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Alien: The Archive - The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies
A GROUNDBREAKING MASTERPIECE
A SCIENCE FICTION MILESTONE
A BLEAK, NIGHTMARISH VISION
A BOLD NEW DIRECTION
Alien is one of the most original, thrilling, and beautiful franchises in cinema history. From Ridley Scott's elegant horror masterpiece and James Cameron's visceral and heart-pounding Aliens, to David Fincher's nihilistic Alien³, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's twisted Alien Resurrection, these are the films that birthed a monster and a cultural phenomenon.
Alien: The Archive is a beautiful celebration of these landmark films, delving deep into the process of how all four films were created. From the earliest script ideas to final cut, this book showcases the making of the series in exhaustive and exclusive detail. Featuring storyboards from Ridley Scott, exclusive concept designs from Ron Cobb and Syd Mead, behind-the-scenes imagery of the Xenomorphs being created, deleted scenes, unused ideas, costumes, weapons, and much more.
This must have retrospective also includes brand new interviews with Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver, H.R. Giger, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Jenette Goldstein, and those whose vision and originality created a cinema legend.
This book is for all fans of Alien, art lovers, and cinema and science fiction historians. Alien: The Archive is the final word on the series and showcases the breathtaking creation of a terrifying and beautiful filmic nightmare.
A SCIENCE FICTION MILESTONE
A BLEAK, NIGHTMARISH VISION
A BOLD NEW DIRECTION
Alien is one of the most original, thrilling, and beautiful franchises in cinema history. From Ridley Scott's elegant horror masterpiece and James Cameron's visceral and heart-pounding Aliens, to David Fincher's nihilistic Alien³, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet's twisted Alien Resurrection, these are the films that birthed a monster and a cultural phenomenon.
Alien: The Archive is a beautiful celebration of these landmark films, delving deep into the process of how all four films were created. From the earliest script ideas to final cut, this book showcases the making of the series in exhaustive and exclusive detail. Featuring storyboards from Ridley Scott, exclusive concept designs from Ron Cobb and Syd Mead, behind-the-scenes imagery of the Xenomorphs being created, deleted scenes, unused ideas, costumes, weapons, and much more.
This must have retrospective also includes brand new interviews with Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver, H.R. Giger, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Jenette Goldstein, and those whose vision and originality created a cinema legend.
This book is for all fans of Alien, art lovers, and cinema and science fiction historians. Alien: The Archive is the final word on the series and showcases the breathtaking creation of a terrifying and beautiful filmic nightmare.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 2, 2019
This was a book I have been undecided over getting for a while now - Each film having a distinctive memory for me over the years. So when I saw that yet another book was coming out about one or the other of the films I was intrigued but undecided.
Then can the chance to pick it up at a fraction of the list price - well who could say no (not me that is for sure), and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
the book follows the first 4 films in the franchise and digs out a wealth of information, pictures and stories from the people involved with creating some of the most famous and influential films in science fiction history.
I may be biased (okay I know I am) but the first two films helped shape my love of the genre and the franchise. From being banned from watching the first one (and subsequently sneaking its viewing on VHS) to the sheer adoration myself and my friends at university had over the second. This book gives access to the films in ways other books just have not achieved and as a result it was a total joy to read - the only problem now is that I need to dig out my DVD collection and watch them all over again.
Then can the chance to pick it up at a fraction of the list price - well who could say no (not me that is for sure), and I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
the book follows the first 4 films in the franchise and digs out a wealth of information, pictures and stories from the people involved with creating some of the most famous and influential films in science fiction history.
I may be biased (okay I know I am) but the first two films helped shape my love of the genre and the franchise. From being banned from watching the first one (and subsequently sneaking its viewing on VHS) to the sheer adoration myself and my friends at university had over the second. This book gives access to the films in ways other books just have not achieved and as a result it was a total joy to read - the only problem now is that I need to dig out my DVD collection and watch them all over again.
October 17, 2022
Outstanding collection of archival material relating to the 'Alien' franchise of movies.
Although not a huge 'Alien' fan myself, having only seen the original Ridley Scott 1979 film, I was blown away by the scope and magnitude of this colossal tribute to the four films.
