Brothers to the End: A Chronology of Gears of War's Lore
The story of Gears of War, as seen in the games, is one of brutal, desperate conflict, a close-up view of soldiers fighting monsters in a world of stunning ruin. But the chainsaw bayonets and heroic sacrifices are only the final, bloody chapters of a much larger history.
For nearly eighty years before the Locust Horde emerged, the nations of Sera were locked in their own self-destructive conflict: the Pendulum Wars. This global struggle over Imulsion, the planet's miracle fuel, forged the hardened soldiers and morally grey politicians who would later lead the fight for humanity's survival. The novels are where this history lives. They are not just supplemental material; they are the foundation that gives the games their weight, transforming the characters from simple soldiers into the products of a long, tragic history of violence.
This comprehensive guide places every novel and game in its proper chronological order. It follows the story from the battlefields of the Pendulum Wars to the first horrifying moments of Emergence Day, and into the generational struggle against the Locust and their terrifying successors.
The Complete Gears of War Chronology
Gears of War: Ephyra RisingMichael A. Stackpole (2021)
Timeline: End of the Pendulum Wars - E-Day. This novel is a crucial bridge, detailing the final days of the 79-year-long Pendulum Wars. It focuses on a young Lieutenant Helena Stroud (mother of Kait Diaz) and Corporal Gabriel Diaz as they fight in the last major battle against the UIR. The story pivots dramatically on Emergence Day, depicting the initial shock and horror as the Locust Horde erupts from the ground, turning former enemies into desperate allies. It establishes the military context and personal relationships that precede the new war for survival.
GAME: Gears of War: JudgmentPeople Can Fly (2013)
Timeline: Weeks after E-Day (1 A.E.). Set in the immediate, chaotic aftermath of Emergence Day, this game follows a young Damon Baird and Augustus Cole. Framed as testimony during their court-martial, it showcases the early, desperate days of the Locust War where the COG's rigid rules of engagement were completely inadequate. Baird's decision to use a banned Lightmass Missile to save the city of Halvo Bay highlights the ethical compromises forced upon soldiers when faced with an overwhelming and unknown enemy.
GAME: Gears TacticsSplash Damage (2020)
Timeline: 1 Year after E-Day (1 A.E.). This strategy game follows Gabe Diaz (from *Ephyra Rising*), who is pulled out of retirement to hunt down Ukkon, the lead Locust scientist creating their most terrifying war beasts. The game is a deep dive into the origins of creatures like the Brumak and Corpser, revealing that they are not natural species but twisted creations. Gabe's success establishes his legendary status but also hardens his resolve against the COG's brutal command, leading to his eventual desertion.
Gears of War: The SlabKaren Traviss (2012)
Timeline: 10 - 14 A.E. (with flashbacks). Focused on Marcus Fenix's imprisonment in the COG's most brutal penitentiary, known as "The Slab." The present-day narrative covers the four years he spent there after being convicted of dereliction of duty for abandoning his post to save his father, Adam Fenix. Through flashbacks, the novel explores the deep-seated political rivalries and moral failings within the COG leadership, particularly with Chairman Prescott, providing crucial context for Marcus's cynicism and his unwavering loyalty to his father.
GAME: Gears of War: Ultimate EditionThe Coalition (2015)
Timeline: 14 A.E. This is the definitive version of the first game's story. Marcus Fenix is broken out of prison by Dominic Santiago to rejoin Delta Squad for a last-ditch mission: to deploy the Lightmass Bomb and wipe out the Locust leadership in their underground stronghold. The game establishes the core themes of brotherhood and sacrifice, and the "Emergence" gameplay that defined the series. This version includes a new chapter where Delta Squad battles a Brumak, seamlessly connecting it to the events of later games.
Gears of War: Aspho FieldsKaren Traviss (2008)
Timeline: Post-Gears of War 1 (with flashbacks). While the main story is set after the Lightmass Bombing, this novel is defined by its extensive flashbacks to the Pendulum Wars. It details the legendary Battle of Aspho Fields, where Marcus, Dom, and Dom's older brother, Carlos, earned their reputations. The flashbacks provide the emotional foundation for the bond between Marcus and Dom, revealing the shared trauma and loss that defines their brotherhood. The present-day narrative follows them as they confront the lingering consequences of their past actions.
