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The X-Files: Perihelion
The Truth Is Out There…But So Are Lies.
#1 New York Times best-selling author Claudia Gray extends the story of The X-Files beyond its eleventh season in this thrilling--and romantic--original novel.
Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are still reeling from the death of their son William, but cautiously joyous about Scully’s unexpected pregnancy. Determined to raise this child together, Mulder and Scully struggle to find meaning away from the X-Files as they navigate the uncertain waters of their relationship. Then the FBI asks for their help tracking down two mysterious serial one who seems to be able to control electricity, and another who disappears from the scene of the crime in what witnesses describe as a puff of smoke. It’s enough for the Bureau to re-open the X-Files—if Mulder and Scully are willing.
They reluctantly agree, cautious about what it might mean for them and their unborn child but determined to find justice for the killers’ victims. But their return to the X-Files sparks the interest of a shadowy cabal, the heirs to the now-dead Syndicate, and Mulder and Scully soon discover that their investigation is connected to a worldwide threat on an unprecedented scale . . . one with their own future at its heart.
#1 New York Times best-selling author Claudia Gray extends the story of The X-Files beyond its eleventh season in this thrilling--and romantic--original novel.
Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are still reeling from the death of their son William, but cautiously joyous about Scully’s unexpected pregnancy. Determined to raise this child together, Mulder and Scully struggle to find meaning away from the X-Files as they navigate the uncertain waters of their relationship. Then the FBI asks for their help tracking down two mysterious serial one who seems to be able to control electricity, and another who disappears from the scene of the crime in what witnesses describe as a puff of smoke. It’s enough for the Bureau to re-open the X-Files—if Mulder and Scully are willing.
They reluctantly agree, cautious about what it might mean for them and their unborn child but determined to find justice for the killers’ victims. But their return to the X-Files sparks the interest of a shadowy cabal, the heirs to the now-dead Syndicate, and Mulder and Scully soon discover that their investigation is connected to a worldwide threat on an unprecedented scale . . . one with their own future at its heart.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2024
63 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Gray
79 books14.2k followersClaudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.
I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.
I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
August 5, 2024
This did EXACTLY what I needed it to, I'm so happy. Claudia Gray GETS IT and she fixed/started fixing everything that went so very, very badly wrong in the last few seasons of the show. She also understands how to move story forward, instead of just doing the same things over and over again. This book is also chock full of M&S actually remembering and being affected by the thirty years of story that has come before. I need all you latent X-Philes to go out and buy this so they will make more of them. Please and thank you.
CAWPILE says this is 4.5 stars, but rounding up because I feel so much relief that these characters are in safe hands again.
Pre-Review: I'm still mad at Chris Carter and still think someone should take The X-Files away from him, but I trust Claudia Gray WITH MY LIFE.
CAWPILE says this is 4.5 stars, but rounding up because I feel so much relief that these characters are in safe hands again.
Pre-Review: I'm still mad at Chris Carter and still think someone should take The X-Files away from him, but I trust Claudia Gray WITH MY LIFE.
November 6, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up as I like Gray's work and was a big "X-phile" back in the 90's. Also, this one finished a tough challenge for me. My one criticism of it was that there were so, so many references to the old characters & episodes that I was often looking things up in the wiki & that took time and pulled me out of the book. Still overall a pretty decent story with a few twists.
August 6, 2024
This book was the closure we (loyal X-Philes) deserved.
This fits so seamlessly into the show’s arc that if you’d told me that Darin Morgan or Frank Spotnitz had written it, I’d believe you. This author clearly has an understanding of the show that only a deeply, obsessively nerdy fan can possess and I LOVED it.
Right from the jump, this book nails the vibe. The beginning scene is the perfect pre-credit opening. I could almost hear the cords of the theme start as the scene concluded.
The ability to not only flawlessly write the main characters, but to invent both single characters and whole groups of characters that were clearly meant to be in the Carter-verse is unparalleled. I’ve read an embarrassing amount of fan fiction and x-files books but this one is just brilliant. I cant say enough about the masterful understanding of the characters. So many times while I was reading this I just thought “Damn, that is perfection”. Specifically the very tense scene when Mulder & Scully are speaking with a Doctor and she leaves abruptly and then Mulder makes some comment about the funnel cake she left; I could hear it. The scene concerning the Cigarette Smoking Man? I could hear it. As for the secondary characters, also brilliant. The character called the Avatar, the new informant, is female and unassuming looking which is the total opposite of her predecessors (Deep Throat, Well Manicured Man, ect) and yet it’s SPOT. ON. The characters in the Arizona setting—- definite “Arcadia” vibes. Calling the new version of The Syndicate “The Inheritors”- perfection. It’s just so. Good.
The settings were also in keeping with the original series. I could immediately picture the retreat with the white text location tag as the episode starts. The whole situation with the podcast gave me “Hollywood AD” vibes and I could vividly picture it as the podcast filming ends and the lights come up. The little details were just as perfect. There’s one scene that includes a detail about porcelain Chinese cat waiving at people at the Thai place and it immediately reminded me of the scenes in “All Things” where Scully is taking in the details and time seems to slow.
My favorite thing about this book is difficult to explain without spoilers, but I’ll say that the way both of Scully’s pregnancies were addressed was a crazy impressive go at addressing (and correcting, IMO) the ridiculous explaination for Scully’s pregnancy with William. It did so in a way that was so much more satisfying for fans than what we were given in the reboot *without* changing what was said in series right ignoring it. It confronted a terrible plot twist and saved it in the best possible way. It also addressed the pregnancy at the end of the reboot in a much more realistic way and that, too, is what fans deserved.
This book was just perfection. I so sincerely hope, as I’m sure ANY original series fan reading this will, that this gets picked up as a final installment in the Mulder/Scully saga so that fans get the closure we so desperately wanted. We didn’t need a happily ever after ending, but we needed a hopeful one and this book delivered.
This fits so seamlessly into the show’s arc that if you’d told me that Darin Morgan or Frank Spotnitz had written it, I’d believe you. This author clearly has an understanding of the show that only a deeply, obsessively nerdy fan can possess and I LOVED it.
Right from the jump, this book nails the vibe. The beginning scene is the perfect pre-credit opening. I could almost hear the cords of the theme start as the scene concluded.
The ability to not only flawlessly write the main characters, but to invent both single characters and whole groups of characters that were clearly meant to be in the Carter-verse is unparalleled. I’ve read an embarrassing amount of fan fiction and x-files books but this one is just brilliant. I cant say enough about the masterful understanding of the characters. So many times while I was reading this I just thought “Damn, that is perfection”. Specifically the very tense scene when Mulder & Scully are speaking with a Doctor and she leaves abruptly and then Mulder makes some comment about the funnel cake she left; I could hear it. The scene concerning the Cigarette Smoking Man? I could hear it. As for the secondary characters, also brilliant. The character called the Avatar, the new informant, is female and unassuming looking which is the total opposite of her predecessors (Deep Throat, Well Manicured Man, ect) and yet it’s SPOT. ON. The characters in the Arizona setting—- definite “Arcadia” vibes. Calling the new version of The Syndicate “The Inheritors”- perfection. It’s just so. Good.
The settings were also in keeping with the original series. I could immediately picture the retreat with the white text location tag as the episode starts. The whole situation with the podcast gave me “Hollywood AD” vibes and I could vividly picture it as the podcast filming ends and the lights come up. The little details were just as perfect. There’s one scene that includes a detail about porcelain Chinese cat waiving at people at the Thai place and it immediately reminded me of the scenes in “All Things” where Scully is taking in the details and time seems to slow.
My favorite thing about this book is difficult to explain without spoilers, but I’ll say that the way both of Scully’s pregnancies were addressed was a crazy impressive go at addressing (and correcting, IMO) the ridiculous explaination for Scully’s pregnancy with William. It did so in a way that was so much more satisfying for fans than what we were given in the reboot *without* changing what was said in series right ignoring it. It confronted a terrible plot twist and saved it in the best possible way. It also addressed the pregnancy at the end of the reboot in a much more realistic way and that, too, is what fans deserved.
This book was just perfection. I so sincerely hope, as I’m sure ANY original series fan reading this will, that this gets picked up as a final installment in the Mulder/Scully saga so that fans get the closure we so desperately wanted. We didn’t need a happily ever after ending, but we needed a hopeful one and this book delivered.