This book, from the classy London publisher Titan Books, is so heavy it could be used as a weapon if an unwanted alien arrives at your door!
Without question a work of great dedication, this 320-page monster edition covers every aspect of the films with more than 1000 photographs depicting scenes, fascinating production detail and artwork, behind the scenes plus essays and interviews. No doubt, the ultimate guide to 'Alien.'
Although not a huge 'Alien' fan myself, having only seen the original Ridley Scott 1979 film, I was blown away by the scope and magnitude of this colossal tribute to the four films.
This book, from the classy London publisher Titan Books, is so heavy it could be used as a weapon if an unwanted alien arrives at your door!
Without question a work of great dedication, this 320-page monster edition covers every aspect of the films with more than 1000 photographs depicting scenes, fascinating production detail and artwork, behind the scenes plus essays and interviews. No doubt, the ultimate guide to 'Alien.'
October 26, 2014
ALIEN – The Archive
The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies
Published by Titan Books
‘Alien is a science fiction milestone and one of the most thrilling, terrifying, and beautiful film franchises of all time. Alien: The Archive is the first complete book of the stunning artwork and photography from all four films.’
When I was a boy in the early 1980s, barely into my teens, I borrowed my mom’s black and white portable television set – the kind of old box where you had to turn a dial to tune into the channels – to watch a nice and safe family programme in bed, before my prescribed bedtime. What I actually did was sneakily turn it on at 9:30 at night so that I could watch the UK television premiere of Alien.
Now, science fiction for me was simple - it was Star Wars and Star Trek. Big heroes, big adventures, space battles, princesses, cute bleepy robots and all that kind of stuff. So, I sat down expecting a movie about a space monster the heroes had to battle and ultimately defeat. Probably with lasers. As you can tell, I never saw a full trailer for the film and knew what it was about only from reading about it in the TV listings.
Safe to say I was terrified. Not only was I watching this film in the dark I was watching it in black and white! Alien in black and white! Have you seen how many shadows and dark places there are in this film? Black and white only helped to enhance those shadows, turn them even darker. In fact, next time you sit down to watch Alien, turn the colour right down to black and white. You'll see what I mean.
This movie changed my whole perspective on science fiction movies.
I was of the age to appreciate the full impact of the sequel Aliens, being a testosterone-fuelled teen that loved his action movies. Then when Alien 3 came out I had hit the angst-strewn stage of my life, so even though the film didn’t really amaze me – I actually came to appreciate the movie a lot later in life – it connected to my dark and dreary side. Then Alien: Resurrection came out, but I try not to talk about that.
So Alien, especially the first (and best) movie, has had quite an impact on my life and my particular tastes in science fiction. I’m not a horror fan by any stretch of the imagination, but the reality and sense of sheer dread and fear of the unknown this film evoked really hit me for six and I mostly became a devotee of the franchise. Mostly. I’ve got quite a few books about the Alien movies and the extras and documentaries on the Alien Quadrilogy DVD give you pretty much everything you need to know about the making of the films, so could Alien – The Archive really offer anything new?
Being a fan I was sceptical that I’d get anything new out of this book, but I’m more than happy to be proven wrong. After the rather excellent, and eye-opening, introduction with Sigourney Weaver the book plunges into the history of the films with new quotes, soundbites and interviews with the cast and crew. The book covers everything about the films, from the cast to the early designs and ideas the creative team had regarding the ships, settings and creatures, to weapons, set photographs (some of which I had never seen before), cast-off designs and in-progress models and sets. Sure, there was plenty of information in here that I already knew and some of the images, especially the production designs, I’ve seen many times before, but there was enough new material in here to keep me hooked. As great as seeing the new images was it was also nice to read some new insights and thoughts from the people involved, talking about their experiences decades on. The book made sure that I kept turning the page because with every old bit of information I read there was a nice little bit of new.
