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Aliens / Predator / Prometheus Universe
Alien: Uncivil War
After narrowly escaping a Xenomorph attack and crash landing on the wrong planet, former military man Chris Temple just wants a peaceful life with his daughters. He just needs to deal with the brewing civil war and a Xenomorph on the loose.
War will always find a man like you.
This ALIEN story begins where most with a xenomorph loose on a damaged spaceship hurtling through space. Once a highly decorated marine, Chris Temple, a recently widowed single father to two young daughters, Jane, 11, and Emma, 8, is onboard. Despite his particular set of skills, Chris doesn’t get involved in the fight with the alien, instead focusing on keeping his children safe as the ship comes in for a crash landing.
The family land safely on an idyllic outpost planet, where Chris is told that the ship has been destroyed beyond recognition and nothing could have survived the crash. That’s only the first lie. Chris and his daughters love their new life, but something doesn’t feel right. Chris is a paranoid type, but just because he’s paranoid, doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
There are nasty surprises in store as Chris investigates the web of lies and conspiracies. After leaving a ruined Earth, it seems Chris and his daughters have crash-landed on a planet on the verge of all-out civil war. Chris will have to call on the battle skills he never wanted to use again in order to protect his daughters, deal with violence-hungry marines, and battle the xenomorph that's killing people regardless of which side of the civil war they're on.
War will always find a man like you.
This ALIEN story begins where most with a xenomorph loose on a damaged spaceship hurtling through space. Once a highly decorated marine, Chris Temple, a recently widowed single father to two young daughters, Jane, 11, and Emma, 8, is onboard. Despite his particular set of skills, Chris doesn’t get involved in the fight with the alien, instead focusing on keeping his children safe as the ship comes in for a crash landing.
The family land safely on an idyllic outpost planet, where Chris is told that the ship has been destroyed beyond recognition and nothing could have survived the crash. That’s only the first lie. Chris and his daughters love their new life, but something doesn’t feel right. Chris is a paranoid type, but just because he’s paranoid, doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
There are nasty surprises in store as Chris investigates the web of lies and conspiracies. After leaving a ruined Earth, it seems Chris and his daughters have crash-landed on a planet on the verge of all-out civil war. Chris will have to call on the battle skills he never wanted to use again in order to protect his daughters, deal with violence-hungry marines, and battle the xenomorph that's killing people regardless of which side of the civil war they're on.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published July 30, 2024
11 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 1, 2024
This was a genuine surprise as I did not have high expectations going in, but I was absolutely blown away.
Deneen does A LOT of work building characters and creating a story where both sides of the conflict are flawed but feel real. It's a tale about the meaningless of war and the Alien is kept in the background for the most part.
The Alien stuff is genuinely creepy as their sparse appearances make them feel like a real threat when they arrive.
Setting it after Alien Resurrection makes this feel like a unique Alien tale, probably not for everyone but I loved it.
Deneen does A LOT of work building characters and creating a story where both sides of the conflict are flawed but feel real. It's a tale about the meaningless of war and the Alien is kept in the background for the most part.
The Alien stuff is genuinely creepy as their sparse appearances make them feel like a real threat when they arrive.
Setting it after Alien Resurrection makes this feel like a unique Alien tale, probably not for everyone but I loved it.
December 9, 2025
I am not sure if the LV178/LV426 books from Titan spoiled me on Alien(s) books that are more about the creatures than the human experience that goes on in their universe. Out of the 350+ pages, there is maybe 18-20 with the actual creatures involved. Some people think that maybe the Xenos are oversaturated as of late but I disagree and want more. MORE!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
It's not a bad story and I would like to see a sequel carrying on the characters journey.
However, the book needed a stricter edit. By the fourth section of hearing how much he loved his daughters I was skipping those parts. When the action ramps up, some of the asides ruined the flow and pacing.
A tougher editor would have made this a lot leaner and meaner and been all the better for it.
Far superior to the Vasquez novel though.
However, the book needed a stricter edit. By the fourth section of hearing how much he loved his daughters I was skipping those parts. When the action ramps up, some of the asides ruined the flow and pacing.
A tougher editor would have made this a lot leaner and meaner and been all the better for it.
Far superior to the Vasquez novel though.
June 17, 2025
Unfortunately, Uncivil War is just okay. The Xenomorph action in it is sparse in favour of the author demonstrating about 17000 times how much the protagonist loves his kids and would do anything for them.
Slightly more seriously, this one had some serious problems. When the author professes to be a massive fan of the franchise, but has a whole scene in which a character picks up a pulse rifle and uses it as a flame unit, something is very wrong at the writing and editing level. Deenen also sets up a secondary antagonist who we never get any closure for, nor any final run in with the protagonist. And I have to admit to being a bit icked out by a very strange love triangle which develops as this novel unfolds.
Overall, Uncivil War was not for me. It seems others are enjoying it more, and maybe I've just read too many of these novels within the last five months to appreciate the finer points of a Xenomorph-laced adventure, but I might need to put off my remaining reads in this Universe - Bishop and Phalanx - for a while.
2 Communities Too Good to be True for Alien: Uncivil War.
Slightly more seriously, this one had some serious problems. When the author professes to be a massive fan of the franchise, but has a whole scene in which a character picks up a pulse rifle and uses it as a flame unit, something is very wrong at the writing and editing level. Deenen also sets up a secondary antagonist who we never get any closure for, nor any final run in with the protagonist. And I have to admit to being a bit icked out by a very strange love triangle which develops as this novel unfolds.
Overall, Uncivil War was not for me. It seems others are enjoying it more, and maybe I've just read too many of these novels within the last five months to appreciate the finer points of a Xenomorph-laced adventure, but I might need to put off my remaining reads in this Universe - Bishop and Phalanx - for a while.
