[quote] she refused to do any research prior writing the novels. [/quote] This is by all accounts a myth. She does not like to have a prior understanding of a universe that she is signed on for so her own personal opinions of that universe or prior assumptions do not get in the way (if she was a fan of Gears of War before she was signed on, she wouldn't have written those novels). When she [i]does[/i] get signed on, then she does her research, Which, and I'm quoting Frankie here, resulted in "thousands" of letters getting sent back and forth asking for lore advice and other facts she would need to know. She approaches it like the journalist she's trained as. Everything she did was approved by 343i prior to her writing it. And to be honest, after several years I'm not sure where this myth came from or how it is persisting.

[url=http://test.eucantina.net/interview-with-karen-traviss]She admits to not liking to do research herself[/url] And when asked at a Halo Comic-Con panel if she had any experience with Halo she said no, and added she didn't get any before writing. I totally understand and respect that, but it just doesn't work for Halo. All aspects of the fiction are so interconnected you really need to get your hands dirty with the existing material. Not just that, but her lack of research shows. In Mortal Dictata she described Plasma Torpedoes as if they were physical missiles.

Then we have a contradiction, as Frankie was saying in a Sparkast ages back that there had been thousands of letters back and forth on the lore and facts she would need to know. I knew already she didn't have any prior experience, that's her MO, but not doing any research before writing is simply impossible. She does, for example, know what an Elite is, and what a Spartan is and other canon elements.