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Aliens / Predator / Prometheus Universe
Aliens: Bug Hunt
Eighteen brand new stories—exclusive to this collection—featuring the Colonial Marines in bloody conflict with the deadly Aliens. BUG HUNT will send the marines into deep space, to alien worlds, to derelict space settlements, and into the nests of the universe’s most dangerous monsters.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2017
329 people are currently reading
1353 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Maberry
526 books7,804 followersJONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestselling author, #1 Audible bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, comic book writer, and producer. He is the author of more than 50 novels, 190 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, and has edited 26 anthologies. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder. His 2009-10 run as writer on the Black Panther comic formed a large chunk of the recent blockbuster film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His bestselling YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin is in development for film at Alcon Entertainment; and John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, is developing Jonathan’s Joe Ledger Thrillers for TV. Jonathan writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and action; and he writes for adults, teens and middle grade. His works include The Pine Deep Trilogy, The Kagen the Damned Trilogy, NecroTek, Ink, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, The Sleepers War (with Weston Ochse), Mars One, and many others. He is the editor of high-profile anthologies including Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird, The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Out of Tune, Don’t Turn out the Lights: A Tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Baker Street Irregulars, Nights of the Living Dead, Shadows & Verse, and others. His comics include Marvel Zombies Return, The Punisher: Naked Kills, Wolverine: Ghosts, Godzilla vs Cthulhu: Death May Die, Bad Blood and many others. Jonathan has written in many popular licensed worlds, including Hellboy, True Blood, The Wolfman, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., Diablo IV, Deadlands, World of Warcraft, Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Predator, Karl Kolchak, and many others. He the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. He lives in San Diego, California. Find him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
July 29, 2017
See this review and more on www.bookbastion.net!
I'm a bit split on this one. As a huge fan of the Alien franchise, this book seemed tailor made for me on the outside, but I wasn't as captivated by some of the stories as the movies seem to make me.
Full disclosure, anthologies are not the first thing I tend to gravitate towards. I love novels because the page count generally allows for more time spent getting to know characters, their intricacies and the way their minds really tick. With short stories, it's often much more difficult to really encapsulate all that background and growth into such a short amount of pages and still have a plot that really ticks. But, I needed something to read on my kindle and this one fit the bill at the time I happened to be searching for a new read.
There are at least two types of fans within this fandom.
There are those who really enjoy the slower, more subdued, cosmic horror aspects of Ridley Scott's Alien - Where the creature is singular but extremely powerful and its presence on board a spaceship serves as a constant reminder of the danger and existential dread that the very idea of space invokes.
And then there are the fans of Aliens who tend to gravitate more towards this:
Mostly, they're in it for the action and general badassery that is the Colonial Marines and Ripley as they bust skulls without bothering to take names.
If you're a fan of the first category, you're still going to appreciate this, but if you're a fan of the latter, you're probably going to love it. I'm a bit of a mix, but put myself more firmly in the first column, for the record.
The pace of most of the stories is frantic and more in line with that feeling of constant movement and action present in the second film. One complaint I had was that there just was not enough time to get to know many of the Marines that are introduced in their own stories. Their names are thrown into the fray, and we get a quick sketch of who they are, and then the remainder of the focus typically gets thrown back onto the creatures they're tasked to face. It made it difficult for me personally to feel very invested in any of their lives or the danger they faced.
Had some of these stories been given the room to grow and breathe and really develop those characters, I think I would have enjoyed them more. There's are some memorable new characters, but no one nearly as easy to love as Hudson or Hicks, or these two:
Also, can we just talk about the elephant in the room? I don't consider this a spoiler as it's revealed on the first page of each story where it occurs in: there are stories here involving characters that appeared in Aliens which felt awfully close to fan-fiction to me. I much preferred the more original stories that explored new ideas, new locales and new characters. My top 3 that did well at incorporating the theme of the colonial marines but not letting it define the full scope of the story had to be:
Hugs to Die For
Dangerous Prey
Empty Nest
and Broken gets a special nod for actually coming up with a compelling origin story for everyone's favorite Android, Bishop. This was definitely my favorite of all the stories involving existing characters.
The rest ranged for me from okay, to entertaining. As a fan of the franchise, I enjoyed this, but I think this is a prime example of why fans clamoring for another movie focused on the Colonial Marines should rethink that position. As fun as they were to watch in action once, there's a real danger that another venture with them will descend into the same sort of similarity of storytelling that I think bogged down my enjoyment here. It's all well and good to watch our favorite movie monster get mowed down by marines once, but when it happens over and over again, it begins to feel a bit like Starship Troopers and less like the Lovecraftian inspired horror franchise I fell in love with.
Yes, I'm throwing in an Alien Queen here, because when else am I going to have a chance to use this gif?
★★★ = 3 STARS/5
I'm a bit split on this one. As a huge fan of the Alien franchise, this book seemed tailor made for me on the outside, but I wasn't as captivated by some of the stories as the movies seem to make me.
Full disclosure, anthologies are not the first thing I tend to gravitate towards. I love novels because the page count generally allows for more time spent getting to know characters, their intricacies and the way their minds really tick. With short stories, it's often much more difficult to really encapsulate all that background and growth into such a short amount of pages and still have a plot that really ticks. But, I needed something to read on my kindle and this one fit the bill at the time I happened to be searching for a new read.
There are at least two types of fans within this fandom.
There are those who really enjoy the slower, more subdued, cosmic horror aspects of Ridley Scott's Alien - Where the creature is singular but extremely powerful and its presence on board a spaceship serves as a constant reminder of the danger and existential dread that the very idea of space invokes.
And then there are the fans of Aliens who tend to gravitate more towards this:
Mostly, they're in it for the action and general badassery that is the Colonial Marines and Ripley as they bust skulls without bothering to take names.
If you're a fan of the first category, you're still going to appreciate this, but if you're a fan of the latter, you're probably going to love it. I'm a bit of a mix, but put myself more firmly in the first column, for the record.
The pace of most of the stories is frantic and more in line with that feeling of constant movement and action present in the second film. One complaint I had was that there just was not enough time to get to know many of the Marines that are introduced in their own stories. Their names are thrown into the fray, and we get a quick sketch of who they are, and then the remainder of the focus typically gets thrown back onto the creatures they're tasked to face. It made it difficult for me personally to feel very invested in any of their lives or the danger they faced.
Had some of these stories been given the room to grow and breathe and really develop those characters, I think I would have enjoyed them more. There's are some memorable new characters, but no one nearly as easy to love as Hudson or Hicks, or these two:
Also, can we just talk about the elephant in the room? I don't consider this a spoiler as it's revealed on the first page of each story where it occurs in: there are stories here involving characters that appeared in Aliens which felt awfully close to fan-fiction to me. I much preferred the more original stories that explored new ideas, new locales and new characters. My top 3 that did well at incorporating the theme of the colonial marines but not letting it define the full scope of the story had to be:
Hugs to Die For
Dangerous Prey
Empty Nest
and Broken gets a special nod for actually coming up with a compelling origin story for everyone's favorite Android, Bishop. This was definitely my favorite of all the stories involving existing characters.
The rest ranged for me from okay, to entertaining. As a fan of the franchise, I enjoyed this, but I think this is a prime example of why fans clamoring for another movie focused on the Colonial Marines should rethink that position. As fun as they were to watch in action once, there's a real danger that another venture with them will descend into the same sort of similarity of storytelling that I think bogged down my enjoyment here. It's all well and good to watch our favorite movie monster get mowed down by marines once, but when it happens over and over again, it begins to feel a bit like Starship Troopers and less like the Lovecraftian inspired horror franchise I fell in love with.