2 Communities Too Good to be True for Alien: Uncivil War.
July 28, 2025
This has been my least favorite of all the Alien books, the story was entertaining enough, but slow. The author uses a lot of awkward phrasing and is very repetitive with certain words and phrases. I have never read anything else by this author so maybe I’m just not a fan, but I hope there won’t be more Alien books by him.
July 31, 2024
Alicia vs David would be wild
November 4, 2024
In Alien: Uncivil War, Brendan Deneen delivers a fresh and intense take on the beloved Alien franchise, weaving a fast-paced story full of tension, horror, and unexpected heart. The novel centers around Chris Temple, a former USM military man, who, after narrowly surviving a brutal Xenomorph encounter, seeks refuge and safety for himself and his daughters on an isolated planet. However, what should have been a peaceful sanctuary quickly turns into a battlefield—not just due to the ever-present threat of the Xenomorph lurking nearby, but also because the planet is on the brink of a civil war.
The novel skillfully balances the classic Alien horror elements with a deeper exploration of family dynamics and survival in the face of overwhelming danger. Chris Temple’s character is portrayed as a man deeply scarred by the past, trying to move beyond violence, yet continuously forced to confront it to protect those he loves. His daughters add a layer of emotional depth, with their relationship acting as the heart of the novel, heightening the stakes as Chris navigates the chaotic planet.
Deneen captures the essence of Alien with brutal, visceral action scenes featuring the terrifying Xenomorph, reminding readers why this creature has remained a cultural icon of fear. The pacing is relentless, and the tension rarely lets up as the civil war subplot creates a secondary layer of conflict. The human characters on the planet, divided by political and social unrest, add intrigue and drama, highlighting the fragility of civilization in the shadow of such a deadly alien threat.
One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of moral ambiguity. In a world torn apart by civil war, where survival is the primary goal, characters must make impossible decisions, sometimes blurring the lines between right and wrong. Deneen doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly side of humanity, which contrasts sharply with the mindless, predatory nature of the Xenomorph.
While the book succeeds in delivering pulse-pounding action and suspense, it occasionally feels like it’s juggling too many elements at once. The civil war storyline, while adding layers of complexity, sometimes overshadows the horror aspects that Alien fans might expect to be more central. Nonetheless, the combination of human conflict and Xenomorph terror keeps the reader on edge throughout the story.
Overall, Alien: Uncivil War is a gripping addition to the Alien canon, blending family drama, civil conflict, and classic alien horror into a thrilling, if sometimes overwhelming, narrative. It’s a must-read for Alien enthusiasts looking for a fresh perspective, though fans of the franchise’s pure horror roots should be prepared for a broader, more character-driven tale.
The novel skillfully balances the classic Alien horror elements with a deeper exploration of family dynamics and survival in the face of overwhelming danger. Chris Temple’s character is portrayed as a man deeply scarred by the past, trying to move beyond violence, yet continuously forced to confront it to protect those he loves. His daughters add a layer of emotional depth, with their relationship acting as the heart of the novel, heightening the stakes as Chris navigates the chaotic planet.
Deneen captures the essence of Alien with brutal, visceral action scenes featuring the terrifying Xenomorph, reminding readers why this creature has remained a cultural icon of fear. The pacing is relentless, and the tension rarely lets up as the civil war subplot creates a secondary layer of conflict. The human characters on the planet, divided by political and social unrest, add intrigue and drama, highlighting the fragility of civilization in the shadow of such a deadly alien threat.
One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of moral ambiguity. In a world torn apart by civil war, where survival is the primary goal, characters must make impossible decisions, sometimes blurring the lines between right and wrong. Deneen doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly side of humanity, which contrasts sharply with the mindless, predatory nature of the Xenomorph.
While the book succeeds in delivering pulse-pounding action and suspense, it occasionally feels like it’s juggling too many elements at once. The civil war storyline, while adding layers of complexity, sometimes overshadows the horror aspects that Alien fans might expect to be more central. Nonetheless, the combination of human conflict and Xenomorph terror keeps the reader on edge throughout the story.
Overall, Alien: Uncivil War is a gripping addition to the Alien canon, blending family drama, civil conflict, and classic alien horror into a thrilling, if sometimes overwhelming, narrative. It’s a must-read for Alien enthusiasts looking for a fresh perspective, though fans of the franchise’s pure horror roots should be prepared for a broader, more character-driven tale.
December 17, 2024
2.75⭐️ Not a bad story, but also not a great story. Overall decent, but there was a lot of fat to be trimmed from this book. We’re told and shown way too often about how Chris loves his kids. We also have semi-lengthy backgrounds/character builds on very minor characters who are basically meat bags and cannon fodder that are alive for shorter page counts than the amount of pages used to go into the explanations/dives into their character backgrounds.
I liked the idea of W/U loyalists going up against the USM, but this could have been done a bit better. And although I’m glad we weren’t saturated with Xenomorphs, they could have played a bigger role in the story.
I liked the idea of W/U loyalists going up against the USM, but this could have been done a bit better. And although I’m glad we weren’t saturated with Xenomorphs, they could have played a bigger role in the story.
March 27, 2025
Not bad, but my two main takeaways from this book were...
A) Main character Chris Temple is a rather skilled and highly trained chappy indeed.
and B) He really loves his family and will do anything to protect them.
Needed quite a bit more Xenomorph action in this 'Alien' book though.
A) Main character Chris Temple is a rather skilled and highly trained chappy indeed.
and B) He really loves his family and will do anything to protect them.
Needed quite a bit more Xenomorph action in this 'Alien' book though.