It also enlightened me a little on some production aspects I had never really bothered about, especially when it came to Alien: Resurrection. I’m not a fan of that film at all, and I think it only served to help end whatever potential the ongoing franchise had (although the Alien Vs Predator films finally out the nails into that particular coffin). It was pleasant, then, to read up on some of the attitudes and see some of the design work that went into the film. It was also great to see more images of the ‘wooden planet’ filled with monks that had been pitched to the studio as the original idea for Alien 3, and after reading the potential that the story had as well as seeing some of the designs it’s almost a travesty that that particular version was never made. After reading these sections of the final two movies, Alien – The Archive makes you appreciate the films a little more but also makes you yearn for what could have been.
Something that I also loved seeing was some of the storyboards - or as they were called for Alien ‘Ridleygrams’ – and this made me want to se them all in all their glory for each film, especially the original movie. If Titan Books is looking to do more Alien books then can I suggest they have a go at getting hold of the original storyboards, with every scene, and releasing them? I can guarantee you’ll get at least one sale. These storyboards open up the movies and almost give you a glimpse at how they would have been in their original, purest form. It’s fascinating and gives even more insight into the universe of Alien and the design processes involved.
On top of all this Alien – The Archive is a beautiful book, with a black and white Giger dust jacket cover (the book is dedicated to H R Giger, and deservedly so) and a solid bind. There’s a great little Ridleygram that closes the book, his illustrations of the end of Alien, and an afterword that hints at more to come…
As an Alien fan, can I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. There are snippets of information in here that even I didn’t know, images I had never seen before, and just for the sheer self-indulgence of it, it looks wonderful on my bookshelf with my other Alien books.
Is it the ‘Ultimate Guide’ as it declares on the cover? It would be unfair of me to answer that, as I’ve been neck-deep in Alien lore since the early 1980s so I like to think that I’ve been around the block with the movies a few times. I’ve seen, read and watched everything I could get my hands on. That being said, I’m still more than happy to add this book to my collection as it dots the I’s and crosses the T’s in many respects. Hardened fans of the franchise will find it a good read and enjoy the atmosphere it invokes. Newcomers to the franchise will find it an amazing, invaluable guide to a series of movies more than worth exploring.
Alien – The Archive is out on the 31st October and is highly recommended.
The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies
Published by Titan Books
‘Alien is a science fiction milestone and one of the most thrilling, terrifying, and beautiful film franchises of all time. Alien: The Archive is the first complete book of the stunning artwork and photography from all four films.’
When I was a boy in the early 1980s, barely into my teens, I borrowed my mom’s black and white portable television set – the kind of old box where you had to turn a dial to tune into the channels – to watch a nice and safe family programme in bed, before my prescribed bedtime. What I actually did was sneakily turn it on at 9:30 at night so that I could watch the UK television premiere of Alien.
Now, science fiction for me was simple - it was Star Wars and Star Trek. Big heroes, big adventures, space battles, princesses, cute bleepy robots and all that kind of stuff. So, I sat down expecting a movie about a space monster the heroes had to battle and ultimately defeat. Probably with lasers. As you can tell, I never saw a full trailer for the film and knew what it was about only from reading about it in the TV listings.
Safe to say I was terrified. Not only was I watching this film in the dark I was watching it in black and white! Alien in black and white! Have you seen how many shadows and dark places there are in this film? Black and white only helped to enhance those shadows, turn them even darker. In fact, next time you sit down to watch Alien, turn the colour right down to black and white. You'll see what I mean.
This movie changed my whole perspective on science fiction movies.
I was of the age to appreciate the full impact of the sequel Aliens, being a testosterone-fuelled teen that loved his action movies. Then when Alien 3 came out I had hit the angst-strewn stage of my life, so even though the film didn’t really amaze me – I actually came to appreciate the movie a lot later in life – it connected to my dark and dreary side. Then Alien: Resurrection came out, but I try not to talk about that.
So Alien, especially the first (and best) movie, has had quite an impact on my life and my particular tastes in science fiction. I’m not a horror fan by any stretch of the imagination, but the reality and sense of sheer dread and fear of the unknown this film evoked really hit me for six and I mostly became a devotee of the franchise. Mostly. I’ve got quite a few books about the Alien movies and the extras and documentaries on the Alien Quadrilogy DVD give you pretty much everything you need to know about the making of the films, so could Alien – The Archive really offer anything new?