June 2, 2024
X-Files fans rejoice!! The X-Files is back, better and more out there than ever!! Claudia Gray’s writing is absolute perfection. She so fully understands these characters and this universe. It is such a delight to read. It’s like coming home again. Oddly enough I had just finished a full rewatch of the series when this ARC landed in my lap thanks to Netgalley. It was wonderful to finally get continuation of the story after such a crazy cliffhanger ending in season 11. This book picks up from where that season left off and Claudia Gray takes us in a bold new direction while still feeling 100 percent like the X-files you know and love. While it makes me sad that we will never get anymore episodes, after reading this I’m totally fine with giving Claudia Gray the reins and letting her write a hundred new xfiles books!
June 29, 2024
Claudia Gray reopens The X-Files with Perihelion, very clearly establishing a de facto season 12 in print that builds on the mythology of eleven televised seasons and two movies that came beforehand. Set soon after the eleventh season series finale, Perihelion quickly brings readers up to speed with the current status quo. FBI Agent Dana Scully is pregnant, presumably with conspiracy-minded Fox Mulder's child, and Walter Skinner, one of their last remaining allies within the Bureau, is left comatose in a care facility following a car accident. Mulder and Scully are brought back into the FBI's questionably good graces following an eruption of unexplained phenomena, while Gray works on giving this novelized reboot of the series a reason for existing.
Along the way, Gray draws from the usual tropes that kept series creator Chris Carter's clunky, convoluted conspiracy running. The shadowy Syndicate of the show, and its villainous front man, Cancer Man, have been replaced by their 2.0 versions in The Inheritors and Robin Vane, a merciless killer who can, at will, teleport in a burst of smoke. Mulder, meanwhile, is given a new mysterious informant in Avatar, a spunky woman with her finger firmly on the pulse of pulp culture and who may be as obsessed with geekdom as Mulder is with little green men.
Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the streets of D.C. and murdering pregnant women. At each scene is an unexplained electrical disturbance that causes lights to flash and explode, and melt cell phones. Needless to say, Scully is quickly drawn into the crosshairs of this killer's obsessions.
The A- and B-stories driving Perihelion are, unfortunately, the book's biggest weaknesses. The two cases never intersect in a satisfying way, particularly the B-story involving the killer Mulder dubs "Bright Eyes." This latter involves some very spurious revelations that never satisfactorily align with what has been presented and raise more questions than it answers. That, I suppose, is at least in keeping with typical X-Files investigations, but the loose threads Gray leaves dangling feel too inauthentic and incredulous. Some of the narrative gets bogged down a bit too much in comic book-like gimmicks, with Gray drawing parallels to our current Marvel-obsessed Hollywood machinations in a misguided effort to keep The X-Files relevant amidst the dominant pop culture of present-day America.
What she does get right, though, are the characters of Mulder and Scully themselves. With Perihelion's alternating viewpoints, we get to spend a lot of time in both agents' heads and their thoughts and words ring true to the characters we've spent many years obsessing over on television. In some segments, you can very clearly hear David Duchovny's off-screen narration, or picture Scully writing in her jounal while Gillian Anderson's voice reads off the words to us. Gray does a fine job capturing Mulder's wry sarcasm and Scully's incredulous indifference to his more oddball theories. These two characters have always been the most engaging aspect of The X-Files, keeping us glued to our screens even through less-than-spectacular investigations, and Gray understands this wholly, even if at times it feels like she's trying to shoehorn them into something that feels more like X-Men than X-Files.
It's a shame that Perihelion leans so far into comic book-like showiness given the very real-world actors and events that would allow for a deeper exploration of what makes The X-Files tick and why such government conspiracy-driven shenanigans are still relevant. We're living in an age of deep state, deep fakes, fakes news, and constant surveillance. Right-wing conspiracy theories have moved from the fringe and into the mainstream of American zeitgeist with its MAGA and QAnon whackadoo, PizzaGate, and Epstein lists. The distrust and paranoia surrounding the US government and its various actors is at an all-time high, and a clownish orange buffoon is headmaster of a parade of disinformation and outright lies. If ever there was a time for the resurgence of The X-Files, then the time is now, right now.
Unfortunately, Gray sidesteps a lot of these issues to focus on the well-worn and creaky mythology that all reads like a lot of been there, done that. It's not entirely dissatisfying, though, and Gray helps to reinvent the alien-government conspiracy in a more streamlined fashion than Carter's unnecessarily and increasingly complex mythology that continually defies resolution. It even posits an interesting and systemic reason for the continued existence of The X-Files, showing that Mulder and Scully's work isn't quite finished yet, and may never be. One thing she does get right to the heart of is the motivation of The Inheritors that parallels real-world groups of this nature, particularly in an era of climate change and rising Christofascism -- a shadowy group of rich people looking to bring about the end of the world in order to profit off civilizations collapse for little reason beyond money, money, money.
Gray also goes a long way to attempt some measure of course correction in Carter's regressive, tired old man-style plotting that caused so much uproar amongst X-philes during the eleventh broadcast season. She spends much of Perihelion walking back the continual victimization of poor, embattled Scully following the late-stage reveal that her previous pregnancy was the result of insemination from Cancer Man, who had drugged and knocked her up. It's clear that Gray intends for subsequent novels in this (presumably) newly established series to go a very different route than Carter's storyline for Scully, Mulder, and their son, William, and that's all for the better, in my estimation.
Perihelion makes for an interesting and intriguing set-up for The X-Files as a whole as this franchise moves from television to canon novelizations, but it's not without its rough patches. Gray takes some liberties with the property, introducing some flashier, showier aspects in print that would likely be beyond a television budget, but the story isn't any better for it, in my opinion. That said, I am eager to see what comes next and am hopeful we get a return to some classic Monster of the Week installments that are lighter on the, arguably weaker, mythology aspects. I, for one, welcome the return of The X-Files and still want to believe that the truth is, indeed, out there somewhere, even if it does feel farther away than ever.
Along the way, Gray draws from the usual tropes that kept series creator Chris Carter's clunky, convoluted conspiracy running. The shadowy Syndicate of the show, and its villainous front man, Cancer Man, have been replaced by their 2.0 versions in The Inheritors and Robin Vane, a merciless killer who can, at will, teleport in a burst of smoke. Mulder, meanwhile, is given a new mysterious informant in Avatar, a spunky woman with her finger firmly on the pulse of pulp culture and who may be as obsessed with geekdom as Mulder is with little green men.
Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the streets of D.C. and murdering pregnant women. At each scene is an unexplained electrical disturbance that causes lights to flash and explode, and melt cell phones. Needless to say, Scully is quickly drawn into the crosshairs of this killer's obsessions.
The A- and B-stories driving Perihelion are, unfortunately, the book's biggest weaknesses. The two cases never intersect in a satisfying way, particularly the B-story involving the killer Mulder dubs "Bright Eyes." This latter involves some very spurious revelations that never satisfactorily align with what has been presented and raise more questions than it answers. That, I suppose, is at least in keeping with typical X-Files investigations, but the loose threads Gray leaves dangling feel too inauthentic and incredulous. Some of the narrative gets bogged down a bit too much in comic book-like gimmicks, with Gray drawing parallels to our current Marvel-obsessed Hollywood machinations in a misguided effort to keep The X-Files relevant amidst the dominant pop culture of present-day America.
What she does get right, though, are the characters of Mulder and Scully themselves. With Perihelion's alternating viewpoints, we get to spend a lot of time in both agents' heads and their thoughts and words ring true to the characters we've spent many years obsessing over on television. In some segments, you can very clearly hear David Duchovny's off-screen narration, or picture Scully writing in her jounal while Gillian Anderson's voice reads off the words to us. Gray does a fine job capturing Mulder's wry sarcasm and Scully's incredulous indifference to his more oddball theories. These two characters have always been the most engaging aspect of The X-Files, keeping us glued to our screens even through less-than-spectacular investigations, and Gray understands this wholly, even if at times it feels like she's trying to shoehorn them into something that feels more like X-Men than X-Files.
It's a shame that Perihelion leans so far into comic book-like showiness given the very real-world actors and events that would allow for a deeper exploration of what makes The X-Files tick and why such government conspiracy-driven shenanigans are still relevant. We're living in an age of deep state, deep fakes, fakes news, and constant surveillance. Right-wing conspiracy theories have moved from the fringe and into the mainstream of American zeitgeist with its MAGA and QAnon whackadoo, PizzaGate, and Epstein lists. The distrust and paranoia surrounding the US government and its various actors is at an all-time high, and a clownish orange buffoon is headmaster of a parade of disinformation and outright lies. If ever there was a time for the resurgence of The X-Files, then the time is now, right now.