Yes, I'm throwing in an Alien Queen here, because when else am I going to have a chance to use this gif?
★★★ = 3 STARS/5
October 9, 2023
5 Stars for Aliens Bug Hunt (audiobook) by Jonathan Maberry and a long list of contributors and narrators.
I really enjoyed this. It’s fan fiction at its highest level. Jonathan Maberry has pulled together 15 new stories based around the Colonial Marines. In many of the stories the Marines are having to deal with Xenomorphs in new situations. It’s fun getting to revisit some great characters from one of my favorite movies.
I really enjoyed this. It’s fan fiction at its highest level. Jonathan Maberry has pulled together 15 new stories based around the Colonial Marines. In many of the stories the Marines are having to deal with Xenomorphs in new situations. It’s fun getting to revisit some great characters from one of my favorite movies.
May 24, 2020
Overall, I would rate the collection of stories here at around 3.5/5.0 stars, although I think you would really need to be a fan of this Aliens universe already to get to that appreciation. Some were good, some were just ok as in any collection, but three of them stood out for me. The first was Blowback by Christopher Golden which was a throwback story that introduced us to the marines from the original Aliens movie. The second was Darkness Falls by Heather Graham. This one had a twist on the aliens that was great and very scary. The third was Dangerous Prey by Scott Sigler. I loved this one as it is told from the perspective of the aliens themselves, which was done very well and was truly fascinating. A couple of years ago, I read a short story that was written from the perspective of the alien originally introduced to us in Who Goes There, John W. Campbell's creation (better known from the John Carpenter movie The Thing from 1982, at least for me). Changing the perspective in both of these cases really changes the whole feel of both of these stories, and I thoroughly enjoy that. Now, I just wish there was a book for another movie in the Aliens universe, Prometheus. That prequel story left way more open questions than it answered!
May 26, 2021
This is a fun anthology of original stories from the Alien movies universe featuring the Colonial Marines. The authors had to come up with stories that were both science fiction and military and had to fit within the Alien franchise framework, and succeeded rather well for the most part. None of the individual works particularly stuck out as exceptional above the rest for me, but I enjoyed most of them. I believe my favorites were by Christopher Golden, Heather Graham, Brian Keene, Yvonne Navarro, and Maberry himself.
October 1, 2023
Not much to say on this one. Some good stories, some not so good, and a lot of meh stories.
October 9, 2017
The Colonial Marines are back with stories all their own! Xenomorphs need not apply but are often included. After all, space is filled with dangerous aliens.
What I liked best - the variety of stories: character backgrounds, bug hunts, technical manuals, corporate greed, etc. Standout stories for me were Blowback, Hugs to Die For, and above all Dangerous Prey.
Blowback - this is the one story everyone was hoping for, a return to the familiar characters and comradery depicted in Aliens.
“Shit, ’Bowski, you know you must be stupid when Spunkmeyer’s got to explain stuff to you,” Vasquez said.
Hugs to Die For - the company is keeping hundreds of neutered face huggers in tanks to milk them for acid. Don't worry it's perfectly safe...
“I’m not the one who thought it was a good idea to bring sentient acid-bombs aboard and then piss them off!”
Dangerous Prey - this story is told from the POV of the Xenomorphs and face huggers, I loved it!
"Others pack in close, they hiss and screech, they climb the walls, they skitter across the ceiling driven by a desire that mimics madness, they throng together with an orgiastic need so pure and intense it borders on madness. This is what they were made for."
Just so we're clear, that's three five star stories out of 18 mostly three star stories. They are all interesting to some degree, either inherently or by fandom, but rather meh. The gun manual/gun history story bored me to sleep more than once and yet I'm sure it's someone's favorite. That's what you get with anthologies.
Read
July 28, 2018Got through the first two stories, they were good stories but heavily military based. That's just not my thing. I'm quitting and moving to my next audiobook
January 17, 2022
I’m not an army or marine fan in fiction, but I’m a huge Alien series fan and the second remains my favorite of the bunch (closely, closely tied with the first). An anthology from stories all set during the first four Alien movies? As soon as I discovered this, I dove into it.
The stories are, as with any anthology, a mixed offering. I notice there’s a lot of three star ratings, or less, but this one was a solid four to me. Not every story was a winner, but I don’t think I hated any of them. The Alien as we know it from the movies does not show up in each story - sometimes its concepts from the world-building, sometimes different aliens - and many of the stories have invented marines with the same team or company but not the team from the movies. No matter.

There are many stories - my thoughts on some of the as follows:
The anthology starts out well enough with Chance Encounter by Paul Kupperberg. ⅗. Pretty good. Writing style polished, characters stood out as unique enough, twist at the end to show the Xenomorph tend to have surprises up their creepy sleeves. On a planet during an expedition, the company gets excited when an unknown aggressor is encountered - let me guess, humans expendable."
The second story, Reaper, was good but the ending was a bit abrupt - and a planet filled with aliens of sorts. The third story, Broken, sucked me in and gave the POV through Bishop's development. Would like to read another story about him set during the future Alien.
RECLAMATION by Yvonne Navarro - weird. It's showing Hicks being in an alien hive before the events of the Aliens movie. Creative enough idea but it doesn't mesh up with the existing fanbase, so it's more of a miss."
Blowback - Not OUR aliens, but the Marines from "Aliens". Golden convincingly brought the characters to life. There is a sad scene, but it shows insight into company greed. As the lead thinks, working for the marines is one thing, but working for a company as a marine another. Having to follow orders and be used is one reason I'd never be military material, and this story showcases that. Definitely one of the best.
Ray Garton wrote No Good Deed well, but the lead bounty Hunter is a deplorable human being who ruined the end for me.
Zero to hero is definitely an unusual offering of the bunch. A non-heroic marine (of sorts) is forced to confront some of his worst fears. It speaks of traps and company ploys and horrid human nature. You can't help but like the videogame addicted guy, though. The ending is depressing but it fits the tale. It doesn't have the aliens we know, but it's a unique spin on the Corporal marines.
Dangerous Prey told through the POV of the aliens and face huggers was a treat for fans.
I usually wouldn't have been interested in a story about Burke but wow, Dark Mother was dark and good. Creepy imagery of plastic faces and hanging there waiting for the inevitable. Dark mother indeed. One of the best, set during the second Aliens film.

You get adorable story names like Hugs to Die For, Empty Next --- even if the stories are anything but adorable.
The author pool is well done with the talented Jonathan Maberry behind the editing helm. His tale itself is years after Ripley succumbs to her fate on Fury 161. Rachel Caine, Brian Keene, Christopher Golden are among other well-recognized authors.
It seems the majority of the best stories are in the first half, of course, but good ones can be found peppered throughout. Recommended for Alien fans.
The stories are, as with any anthology, a mixed offering. I notice there’s a lot of three star ratings, or less, but this one was a solid four to me. Not every story was a winner, but I don’t think I hated any of them. The Alien as we know it from the movies does not show up in each story - sometimes its concepts from the world-building, sometimes different aliens - and many of the stories have invented marines with the same team or company but not the team from the movies. No matter.

There are many stories - my thoughts on some of the as follows:
The anthology starts out well enough with Chance Encounter by Paul Kupperberg. ⅗. Pretty good. Writing style polished, characters stood out as unique enough, twist at the end to show the Xenomorph tend to have surprises up their creepy sleeves. On a planet during an expedition, the company gets excited when an unknown aggressor is encountered - let me guess, humans expendable."
The second story, Reaper, was good but the ending was a bit abrupt - and a planet filled with aliens of sorts. The third story, Broken, sucked me in and gave the POV through Bishop's development. Would like to read another story about him set during the future Alien.