Being a fan I was sceptical that I’d get anything new out of this book, but I’m more than happy to be proven wrong. After the rather excellent, and eye-opening, introduction with Sigourney Weaver the book plunges into the history of the films with new quotes, soundbites and interviews with the cast and crew. The book covers everything about the films, from the cast to the early designs and ideas the creative team had regarding the ships, settings and creatures, to weapons, set photographs (some of which I had never seen before), cast-off designs and in-progress models and sets. Sure, there was plenty of information in here that I already knew and some of the images, especially the production designs, I’ve seen many times before, but there was enough new material in here to keep me hooked. As great as seeing the new images was it was also nice to read some new insights and thoughts from the people involved, talking about their experiences decades on. The book made sure that I kept turning the page because with every old bit of information I read there was a nice little bit of new.
It also enlightened me a little on some production aspects I had never really bothered about, especially when it came to Alien: Resurrection. I’m not a fan of that film at all, and I think it only served to help end whatever potential the ongoing franchise had (although the Alien Vs Predator films finally out the nails into that particular coffin). It was pleasant, then, to read up on some of the attitudes and see some of the design work that went into the film. It was also great to see more images of the ‘wooden planet’ filled with monks that had been pitched to the studio as the original idea for Alien 3, and after reading the potential that the story had as well as seeing some of the designs it’s almost a travesty that that particular version was never made. After reading these sections of the final two movies, Alien – The Archive makes you appreciate the films a little more but also makes you yearn for what could have been.
Something that I also loved seeing was some of the storyboards - or as they were called for Alien ‘Ridleygrams’ – and this made me want to se them all in all their glory for each film, especially the original movie. If Titan Books is looking to do more Alien books then can I suggest they have a go at getting hold of the original storyboards, with every scene, and releasing them? I can guarantee you’ll get at least one sale. These storyboards open up the movies and almost give you a glimpse at how they would have been in their original, purest form. It’s fascinating and gives even more insight into the universe of Alien and the design processes involved.
On top of all this Alien – The Archive is a beautiful book, with a black and white Giger dust jacket cover (the book is dedicated to H R Giger, and deservedly so) and a solid bind. There’s a great little Ridleygram that closes the book, his illustrations of the end of Alien, and an afterword that hints at more to come…
As an Alien fan, can I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. There are snippets of information in here that even I didn’t know, images I had never seen before, and just for the sheer self-indulgence of it, it looks wonderful on my bookshelf with my other Alien books.
Is it the ‘Ultimate Guide’ as it declares on the cover? It would be unfair of me to answer that, as I’ve been neck-deep in Alien lore since the early 1980s so I like to think that I’ve been around the block with the movies a few times. I’ve seen, read and watched everything I could get my hands on. That being said, I’m still more than happy to add this book to my collection as it dots the I’s and crosses the T’s in many respects. Hardened fans of the franchise will find it a good read and enjoy the atmosphere it invokes. Newcomers to the franchise will find it an amazing, invaluable guide to a series of movies more than worth exploring.
Alien – The Archive is out on the 31st October and is highly recommended.
January 1, 2019
Great detail about the films as well so some amazing art work and photos.
Well worth a read for any aliens fans out there!
Well worth a read for any aliens fans out there!
February 9, 2020
A brilliant companion book to the Alien series, I've had this sitting around for a while now and other than leafing through it every now and again I hadn't really bothered with it.
Over the last few days I've re-watched each of the films and followed up each film with the book.
Visually the book is stunning, so many high quality photos and pictures of sketches, designs and story boards relating to each of the films.
Whilst there are a few interesting facts that you may not have known about in here if you are a fan of the films you will most likely already know the majority of the info that is in here but it is wrote in such a way that this isn't a problem and its a pleasurable read regardless.
Over the last few days I've re-watched each of the films and followed up each film with the book.
Visually the book is stunning, so many high quality photos and pictures of sketches, designs and story boards relating to each of the films.
Whilst there are a few interesting facts that you may not have known about in here if you are a fan of the films you will most likely already know the majority of the info that is in here but it is wrote in such a way that this isn't a problem and its a pleasurable read regardless.
July 30, 2021
This is filled with the most fantastic cinematic & backstage photos, drawings and spaceship diagrams!