August 1, 2024
Right out the gate they got started!!
January 28, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Fun and interesting characters, both with good backstories, but not overly drawn out. The setting and timeline were also fun. I would have like a little more Alien interactions, and more I think could have been done with the “twin” Aliens. Overall, would recommend for any Alien fan.
January 10, 2025
Twas good, some plot points at the end were a bit jarring
August 19, 2024
This is a great novel about a man doing his best to protect his family under more and more difficult circumstances. I found myself becoming genuinely worried for Chris Temple and his daughters. Excited to find out how he would escape this planet of fanatics. However, as an Alien novel I couldn't recommend this to someone who is interested in the EU.
My issue with the novel is it doesn't use the setting or the lore to its advantage. The aliens are used so little that the reader could forget they are even around. Despite liking the plot I was constantly thinking "where are the xenomorphs?" You have one on the ship at the beginning that causes it to crash, but where did that alien come from? This takes place after Resurrection - all the xenos aboard the Auriga died in the crash. How did an Alien get aboard an Earth ship? You could maybe say the USM had continued their experiments with the aliens on Earth but that wouldn't make sense because the Auriga had to grow the aliens out in space to hide their activities. Ripley and the Auriga are mentioned which makes me think that Chris knew about the experiments, he knows what the aliens are, but it's never explicitly said. The transport ship is also carrying eggs. Where are the USM getting more eggs, are they finding them or growing more clones? It's repeatedly said that the Auriga crash is this massive destabilizing event for those on Earth but how? Did it reveal the USM was trying to breed xenomorphs? Did some survive the crash and begin terrorizing people on Earth? We just never know and the repeated mentions of it having nothing to do with the plot comes across as the novel going "remember Resurrection?"
When the two aliens come out of the miners they don't really do anything. They don't establish a hive, they don't kidnap colonists. They just disappear until the last 100 pages of the book. I feel like if they were kidnapping colonists to hive up somewhere it could have helped drive the paranoia of the miners who already distrust Chris as an outsider. We do get that somewhat with one of the murders but suspicion of Chris is quickly waved away. When the aliens do show up they act more like ferocious velociraptors, running headfirst into rocks and eating people.
Aliens aside the OST was a cool idea but again making the colony be made out of wood structures doesn't fit the Alien aesthetic very well. I respect the choice but it's another disconnect from what makes Alien, Alien. It also seems strange when you read that Chris's destroyed transport ship - which was carrying 800 people and a secret lab was housed inside a wooden barn. That barn must've been enormous.
I feel what we have here is a really good story that is being forced to become an Alien story. It's a shame because I was really excited to see this pocket of the universe in a time that people never touch because of the poor reception to Resurrection but as it is for me the book misses the mark.
My issue with the novel is it doesn't use the setting or the lore to its advantage. The aliens are used so little that the reader could forget they are even around. Despite liking the plot I was constantly thinking "where are the xenomorphs?" You have one on the ship at the beginning that causes it to crash, but where did that alien come from? This takes place after Resurrection - all the xenos aboard the Auriga died in the crash. How did an Alien get aboard an Earth ship? You could maybe say the USM had continued their experiments with the aliens on Earth but that wouldn't make sense because the Auriga had to grow the aliens out in space to hide their activities. Ripley and the Auriga are mentioned which makes me think that Chris knew about the experiments, he knows what the aliens are, but it's never explicitly said. The transport ship is also carrying eggs. Where are the USM getting more eggs, are they finding them or growing more clones? It's repeatedly said that the Auriga crash is this massive destabilizing event for those on Earth but how? Did it reveal the USM was trying to breed xenomorphs? Did some survive the crash and begin terrorizing people on Earth? We just never know and the repeated mentions of it having nothing to do with the plot comes across as the novel going "remember Resurrection?"
When the two aliens come out of the miners they don't really do anything. They don't establish a hive, they don't kidnap colonists. They just disappear until the last 100 pages of the book. I feel like if they were kidnapping colonists to hive up somewhere it could have helped drive the paranoia of the miners who already distrust Chris as an outsider. We do get that somewhat with one of the murders but suspicion of Chris is quickly waved away. When the aliens do show up they act more like ferocious velociraptors, running headfirst into rocks and eating people.
Aliens aside the OST was a cool idea but again making the colony be made out of wood structures doesn't fit the Alien aesthetic very well. I respect the choice but it's another disconnect from what makes Alien, Alien. It also seems strange when you read that Chris's destroyed transport ship - which was carrying 800 people and a secret lab was housed inside a wooden barn. That barn must've been enormous.
I feel what we have here is a really good story that is being forced to become an Alien story. It's a shame because I was really excited to see this pocket of the universe in a time that people never touch because of the poor reception to Resurrection but as it is for me the book misses the mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
If you like Alien: Resurrection, you're going to love this tonally awkward, meandering, amalgamation of the worst parts of the Alien franchise!
Seriously though, the worst part of this is that it completely misses the anticapitalist themes that are at the core of the Alien franchise. It both sides us throughout the story. That and the fact that the xenos are basically only in the last 30 pages or so.
Much like Alien Resurrection, this one misses the point entirely.
Seriously though, the worst part of this is that it completely misses the anticapitalist themes that are at the core of the Alien franchise. It both sides us throughout the story. That and the fact that the xenos are basically only in the last 30 pages or so.
Much like Alien Resurrection, this one misses the point entirely.
September 19, 2024
I love reading (or listening) to the Alien universe books, even when they end up goofy. This was one okay - not the best I've read, nor the worst.