RECLAMATION by Yvonne Navarro - weird. It's showing Hicks being in an alien hive before the events of the Aliens movie. Creative enough idea but it doesn't mesh up with the existing fanbase, so it's more of a miss."
Blowback - Not OUR aliens, but the Marines from "Aliens". Golden convincingly brought the characters to life. There is a sad scene, but it shows insight into company greed. As the lead thinks, working for the marines is one thing, but working for a company as a marine another. Having to follow orders and be used is one reason I'd never be military material, and this story showcases that. Definitely one of the best.
Ray Garton wrote No Good Deed well, but the lead bounty Hunter is a deplorable human being who ruined the end for me.
Zero to hero is definitely an unusual offering of the bunch. A non-heroic marine (of sorts) is forced to confront some of his worst fears. It speaks of traps and company ploys and horrid human nature. You can't help but like the videogame addicted guy, though. The ending is depressing but it fits the tale. It doesn't have the aliens we know, but it's a unique spin on the Corporal marines.
Dangerous Prey told through the POV of the aliens and face huggers was a treat for fans.
I usually wouldn't have been interested in a story about Burke but wow, Dark Mother was dark and good. Creepy imagery of plastic faces and hanging there waiting for the inevitable. Dark mother indeed. One of the best, set during the second Aliens film.

You get adorable story names like Hugs to Die For, Empty Next --- even if the stories are anything but adorable.
The author pool is well done with the talented Jonathan Maberry behind the editing helm. His tale itself is years after Ripley succumbs to her fate on Fury 161. Rachel Caine, Brian Keene, Christopher Golden are among other well-recognized authors.
It seems the majority of the best stories are in the first half, of course, but good ones can be found peppered throughout. Recommended for Alien fans.
July 26, 2017
3.5 stars.
As with most Anthologies, the quality of these stories varies greatly. But sadly, mist if these were "by the number" stories, and very few of them had those qualties that really wow me.
(That seems to be a specific problem with the Aliens fiction line in general, as well: it's really hit-or-miss for me. This really solidified my opinion since I started reading the Alien Omnibuses they've been putting out.)
As with most Anthologies, the quality of these stories varies greatly. But sadly, mist if these were "by the number" stories, and very few of them had those qualties that really wow me.
(That seems to be a specific problem with the Aliens fiction line in general, as well: it's really hit-or-miss for me. This really solidified my opinion since I started reading the Alien Omnibuses they've been putting out.)
December 10, 2021
When Jonathan Maberry assembles an anthology, a discerning reader should expect a certain degree of excellence from the final product; that is doubly so when that anthology includes material from authors like Christopher Golden, Weston Ochse, Brian Keene, Scott Sigler, and Maberry himself. Aliens: Bug Hunt is certainly no exception.
Pitched by Maberry to the decision-makers handling the literary universe that's evolved from Ridley Scott's Alien universe as a series of vignettes, deep-diving into the lives and experiences of the men and women of the Colonial Marines, it's a magnificent thing to behold.
The collection is kicked off with Paul Kupperberg's Chance Encounter. He takes us to a far-off planet where low gravity provides a lattice for massive trees to spear the sky and equally impressive jellyfish-like creatures to float amid the highest branches. Unfortunately, for the expedition on-site to collect samples, there's another lifeform preying on those Floaters and happy to prey on any other lifeforms making themselves available. Like many of these stories, this one focuses on greed and selfishness, and the disastrous consequences when we allow those traits to guide our actions, much as James Cameron's Aliens did.
Reaper by Dan Abnett introduces us to a world where the corporation's attempt to grow and harvest grain awakens a swarming colony of organisms with no objective but to consume all available organic material before returning to hibernation, awaiting new growth and new food for the swarm.
Rachel Caine's Broken introduces us to Bishop, detailing his first minutes of awakened existence and the fateful mission that ultimately brings him into the company of Apone and crew.
Reclamation introduces us to Hicks, long before the events of Aliens, as Yvonne Navarro shares the story of his marriage and his desperate struggle to understand what happened to his wife on a mission that stole her from him five years earlier.
Christopher Golden's Blowback takes us into the life of Dietrich, quite some time before her fateful mission to LV-426. We witness first-hand the turmoil of romance within the Colonial Marines as death can come from any direction, at any time. Numerous familiar faces populate this story, from Apone and Hicks to Hudson and Vasquez.
Exterminators by Matt Forbeck provides us with another glimpse into Dietrich's life as she and Frost make their way to a bar on an out-of-the-way colony, only to discover that R&R is not in the cards for them.
Ray Garton's No Good Deed takes us to LV-426 before the events of Aliens, as a bounty hunter and her sarcastic android chase two escaped prisoners to a colony under siege by xenomorphs. But it may turn out that the aliens aren't necessarily the most dangerous creatures on the planet.
A most peculiar and horrifying encounter with a different sort of alien sucks us into Zero To Hero by Weston Ochse. As a cowardly Colonial Marine discovers untapped reservoirs of heroism, he discovers that he might have been better off staying home and playing video games.
David Farland's Dark Mother shares the final hours of Burke's life after he failed to get Ripley and Newt impregnated as hosts during the events of Aliens.
Episode 22 by Larry Correia details the history of the M41A pulse rifle in a fictional documentary format that is strangely captivating.
Keith R. A. DeCandido provides us with a glimpse into the hazardous life of an embedded journalist in Deep Background, as a group of Colonial Marines investigates a potential attempt by Weyland-Yutani to cultivate and study the xenomorphs on another planet, with another unsuspecting group of civilians.
Brian Keene's Empty Nest takes us to another xenomorph infestation and provides us with a glimpse of just how far a mother will go to be a mother.
Darkness Falls introduces us to a retired Colonial Marine, desperate to find peace and security in a colony where she expected never to see xenomorphs again. Heather Graham's is the only story where we get to witness the adaptations of the xenomorph depending on the organism they're using for a host, and it's a horrifying outcome.
Hugs To Die For by Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter showcases a fine example of corporate hubris, as a small group of Colonial Marines receives a tour of a facility where xenomorph blood is being harvested for industrial use.
Maberry's own Deep Black returns us to the prison colony from Alien 3, long after the events from the movie. A three-man team arrives on the planet, learning that all has not been as quiet as expected.
Distressed by James A. Moore introduces us to what is the most horrifying and indescribable alien lifeform of this collection, dragging us along on a surreal, disorienting battle against something virtually impossible to fight.
Scott Sigler's Dangerous Prey takes us into the alien minds of xenomorphs themselves, and the experience is altogether more captivating than one might expect, becoming part of the hive.
Spite by Tim Lebbon takes a squad of Colonial Marines into conflict with a species of alien with a scorched earth methodology.
The narrators for these stories were superb in almost all respects, most notably James Anderson Foster, Priya Ayyar, Suzanne Elise, Michael David Axtell, and Grover Gardner. Those were just my personal favorites of the narrators involved, but there wasn't a single one who didn't thoroughly immerse the listener.
Pitched by Maberry to the decision-makers handling the literary universe that's evolved from Ridley Scott's Alien universe as a series of vignettes, deep-diving into the lives and experiences of the men and women of the Colonial Marines, it's a magnificent thing to behold.
The collection is kicked off with Paul Kupperberg's Chance Encounter. He takes us to a far-off planet where low gravity provides a lattice for massive trees to spear the sky and equally impressive jellyfish-like creatures to float amid the highest branches. Unfortunately, for the expedition on-site to collect samples, there's another lifeform preying on those Floaters and happy to prey on any other lifeforms making themselves available. Like many of these stories, this one focuses on greed and selfishness, and the disastrous consequences when we allow those traits to guide our actions, much as James Cameron's Aliens did.
