Halo: The Fall of Reach is a 2001 novel based on the video game Halo: Combat Evolved (2001). It is a prequel to the game, written by Eric Nylund , focusing on the Spartan II program, the creation of super soldiers from conscripted children matching certain genetics, through the use of early military training, biological enhancements, and MJOLNIR combat armor. The story also focuses on the early life of the Master Chief, whose only other name is John-117, and his growth from a very competitive boy to the commanding officer of the Spartans. The story leads up to the initial attacks of the Covenant on outlying human colonies (such as Harvest and Jericho) up to the assault and fall of Reach, the home world and training center of the Spartans. It concludes with the escape of the Pillar of Autumn towards a random location in space... and Halo. It turns out by the end of the book, John-117 is the last Spartan II alive after he sent his team down on Reach to die, but it turns out Linda is still in cryo, neither dead nor alive, on board the Pillar of Autumn.

Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo: The Flood and Halo: First Strike, two other novels, continue the story begun in The Fall of Reach.