Unfortunately, Gray sidesteps a lot of these issues to focus on the well-worn and creaky mythology that all reads like a lot of been there, done that. It's not entirely dissatisfying, though, and Gray helps to reinvent the alien-government conspiracy in a more streamlined fashion than Carter's unnecessarily and increasingly complex mythology that continually defies resolution. It even posits an interesting and systemic reason for the continued existence of The X-Files, showing that Mulder and Scully's work isn't quite finished yet, and may never be. One thing she does get right to the heart of is the motivation of The Inheritors that parallels real-world groups of this nature, particularly in an era of climate change and rising Christofascism -- a shadowy group of rich people looking to bring about the end of the world in order to profit off civilizations collapse for little reason beyond money, money, money.
Gray also goes a long way to attempt some measure of course correction in Carter's regressive, tired old man-style plotting that caused so much uproar amongst X-philes during the eleventh broadcast season. She spends much of Perihelion walking back the continual victimization of poor, embattled Scully following the late-stage reveal that her previous pregnancy was the result of insemination from Cancer Man, who had drugged and knocked her up. It's clear that Gray intends for subsequent novels in this (presumably) newly established series to go a very different route than Carter's storyline for Scully, Mulder, and their son, William, and that's all for the better, in my estimation.
Perihelion makes for an interesting and intriguing set-up for The X-Files as a whole as this franchise moves from television to canon novelizations, but it's not without its rough patches. Gray takes some liberties with the property, introducing some flashier, showier aspects in print that would likely be beyond a television budget, but the story isn't any better for it, in my opinion. That said, I am eager to see what comes next and am hopeful we get a return to some classic Monster of the Week installments that are lighter on the, arguably weaker, mythology aspects. I, for one, welcome the return of The X-Files and still want to believe that the truth is, indeed, out there somewhere, even if it does feel farther away than ever.
August 5, 2024
Once upon a time I came up on a small tv show called the X files and television as it was those days you had to stay in every week to catch up on your show. Which if you work no 9 to 5 job is going to be impossible. So when I finaly bought some boxsets I discovered a lot of episodes I had never seen and discovered the larger story line much better. I must admit I enjoyed the monster of the week episodes a lot more than the conspiracy at large.
So when we get to this book I discover that the conspiracy has taken its toll and in this New book also takes a new direction.
Scully and Mulder are now in their fifties and yet Scully is pregnant and both have to adjust their lives again. And then the FBI comes knocking again and wants to reopen the X Files again. It turns out there have been quite a lot of new case that need the attention of both agents.
This book feels less of a story of the week and more of the bezinning of a new arc, which by all means is welcome.
Scully and Mulder are from the beginning of the internet and now they are back in a new era full of crazy. And it is a comfort that they still do what they do best.
Lets hope Miss Gray will continue the series or other writers will add to it, I expect no more movies or series on the telly.
A nice book by a fan for other fans.
So when we get to this book I discover that the conspiracy has taken its toll and in this New book also takes a new direction.
Scully and Mulder are now in their fifties and yet Scully is pregnant and both have to adjust their lives again. And then the FBI comes knocking again and wants to reopen the X Files again. It turns out there have been quite a lot of new case that need the attention of both agents.
This book feels less of a story of the week and more of the bezinning of a new arc, which by all means is welcome.
Scully and Mulder are from the beginning of the internet and now they are back in a new era full of crazy. And it is a comfort that they still do what they do best.
Lets hope Miss Gray will continue the series or other writers will add to it, I expect no more movies or series on the telly.
A nice book by a fan for other fans.
July 29, 2024
To say I loved The X-Files when it originally aired is a bit of an understatement. The show consumed me for years as I breathlessly waited for the next installment. Naturally, I read many of the tie-in novels associated with the show over the years, including the early ones trying to cash in on the show's rise to popularity which may or may not have been all that great. Still, at least they scratched a certain itch.
One thing many novels associated with the show had in common was they rarely tied into the ongoing central mythology of the show. Part of this was probably that the books didn't want to offer an explanation that was contradicted by the next sweeps week mythology two-parter and the other is that Chris Carter and company were making the mythology up as they went along.
Finally, after thirty years of waiting, Claudia Gray has delivered a novel that feels like it's channeling the best parts of the television show to the printed page with The X-Files: Perihelion. Set after the revelations of the last aired season of the show, Gray is left to pick up the pieces that Carter left of the show and possibly spin the show onto the printed page. As Mulder and Scully try to come to grips with the revelations put forth in season eleven, they find themselves at a crossroads both professionally and personally.
The FBI has a series of cases that need an office like the one Mulder and Scully inhabited for so many years, leading to the X-Files being opened (yet again) and the duo reinstated. Meanwhile, the two are juggling if they're together romantically and the news that Scully is expecting a baby and just what that could mean for them. Add in a series of apparent attacks on pregnant women and the remnants of the Syndicate trying to get the band together and you've got a lot of the threads that made the show must-see -- well, at least for this fan.
In her epilogue, Gray notes that The X-Files was the first series with a huge, vocal, passionate, and involved online fandom and that she was part of it back in the day. Her love of the characters of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully comes across page after page as she creates dialogue and reactions that feel like they're coming from the mouths of David Duchonvy and Gillian Anderson. There are some great character beats here as both struggle to figure out if they're going to make it as a couple this time and if going back to the X-Files again is the best thing for them personally and professionally.
Where the book doesn't exactly knock it out of the park is the cases Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate. Scully notices a pattern of pregnant women near her being attacked and the reason behind was something I worked out a few chapters before our heroes did, thus rendering some of the suspense and drama moot. And watching as a new group of rogues tries to fan the flames of the embers of the Syndicate is hit or miss. At first, I was all in, but later developments left me scratching my head and wondering about a few things.
I don't know the plans for this novel -- or beyond it. Is this the first of a series of books designed to expand the characters and story beyond the mess Carter left in the final episodes? If it is, I can't say that I wouldn't pick up the next installment, especially if Gray is at the helm.
What Perihelion does best is it takes me back to those Friday and Sunday evenings in the 90s when this show was one of the best things on TV and I had faith the writing team knew where this whole mythology thread was headed. Gray's work in capturing the spirit of the characters is top notch and the novel left me satisfied in a way none of the previous tie-in novels for this series did.
I will warn readers that a journey through the mythology episodes of seasons 10 and 11 may be useful here as a refresher course before diving in. Gray does a great job of reminding readers of story beats and character moments, but I found myself almost wanting to dust off the DVDs of season 11 and dive back in. Gray makes some great lemonade with the lemons Chris Carter gave us to end season 11. That alone makes this book worth it.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One thing many novels associated with the show had in common was they rarely tied into the ongoing central mythology of the show. Part of this was probably that the books didn't want to offer an explanation that was contradicted by the next sweeps week mythology two-parter and the other is that Chris Carter and company were making the mythology up as they went along.
Finally, after thirty years of waiting, Claudia Gray has delivered a novel that feels like it's channeling the best parts of the television show to the printed page with The X-Files: Perihelion. Set after the revelations of the last aired season of the show, Gray is left to pick up the pieces that Carter left of the show and possibly spin the show onto the printed page. As Mulder and Scully try to come to grips with the revelations put forth in season eleven, they find themselves at a crossroads both professionally and personally.
The FBI has a series of cases that need an office like the one Mulder and Scully inhabited for so many years, leading to the X-Files being opened (yet again) and the duo reinstated. Meanwhile, the two are juggling if they're together romantically and the news that Scully is expecting a baby and just what that could mean for them. Add in a series of apparent attacks on pregnant women and the remnants of the Syndicate trying to get the band together and you've got a lot of the threads that made the show must-see -- well, at least for this fan.
In her epilogue, Gray notes that The X-Files was the first series with a huge, vocal, passionate, and involved online fandom and that she was part of it back in the day. Her love of the characters of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully comes across page after page as she creates dialogue and reactions that feel like they're coming from the mouths of David Duchonvy and Gillian Anderson. There are some great character beats here as both struggle to figure out if they're going to make it as a couple this time and if going back to the X-Files again is the best thing for them personally and professionally.
Where the book doesn't exactly knock it out of the park is the cases Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate. Scully notices a pattern of pregnant women near her being attacked and the reason behind was something I worked out a few chapters before our heroes did, thus rendering some of the suspense and drama moot. And watching as a new group of rogues tries to fan the flames of the embers of the Syndicate is hit or miss. At first, I was all in, but later developments left me scratching my head and wondering about a few things.
I don't know the plans for this novel -- or beyond it. Is this the first of a series of books designed to expand the characters and story beyond the mess Carter left in the final episodes? If it is, I can't say that I wouldn't pick up the next installment, especially if Gray is at the helm.
What Perihelion does best is it takes me back to those Friday and Sunday evenings in the 90s when this show was one of the best things on TV and I had faith the writing team knew where this whole mythology thread was headed. Gray's work in capturing the spirit of the characters is top notch and the novel left me satisfied in a way none of the previous tie-in novels for this series did.