Reaper by Dan Abnett introduces us to a world where the corporation's attempt to grow and harvest grain awakens a swarming colony of organisms with no objective but to consume all available organic material before returning to hibernation, awaiting new growth and new food for the swarm.
Rachel Caine's Broken introduces us to Bishop, detailing his first minutes of awakened existence and the fateful mission that ultimately brings him into the company of Apone and crew.
Reclamation introduces us to Hicks, long before the events of Aliens, as Yvonne Navarro shares the story of his marriage and his desperate struggle to understand what happened to his wife on a mission that stole her from him five years earlier.
Christopher Golden's Blowback takes us into the life of Dietrich, quite some time before her fateful mission to LV-426. We witness first-hand the turmoil of romance within the Colonial Marines as death can come from any direction, at any time. Numerous familiar faces populate this story, from Apone and Hicks to Hudson and Vasquez.
Exterminators by Matt Forbeck provides us with another glimpse into Dietrich's life as she and Frost make their way to a bar on an out-of-the-way colony, only to discover that R&R is not in the cards for them.
Ray Garton's No Good Deed takes us to LV-426 before the events of Aliens, as a bounty hunter and her sarcastic android chase two escaped prisoners to a colony under siege by xenomorphs. But it may turn out that the aliens aren't necessarily the most dangerous creatures on the planet.
A most peculiar and horrifying encounter with a different sort of alien sucks us into Zero To Hero by Weston Ochse. As a cowardly Colonial Marine discovers untapped reservoirs of heroism, he discovers that he might have been better off staying home and playing video games.
David Farland's Dark Mother shares the final hours of Burke's life after he failed to get Ripley and Newt impregnated as hosts during the events of Aliens.
Episode 22 by Larry Correia details the history of the M41A pulse rifle in a fictional documentary format that is strangely captivating.
Keith R. A. DeCandido provides us with a glimpse into the hazardous life of an embedded journalist in Deep Background, as a group of Colonial Marines investigates a potential attempt by Weyland-Yutani to cultivate and study the xenomorphs on another planet, with another unsuspecting group of civilians.
Brian Keene's Empty Nest takes us to another xenomorph infestation and provides us with a glimpse of just how far a mother will go to be a mother.
Darkness Falls introduces us to a retired Colonial Marine, desperate to find peace and security in a colony where she expected never to see xenomorphs again. Heather Graham's is the only story where we get to witness the adaptations of the xenomorph depending on the organism they're using for a host, and it's a horrifying outcome.
Hugs To Die For by Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter showcases a fine example of corporate hubris, as a small group of Colonial Marines receives a tour of a facility where xenomorph blood is being harvested for industrial use.
Maberry's own Deep Black returns us to the prison colony from Alien 3, long after the events from the movie. A three-man team arrives on the planet, learning that all has not been as quiet as expected.
Distressed by James A. Moore introduces us to what is the most horrifying and indescribable alien lifeform of this collection, dragging us along on a surreal, disorienting battle against something virtually impossible to fight.
Scott Sigler's Dangerous Prey takes us into the alien minds of xenomorphs themselves, and the experience is altogether more captivating than one might expect, becoming part of the hive.
Spite by Tim Lebbon takes a squad of Colonial Marines into conflict with a species of alien with a scorched earth methodology.
The narrators for these stories were superb in almost all respects, most notably James Anderson Foster, Priya Ayyar, Suzanne Elise, Michael David Axtell, and Grover Gardner. Those were just my personal favorites of the narrators involved, but there wasn't a single one who didn't thoroughly immerse the listener.
May 6, 2017
Huge Alien fan here. Read every book. This one was pretty much terrible. There are 15 short stories in here that center around the Colonial Marines. They were not all about the Aliens, nor the platoon from the movie Aliens. There were a few good stories in here, but there were more that were not. Don't expect any derelicts space ships, space jockeys, Engineers (which I refuse to believe are the original massive jockeys), fights with queen Aliens, Aliens on earth, multiple hives, why there are space marines to begin with that only represent the US, why Weyland-Yutani is the absolute worst company in the universe, how the eggs actually got on board the Sulaco, or anything too imaginative and original. There were some good stories, so it was not a complete waste of time. There was a good story about facehuggers which I liked. One author decided to be different and introduced Aliens that used DNA from a different type of creature creating a very menacing type of Alien. I wish more of them went that route with all kinds of species. Nope. We got lots of insect stories instead. You know, Bug Hunts. I guess I can't complain since that is a nod to Aliens drop ship Bug Stomper, Hudson's line in Aliens, and the title of the book.
One story that "bugged" the shit out of me was the one about Hicks. I'm totally going to spoil this POS for you so you can skip it. So now Hicks was married to a female marine before the events in Aliens. She is far out in space somewhere on a mission and runs into danger. She messages Hicks that she is in trouble and gets cut off halfway through the message. He goes off into deep space to find her and battles Aliens. Let's just ignore the physics of long distance travel here. She dies before he finds her and Hicks makes it his sole purpose in life to take out all Aliens. So he somehow manages to get into the platoon that heads to LV-426 just so he can get revenge on the species that killed his wife. C'mon man. Really? I'm not buying any of that person's books. Why is the universe so small that Hicks has to already know about the Aliens?
Then there is a huge F up about Burke. Funny thing is the story isn't that bad. You get into the mind of Burke during the time he was captured by the Aliens and cocooned. However, the editor of the story must have tried to cut it down in size and accidentally deleted a few paragraphs that needed to be in there. It made zero sense. In on paragraph he has no weapons, then a few pages later, he has a grenade. In one sentence he has zero chance of escaping the cocoon, then in the same paragraph, he is suddenly running down the hall after Ripley, Newt, and the queen. No mention of him breaking free. I had to read it twice to be sure my mind didn't wander and I maybe I missed it. Nope. Didn't miss it. I also didn't miss the author meaning to type "get it off Ripley's tail" but instead typed "get it off Ridley's tale". As in Ridley Scott's tale about an Alien. Who wrote this, Deadpool? Then the Alien gestates in like 13 minutes and hatches. Kinda like in that shitty AVP movie that the author must have watched before writing this. You were doing so good until you went there. I can forgive the typos and bad edits. The Alien gestation period is pretty fast as it is. You don't need to cut it down to 13 minutes (which was the minimum time to reach safe distance) just to fit it into your 10 page story. It makes the story go from good to ridiculous and then it winds up in my shitty review.
There were also a lot of factual errors that referenced the movies. Ripley didn't nuke the planet from orbit. They only suggested they nuke it. They didn't have to because the crash of the drop ship caused a chain reaction, which caused a meltdown. Bishop explained the whole thing in the movie. 17 hours until it blows. The Aliens aren't really Xenomorphs. They may have adopted that name because everyone mistakenly calls them that, but the authors are not helping that. Watch the movie. They didn't know about the Aliens yet. The Xenomorph reference was to something unknown, not the Aliens themselves. Ugh. Another story referenced Alien 3 and forgot that it was a penal colony in the movie, not just lead works. Those were prisoners that stayed after they closed the facility. They were not workers. It is right there in the movie. Maybe before you wrote a book referencing it, you should watch it.
There was a good story about the M41A pulse rifle. Also Scott Sigler took a different approach and wrote from the point of view of the Alien and didn't use humans as the host. That was at least original.
Overall I would say unless you are a huge Alien fan like myself, don't bother. Waste of paper. Probably rushed out to make it to shelves before Alien Covenant comes out.
