Reception
Upon release, Contact Harvest debuted at #3 on The New York Times Bestseller List; it remained on the list for four more weeks. The novel also appeared on the USA Today bestseller's list at the same time. Reviewers noted that despite being an unproven writer, Staten had succeeded in crafting an excellent novel; complaints included the perceived overly descriptive prose and use of military jargon. In response to the success of the novel, Will Tuttel of Gamespy.com said that "it makes sense" because videogames are increasingly about the story. A ten-CD audiobook was later released, featuring the voices of Holter Graham and Jen Taylor; Publishers Weekly enjoyed Graham's performance, but felt Taylor's over-emphasis and cheesy dialects detracted from the tension of the novel.
Contact Harvest's success was surprising to some; National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" segment ran a story in which the interviewer asked Staten if gamers read, as well as acting surprised that Halo had a story. Several writers covering the story believed that the "All Things Considered" piece was biased against gamers and insulting. Scott Siegel of Joystiq, in particular, railed against interviewer Chana Joffe-Walt, saying that she "takes unfair jabs at video game fans".
Read more about this topic: Halo: Contact Harvest
Famous quotes containing the word reception:
“Aesthetic emotion puts man in a state favorable to the reception of erotic emotion.... Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art.”
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