Giger, Scott & Cameron created a masterpiece that will surely last for decades, if not centuries to come.
My only issue was that the literature format for each film got a bit repetitive; story, cast, spaceships, alien, repeat... Could have been more interesting and differed a bit with each film.
Giger, Scott & Cameron created a masterpiece that will surely last for decades, if not centuries to come.
My only issue was that the literature format for each film got a bit repetitive; story, cast, spaceships, alien, repeat... Could have been more interesting and differed a bit with each film.
November 7, 2021
If you love the Alien series then you'll love this, as it explores various aspects of the movies in sections (the characters, the setup, the ship, the end sequence, the alien, etc) , with storyboarding and concept art and movie still. Interviews with many people involved. Roughly 100 pages for Alien, 80 for Aliens, 60 for Alien3, 70 for Alien Resurrection. But couldn't have more typos in it if they'd tried :/
November 22, 2020
Nice book about how the four first alien movies were filmed and where the ideas came from. Of course if you are really interested in either the first or second movie, you are better off buying the very good "Making Ofs". But if you are interested in the franchise in general this book gives a good overview about the different approaches used by the different directors in the movies.
February 11, 2018
Fantastic behind-the-scenes book of the sci-fi film series. Lots of great set photos, along with pre-production artwork and special effects shots. Focuses mostly on the first two entries, but also has some good background on the latter two. Highly recommended for fans of the ALIEN franchise.
April 19, 2023
..ako ste fan, kao ja, ovo je poslastica, koja se čita/prelistava sa "ne želim kraj.." osjećajem. Prepuna nerdovskih detalja, objašnjenja o nastanku istih, fotografija sa snimanja, poveznica itd. A ako niste fan.. oprema izdanja je vrhunska pa barem dobro izgleda na polici 😉.
October 21, 2019
A satisfying behind the scenes look at the Alien film franchise and its impact on cinema.
January 12, 2021
This is a great look into the background of the Alien movie franchise. I've been a fan for a long time and learned a lot that I didn't actually know before hand.
March 12, 2022
Schöner Prachtband mit unzähligen Bildern und interessanten Einblicken hinter die Kulissen.
April 16, 2022
Nice pictures, predictable text.
April 25, 2025
I stumbled upon this one in the library and had to borrow it. I'm pretty sure I've borrowed another book about one of the 'Alien' films before but this one covers the first four (and excludes the relatively forgettable AVP movies).
Most of the book is rightly taken up by the original Alien film. There is a lot of info about building the impressive sets and, of course, about Giger's xenomorph designs. The highlight for me was the full-colour double-page spread of Moebius costume designs, which I hadn't seen before. Aliens has quite a lot of detail about the weaponry and transport, which is fitting given the military focus of the film. The Alien3 chapter begins with a lot of information about the various plots that were proposed, with a focus on Vincent Ward’s idea for a big wooden planet. There are loads of behind-the-scenes shots too. Alien: Resurrection includes many quotes from Jean-Pierre Jeunet about production and his first experience in Hollywood, which was fascinating. There are also a couple of Chris Cunningham designs of the ‘Newborn’, which was also great as I never knew of his involvement in the films.
I knew some of the production details before but much of this was new to me. For example, I wasn't really aware of the variations in the xenomorph design between movies, and this book explains what changes were made and why. There is a really good mix of content: there are a lot of promo shots, behind-the-scenes photos, design sketches, but there is also enough written content (lots of quotes from Weaver, the directors, and set designers) for this to be more than just a coffee table book. Due to the large format of the book, a couple of the stills and production photos lose some quality when they are blown-up. But this occurs rarely and mostly in pages dealing with the earlier films. Otherwise, this is a cool book and should appeal to long-time fans and those with only a casual interest in the films. It has definitely made me want to watch all of these yet again.
Most of the book is rightly taken up by the original Alien film. There is a lot of info about building the impressive sets and, of course, about Giger's xenomorph designs. The highlight for me was the full-colour double-page spread of Moebius costume designs, which I hadn't seen before. Aliens has quite a lot of detail about the weaponry and transport, which is fitting given the military focus of the film. The Alien3 chapter begins with a lot of information about the various plots that were proposed, with a focus on Vincent Ward’s idea for a big wooden planet. There are loads of behind-the-scenes shots too. Alien: Resurrection includes many quotes from Jean-Pierre Jeunet about production and his first experience in Hollywood, which was fascinating. There are also a couple of Chris Cunningham designs of the ‘Newborn’, which was also great as I never knew of his involvement in the films.