Gears of War: Jacinto's RemnantKaren Traviss (2009)
Timeline: Immediately after Gears of War 2. This novel bridges the gap between the second and third games. It picks up right after the sinking of Jacinto, humanity's last bastion. The COG leadership is in shambles, and the thousands of survivors are now refugees. The story details their desperate search for a new sanctuary on the island of Vectes, while dealing with internal political strife and the discovery that the Lambent infection is not just a Locust problem but is beginning to affect the planet itself.
GAME: Gears of War 2Epic Games (2008)
Timeline: 15 A.E. With the Locust now using a Riftworm to sink entire cities, the COG launches a massive, desperate invasion of the Locust Hollow. The scale of the war is massively expanded, and the narrative introduces the Lambent as a third faction at war with both humanity and the Locust. The emotional core of the franchise is established with Dom's tragic search for his wife, Maria, culminating in one of the most heartbreaking moments in gaming and cementing the series' themes of personal loss amidst global war.
Gears of War: Anvil GateKaren Traviss (2010)
Timeline: Post-Jacinto's Remnant. As the COG struggles to establish a new home, they are forced to confront old enemies. The story brings them into conflict with remnants of the UIR (from the Pendulum Wars), who are now stranded and equally desperate. It explores the moral compromises of war as Chairman Prescott is forced to make difficult alliances, while flashbacks delve into the backstory of Bernadette Mataki, a legendary Pendulum Wars sniper, and her history with Colonel Hoffman.
Gears of War: Coalition's EndKaren Traviss (2011)
Timeline: Leads directly into Gears of War 3. This novel details the collapse of the COG as an organized government. With the Lambent pandemic spiraling out of control and their island sanctuary of Vectes no longer viable, the remaining human forces are scattered and broken. The story follows Delta Squad as they deal with the dissolution of command and the horrifying reality that the Lambent threat is now greater than the Locust, setting the desperate, fractured stage for the final game in the trilogy.
GAME: Gears of War 3Epic Games (2011)
Timeline: 17 A.E. The epic conclusion to the original trilogy. The COG is gone, and the remaining humans live as survivors aboard a fleet of salvaged ships. Marcus learns his father, Adam, is still alive and has a weapon that can destroy the Lambent and the Locust. The game is a brutal, emotional journey culminating in Dom's ultimate sacrifice and Marcus having to activate his father's Imulsion-destroying weapon, saving Sera but at a terrible, personal cost.
GAME: Gears of War 4The Coalition (2016)
Timeline: 42 A.E. Set 25 years later, a new generation lives under the sterile rule of a reformed COG led by First Minister Jinn. Marcus's son, JD Fenix, lives as an "Outsider" with his friends Kait Diaz and Del Walker. Their discovery of a new underground threat, the Swarm, pulls a grizzled Marcus back into the fight. The game explores themes of legacy and the cyclical nature of war, as the sins and secrets of the past literally re-emerge to threaten the new generation.
Gears of War: AscendanceJason M. Hough (2019)
Timeline: Between Gears 4 and Gears 5. This novel directly bridges the gap between the two games. Following the events of Gears 4, Kait is grappling with the revelation of her connection to the Swarm. The story details the group's journey to an Outsider village to seek help, only to find themselves caught in a massive Swarm attack. It explains how they get back in the COG's good graces and are formally reinstated, setting the stage for the opening of Gears 5.
GAME: Gears 5The Coalition (2019)
Timeline: 42 A.E. The narrative shifts focus to Kait Diaz as she seeks answers about her family's past and her connection to the Swarm. Her journey leads her to a secret COG lab where she learns the horrifying truth: the Locust were the mutated descendants of Imulsion-infected miners, and her grandmother was Queen Myrrah. The Swarm is the next stage of their evolution, and Kait must confront her own heritage to sever her connection to the hivemind. The game ends with a major character's fate decided by player choice, emphasizing the heavy cost of this new war.
Gears of War: BloodlinesNate Kenyon (2020)
Timeline: After Gears 5 (with flashbacks). This novel follows Kait and Del on a new mission, delving into the secrets of her Locust heritage and the true nature of the Swarm. Interwoven with this are flashbacks focusing on Gabe Diaz and his time after the events of *Gears Tactics*. The book connects the past and present, revealing more about Gabe's motivations for leaving the COG and how his legacy directly influences Kait's path forward.
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