(2006) - Halo: Evolutions (2009)
- Mortal Coils (2009)
- All That Lives Must Die (2010)
- The Resisters (2011)
- What Fools These Mortals (in production)
Graphic novels
- Halo Wars: Genesis (2009)
- Battlestar Galactica: Cylon War (2009)