Our main character is Chris Temple, a retired USM marine who left Earth after the events of Alien Resurrection with his two daughters and their family android. The transport ship they're on just happens to be doing some experimentations, which of course means a xenomorph gets loose and all hell happens. They manage to escape and land on the OST, a mining colony with a beautiful, idyllic town inside a dome. The dome projects a typical Earth day and night, whilst the town itself has an old Western feel to it complete with a cinema and more.
But Chris isn't convinced - there's some weirdness going on with the colonists and he's naturally paranoid. And for good reason - the colonists are up to weird stuff. The dissolution of Weyland-Yutani has led to WY cultists who are devout to the ideals of Weyland-Yutani's original beliefs and desperate to bring about their ideals. In Chris' world, there are these cultists and then there is the USM who are trying to wipe them out. As you might expect, this takes over much of the story.
I will say that for an Alien book, there's a distinct lack of xenomorph for the majority of the book. There's only 3 xenomorphs we meet, one at the start and two later on. The two later on are a little more 'unique' than others we've seen before, as they spawn from twin men and so are considered 'twins'. That was interesting, especially as these xenomorphs were given genders and had physical differences. One was female and smaller, whereas the other was male and bigger. Despite that, they aren't really seen that much.
For two perfect killing machines, they didn't seem to do much. I was particularly confused in one scene, as they killed one of the colonists but didn't kill any of the many animals in the barn the killing took place in? I don't think I've ever seen, or read, a xenomorph not killing something yet a whole barn of horses, cows and dogs were spared?
There were also some bits I found...implausible. I was seriously meant to believe that they managed to hide a whole transport ship in a barn? Is this the biggest barn the universe has ever seen? I ask this because we're told that over 800 people died on the ship, and it also has a secret laboratory on board so it clearly wasn't small. Yet it somehow ended up inside a barn. Not only that, but how the hell did they manage to get this ship from the crash site and into the dome without the girls noticing?
Obviously, it's an Alien novel so I'm not too fussed but it did make it laugh at times. Despite that, I still enjoyed it.
Our main character is Chris Temple, a retired USM marine who left Earth after the events of Alien Resurrection with his two daughters and their family android. The transport ship they're on just happens to be doing some experimentations, which of course means a xenomorph gets loose and all hell happens. They manage to escape and land on the OST, a mining colony with a beautiful, idyllic town inside a dome. The dome projects a typical Earth day and night, whilst the town itself has an old Western feel to it complete with a cinema and more.
But Chris isn't convinced - there's some weirdness going on with the colonists and he's naturally paranoid. And for good reason - the colonists are up to weird stuff. The dissolution of Weyland-Yutani has led to WY cultists who are devout to the ideals of Weyland-Yutani's original beliefs and desperate to bring about their ideals. In Chris' world, there are these cultists and then there is the USM who are trying to wipe them out. As you might expect, this takes over much of the story.
I will say that for an Alien book, there's a distinct lack of xenomorph for the majority of the book. There's only 3 xenomorphs we meet, one at the start and two later on. The two later on are a little more 'unique' than others we've seen before, as they spawn from twin men and so are considered 'twins'. That was interesting, especially as these xenomorphs were given genders and had physical differences. One was female and smaller, whereas the other was male and bigger. Despite that, they aren't really seen that much.
For two perfect killing machines, they didn't seem to do much. I was particularly confused in one scene, as they killed one of the colonists but didn't kill any of the many animals in the barn the killing took place in? I don't think I've ever seen, or read, a xenomorph not killing something yet a whole barn of horses, cows and dogs were spared?
There were also some bits I found...implausible. I was seriously meant to believe that they managed to hide a whole transport ship in a barn? Is this the biggest barn the universe has ever seen? I ask this because we're told that over 800 people died on the ship, and it also has a secret laboratory on board so it clearly wasn't small. Yet it somehow ended up inside a barn. Not only that, but how the hell did they manage to get this ship from the crash site and into the dome without the girls noticing?
Obviously, it's an Alien novel so I'm not too fussed but it did make it laugh at times. Despite that, I still enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
Earnestly, I wanted to like this more! Brendan Deenen seems like a big ol’ Alien nerd of a stripe not wholly dissimilar to my own (finding things to like in all the films essentially) and taking at the urging of Titan Books a concept laid out in fan fiction focused on film characters and turning it into a standalone piece disconnected from prior stories. I thought he writing was clear and his world building just effective enough to keep the pacing very fast — I finished this in like five days for me, which at about 380 pages is pretty quick. I liked the dynamic and the idea of the WY cultists.
But everything I liked came with caveats and then some. The writing felt really repetitious at times that threatened the pacing — Chris, the protagonist, has a WILDLY repetitive internal monologue most of the book and his pride and fear for his daughters is believable but still overwritten. A lot of the characters still feel undercooked — I wanted way more time with Alicia and Jennifer Chu and the marines (only three are really developed even a little and they just…ultimately feel inconsequential). The ending feels really pat and doesn’t really offer up a clear future for the OST (there are still eggs or ovomorphs on that ship, right? Did the two xenos not actually snag any other life colonists? The WY cultist angle, as I mentioned, was neat on paper, but having them basically be Jan 6 insurrections with better planning (like, cmon, some of the language felt pretty pointed) felt weirdly disconnected from WY without a clearer examination of what Weyland and Yutani were espousing (it’s there, but so brief!). Also, the lack of xenomorph action, in the on hand, fits with the “less is more” approach of Alien, but this feels so akin to Aliens that I wanted more as more?
Final word: Titan has been putting out books for a while now and I know elements of Vasquez and all of Bishop (the books) weren’t at the most current end of the chronology. But this one almost felt like it wanted to be…other than mentioned the Auriga a ton, I wasn’t really sure what the timeline setting was actually doing for this story…given the tense colonial environment that of Inferno’s Fall and Into Charybdis and Colony War, it seems like this story would be improved by situating it there.