I knew some of the production details before but much of this was new to me. For example, I wasn't really aware of the variations in the xenomorph design between movies, and this book explains what changes were made and why. There is a really good mix of content: there are a lot of promo shots, behind-the-scenes photos, design sketches, but there is also enough written content (lots of quotes from Weaver, the directors, and set designers) for this to be more than just a coffee table book. Due to the large format of the book, a couple of the stills and production photos lose some quality when they are blown-up. But this occurs rarely and mostly in pages dealing with the earlier films. Otherwise, this is a cool book and should appeal to long-time fans and those with only a casual interest in the films. It has definitely made me want to watch all of these yet again.
January 2, 2015
Alien is classic.
Introducing a new type of extraterrestrial life form, which haunts the central character for more than a lifetime, the Alien franchise made a huge impact on filmography. The Alien word, with its horrific creatures and tales of sacrifice and resurrection, is fascinating, almost spell-binding.
Personally, I have not been an Alien fan for a long time, it only captured my mind two years ago. But boy, it sticks. That's why I would like to give full star review of Alien the Archive. It guided me throughout the whole history, offering a small window into directors', artists' and actors' mind.
A must read for Alien die-hard fans and also a beautifull addition for sci-fi and fantasy nerds.
Introducing a new type of extraterrestrial life form, which haunts the central character for more than a lifetime, the Alien franchise made a huge impact on filmography. The Alien word, with its horrific creatures and tales of sacrifice and resurrection, is fascinating, almost spell-binding.
Personally, I have not been an Alien fan for a long time, it only captured my mind two years ago. But boy, it sticks. That's why I would like to give full star review of Alien the Archive. It guided me throughout the whole history, offering a small window into directors', artists' and actors' mind.
A must read for Alien die-hard fans and also a beautifull addition for sci-fi and fantasy nerds.
December 4, 2015
An amazing love note to a brilliant if slightly front loaded film series. The book itself has a lovely layout and contains good use of pre production artwork,production stills and other assorted bits and pieces. It's pretty common knowledge the first two films where high water mark in the quadrilogy and the infomation provided for the first film in particular is great. Although alien three's troubled production is also fascinating to read about. The content for resurrection was also of decent standard but due to my sheer disdain for that film I found it less enjoyable. Overall all though a well laid out read.
February 4, 2015
Even though it does include the fourth movie Which Shall Not Be Named, the glossy large screenshots and promotionals, behind-the-scenes photos, conceptual drawings (a trove for the What-Could-Have-Been Alien3 wooden planet), and interviews are outstanding. Not really a book to curl up with, but maybe one to put on your Giger-scultped lectern for periodic perusal.
July 18, 2015
A great looking coffee table book with a ton of design drawings and photos from the films. The written copy is pretty basic, and won't contain anything new if you've seen any of the DVD or blu-ray special features. Unfortunately, the book is very poorly edited, with numerous mistakes in the text and even a few misplaced images. Worth it for the behind-the-scenes concept artwork though.
December 10, 2014
It's a beautiful coffee table book history of the four alien movies. A lot of behind the scenes imagery, an not necessarily deep text history (it misses some stuff, but actually goes in depth on the wooden planet) it's a little steep in cost, but highly recommended
April 16, 2015
Lots of great interviews, behind the scenes photos, promotional imagery, and concept art in here. Covers all 4 movies (with more on Alien and Aliens than Alien 3 and Resurrection), including interviews and concept art on the abandoned Alien 3 wooden planet. Fantastic book for fans of the series.
February 5, 2016
If you are a fan of the movies, this book is awesome!!!
April 14, 2017
Excellent overview of the series up to "Resurrection", does not shy away from the problems of that film and Alien 3. Lavishly illustrated, the sometimes sloppy editing (e.g. names mispelled in picture captions) is a minor complaint.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews