Halo : Cryptum

One thousand years ago, the galaxy was populated by a great variety of beings.

But one species - eons beyond all others in both technology and knowledge - achieved dominance.

They ruled in peace but met opposition with quick and brutal effectiveness.

They were the Forerunners - the keepers of the Mantle, the next stage of life in the Universe's Living Time.

And then they vanished.

This is their story.

About the Author

Greg Bear is the author of more than thirty books of science fiction and fantasy, including "Hull Zero Three," "City at the End of Time," "Eon," "Moving Mars," "Mariposa," and "Quantico. "He is married to Astrid Anderson Bear and is the father of Erik and Alexandra. Awarded two Hugos and five Nebulas for his fiction, one of two authors to win a Nebula in every category, Bear has been called the "Best working writer of hard science fiction" by "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction." His stories have been collected into an omnibus volume by Tor Books. Bear has served on political and scientific action committees and has advised both government agencies and corporations on issues ranging from national security to private aerospace ventures to new media and video game development. His recent endeavors include a long-term collaboration with Neal Stephenson and the Subutai Corporation on "The Mongoliad," an interactive serial novel available on multiple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, and Kindle.