I’d read another Alien novel by Deenen, but I want the premise to be more wild with a bit less homage. Just like I wanted from Alien Romulus after seeing that today. 3.5s to both, essentially!
But everything I liked came with caveats and then some. The writing felt really repetitious at times that threatened the pacing — Chris, the protagonist, has a WILDLY repetitive internal monologue most of the book and his pride and fear for his daughters is believable but still overwritten. A lot of the characters still feel undercooked — I wanted way more time with Alicia and Jennifer Chu and the marines (only three are really developed even a little and they just…ultimately feel inconsequential). The ending feels really pat and doesn’t really offer up a clear future for the OST (there are still eggs or ovomorphs on that ship, right? Did the two xenos not actually snag any other life colonists? The WY cultist angle, as I mentioned, was neat on paper, but having them basically be Jan 6 insurrections with better planning (like, cmon, some of the language felt pretty pointed) felt weirdly disconnected from WY without a clearer examination of what Weyland and Yutani were espousing (it’s there, but so brief!). Also, the lack of xenomorph action, in the on hand, fits with the “less is more” approach of Alien, but this feels so akin to Aliens that I wanted more as more?
Final word: Titan has been putting out books for a while now and I know elements of Vasquez and all of Bishop (the books) weren’t at the most current end of the chronology. But this one almost felt like it wanted to be…other than mentioned the Auriga a ton, I wasn’t really sure what the timeline setting was actually doing for this story…given the tense colonial environment that of Inferno’s Fall and Into Charybdis and Colony War, it seems like this story would be improved by situating it there.
I’d read another Alien novel by Deenen, but I want the premise to be more wild with a bit less homage. Just like I wanted from Alien Romulus after seeing that today. 3.5s to both, essentially!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
this was the worst book in the aliens timeline i’ve read so far.
chris temple is a mysterious and emotionally-withdrawn ex-marine (with a redacted military file, go figure) who just so happens to be great at literally everything he does, including winning a fight against like five men at once because he “blacks out.” essentially, he’s a vapid character with no real personality other than “boohoo my wife died a year ago” and “my marine-y senses are tingling.”
lexa phelan is portrayed as desperate for chris’ attention and approval despite literally being the leader of a cult, and she somehow “falls in love with him” after like a week of being there? yeah, okay. not to mention she magically had no interest in relationships until chris came along and bam, now she’s decided she might like to start dating rather than just fucking around. wow!
i don’t even know what to say about alicia, the auton. there was nothing there. and yet, chris still fell in love with her. which definitely makes sense.
“Lexa had turned her back to him when she’d inputted the digits, but he was trained to see things that were supposedly impossible to witness, and had memorized the code as she punched it in.”
i’m sorry, what? do you mean he looked over her shoulder? or does he have x-ray vision? like, what does this mean.
as for the plot? hoo boy. the general idea of marines fighting colonists with a xenomorph or two thrown in was mostly okay, but adding the idea of a cult was pointless. in chapter 17, lexa mentions they had their revolution because of class issues (overworked, abused, imprisoned, etc.) by the united systems military, and it would have been a stronger plot if it focused specifically on class rather than trying to pass it off as some crazy cult being irrational. then again, i suppose that would make chris look like an even bigger asshole for thinking shit like “everyone just wants war” and “both sides are bad” when the marines came down to suppress the colonists and the colonists fought back. coward shit. total copout.
yeah so this was utterly disappointing.
chris temple is a mysterious and emotionally-withdrawn ex-marine (with a redacted military file, go figure) who just so happens to be great at literally everything he does, including winning a fight against like five men at once because he “blacks out.” essentially, he’s a vapid character with no real personality other than “boohoo my wife died a year ago” and “my marine-y senses are tingling.”
lexa phelan is portrayed as desperate for chris’ attention and approval despite literally being the leader of a cult, and she somehow “falls in love with him” after like a week of being there? yeah, okay. not to mention she magically had no interest in relationships until chris came along and bam, now she’s decided she might like to start dating rather than just fucking around. wow!
i don’t even know what to say about alicia, the auton. there was nothing there. and yet, chris still fell in love with her. which definitely makes sense.
“Lexa had turned her back to him when she’d inputted the digits, but he was trained to see things that were supposedly impossible to witness, and had memorized the code as she punched it in.”
i’m sorry, what? do you mean he looked over her shoulder? or does he have x-ray vision? like, what does this mean.
as for the plot? hoo boy. the general idea of marines fighting colonists with a xenomorph or two thrown in was mostly okay, but adding the idea of a cult was pointless. in chapter 17, lexa mentions they had their revolution because of class issues (overworked, abused, imprisoned, etc.) by the united systems military, and it would have been a stronger plot if it focused specifically on class rather than trying to pass it off as some crazy cult being irrational. then again, i suppose that would make chris look like an even bigger asshole for thinking shit like “everyone just wants war” and “both sides are bad” when the marines came down to suppress the colonists and the colonists fought back. coward shit. total copout.
yeah so this was utterly disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2025
Alien: Uncivil War has a solid foundation, but it didn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for from an Alien novel. My biggest issue was the main character, Chris Temple, who comes across almost superhuman—his military background conveniently prepares him for every situation, so the stakes never feel genuinely high. The pacing also suffers; the book could’ve benefited from heavier editorial tightening. Certain emotional beats, especially around his daughters, get repetitive and drawn out, making the story feel longer than necessary. I also listened to the audiobook, and while this isn’t the fault of the novel itself, the narrator’s attempts at voicing the two daughters and some of the women in the colony were a bit distracting.
For a book set in the Alien universe, there’s surprisingly little xenomorph presence or horror. The creatures show up less than a dozen times, often just to knock off a character when the plot needs a jolt. Most of the story centers on a mining colony’s internal issues, with the aliens feeling secondary rather than an ever-present threat. Because of this, the tension stays low, the ending becomes predictable early, and the sense of terror these nine-foot horrors should inspire is mostly missing.
That said, the world-building is one of the book’s strengths. The technology, the colony dome, the harsh planetary environment, and daily life all come across clearly. The supporting characters feel believable and lived-in, and the book does a good job expanding on the broader politics and world of the Alien franchise.
Overall, it’s a decent read for lore fans, but if you’re looking for heavy xenomorph action or true Alien-style horror, this one might leave you wanting more.
For a book set in the Alien universe, there’s surprisingly little xenomorph presence or horror. The creatures show up less than a dozen times, often just to knock off a character when the plot needs a jolt. Most of the story centers on a mining colony’s internal issues, with the aliens feeling secondary rather than an ever-present threat. Because of this, the tension stays low, the ending becomes predictable early, and the sense of terror these nine-foot horrors should inspire is mostly missing.
That said, the world-building is one of the book’s strengths. The technology, the colony dome, the harsh planetary environment, and daily life all come across clearly. The supporting characters feel believable and lived-in, and the book does a good job expanding on the broader politics and world of the Alien franchise.
Overall, it’s a decent read for lore fans, but if you’re looking for heavy xenomorph action or true Alien-style horror, this one might leave you wanting more.
March 8, 2025
Ex-soldier Chris Temple, seeking a fresh start with his daughters, crash-lands on a seemingly peaceful colony hiding dark secrets. Beneath its calm façade, civil unrest stirs alongside a looming Xenomorph threat. As hidden dangers emerge, Chris must unravel conspiracies and protect his family.
The start of this book really set the tone. Beginning where most Alien stories end, a Xenomorph running wild and a ship in its final moments, flipping the narrative on its head. From there the pace rarely lets up.
There's plenty tension, horror, and plenty of chaos, everything you'd expect. The characters were well-written, with enough complexity to keep me invested. The conflict between the different factions added an interesting political edge, making the story feel more than just another bug hunt. The horror elements were solid, with some great, nerve-wracking moments as the Xenomorphs do what they do best.
My biggest gripe isn't even to do with the plot, but that it's set in the aftermath of Alien: Resurrection. As interesting as it is to see how things turned out after the film, it's more that it even acknowledges it's existence. I wasn't a fan.
The book itself doesn't link into the overall linked stories of more of the recent Titan Books Alien novels which have done a great job expanding on the Alien universe is a somehow cohesive way.
All that being said, I did really enjoy it.
If you're a fan of the Alien franchise and want a fast, brutal, and engaging read with plenty of action and horror, this is definitely worth picking up.
The start of this book really set the tone. Beginning where most Alien stories end, a Xenomorph running wild and a ship in its final moments, flipping the narrative on its head. From there the pace rarely lets up.
There's plenty tension, horror, and plenty of chaos, everything you'd expect. The characters were well-written, with enough complexity to keep me invested. The conflict between the different factions added an interesting political edge, making the story feel more than just another bug hunt. The horror elements were solid, with some great, nerve-wracking moments as the Xenomorphs do what they do best.
My biggest gripe isn't even to do with the plot, but that it's set in the aftermath of Alien: Resurrection. As interesting as it is to see how things turned out after the film, it's more that it even acknowledges it's existence. I wasn't a fan.
The book itself doesn't link into the overall linked stories of more of the recent Titan Books Alien novels which have done a great job expanding on the Alien universe is a somehow cohesive way.
All that being said, I did really enjoy it.
If you're a fan of the Alien franchise and want a fast, brutal, and engaging read with plenty of action and horror, this is definitely worth picking up.
January 14, 2026
This book was indeed an Alien novel...briefly. The aliens cede most of the novel to a retired Colonel and his daughters as they try to navigate life on the colony that they crash land on. Unlike most planets in the Alien universe, this one actually seems pleasant. Inside their protective dome the citizens live a tranquil life of movie theaters, ice cream, and moonshine fueled brawls. Things almost seem too good to be true...
First off...the aliens are barely involved in the narrative. They are creepy and pop out of nowhere to do their typical murder thing. What little time the get is nice, it doesn't really do anything new but it offers what the audience expects. Had the human cast been more compelling this would have worked better, but I would've liked them to be felt in the story more.
The Colonel is a bit egregious with the whole male power fantasy. He is an expert at any kind of combat, instantly attractive to women, his daughters love him more than anything, knows all of the top secret information, and immediately makes all men in his vicinity feel threatened by his presence. I just found him to be a dull collection of tropes and not really engaging. For some reason people also keep getting into fist fights with him, even after they watch him destroy people multiple times. I'm pretty sure that there was one guy that lost three fights to the Colonel over the course of the book. He is apparently still grieving his recently deceased wife but she is barely mentioned and has little to no character beyond being dead.
The love interests are probably the most compelling characters. The first is a bit too friendly and welcoming and seems tailor fit to slide in as a new motherly figure for the family. She, of course, has a darker side that comes out at a decent pace over the course of the story and culminates at the final battle. The second is an android and I am always a sucker for robots developing a sense of self. She's trying to find her place in the family and that's enjoyable. It did seem a bit odd though when she developed emotions and didn't really have any justification.
The other characters weren't particularly compelling. Loving and innocent daughters, vengeful passive aggressive exes, drunken hicks, and weirdly inconsequential over confident military officers. No one particularly stood out and I forgot everyone's name as soon as they were killed.
There is some deeper lore that extends beyond Alien Resurrection that I found interesting. I would have liked it more if the fallout of the mega corporations and their successors and acolytes had been brought to bear in more detail and we could've seen their inner workings more.
A final issue I had with the book was that everyone was constantly baffled by how fast everyone else can move. It makes sense the first few times when the Alien and android move at super human speed. Then Colonel Power Fantasy does it too, and I get that he's highly trained and it fits his role. What put it over the top though was when a veteran military commander is taken aback by the speed of a local yokel.
Overall, the book is short and passable, trying to tread new ground for the franchise but mostly sticking to old cliches and tropes.
First off...the aliens are barely involved in the narrative. They are creepy and pop out of nowhere to do their typical murder thing. What little time the get is nice, it doesn't really do anything new but it offers what the audience expects. Had the human cast been more compelling this would have worked better, but I would've liked them to be felt in the story more.
The Colonel is a bit egregious with the whole male power fantasy. He is an expert at any kind of combat, instantly attractive to women, his daughters love him more than anything, knows all of the top secret information, and immediately makes all men in his vicinity feel threatened by his presence. I just found him to be a dull collection of tropes and not really engaging. For some reason people also keep getting into fist fights with him, even after they watch him destroy people multiple times. I'm pretty sure that there was one guy that lost three fights to the Colonel over the course of the book. He is apparently still grieving his recently deceased wife but she is barely mentioned and has little to no character beyond being dead.
The love interests are probably the most compelling characters. The first is a bit too friendly and welcoming and seems tailor fit to slide in as a new motherly figure for the family. She, of course, has a darker side that comes out at a decent pace over the course of the story and culminates at the final battle. The second is an android and I am always a sucker for robots developing a sense of self. She's trying to find her place in the family and that's enjoyable. It did seem a bit odd though when she developed emotions and didn't really have any justification.
The other characters weren't particularly compelling. Loving and innocent daughters, vengeful passive aggressive exes, drunken hicks, and weirdly inconsequential over confident military officers. No one particularly stood out and I forgot everyone's name as soon as they were killed.
There is some deeper lore that extends beyond Alien Resurrection that I found interesting. I would have liked it more if the fallout of the mega corporations and their successors and acolytes had been brought to bear in more detail and we could've seen their inner workings more.
A final issue I had with the book was that everyone was constantly baffled by how fast everyone else can move. It makes sense the first few times when the Alien and android move at super human speed. Then Colonel Power Fantasy does it too, and I get that he's highly trained and it fits his role. What put it over the top though was when a veteran military commander is taken aback by the speed of a local yokel.
Overall, the book is short and passable, trying to tread new ground for the franchise but mostly sticking to old cliches and tropes.
October 15, 2024
I’m a huge Alien fan and have loved all the books in the franchise. Of course, not all of them are perfect. But, Out of the Shadows, Music of the Spears, Enemy of my Enemy are some of my favourites.
I first heard about this on Twitter (X) and heard Brendan Deneen mention it was an Alien story about a father and his two daughter. I was sold immediately. I am father of two daughters and the kids Jane and Emma were around the same age as my kids reading this book.
I enjoyed the whole story in itself. Lexa and Chris, the twists towards the end. Although (without spoiling anything), I did see some things coming.
My only gripe is the title that is Alien. The Xeno felt like an afterthought. (Not a bad thing). Personally, I love reading about the Xenomorph wreaking havoc and felt that if the Xeno was more of a threat to the colony, it would have amped up the story a little more.
Overall, I still highly recommend for those who love Alien. And I do look forward to more stories from Brendan, especially in this world.
I first heard about this on Twitter (X) and heard Brendan Deneen mention it was an Alien story about a father and his two daughter. I was sold immediately. I am father of two daughters and the kids Jane and Emma were around the same age as my kids reading this book.
I enjoyed the whole story in itself. Lexa and Chris, the twists towards the end. Although (without spoiling anything), I did see some things coming.
My only gripe is the title that is Alien. The Xeno felt like an afterthought. (Not a bad thing). Personally, I love reading about the Xenomorph wreaking havoc and felt that if the Xeno was more of a threat to the colony, it would have amped up the story a little more.
Overall, I still highly recommend for those who love Alien. And I do look forward to more stories from Brendan, especially in this world.
April 8, 2025
I would rate this at 2.5/5 if I had the ability so I rounded my score up to 3/5. I don't have much positive to say about the book other than I did find that it was a breeze to read through.
I can honestly say that none of the characters left a lasting impression on me. The biggest thing that I connected with was the panic of a father being stuck in a situation where his children were in immediate danger. That resonates with me but in total the book just flies through everything so quick that nothing really has any time to stick and be meaningful. There are no good people outside of the protagonist, every character seems written with the subtlety of a character in a Canon film.
I don't recommend this book. The base premise, alien aside is interesting in and of itself...the xenomorph presence is so tiny that it made me wonder if this book didn't originally have anything to do with the ALIEN franchise. That said, the base premise is also pretty good fodder for anyone wanting to run the ALIEN ttrpg.
I can honestly say that none of the characters left a lasting impression on me. The biggest thing that I connected with was the panic of a father being stuck in a situation where his children were in immediate danger. That resonates with me but in total the book just flies through everything so quick that nothing really has any time to stick and be meaningful. There are no good people outside of the protagonist, every character seems written with the subtlety of a character in a Canon film.
I don't recommend this book. The base premise, alien aside is interesting in and of itself...the xenomorph presence is so tiny that it made me wonder if this book didn't originally have anything to do with the ALIEN franchise. That said, the base premise is also pretty good fodder for anyone wanting to run the ALIEN ttrpg.
March 9, 2025
I very much enjoyed this book. I think it is a great addition to the Alien universe and pays homage to the films in the best ways possible. It clearly displays the effects of people’s insatiable lust for power and control on a greater populace. But at the same time, demonstrates there is more to loving another person than what is visible or quantifiable. Not to say it’s a love story at all, but has a small aspect that portrays the human condition. The presence of the xenomorph, while frightening and thrilling, is more of an additive to the story than a major role. Something I feel that was missing from some of the movies or at least downsized compared to the alien presence, the conflicts amongst humans is definitely the star of this sci-fi/Horror/thriller. I recommend this book to anyone who like sci-fi, stories in the alien universe, military action and horror. Hope you enjoy!
December 21, 2025
3.9
This was incredibly surprising! I love that this book focuses more on the human side of the aliens universe and really delves into the weyland-utani cultists. The actual xenomorphs are more so a huge inconvenience, they do feature a decent amount but I really do like how they were written. Instead of being this constant threat like they are in the films, they're an additional threat. Quietly stalking from the shadows building theyre strength and its so creepy it's amazing.
This book really is more of a human survival story not just surviving physically but also mentally. Chris isnt a mentally wrll character and we see that often which I really liked. The poor guy was walking trauma before he even had to deal with xenos for gods sake.
I did feel like the last 30 pages were a bit rushed and I wanted some of yhe side characters to be more developed but overall I loved it.
This was incredibly surprising! I love that this book focuses more on the human side of the aliens universe and really delves into the weyland-utani cultists. The actual xenomorphs are more so a huge inconvenience, they do feature a decent amount but I really do like how they were written. Instead of being this constant threat like they are in the films, they're an additional threat. Quietly stalking from the shadows building theyre strength and its so creepy it's amazing.
This book really is more of a human survival story not just surviving physically but also mentally. Chris isnt a mentally wrll character and we see that often which I really liked. The poor guy was walking trauma before he even had to deal with xenos for gods sake.
I did feel like the last 30 pages were a bit rushed and I wanted some of yhe side characters to be more developed but overall I loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
While I likethaat the aien franchise finally has a Male main protagonist, and a good one at that, I overall found the plot a little undeveloped. The Xenomorph starts off the conflict of the story in an interesting way and dissapears for the majority of the book. In the end the conflict is a father's battle for survival for himself and his two girls. All centered around a civil war between the USM and company cultists. I will say it does a great job of building the lore of the Alien world and every characer is interesting but some whole plot lines feel like they were tagged on such as the actual marines who I wanted to see more of. Still the prose was good and the story kept me engaged so I overall enjoyed it.
January 5, 2025
I'm a simp for the Alien franchise, so the book would have to be reaaally badly written to make me dislike it. But this was not bad at all. Much better than "Alien: Vasquez", which was a bit disappointing to me since the novel wasn't very good and Vasquez is a known canonical character... and a fascinating one at that.
It must be noted that in "Alien: Uncivil War" there's very little Xenomorph action. There's much more human-on-human conflict, and the xenos are there pretty much to add another layer of drama. But they're not the focal point of action.
It must be noted that in "Alien: Uncivil War" there's very little Xenomorph action. There's much more human-on-human conflict, and the xenos are there pretty much to add another layer of drama. But they're not the focal point of action.
September 6, 2025
There were parts of this that were absolutely painful. How many times can we hear about "his training", the amount of people he killed, and his love for his daughters? It really didn't bear repeating these facts numerous times in each chapter.
Exciting scenes were his"eminent death was seconds away" were bogged down with long reminiscing of the past, love for his kids and weirdly his android, ruining the excitement.
So much nothingness. Needed a good editor to remove the excess crap.
Exciting scenes were his"eminent death was seconds away" were bogged down with long reminiscing of the past, love for his kids and weirdly his android, ruining the excitement.
So much nothingness. Needed a good editor to remove the excess crap.
January 15, 2026
This book felt rough.
The main character was really one dimensional and would always get into fist fights with everyone. A giant starship was supposedly dragged to inside a warehouse, inside a bubble, by a colony of miners. Except there was no mining going on it seems? At least never discussed. Minor characters, we barely met, get multiple page back stories just before they die off, I assume to make the death mean something to the reader. The Xenomoprhs are barely present in the story except beginning, small bit in middle, small bit at end.
This on was a miss.
The main character was really one dimensional and would always get into fist fights with everyone. A giant starship was supposedly dragged to inside a warehouse, inside a bubble, by a colony of miners. Except there was no mining going on it seems? At least never discussed. Minor characters, we barely met, get multiple page back stories just before they die off, I assume to make the death mean something to the reader. The Xenomoprhs are barely present in the story except beginning, small bit in middle, small bit at end.
This on was a miss.
August 5, 2025
Titan books in the UK now has the license for novels set within the Alien franchise with original plots, and this is the first of them. I liked parts of it, but the Xenos seemed almost an afterthought. In the author’s note when he says this is a reworked alternate story of his version of Alien 3 it made perfect sense to me. I’d have liked to have more exploration of the cult idea. Okay but not great.
August 11, 2024
*potential Spoilers*
The tone felt really bizarre, where neither the aliens or USC really played any part of importance. i felt like 3/4 of the book you are wondering if anything is going to happen. Sadly the book didn't add anything new or particularly interesting which is a shame because we have had so many great alien novels lately but we don't often have alien novels set in this time period of the lore and It felt like a fluff piece.
The tone felt really bizarre, where neither the aliens or USC really played any part of importance. i felt like 3/4 of the book you are wondering if anything is going to happen. Sadly the book didn't add anything new or particularly interesting which is a shame because we have had so many great alien novels lately but we don't often have alien novels set in this time period of the lore and It felt like a fluff piece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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