I will warn readers that a journey through the mythology episodes of seasons 10 and 11 may be useful here as a refresher course before diving in. Gray does a great job of reminding readers of story beats and character moments, but I found myself almost wanting to dust off the DVDs of season 11 and dive back in. Gray makes some great lemonade with the lemons Chris Carter gave us to end season 11. That alone makes this book worth it.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2024
Just like the TV Show
As a long-time fan of the Television Series, I’ve enjoyed the movies that were produced along with the series. This is the first book I’ve read that features the quirky, and now more than ever relevant show.
The story picks up right after the last episode of the series “My Struggle IV” which aired in March 2018. Claudia Gray has written the characters, feeling, and tension of the original series as if she were Chris Carter. As I was reading, I could see the writing play out in my mind. The plot and pacing were excellent, the threads of the last episode picked up carefully, and the characters are spot on. I am hoping that if Chris Carter and company don’t decide to follow up Season 11, then I hope that Claudia Gray picks up the still open threads and continues to weave them into more books. As other reviewers have said, this book is near perfect, and is true to the original series.
I received and ARC copy of the book from the Publisher, Hyperion Avenue through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
As a long-time fan of the Television Series, I’ve enjoyed the movies that were produced along with the series. This is the first book I’ve read that features the quirky, and now more than ever relevant show.
The story picks up right after the last episode of the series “My Struggle IV” which aired in March 2018. Claudia Gray has written the characters, feeling, and tension of the original series as if she were Chris Carter. As I was reading, I could see the writing play out in my mind. The plot and pacing were excellent, the threads of the last episode picked up carefully, and the characters are spot on. I am hoping that if Chris Carter and company don’t decide to follow up Season 11, then I hope that Claudia Gray picks up the still open threads and continues to weave them into more books. As other reviewers have said, this book is near perfect, and is true to the original series.
I received and ARC copy of the book from the Publisher, Hyperion Avenue through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
August 15, 2024
The X-Files has been a franchise that’s been a staple in my life for as long as I can recall. I’m pretty sure my dad watched it on cable in the early 2000s when I was an impressionable toddler, it was my viewing of choice in high school when I was sick with the flu, and it’s a show I return to time and time again for comfort in my 20s. It’s not an understatement to say that characters like Danna Scully shaped me into the human I am today between my love of horror and my career choice. All of this to say, picking up a book that revisits some of my favorite characters after all this time is a special experience, especially in Claudia Gray’s hands.
The X-Files: Perihelion picks up in the aftermath of season 11’s finale, My Struggle IV. Regardless of how you feel about Chris Carter’s direction of the show, one thing that’s certainly true is the level of care and attention Gray implements in this novel. So much of the story told in Perihelion made sense logically and emotionally for where Mulder and Scully are now. More importantly, there’s a great amount of time spent evaluating the humanness of these characters, examining the emotional toll working the X-Files has had on the duo. Much of both Scully and Mulder’s story remains untouched given the amount of action that we’ve seen on our screens. But this format of words on a page feels like the perfect place to sit with the loss these characters have experienced. It was truly a pleasure to be able to read their story in this way, a way that felt nothing but organic. And make no mistake, the places Gray’s plot takes Scully and Mulder are interesting and feel like a natural progression of events following the truth of the Cancer Man’s plans.
I guess in a way this is my love letter to this franchise, these characters. I can’t praise Claudia Gray enough for her writing and it’s my sincere hope that these novels continue. 30 years later, the truth is still out there and I’m still invested in finding it.
The X-Files: Perihelion picks up in the aftermath of season 11’s finale, My Struggle IV. Regardless of how you feel about Chris Carter’s direction of the show, one thing that’s certainly true is the level of care and attention Gray implements in this novel. So much of the story told in Perihelion made sense logically and emotionally for where Mulder and Scully are now. More importantly, there’s a great amount of time spent evaluating the humanness of these characters, examining the emotional toll working the X-Files has had on the duo. Much of both Scully and Mulder’s story remains untouched given the amount of action that we’ve seen on our screens. But this format of words on a page feels like the perfect place to sit with the loss these characters have experienced. It was truly a pleasure to be able to read their story in this way, a way that felt nothing but organic. And make no mistake, the places Gray’s plot takes Scully and Mulder are interesting and feel like a natural progression of events following the truth of the Cancer Man’s plans.
I guess in a way this is my love letter to this franchise, these characters. I can’t praise Claudia Gray enough for her writing and it’s my sincere hope that these novels continue. 30 years later, the truth is still out there and I’m still invested in finding it.
July 8, 2024
I’ll start with a confession:
I had no idea there were X Files books lol. I am also about a million years away from the television series. I mean, I loved it. And then it ended and I didn’t really think of it again.
I was happy to say that the author’s writing put me squarely back into a once-favorite show. Mulder and Scully are very Mulder and Scully and there are soooo many things that have happened since the show. I was fascinated.
The plot itself was a good one, though it did take me about 25% of the book to be fully invested, and there’s a lot of heart and sadness in the book.
I really enjoyed it and, yes, I’d like another!
• ARC via Publisher
I had no idea there were X Files books lol. I am also about a million years away from the television series. I mean, I loved it. And then it ended and I didn’t really think of it again.
I was happy to say that the author’s writing put me squarely back into a once-favorite show. Mulder and Scully are very Mulder and Scully and there are soooo many things that have happened since the show. I was fascinated.
The plot itself was a good one, though it did take me about 25% of the book to be fully invested, and there’s a lot of heart and sadness in the book.
I really enjoyed it and, yes, I’d like another!
• ARC via Publisher
November 5, 2024
mulder and Scully SHOWER SEX???? claudia grey you are a genius
August 3, 2024
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!!!
i laughed because some things were so unserious but it was really good. Well i don't know if really good fits because i rolled my eyes so many times at things and i still have a lot of questions.
Did i read fanfics much better than this ? yes of course, but i really had an amazing time and i'm happy it's good if you focus on vibes and not read the critics.
mulder and scully needed these talks but they'll need more, not everything can be done in 3 days. also they're expecting a girl obviously 🥹🥹 they deserve so much, and more than everything they deserve peace and to be together.
dana katherine scully i love you with everything i have in my body. i love you forever.
no one gets mulder and scully like i do and i will argue critics because it's so in character of them to act like this.
i laughed because some things were so unserious but it was really good. Well i don't know if really good fits because i rolled my eyes so many times at things and i still have a lot of questions.
Did i read fanfics much better than this ? yes of course, but i really had an amazing time and i'm happy it's good if you focus on vibes and not read the critics.
mulder and scully needed these talks but they'll need more, not everything can be done in 3 days. also they're expecting a girl obviously 🥹🥹 they deserve so much, and more than everything they deserve peace and to be together.
dana katherine scully i love you with everything i have in my body. i love you forever.
no one gets mulder and scully like i do and i will argue critics because it's so in character of them to act like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2025
I did not realize how much I missed Mulder and Scully until I came across this book. The author is an X-Phile herself, and she gets the characters and vibe just right (the creator of the series was also involved in the project). There is a suitable amount of sweet nostalgia, as the characters reflect on their shared history, but the story also moves them forward. In the current context, it's good to read about conspiracies which are clearly within the boundaries of fiction. It was good to be back in this universe for a brief while and the ending was open, but I know better than to wish for more, after some disappointing seasons of the show. This book was just perfect on its own.
May 31, 2024
The X-Files: Perihelion, was written by bestselling author, Claudia Gray.
SUMMARY
Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are back! The FBI has called upon the two seasoned agents, who were previously suspended from the bureau. The duo have been asked to investigate an unusual murder by the hands of a Washington, DC serial killer; with the latest crime scene appearing to have ties to the supernatural. This new X-File case appeals to Scully, as the serial killer's victims are pregnant women; like herself.
Mulder and Scully still mourn the loss of their son, William. Yet, a rekindling of their relationship is sparked by the mysterious pregnancy of Scully. The couple dust off their guns and badges to report back to the FBI headquarters to find new X-Files piled high on their desks.
The Inheritors, a mysterious group lingering in the shadows have intentions of altering the course of humanity! The members are cautions of Mulder and Scully and keep a watchful eye on the duo. As Dana Scully's pregnancy progresses and through her and Mulder's investigation, the massive threat to humanity is revealed.
This novel is a story of self discovery in a world of constant change, violence, and mystery!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I must clarify, before getting into the review, that my knowledge of all that happens in the X-Files show is limited. I am a new fan of the series and have only watched the first two seasons as of this book review. However, I have read just about all of the X-Files novels. It's exciting to get new material in the world of the X-Files!
This story is a continuation of the X-Files timeline, so if you are not familiar with the material that came before this novel, such as the later seasons of the show, you may be scratching your head many times trying to piece together what all had happened leading up to this novel. I would have appreciated the story more if there was a dedicated chapter or even a prologue that summarized the history that ties into this story. Previous books were simple X-Files adventures that didn't require foreknowledge that linked to the show to understand what was happening or who characters were.
It's easy to see that the author has a genuine attachment to the characters and source material. There are many moments where the story feels like an episode of the show, which is fantastic. However, there are also many moments that feel completely disjointed, as though the material was written by someone else entirely. The mention of William and the emotional state of Dana and Fox regarding him, is repeated so many times it just becomes filler, to expand the word count.
Yet, when it comes to the meat of the story, the investigations and the explorations of the unexplained, Claudia Gray did a fantastic job. Chunks of the book feel like an older episode that really grabbed my attention. I could have done without the unnecessary pop culture references to Star Wars and a few other franchises; it went too far, giving someone the name, Starwarski. Those were the moments that brought in the cheese factor... so cringey at times.
I did enjoy this book overall, but there were many times I questioned the decisions made in the direction of the story. My experience with this book would jump from love it to hate it to like it. I am curious to know how some of the content/writing style could be so great, while some of it seemed to have been scrapped from the bottom of a dumpster. In the end though, there were more pros than cons.
RATING
I will give The X-Files: Perihelion a B.
SUMMARY
Dana Scully and Fox Mulder are back! The FBI has called upon the two seasoned agents, who were previously suspended from the bureau. The duo have been asked to investigate an unusual murder by the hands of a Washington, DC serial killer; with the latest crime scene appearing to have ties to the supernatural. This new X-File case appeals to Scully, as the serial killer's victims are pregnant women; like herself.
Mulder and Scully still mourn the loss of their son, William. Yet, a rekindling of their relationship is sparked by the mysterious pregnancy of Scully. The couple dust off their guns and badges to report back to the FBI headquarters to find new X-Files piled high on their desks.
The Inheritors, a mysterious group lingering in the shadows have intentions of altering the course of humanity! The members are cautions of Mulder and Scully and keep a watchful eye on the duo. As Dana Scully's pregnancy progresses and through her and Mulder's investigation, the massive threat to humanity is revealed.
This novel is a story of self discovery in a world of constant change, violence, and mystery!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I must clarify, before getting into the review, that my knowledge of all that happens in the X-Files show is limited. I am a new fan of the series and have only watched the first two seasons as of this book review. However, I have read just about all of the X-Files novels. It's exciting to get new material in the world of the X-Files!
This story is a continuation of the X-Files timeline, so if you are not familiar with the material that came before this novel, such as the later seasons of the show, you may be scratching your head many times trying to piece together what all had happened leading up to this novel. I would have appreciated the story more if there was a dedicated chapter or even a prologue that summarized the history that ties into this story. Previous books were simple X-Files adventures that didn't require foreknowledge that linked to the show to understand what was happening or who characters were.
It's easy to see that the author has a genuine attachment to the characters and source material. There are many moments where the story feels like an episode of the show, which is fantastic. However, there are also many moments that feel completely disjointed, as though the material was written by someone else entirely. The mention of William and the emotional state of Dana and Fox regarding him, is repeated so many times it just becomes filler, to expand the word count.
Yet, when it comes to the meat of the story, the investigations and the explorations of the unexplained, Claudia Gray did a fantastic job. Chunks of the book feel like an older episode that really grabbed my attention. I could have done without the unnecessary pop culture references to Star Wars and a few other franchises; it went too far, giving someone the name, Starwarski. Those were the moments that brought in the cheese factor... so cringey at times.
I did enjoy this book overall, but there were many times I questioned the decisions made in the direction of the story. My experience with this book would jump from love it to hate it to like it. I am curious to know how some of the content/writing style could be so great, while some of it seemed to have been scrapped from the bottom of a dumpster. In the end though, there were more pros than cons.
RATING
I will give The X-Files: Perihelion a B.
June 14, 2024
Probably more of a 4⭐️ or 4.5⭐️ book but I enjoyed revisiting Mulder and Scully so much that I upped my rating to 5. This author really “gets” the main characters. Their thoughts and verbal communication is spot on to the TV series. Their relationship reflects all of the seasons and troubles they experienced. I love how the novel moves in the same fashion as the scripts used to—multiple things going on at once; the main plot sort of out there but dealt with as if it is real; personal tension between Fox and Dana is still present; the ending sort of solves the problem but not really. This was a fun reminiscence of a couple of memorable characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Ave for the ARC to read and review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Ave for the ARC to read and review.
August 2, 2024
Mulder and Scully are preparing for the birth of their child. After the death of their son, they never thought they’d get another chance to be parents. They are cautious and taking no chances. They are closer than ever and will make this work. Then, the FBI calls. Once again, they need the help of Mulder and Scully. They want to re-open the X-Files.
There are two serial killers under mysterious circumstances. Mulder and Scully aren’t sure they want to be part of this especially with a baby on the way. However, they agree to bring justice for the victims. They are stunned to find this case is even bigger than they thought.
As a fan of the original X-Files TV series, I was happy to see this book. It’s obvious the author knows these characters. She wrote them keeping true to their original characters. I could easily picture them in my mind saying these words.
The story picks up where the TV series left off. It’s been so long since I watched the show that I needed a refresher course, and the author provided the back story throughout the book. I was easily reminded of past events.
I do believe X-Files fans will enjoy this the most, but paranormal and science fiction fans will like it too. Still, I do believe it’s more for fans of the show. It gives us a chance to see “what happened next”. Kind of a love letter to the fans.
The ending was a powerful one and I can easily see this continuing on with a sequel. There’s certainly enough material for one or maybe even more. Once I finished the book, I didn’t want to let go of the characters. I may need to make time for a re-watch of the TV series. The author did well in continuing the X-Files franchise. I know I’m ready for more.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
There are two serial killers under mysterious circumstances. Mulder and Scully aren’t sure they want to be part of this especially with a baby on the way. However, they agree to bring justice for the victims. They are stunned to find this case is even bigger than they thought.
As a fan of the original X-Files TV series, I was happy to see this book. It’s obvious the author knows these characters. She wrote them keeping true to their original characters. I could easily picture them in my mind saying these words.
The story picks up where the TV series left off. It’s been so long since I watched the show that I needed a refresher course, and the author provided the back story throughout the book. I was easily reminded of past events.
I do believe X-Files fans will enjoy this the most, but paranormal and science fiction fans will like it too. Still, I do believe it’s more for fans of the show. It gives us a chance to see “what happened next”. Kind of a love letter to the fans.
The ending was a powerful one and I can easily see this continuing on with a sequel. There’s certainly enough material for one or maybe even more. Once I finished the book, I didn’t want to let go of the characters. I may need to make time for a re-watch of the TV series. The author did well in continuing the X-Files franchise. I know I’m ready for more.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 22, 2024
When I learned that a new X-Files novel had just been released, I wasn‘t sure at first whether to read it or not. I had L-O-V-E-D the show almost from day one and 30 years later I still occasionally daydream about Scully and Mulder. Well, mostly Scully, to be honest. This obsession was owed to, well, Scully, and the monster-of-the-week episodes and MSR. The mythology arc had lost my interest pretty early on. I also indulged in some fanfics back in the day.
Still I thought that it might be best to let the show rest. The last few seasons were…awkward maybe?, the second movie was utter rubbish. It could only get worse, right? Yet, I couldn‘t resist the temptation and quickly purchased the audiobook. BEST DECISION OF 2024! Well, literary-wise.
Skeptical as I was, it didn‘t take long for me to completely fall in love all over again. Claudia Gray has written a book that long-suffering X-Files fans deserve. THANK YOU, Claudia Gray! For cleaning up some of the mess of the last few seasons. For bringing sense into some of the non-sensical developments of the mythology arc. For writing Mulder and Scully faithfully, enjoyably and lovingly. For giving us another entertaining surprise episode of this great show. For allowing us to hope that there may be more to come (and, please, make it movie-length!).
Shame on me for doubting the author before I even read the book. If Claudia Gray writes another X-Files novel, you can be sure that I‘ll read it. To encourage her and her publishers to do so, may I suggest that you all go out and buy a copy? I hope you´ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Btw, the audiobook was superbly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Even though these are not the voices of Anderson and Duchovny, it was easy to hear Scully and Mulder in the narration.
Still I thought that it might be best to let the show rest. The last few seasons were…awkward maybe?, the second movie was utter rubbish. It could only get worse, right? Yet, I couldn‘t resist the temptation and quickly purchased the audiobook. BEST DECISION OF 2024! Well, literary-wise.
Skeptical as I was, it didn‘t take long for me to completely fall in love all over again. Claudia Gray has written a book that long-suffering X-Files fans deserve. THANK YOU, Claudia Gray! For cleaning up some of the mess of the last few seasons. For bringing sense into some of the non-sensical developments of the mythology arc. For writing Mulder and Scully faithfully, enjoyably and lovingly. For giving us another entertaining surprise episode of this great show. For allowing us to hope that there may be more to come (and, please, make it movie-length!).
Shame on me for doubting the author before I even read the book. If Claudia Gray writes another X-Files novel, you can be sure that I‘ll read it. To encourage her and her publishers to do so, may I suggest that you all go out and buy a copy? I hope you´ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Btw, the audiobook was superbly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Even though these are not the voices of Anderson and Duchovny, it was easy to hear Scully and Mulder in the narration.
August 5, 2024
This probably isn’t quite a five star book, but it was so satisfying and brought me so much joy and I want a lot more of them, so five stars is it. Claudia (first pen name basis because we’re the best friends now), really cleaned up a lot of the mess Chris Carter made in both the revival and the final seasons of the show’s initial run. This stays so true to the characters and the show, but gives a new direction that will keep it fresh instead of rehashing old storylines. THANK YOU!
July 28, 2024
Perihelion picks up right after the end of The X-Files Season 11, so I recommend catching up with the show before you pick this up. It follows Mulder and Scully as they return to the X-Files to search for a serial killer who channels electricity and targets pregnant women. A larger plot involving those left behind after the fall of the Syndicate is also woven into the story.
I truly felt like I was watching an episode of The X-Files as I was reading this. In the author’s acknowledgment, Gray mentions that she is a long-time fan of the show, which definitely came through in her writing. She captured the spirit of the show and the complexity of the characters. Mulder and Scully are expecting a child together, so Scully’s pregnancy is a focus of concern throughout the story – because of her overall history, the circumstances surrounding William, and the nature of the serial killer they are pursuing. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Mulder and Scully grow even stronger. The small nods to prior episodes and characters were also fun to come across. I’ve been watching The X-Files since the early seasons and have rewatched the entire series multiple times. This book was a solid addition to the existing series, and I hope Gray gets to write more X-Files stories in the future.
Many thanks to author Claudia Gray, Hyperion Avenue, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of The X-Files: Perihelion in exchange for my review.
The truth is out there.
I truly felt like I was watching an episode of The X-Files as I was reading this. In the author’s acknowledgment, Gray mentions that she is a long-time fan of the show, which definitely came through in her writing. She captured the spirit of the show and the complexity of the characters. Mulder and Scully are expecting a child together, so Scully’s pregnancy is a focus of concern throughout the story – because of her overall history, the circumstances surrounding William, and the nature of the serial killer they are pursuing. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Mulder and Scully grow even stronger. The small nods to prior episodes and characters were also fun to come across. I’ve been watching The X-Files since the early seasons and have rewatched the entire series multiple times. This book was a solid addition to the existing series, and I hope Gray gets to write more X-Files stories in the future.
Many thanks to author Claudia Gray, Hyperion Avenue, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of The X-Files: Perihelion in exchange for my review.
The truth is out there.
August 4, 2024
This book single handedly fixed every piece of Chris Carter’s horrible writing in one swoop. I enjoyed every single minute of this and I can’t begin to describe how it feels to have the weight of the horrible finale lifted off this fandom’s shoulders. This is the canon fix it fic we needed so badly and god did I love it.
July 31, 2024
For true Philes, this book will erase the evil taste left behind by the last of the final run of episodes. Written by an author with an emotional investment in XF (read her author’s note!), plot and character ring true. I do hope there are more.
November 4, 2024
Very, very good trash.
October 17, 2024
Ok teaaaaa
September 17, 2024
(this review comes across as much angrier then i really am. i just didn’t like this addition to the x files world, but i don’t really agree with any additions to the x files world. it’s really not that deep. despite the fact that this is the longest review i’ve ever written.)
okay, in all fairness was i’m a firm believer that they should have let the x files end with season 9. there is literally no need for the revivals or any follow up media in my opinion so i’ll start with that. that is an opinion i hold and i went into this book having already formed that opinion. however, this really, really read like (mediocre) fanfic and im actually shocked it made it through multiple rounds of edits and into publication. everyone felt like shells or caricatures of the character they are supposed to be. i liked some of the closure it provided but overall we just didn’t need it. idk why we must continue to reopen old wounds and hurt these two poor people over and over again. also, there were so many things that needed to be addressed but couldn’t be for whatever reason, such as what happened in the years they spent apart or where their relationship stands and like in general the context was lacking. maybe kts for legal reasons, like such big decisions couldn’t be made in a book that so many people don’t even know about. sooooooo much was attempted to be addressed and yet so little was actually explained. at times it almost felt like an snl skit, such as the motel room scene at the end when mulder says something like “why didn’t we do this sooner” like that’s crazy. i have actually read that exact line in fanfics before im so serious.
alsoooo the dynamic of the two of them living together, but having separate rooms, but having a baby together, but not actually being in a relationship is very on brand, i just think it felt messily constructed in book format without gillian and david who know these two like the backs of their hands. like yes this is the duo tho we know for sure slept together multiple times all while completely denying feelings and working together as usually but also being entirely in love w one another. they are terrible at this stuff. but i don’t know that this dynamic was represented very well in this format / writing combo.
i also am aware that this is not an independently written story and that the author was not just making all this up, but that is even more shocking to me - that multiple people in positions of influence agreed to make this. please just put out a press release that they are happy and okay and never going to be hurt again and let’s all move on.
things i did like: i liked how this was at its core just another monster of the week episode. i liked the addition of their personal entries, i thought those were by far the best written parts about it. i liked the acknowledgment of scullys trauma specifically relating to children and her desire to be a mother. i liked the conversations and dialogue surrounding why they can’t ever just be at peace with one another and why there’s always a fallout and what leads them to that place time and time again. i liked that there were a ton of deeper conversations happening that don’t always happen in the x files fan base but are super important to have, i jsut dont think they were all handled correctly.
if you disagree that the show should have ended before the revivals or maybe are a more casual fan who would like to play with ideas about what happens after season 10, or doesn’t take it so seriously, then this is objectively a fun quick read. actually, it’s not super fun it’s very high stress but maybe if this show isn’t like the biggest deal in the world to you, it may be enjoyable. and i don’t mean that in a condescending way i mean that seriously. this may be a good read for people who are able to better separate themselves from media.
okay, in all fairness was i’m a firm believer that they should have let the x files end with season 9. there is literally no need for the revivals or any follow up media in my opinion so i’ll start with that. that is an opinion i hold and i went into this book having already formed that opinion. however, this really, really read like (mediocre) fanfic and im actually shocked it made it through multiple rounds of edits and into publication. everyone felt like shells or caricatures of the character they are supposed to be. i liked some of the closure it provided but overall we just didn’t need it. idk why we must continue to reopen old wounds and hurt these two poor people over and over again. also, there were so many things that needed to be addressed but couldn’t be for whatever reason, such as what happened in the years they spent apart or where their relationship stands and like in general the context was lacking. maybe kts for legal reasons, like such big decisions couldn’t be made in a book that so many people don’t even know about. sooooooo much was attempted to be addressed and yet so little was actually explained. at times it almost felt like an snl skit, such as the motel room scene at the end when mulder says something like “why didn’t we do this sooner” like that’s crazy. i have actually read that exact line in fanfics before im so serious.
alsoooo the dynamic of the two of them living together, but having separate rooms, but having a baby together, but not actually being in a relationship is very on brand, i just think it felt messily constructed in book format without gillian and david who know these two like the backs of their hands. like yes this is the duo tho we know for sure slept together multiple times all while completely denying feelings and working together as usually but also being entirely in love w one another. they are terrible at this stuff. but i don’t know that this dynamic was represented very well in this format / writing combo.
i also am aware that this is not an independently written story and that the author was not just making all this up, but that is even more shocking to me - that multiple people in positions of influence agreed to make this. please just put out a press release that they are happy and okay and never going to be hurt again and let’s all move on.
things i did like: i liked how this was at its core just another monster of the week episode. i liked the addition of their personal entries, i thought those were by far the best written parts about it. i liked the acknowledgment of scullys trauma specifically relating to children and her desire to be a mother. i liked the conversations and dialogue surrounding why they can’t ever just be at peace with one another and why there’s always a fallout and what leads them to that place time and time again. i liked that there were a ton of deeper conversations happening that don’t always happen in the x files fan base but are super important to have, i jsut dont think they were all handled correctly.
if you disagree that the show should have ended before the revivals or maybe are a more casual fan who would like to play with ideas about what happens after season 10, or doesn’t take it so seriously, then this is objectively a fun quick read. actually, it’s not super fun it’s very high stress but maybe if this show isn’t like the biggest deal in the world to you, it may be enjoyable. and i don’t mean that in a condescending way i mean that seriously. this may be a good read for people who are able to better separate themselves from media.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2024
I was a huge HUGE fan of The X-Files when it premiered in 1993.
I love all things scary and spooky and unexplained and this is still one of the best shows I've ever seen.
The X-Files: Perihelion follows Mulder and Scully after season 11, still mourning the loss of their son, William and trying to adapt to a life without him.
As they reconnect and try to make a life together, Scully's new pregnancy offers hope for a second chance to be a family.
When the X-Files is reopened and the duo are tasked to investigate a serial in the DC area who targets pregnant women, their presence ignites the interest of a new cabal emerging from the remains of the Syndicate.
Soon, Mulder and Scully will discover that their case is connected to a worldwide phenomenon.
And Scully's pregnancy is just the beginning.
I enjoyed the author's writing, especially the way she describes Mulder and Scully's relationship; respectful, loving, and admirable.
After decades of working together, the both of them know how to work together, live together, and love together.
Their loyalty and intelligence has not changed through the years, but only sharpened through personal and shared experiences.
Scully's skepticism remains, though her Catholic faith hasn't diminished; Mulder's mistrust of the government and medical establishment is alive and well, but his ability to believe is as formidable as ever.
The serial killer storyline was meh, but the conspiracy was far more interesting, how people are changing, some infused with supernatural abilities which would mean...the world will soon become one X-File. 😱
I loved the references to characters and events from previous episodes. The nostalgia is real!
This was a good continuation to a seminal, ground-breaking television series I'll always love.
I love all things scary and spooky and unexplained and this is still one of the best shows I've ever seen.
The X-Files: Perihelion follows Mulder and Scully after season 11, still mourning the loss of their son, William and trying to adapt to a life without him.
As they reconnect and try to make a life together, Scully's new pregnancy offers hope for a second chance to be a family.
When the X-Files is reopened and the duo are tasked to investigate a serial in the DC area who targets pregnant women, their presence ignites the interest of a new cabal emerging from the remains of the Syndicate.
Soon, Mulder and Scully will discover that their case is connected to a worldwide phenomenon.
And Scully's pregnancy is just the beginning.
I enjoyed the author's writing, especially the way she describes Mulder and Scully's relationship; respectful, loving, and admirable.
After decades of working together, the both of them know how to work together, live together, and love together.
Their loyalty and intelligence has not changed through the years, but only sharpened through personal and shared experiences.
Scully's skepticism remains, though her Catholic faith hasn't diminished; Mulder's mistrust of the government and medical establishment is alive and well, but his ability to believe is as formidable as ever.
The serial killer storyline was meh, but the conspiracy was far more interesting, how people are changing, some infused with supernatural abilities which would mean...the world will soon become one X-File. 😱
I loved the references to characters and events from previous episodes. The nostalgia is real!
This was a good continuation to a seminal, ground-breaking television series I'll always love.
July 18, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book it was nostalgic for me. I was a fan of the show and and the movies. I would put it on the TV just for background noise. Reading this story made me feel like I was just watching another episode of the X-files. The relationship between Mulder and Scully was great it showed the good and the bad side and how they worked through thing as partners in life and their job. This book really makes me want to re-watch the series.
June 30, 2024
I smiled and nodded all the way through the acknowledgments, because X-Files was my first fandom, and this book reminded me in all the best ways of those days of sliding through website rings from one site to the next looking for fanfiction.
When I saw Claudia Gray was writing X-Files, I smashed that NetGalley request button so instantaneously! And this book did not disappoint. It is weird in places, but that is X-Files and it’s weird in the ways that track the mythology of the show I clouding all the new things. But let’s be real, we’re here for the characters right? Mulder and Scully are both so beautifully written. As she did with Leia and Star Wars, I feel like Gray reached into my mind and heart and wrote the Scully I both wanted and needed and deserve.
How satisfying as an MSR fan, to read this book, and equally I'm sure how satisfying to write it. this book was as good as I hoped it would be, and in some ways felt as if it threaded the needle between the nineties and now even better than the most recent seasons while still pulling on the events of them. Highly recommend.
When I saw Claudia Gray was writing X-Files, I smashed that NetGalley request button so instantaneously! And this book did not disappoint. It is weird in places, but that is X-Files and it’s weird in the ways that track the mythology of the show I clouding all the new things. But let’s be real, we’re here for the characters right? Mulder and Scully are both so beautifully written. As she did with Leia and Star Wars, I feel like Gray reached into my mind and heart and wrote the Scully I both wanted and needed and deserve.
How satisfying as an MSR fan, to read this book, and equally I'm sure how satisfying to write it. this book was as good as I hoped it would be, and in some ways felt as if it threaded the needle between the nineties and now even better than the most recent seasons while still pulling on the events of them. Highly recommend.
May 7, 2024
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Mulder and Scully are back in a new story that follows the final season of The X-Files show. A killer in the Washington, D.C., area is targeting pregnant women, brutally slaying them and leaving their bodies dissected, while lights and electronics at the murder scenes are blown out as if some major electrical discharge has occurred. Dana Scully is herself surprisingly pregnant, and she and Mulder have moved into a townhouse in the District. Meanwhile, though the Syndicate is no more, a new cabal has risen in its place known as the Inheritors. The group is using an assassin with special abilities to take out former Syndicate members, leaving behind corpses dead by a single knife or gunshot wound, and witnesses seeing nothing but a bit of smoke behind. With the body toll rising on these two cases, the FBI turns to Mulder and Scully, offering them reinstatement and reopening the X-Files. A they prepare for a child in their lives, the pair must decide whom they can trust as they go back to investigating the types of cases that endangered them and those around them so many times before, because Scully may just be the target of not one, but two killers.
This novel certainly was all encompassing of everything that happened during the final two seasons of The X-Files. It has everything, from picks up with Mulder and Scully still not completely over the loss of William, a new clandestine faction with a world-changing agenda, the human/alien hybridization plans, Skinner remaining in a coma and even a new "Deep Throat"/"Mr. X" to help steer Mulder along his inquiries. The story encapsulated everything long-time fans of the show have come to expect from such a tale, though I did find the one major aspect towards the end felt way too comic book-y and less X-File-y, and should have been reined in more. But the novel made its mark as a possible beginning to a continued life of The X-Files in book form. 4.5/5*
Mulder and Scully are back in a new story that follows the final season of The X-Files show. A killer in the Washington, D.C., area is targeting pregnant women, brutally slaying them and leaving their bodies dissected, while lights and electronics at the murder scenes are blown out as if some major electrical discharge has occurred. Dana Scully is herself surprisingly pregnant, and she and Mulder have moved into a townhouse in the District. Meanwhile, though the Syndicate is no more, a new cabal has risen in its place known as the Inheritors. The group is using an assassin with special abilities to take out former Syndicate members, leaving behind corpses dead by a single knife or gunshot wound, and witnesses seeing nothing but a bit of smoke behind. With the body toll rising on these two cases, the FBI turns to Mulder and Scully, offering them reinstatement and reopening the X-Files. A they prepare for a child in their lives, the pair must decide whom they can trust as they go back to investigating the types of cases that endangered them and those around them so many times before, because Scully may just be the target of not one, but two killers.
This novel certainly was all encompassing of everything that happened during the final two seasons of The X-Files. It has everything, from picks up with Mulder and Scully still not completely over the loss of William, a new clandestine faction with a world-changing agenda, the human/alien hybridization plans, Skinner remaining in a coma and even a new "Deep Throat"/"Mr. X" to help steer Mulder along his inquiries. The story encapsulated everything long-time fans of the show have come to expect from such a tale, though I did find the one major aspect towards the end felt way too comic book-y and less X-File-y, and should have been reined in more. But the novel made its mark as a possible beginning to a continued life of The X-Files in book form. 4.5/5*
Want to read
January 1, 2024OH HI. I need this.
November 28, 2025
Book Review: The X-Files: Perihelion by Claudia Gray
I came to The X-Files in a strange order. I knew the theme song long before I knew the show, and I watched most of Seasons 1–9 in scattered reruns without ever forming a clear sense of the overarching mythology. But I did watch the revival seasons—10 and 11—when they aired, and despite their uneven storytelling, I found myself really invested in Mulder and Scully’s relationship, the emotional toll of their long careers, and the bittersweet arc involving their son, William. So when I learned Claudia Gray was writing a new novel meant to continue and expand on the aftermath of the revival, it felt like a perfect entry point for someone like me: a casual fan who likes these characters but doesn’t carry twenty years of expectations into the reading.
A Familiar Dynamic, but Deeper
One of the biggest surprises of Perihelion is how quickly I felt grounded, even without encyclopedic knowledge of the show’s history. Gray writes Mulder and Scully in a way that anyone who vaguely remembers their banter and chemistry can immediately connect to. They sound like themselves—not in a caricatured way, but with an ease that suggests the author understands them on a human level.
The novel embraces their aftermath: the grief over William, the weariness after years of trauma, and the quiet, stubborn love that still holds them together. Honestly, I liked Gray’s version of their relationship more than many stretches of the revival itself. There’s an emotional clarity here—especially in Scully’s private reflections—that fills in gaps the TV format never gave time to explore.
Accessible Mythology (Even If You Never Followed It Closely)
As someone who never fully wrapped my head around the show’s mythology, I appreciated how Perihelion handles it. Instead of dumping decades worth of conspiracies, it builds on just enough old threads to feel authentic, while mostly introducing a new layer of antagonists and scientific mysteries. I never felt lost, even during lore-heavy moments.
That said, readers expecting a tightly resolved conspiracy might want to temper expectations. The novel sets up ideas—shadowy cabals, unexplained abilities, experiments gone wrong—that seem intentionally larger than the borders of the book itself. At times it feels like Gray is writing a soft reboot of the mythology rather than giving definitive answers. As a casual fan, I didn’t mind this. It made the story feel like a new starting point rather than homework.
Cases That Feel Like the Show—But More Intimate
The plot centers on two cases: a killer who targets pregnant women and a murderer who seems to vanish into thin air. Both cases feel like they could have been revival-era episodes—creepy, modern, slightly exaggerated—and because the novel format offers more space, the tension builds with a slower, more deliberate pace. The violence is more graphic than TV would allow, but it’s never there just for shock. It reinforces the themes: vulnerability, fear, generational trauma, and the idea that Mulder and Scully can never fully escape the shadows that shaped their lives.
What I especially liked is how the cases intersect with Scully’s personal arc. Her pregnancy—unexpected and emotionally complicated—gives the investigations greater weight. Gray allows Scully to be introspective in a way that feels earned, not melodramatic. Even as someone without strong attachments to the older seasons, I found her inner conflict incredibly compelling.
Pacing and Structure: Strong, but Occasionally Heavy
The story is engaging, but the pacing isn’t flawless. The introspective segments, particularly about William, sometimes linger longer than needed. I understood why they mattered, but occasionally I wished the tension of the cases would push ahead instead of pausing for another internal monologue. Still, the balance between character and plot mostly works, especially if you read X-Files stories for emotional stakes over fast-paced action.
What Works Best for Casual Fans
What surprised me most is how readable the novel is even without a deep relationship to the franchise. If you remember the basic archetypes—Mulder the believer, Scully the rational thinker—you already have everything you need. There are winks to long-time fans, but nothing that excludes new or casual readers.
And because Gray leans more into psychological and emotional storytelling, casual fans like me get something fresh rather than a nostalgia-heavy exercise.
What Might Not Work as Well
If you only know the broad outline of the show’s timeline, a few references might fly past you. Also, the graphic nature of the murders might surprise some readers—they’re described with more visceral detail than I expected. And while I enjoyed the revived mythology, hardcore fans might feel it’s too different, while newcomers might occasionally lose track of the political/conspiratorial threads.
Final Thoughts
The X-Files: Perihelion is a surprisingly accessible and deeply emotional continuation of Mulder and Scully’s story. For a casual fan—especially someone who connected more with the revival than the original run—it offers exactly the right blend of familiarity and reinvention. It’s character-driven, atmospheric, sometimes dark, and occasionally messy, but in a way that feels true to what The X-Files has always been: a mixture of the uncanny and the heartbreakingly human.
If you enjoyed Seasons 10 and 11, or if you’re someone who likes the idea of The X-Files as much as the show itself, this novel is absolutely worth the read.
I came to The X-Files in a strange order. I knew the theme song long before I knew the show, and I watched most of Seasons 1–9 in scattered reruns without ever forming a clear sense of the overarching mythology. But I did watch the revival seasons—10 and 11—when they aired, and despite their uneven storytelling, I found myself really invested in Mulder and Scully’s relationship, the emotional toll of their long careers, and the bittersweet arc involving their son, William. So when I learned Claudia Gray was writing a new novel meant to continue and expand on the aftermath of the revival, it felt like a perfect entry point for someone like me: a casual fan who likes these characters but doesn’t carry twenty years of expectations into the reading.
A Familiar Dynamic, but Deeper
One of the biggest surprises of Perihelion is how quickly I felt grounded, even without encyclopedic knowledge of the show’s history. Gray writes Mulder and Scully in a way that anyone who vaguely remembers their banter and chemistry can immediately connect to. They sound like themselves—not in a caricatured way, but with an ease that suggests the author understands them on a human level.
The novel embraces their aftermath: the grief over William, the weariness after years of trauma, and the quiet, stubborn love that still holds them together. Honestly, I liked Gray’s version of their relationship more than many stretches of the revival itself. There’s an emotional clarity here—especially in Scully’s private reflections—that fills in gaps the TV format never gave time to explore.
Accessible Mythology (Even If You Never Followed It Closely)
As someone who never fully wrapped my head around the show’s mythology, I appreciated how Perihelion handles it. Instead of dumping decades worth of conspiracies, it builds on just enough old threads to feel authentic, while mostly introducing a new layer of antagonists and scientific mysteries. I never felt lost, even during lore-heavy moments.
That said, readers expecting a tightly resolved conspiracy might want to temper expectations. The novel sets up ideas—shadowy cabals, unexplained abilities, experiments gone wrong—that seem intentionally larger than the borders of the book itself. At times it feels like Gray is writing a soft reboot of the mythology rather than giving definitive answers. As a casual fan, I didn’t mind this. It made the story feel like a new starting point rather than homework.
Cases That Feel Like the Show—But More Intimate
The plot centers on two cases: a killer who targets pregnant women and a murderer who seems to vanish into thin air. Both cases feel like they could have been revival-era episodes—creepy, modern, slightly exaggerated—and because the novel format offers more space, the tension builds with a slower, more deliberate pace. The violence is more graphic than TV would allow, but it’s never there just for shock. It reinforces the themes: vulnerability, fear, generational trauma, and the idea that Mulder and Scully can never fully escape the shadows that shaped their lives.
What I especially liked is how the cases intersect with Scully’s personal arc. Her pregnancy—unexpected and emotionally complicated—gives the investigations greater weight. Gray allows Scully to be introspective in a way that feels earned, not melodramatic. Even as someone without strong attachments to the older seasons, I found her inner conflict incredibly compelling.
Pacing and Structure: Strong, but Occasionally Heavy
The story is engaging, but the pacing isn’t flawless. The introspective segments, particularly about William, sometimes linger longer than needed. I understood why they mattered, but occasionally I wished the tension of the cases would push ahead instead of pausing for another internal monologue. Still, the balance between character and plot mostly works, especially if you read X-Files stories for emotional stakes over fast-paced action.
What Works Best for Casual Fans
What surprised me most is how readable the novel is even without a deep relationship to the franchise. If you remember the basic archetypes—Mulder the believer, Scully the rational thinker—you already have everything you need. There are winks to long-time fans, but nothing that excludes new or casual readers.
And because Gray leans more into psychological and emotional storytelling, casual fans like me get something fresh rather than a nostalgia-heavy exercise.
What Might Not Work as Well
If you only know the broad outline of the show’s timeline, a few references might fly past you. Also, the graphic nature of the murders might surprise some readers—they’re described with more visceral detail than I expected. And while I enjoyed the revived mythology, hardcore fans might feel it’s too different, while newcomers might occasionally lose track of the political/conspiratorial threads.
Final Thoughts
The X-Files: Perihelion is a surprisingly accessible and deeply emotional continuation of Mulder and Scully’s story. For a casual fan—especially someone who connected more with the revival than the original run—it offers exactly the right blend of familiarity and reinvention. It’s character-driven, atmospheric, sometimes dark, and occasionally messy, but in a way that feels true to what The X-Files has always been: a mixture of the uncanny and the heartbreakingly human.
If you enjoyed Seasons 10 and 11, or if you’re someone who likes the idea of The X-Files as much as the show itself, this novel is absolutely worth the read.
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