One story that "bugged" the shit out of me was the one about Hicks. I'm totally going to spoil this POS for you so you can skip it. So now Hicks was married to a female marine before the events in Aliens. She is far out in space somewhere on a mission and runs into danger. She messages Hicks that she is in trouble and gets cut off halfway through the message. He goes off into deep space to find her and battles Aliens. Let's just ignore the physics of long distance travel here. She dies before he finds her and Hicks makes it his sole purpose in life to take out all Aliens. So he somehow manages to get into the platoon that heads to LV-426 just so he can get revenge on the species that killed his wife. C'mon man. Really? I'm not buying any of that person's books. Why is the universe so small that Hicks has to already know about the Aliens?
Then there is a huge F up about Burke. Funny thing is the story isn't that bad. You get into the mind of Burke during the time he was captured by the Aliens and cocooned. However, the editor of the story must have tried to cut it down in size and accidentally deleted a few paragraphs that needed to be in there. It made zero sense. In on paragraph he has no weapons, then a few pages later, he has a grenade. In one sentence he has zero chance of escaping the cocoon, then in the same paragraph, he is suddenly running down the hall after Ripley, Newt, and the queen. No mention of him breaking free. I had to read it twice to be sure my mind didn't wander and I maybe I missed it. Nope. Didn't miss it. I also didn't miss the author meaning to type "get it off Ripley's tail" but instead typed "get it off Ridley's tale". As in Ridley Scott's tale about an Alien. Who wrote this, Deadpool? Then the Alien gestates in like 13 minutes and hatches. Kinda like in that shitty AVP movie that the author must have watched before writing this. You were doing so good until you went there. I can forgive the typos and bad edits. The Alien gestation period is pretty fast as it is. You don't need to cut it down to 13 minutes (which was the minimum time to reach safe distance) just to fit it into your 10 page story. It makes the story go from good to ridiculous and then it winds up in my shitty review.
There were also a lot of factual errors that referenced the movies. Ripley didn't nuke the planet from orbit. They only suggested they nuke it. They didn't have to because the crash of the drop ship caused a chain reaction, which caused a meltdown. Bishop explained the whole thing in the movie. 17 hours until it blows. The Aliens aren't really Xenomorphs. They may have adopted that name because everyone mistakenly calls them that, but the authors are not helping that. Watch the movie. They didn't know about the Aliens yet. The Xenomorph reference was to something unknown, not the Aliens themselves. Ugh. Another story referenced Alien 3 and forgot that it was a penal colony in the movie, not just lead works. Those were prisoners that stayed after they closed the facility. They were not workers. It is right there in the movie. Maybe before you wrote a book referencing it, you should watch it.
There was a good story about the M41A pulse rifle. Also Scott Sigler took a different approach and wrote from the point of view of the Alien and didn't use humans as the host. That was at least original.
Overall I would say unless you are a huge Alien fan like myself, don't bother. Waste of paper. Probably rushed out to make it to shelves before Alien Covenant comes out.
April 23, 2021
This was one of those random pickups that was advertised on one of the many book clubs I am a member of. I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. I am a huge fan of Jonathan Maberry and as the editor and a contributor, how could I not read it. All in all, it was a decent collection, and for the fan of the Alien series a nice addition to the world.
March 11, 2021
The obstacle I always encounter reading anthologies is that I'm having to consolidate my thoughts on all the individual stories into one overall review, whilst also commenting on the quality of the editing.
I will give it my best, but first of all I will provide a story-by-story review, and then wrap up with my overall thoughts. These notes/thoughts also include a short sentence on whether or not I consider them to be canonical, and roughly where in the timeline I would place them.
Also, expect mild spoilers for the stories (but then I guess that's what the Spoiler Warning option is all about.
Chance Encounter:
Though setting it in Zeta² Reticuli System somewhat confuses me, as it does not seem consistent with what has already been explored in-universe, the story itself was good. It was entertaining to see the Xenomorph being described differently, and even given a different name; safe to assume these Xenomorphs had non-human hosts. Also enjoyed the glimpse at a nest inside a corpse. Unsure how I feel about the ending; I don't quite understand how the marine stole an Ovomorph without it opening and infecting him, but it was a good commentary on human and corporate greed.
Set after the events of Aliens and Alien 3, almost certainly, and maybe closer to Resurrection than to those particular films.
Reaper:
A fun story, exploring elements of world- (or universe-) building, detailing one of the ways food is produced for the colonies, whilst also telling a fine story about Colonial Marines on a mission to investigate strange happenings. Somewhat refreshing to read a story in this universe that doesn't involve Xenomorph XX-121. Excellent writing, interesting if somewhat basic characters, and some fantastic imagery - especially the belt buckle falling to the floor.
Unclear where it fits into the in-universe timeline. I'm going to assume it may be a pre-Aliens, and maybe even pre-Alien story, but I also think it could easily fit absolutely anywhere in the timeline as long as the USCM exists in it.
Broken:
A story about Bishop, the synth/android/artificial person we meet in Aliens. It was a fun story, perhaps playing a bit loose with continuity in regards to synthetics (and the creator of Bishop's model), but it was interesting to get another story describing a Colonial Marines mission, especially from the perspective of Bishop who, it is implied, is a somewhat more independent variant of synthetic, unlike the other models of his kind. He calls himself "different". Would this perhaps explain why he didn't follow Special Order 937 in Aliens?
Based before Aliens, definitely, as it ends with Bishop being introduced to Hudson and Apone.
Reclamation:
This one was a story about Corporal Hicks, also of Aliens fame. It was an interesting glimpse into his past, and perhaps also something of an explanation for his affections for Ripley. Very well-written, with great emotion and action, and seemed quite consistent with wider Alien continuity. I like how the identity of the lifeform Hicks encounters is kept ambiguous; was it Xenomorph XX-121, or was it a lifeform of a different kind? We may never know, and that makes the story all the better.
Before Aliens, and probably also before "Broken".
Blowback:
A damn good story exploring a mission carried out by the majority of the Marines we meet in Aliens. Well written, giving extra details of the characters' relationships and experiences. Good action, if a little messy at times, but I think this reflects the chaos of the scene quite well. I liked the ominous ending, too; we know that most of the squad make it out alive, but certain new names/faces have slightly less certain fates, especially with that cliffhanger ending.
Based before Aliens, definitely. After Reclamation, but probably before Broken.
Exterminators:
A story focused on Dietrich and Frost, two of the Marines met in Aliens, and a close encounter with a dangerous variety of bug (in a very literal sense). Fast-paced, almost reading like a horror story of some kind at the start. Quite tense, whilst also being quick, though not rushed. The relationship between Dietrich and Frost in this story somewhat seems to contradict what is shown in Blowback, but I imagine friendships shift and change often in the Corp.
I would place this story before Blowback, and assume this was before Frost and Dietrich joined the squad we meet in Aliens.
No Good Deed:
This story wasn't exactly a Colonial Marines story, but it tied in nicely with the wider universe, following a bounty hunter who pursues two fugitives to Acheron (LV-426). The Xenomorph outbreak, however, has already begun. I liked this story. A few bits of description felt repetitive, but overall I liked the characterisation and plot.
It takes place during the events directly leading up to Aliens, but it is clear that the outbreak has already begun, which means River of Pain almost certainly comes first.
Zero to Hero:
This was an interesting one, that does have me - concerned might not be the right word - hesitant about what the author, Weston Ochse, will bring to his upcoming Alien novel. Rather than Weyland-Yutani, it's "No Wey Yu", which is something that has never cropped up in any Aliens media I've read/watched/played. It was a non-Xenomorph story, though, albeit with mention of them (rumours spreading about something like them existing). The story itself was somewhat interesting, though the pacing seemed a little off, and there wasn't a whole lot of characterisation going on. The main character seemed to go through some spontaneous character development that didn't quite make sense to me. Still, overlooking the No Wey Yu anomaly, I guess it probably fits into canon.
This one also actually has a date for when it takes place: 2182.
Dark Mother:
This story, taking place within the story of Aliens, follows the sleazy Carter Burke in the aftermath of the Xenomorph (XX-121) attack on the Marines, which left only Ripley, Hicks and Newt alive. It was a story that needed some further editing, as I am confident I encountered a fair few typos, but the plot itself was fun. It was interesting to get a glimpse at Burke's backstory, which pretty much proved he was a psychopath, as well as see him get what he deserved.
It somewhat contradicts the infamous deleted scene from Aliens, but that scene was deleted, so is probably non-canon. Some other inconsistencies, which the story seemed maybe a little self-aware of, even if they did read a bit like editor's notes, but overall a decent story.
I'll say that it is canonical, and is based at the end of Aliens.
Episode 22:
A fun "story", reading more as an in-universe essay/podcast about the M41A Pulse Rifle; this was a very entertaining, informative and well-written piece of writing.
No specified date, but I'd probably place it before the events of Aliens, and after 2171.
Deep Background:
This story follows a talented, thorough journalist who is attached to a Colonial Marines squad in order to uncover some dirt on Weyland-Yutani. They're sent on a mission, much to the journalist's surprise, which brings them face to face with Xenomorphs, resulting in a shocking twist at the end that really highlights how far the corporate corruption of the Alien universe has spread.
I liked this story. It was entertaining to experience a Colonial Marines mission from an outsider's perspective, much as we were for the Aliens movie. There was also some fairly effective world-building, though the story was hampered a little by what I considered to be contradictions of the wider universe (especially the emergence of a chestburster as soon as the facehugger detached).
Based after the events of Aliens.
Empty Nest:
Okay, so this was an interesting one. A Colonial Marine is the last survivor of his mission, and he finds a woman in a Xenomorph XX-121 hive surrounded by Xenomorphs.
It was well-written, tense, and made you feel for the characters despite the brevity of their presence in the narrative. The final twist was also very good, if somewhat predictable in parts. However, it talks about these Marines fighting Xenomorphs multiple times beforehand, and even having equipment meant to protect them from the acid blood. I am unsure what this means for its canonicity, but considering how the franchise is evolving, I believe it may fit in after all.
I'll place it sometime before Alien Resurrection (and the formation of the United Systems Military), but after Aliens: Fireteam.
Darkness Falls:
This story follows an ex-Colonial Marine as she is drawn, mostly against her own will, into a fight against Xenomorphs (XX-121) in a mine in order to save some children.
Probably the first of these stories that I outright consider non-canon, owing to its setting - are we really meant to believe we've just casually expanded to another galaxy? - and certain approaches taken towards the Xenomorphs - I really don't like the idea of a Xenomorph having 100 legs. It's also another story that implies repeated encounters with Xenomorphs, and extensive knowledge of them.
However, it was mostly well-written (aside from some typos), and moved at a decent pace. Probably one of the more inferior stories in this collection, though.
Non-Canon; this one will not be going on my list.
Hugs To Die For:
This story takes us to a research facility run by "the Company", where they have managed to contain Xenomorph (XX-121) eggs for the purpose of extracting acid from facehuggers. An interesting premise, and one doomed to fail, as one would expect. It's a fun little look at what could happen if the megacorporations did get their hands on Xenomorph specimens, but it's another one that I have to consider as non-canon, as containment on the scale described has not occurred (based on information in Alien Resurrection and in the Weyland-Yutani Report), or if it has, not with as much public knowledge as this story implies. It also struck me as another story that was in need of some extra editing, owing to more typos.
Non-Canon; this one will not be going on my list.
Deep Black:
This one, the only story in this collection to be told in first person, sees us join a trio of Colonial Marines on a mission to Fiorina 161, the setting of Alien 3, to investigate signs of activity on the planet. They know nothing to the Xenomorph (XX-121) and the events of Ripley's life until they arrive, and the details are shared with them by an android. It's another interesting one, with a great voice to it, and it seems to be reasonably consistent with canon and continuity, though I'm not sure I like the implications it was making about extra eggs/facehuggers somehow being hidden on the Sulaco, and therefore on the EEV, and somehow hiding away on Fury for ten years. As the Xenomorph is never actually seen, only implied, however, I am willing to include it, and suggest that it could be an altogether different creature. That, or there were two facehuggers: one Royal Facehugger, which impregnated Ripley and the dog/cow (in accordance with a personal theory I outline in a Wattpad "essay" entitled "The Biology and Life-Cycle of the Xenomorph"), and one regular Facehugger that somehow ended up frozen somewhere by accident and thawed out, leading to the events of this story.
Based ten years after Alien 3.
Distressed:
This story was a non-Xenomorph (XX-121) story, following some Colonial Marines as they encounter a very unusual alien entity of some kind, which proves very, very, very difficult to defeat. It also explores the incentives offered by Weyland-Yutani to the USCM. It was well-written, well-paced, and fit quite nicely into the universe even if the lifeform is completely new.
I would base this one somewhere between the original Alien trilogy and Resurrection, before the establishment of the USM.
Dangerous Prey:
I have mixed feelings about this one. It tells a story from the perspective of a few Xenomorphs (XX-121), giving a glimpse into their instinctual processes, and the workings of their lifecycle from the alien's perspective. It was interesting, and the writing was very good; I definitely felt like I was experiencing the thoughts of something alien. My problem, though, is that it takes away some of the mystery behind how the Xenomorph thinks and operates, as well as focusing very much on the insect analogy, where I personally don't think the Xenomorph can be so simply classified. Aside from this gripe, though, it was a good story, even if I am left a little confused whether they were attacking humans or not.
As for where this one might exist in the timeline, I'd probably put it after Aliens, and maybe even after Aliens: Fireteam.
Spite:
I have to say, I've really enjoyed the stories that don't feature Xenomorph XX-121, and this is definitely one of my favourites, because at first I thought it was going to be another Aliens-style Xenomorph story. A squad of Colonial Marines are sent to a research base to retrieve data and survivors, only to find that that's no longer possible. Plus, there's some good in-squad division, which really adds to the story, plus an ending that's both tragic and epic. My only issue: again with the acid resistant armour.
But with that in mind, I'll be placing this one after Aliens: Fireteam in my canon timeline.
Overall, then, my thoughts are positive. Even with the flaws in some of these stories, I immensely enjoyed the entire book. It did the job of expanding elements of the Alien Universe really well, with interesting characters and stories. The authors also, for the most part, did a good job of making their stories fit with existing continuity (at least from my perspective).
I can see myself returning to the stories in this collection if I ever need a short immersion into one of my favourite franchises, and would definitely recommend it to hard-core fans.
I will give it my best, but first of all I will provide a story-by-story review, and then wrap up with my overall thoughts. These notes/thoughts also include a short sentence on whether or not I consider them to be canonical, and roughly where in the timeline I would place them.
Also, expect mild spoilers for the stories (but then I guess that's what the Spoiler Warning option is all about.
Chance Encounter:
Though setting it in Zeta² Reticuli System somewhat confuses me, as it does not seem consistent with what has already been explored in-universe, the story itself was good. It was entertaining to see the Xenomorph being described differently, and even given a different name; safe to assume these Xenomorphs had non-human hosts. Also enjoyed the glimpse at a nest inside a corpse. Unsure how I feel about the ending; I don't quite understand how the marine stole an Ovomorph without it opening and infecting him, but it was a good commentary on human and corporate greed.
Set after the events of Aliens and Alien 3, almost certainly, and maybe closer to Resurrection than to those particular films.
Reaper:
A fun story, exploring elements of world- (or universe-) building, detailing one of the ways food is produced for the colonies, whilst also telling a fine story about Colonial Marines on a mission to investigate strange happenings. Somewhat refreshing to read a story in this universe that doesn't involve Xenomorph XX-121. Excellent writing, interesting if somewhat basic characters, and some fantastic imagery - especially the belt buckle falling to the floor.
Unclear where it fits into the in-universe timeline. I'm going to assume it may be a pre-Aliens, and maybe even pre-Alien story, but I also think it could easily fit absolutely anywhere in the timeline as long as the USCM exists in it.
Broken:
A story about Bishop, the synth/android/artificial person we meet in Aliens. It was a fun story, perhaps playing a bit loose with continuity in regards to synthetics (and the creator of Bishop's model), but it was interesting to get another story describing a Colonial Marines mission, especially from the perspective of Bishop who, it is implied, is a somewhat more independent variant of synthetic, unlike the other models of his kind. He calls himself "different". Would this perhaps explain why he didn't follow Special Order 937 in Aliens?
Based before Aliens, definitely, as it ends with Bishop being introduced to Hudson and Apone.
Reclamation:
This one was a story about Corporal Hicks, also of Aliens fame. It was an interesting glimpse into his past, and perhaps also something of an explanation for his affections for Ripley. Very well-written, with great emotion and action, and seemed quite consistent with wider Alien continuity. I like how the identity of the lifeform Hicks encounters is kept ambiguous; was it Xenomorph XX-121, or was it a lifeform of a different kind? We may never know, and that makes the story all the better.
Before Aliens, and probably also before "Broken".
Blowback:
A damn good story exploring a mission carried out by the majority of the Marines we meet in Aliens. Well written, giving extra details of the characters' relationships and experiences. Good action, if a little messy at times, but I think this reflects the chaos of the scene quite well. I liked the ominous ending, too; we know that most of the squad make it out alive, but certain new names/faces have slightly less certain fates, especially with that cliffhanger ending.
Based before Aliens, definitely. After Reclamation, but probably before Broken.
Exterminators:
A story focused on Dietrich and Frost, two of the Marines met in Aliens, and a close encounter with a dangerous variety of bug (in a very literal sense). Fast-paced, almost reading like a horror story of some kind at the start. Quite tense, whilst also being quick, though not rushed. The relationship between Dietrich and Frost in this story somewhat seems to contradict what is shown in Blowback, but I imagine friendships shift and change often in the Corp.
I would place this story before Blowback, and assume this was before Frost and Dietrich joined the squad we meet in Aliens.
No Good Deed:
This story wasn't exactly a Colonial Marines story, but it tied in nicely with the wider universe, following a bounty hunter who pursues two fugitives to Acheron (LV-426). The Xenomorph outbreak, however, has already begun. I liked this story. A few bits of description felt repetitive, but overall I liked the characterisation and plot.
It takes place during the events directly leading up to Aliens, but it is clear that the outbreak has already begun, which means River of Pain almost certainly comes first.
Zero to Hero:
This was an interesting one, that does have me - concerned might not be the right word - hesitant about what the author, Weston Ochse, will bring to his upcoming Alien novel. Rather than Weyland-Yutani, it's "No Wey Yu", which is something that has never cropped up in any Aliens media I've read/watched/played. It was a non-Xenomorph story, though, albeit with mention of them (rumours spreading about something like them existing). The story itself was somewhat interesting, though the pacing seemed a little off, and there wasn't a whole lot of characterisation going on. The main character seemed to go through some spontaneous character development that didn't quite make sense to me. Still, overlooking the No Wey Yu anomaly, I guess it probably fits into canon.
This one also actually has a date for when it takes place: 2182.
Dark Mother:
This story, taking place within the story of Aliens, follows the sleazy Carter Burke in the aftermath of the Xenomorph (XX-121) attack on the Marines, which left only Ripley, Hicks and Newt alive. It was a story that needed some further editing, as I am confident I encountered a fair few typos, but the plot itself was fun. It was interesting to get a glimpse at Burke's backstory, which pretty much proved he was a psychopath, as well as see him get what he deserved.
It somewhat contradicts the infamous deleted scene from Aliens, but that scene was deleted, so is probably non-canon. Some other inconsistencies, which the story seemed maybe a little self-aware of, even if they did read a bit like editor's notes, but overall a decent story.
I'll say that it is canonical, and is based at the end of Aliens.
Episode 22:
A fun "story", reading more as an in-universe essay/podcast about the M41A Pulse Rifle; this was a very entertaining, informative and well-written piece of writing.
No specified date, but I'd probably place it before the events of Aliens, and after 2171.
Deep Background:
This story follows a talented, thorough journalist who is attached to a Colonial Marines squad in order to uncover some dirt on Weyland-Yutani. They're sent on a mission, much to the journalist's surprise, which brings them face to face with Xenomorphs, resulting in a shocking twist at the end that really highlights how far the corporate corruption of the Alien universe has spread.
I liked this story. It was entertaining to experience a Colonial Marines mission from an outsider's perspective, much as we were for the Aliens movie. There was also some fairly effective world-building, though the story was hampered a little by what I considered to be contradictions of the wider universe (especially the emergence of a chestburster as soon as the facehugger detached).
Based after the events of Aliens.
Empty Nest:
Okay, so this was an interesting one. A Colonial Marine is the last survivor of his mission, and he finds a woman in a Xenomorph XX-121 hive surrounded by Xenomorphs.
It was well-written, tense, and made you feel for the characters despite the brevity of their presence in the narrative. The final twist was also very good, if somewhat predictable in parts. However, it talks about these Marines fighting Xenomorphs multiple times beforehand, and even having equipment meant to protect them from the acid blood. I am unsure what this means for its canonicity, but considering how the franchise is evolving, I believe it may fit in after all.
I'll place it sometime before Alien Resurrection (and the formation of the United Systems Military), but after Aliens: Fireteam.
Darkness Falls:
This story follows an ex-Colonial Marine as she is drawn, mostly against her own will, into a fight against Xenomorphs (XX-121) in a mine in order to save some children.
Probably the first of these stories that I outright consider non-canon, owing to its setting - are we really meant to believe we've just casually expanded to another galaxy? - and certain approaches taken towards the Xenomorphs - I really don't like the idea of a Xenomorph having 100 legs. It's also another story that implies repeated encounters with Xenomorphs, and extensive knowledge of them.
However, it was mostly well-written (aside from some typos), and moved at a decent pace. Probably one of the more inferior stories in this collection, though.
Non-Canon; this one will not be going on my list.
Hugs To Die For:
This story takes us to a research facility run by "the Company", where they have managed to contain Xenomorph (XX-121) eggs for the purpose of extracting acid from facehuggers. An interesting premise, and one doomed to fail, as one would expect. It's a fun little look at what could happen if the megacorporations did get their hands on Xenomorph specimens, but it's another one that I have to consider as non-canon, as containment on the scale described has not occurred (based on information in Alien Resurrection and in the Weyland-Yutani Report), or if it has, not with as much public knowledge as this story implies. It also struck me as another story that was in need of some extra editing, owing to more typos.
Non-Canon; this one will not be going on my list.
Deep Black:
This one, the only story in this collection to be told in first person, sees us join a trio of Colonial Marines on a mission to Fiorina 161, the setting of Alien 3, to investigate signs of activity on the planet. They know nothing to the Xenomorph (XX-121) and the events of Ripley's life until they arrive, and the details are shared with them by an android. It's another interesting one, with a great voice to it, and it seems to be reasonably consistent with canon and continuity, though I'm not sure I like the implications it was making about extra eggs/facehuggers somehow being hidden on the Sulaco, and therefore on the EEV, and somehow hiding away on Fury for ten years. As the Xenomorph is never actually seen, only implied, however, I am willing to include it, and suggest that it could be an altogether different creature. That, or there were two facehuggers: one Royal Facehugger, which impregnated Ripley and the dog/cow (in accordance with a personal theory I outline in a Wattpad "essay" entitled "The Biology and Life-Cycle of the Xenomorph"), and one regular Facehugger that somehow ended up frozen somewhere by accident and thawed out, leading to the events of this story.
Based ten years after Alien 3.
Distressed:
This story was a non-Xenomorph (XX-121) story, following some Colonial Marines as they encounter a very unusual alien entity of some kind, which proves very, very, very difficult to defeat. It also explores the incentives offered by Weyland-Yutani to the USCM. It was well-written, well-paced, and fit quite nicely into the universe even if the lifeform is completely new.
I would base this one somewhere between the original Alien trilogy and Resurrection, before the establishment of the USM.
Dangerous Prey:
I have mixed feelings about this one. It tells a story from the perspective of a few Xenomorphs (XX-121), giving a glimpse into their instinctual processes, and the workings of their lifecycle from the alien's perspective. It was interesting, and the writing was very good; I definitely felt like I was experiencing the thoughts of something alien. My problem, though, is that it takes away some of the mystery behind how the Xenomorph thinks and operates, as well as focusing very much on the insect analogy, where I personally don't think the Xenomorph can be so simply classified. Aside from this gripe, though, it was a good story, even if I am left a little confused whether they were attacking humans or not.
As for where this one might exist in the timeline, I'd probably put it after Aliens, and maybe even after Aliens: Fireteam.
Spite:
I have to say, I've really enjoyed the stories that don't feature Xenomorph XX-121, and this is definitely one of my favourites, because at first I thought it was going to be another Aliens-style Xenomorph story. A squad of Colonial Marines are sent to a research base to retrieve data and survivors, only to find that that's no longer possible. Plus, there's some good in-squad division, which really adds to the story, plus an ending that's both tragic and epic. My only issue: again with the acid resistant armour.
But with that in mind, I'll be placing this one after Aliens: Fireteam in my canon timeline.
Overall, then, my thoughts are positive. Even with the flaws in some of these stories, I immensely enjoyed the entire book. It did the job of expanding elements of the Alien Universe really well, with interesting characters and stories. The authors also, for the most part, did a good job of making their stories fit with existing continuity (at least from my perspective).
I can see myself returning to the stories in this collection if I ever need a short immersion into one of my favourite franchises, and would definitely recommend it to hard-core fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2023
Entertaining supernatural listening 🎶🔰
This is an kindle e-book from the local library.
There are nineteen novellas by various authors. As with multiple story books 📚 some of the stories are more entertaining than others but that is normal.
I enjoyed most of the stories. They are very futuristic military action adventure with the marines corp. Each story is different with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to each conclusion. Some characters do repeat in a different novella.
I would highly recommend this book and authors to 👍readers space opera futuristic military action novels 👍🔰 2023 👒😉😀💘
This is an kindle e-book from the local library.
There are nineteen novellas by various authors. As with multiple story books 📚 some of the stories are more entertaining than others but that is normal.
I enjoyed most of the stories. They are very futuristic military action adventure with the marines corp. Each story is different with interesting well developed characters lots of action and misdirection leading to each conclusion. Some characters do repeat in a different novella.
I would highly recommend this book and authors to 👍readers space opera futuristic military action novels 👍🔰 2023 👒😉😀💘
July 22, 2022
A series of short stories which look at various attempts to capture or evade the Xenomorphs. The collection is well selected and what unites the stories is that, no matter how alien the creatures are, the inhumanity of the faceless Weyland-Yutani Corporation is what is truly horrific.
May 29, 2020
I'd like to thank Heather Graham for turning a critter I'm already terrified of into a gigantic f*** beast. I hate centipedes. Hate them, with a capital S, as in screw centipedes. She took them and made them gigantic with metal mouths because that's what they need, they just weren't scary enough for her. Gross. As it is her short in this was the most effective for me, it was Darkness Falls.
My second favorite takes place after my favorite of the Alien movies, Alien 3. For me it's the best, followed by Aliens. It was Deep Black and it explored more of the companies that exist in the Alien universe and I enjoyed that.
In this series of short stories they really explored Dietrich's backstory and I wasn't expecting that at all. I didn't even remember who she was in Aliens sadly, but after reading this I'm gonna jump into that flick and pay closer attention.
I loved that this series of shorts explored new biology amongst the Alien universe and for me it was kick ass. I would have loved to see one of these new organisms square off against the xenomorph but it didn't happen. Surprisingly they didn't add a predator into the mix just for grins.
Now for the worst of the bunch there is only one that had me cringe pretty much the entire time. I don't use the word cringe often, in fact I think this is the first time I've used it in a review? Maybe, who the hell knows. Anyway, that title belongs to Deep Background. It didn't add anything to the mythos and it just felt cheap all the way around. The characters were weak sauce and I really didn't care if they lived or died.
I read Jonathan Maberry's V-Wars anthology and for me this was a nice change of pace. Yvonne Navarro is amazing in this again just like in V-Wars, with her backstory of Hicks.
This was a Father/Son read so I will be revisiting this here review when he's done but in the meantime... here is said update. My son's dog ate his copy of the book... quite literally. It looks like it was ran through a paper shredder. I guess she didn't like centipedes either lol.
There it is and there you have it.
My second favorite takes place after my favorite of the Alien movies, Alien 3. For me it's the best, followed by Aliens. It was Deep Black and it explored more of the companies that exist in the Alien universe and I enjoyed that.
In this series of short stories they really explored Dietrich's backstory and I wasn't expecting that at all. I didn't even remember who she was in Aliens sadly, but after reading this I'm gonna jump into that flick and pay closer attention.
I loved that this series of shorts explored new biology amongst the Alien universe and for me it was kick ass. I would have loved to see one of these new organisms square off against the xenomorph but it didn't happen. Surprisingly they didn't add a predator into the mix just for grins.
Now for the worst of the bunch there is only one that had me cringe pretty much the entire time. I don't use the word cringe often, in fact I think this is the first time I've used it in a review? Maybe, who the hell knows. Anyway, that title belongs to Deep Background. It didn't add anything to the mythos and it just felt cheap all the way around. The characters were weak sauce and I really didn't care if they lived or died.
I read Jonathan Maberry's V-Wars anthology and for me this was a nice change of pace. Yvonne Navarro is amazing in this again just like in V-Wars, with her backstory of Hicks.
This was a Father/Son read so I will be revisiting this here review when he's done but in the meantime... here is said update. My son's dog ate his copy of the book... quite literally. It looks like it was ran through a paper shredder. I guess she didn't like centipedes either lol.
There it is and there you have it.
January 6, 2018
I am an unadulterated Aliens fan. Not ashamed of it all and never will be. This book came across my radar due to a good friend a few months back. I decided finally to get a used copy on Amazon. Just spent the last week reading it and it was really good!
What you have here is a set of short stories by many very good authors, including my favorite author of all time, Dan Abnett. Jonathan Maberry is the editor of this book, compiling these stories to make this wonderful tome. He himself has written a bunch of books and is an awesome writer. There are quite a few stories here, and many made me really interested. Some take events from the Colonial Marines past, including distinct stories that are about the Marines from Aliens, such as Hudson and Hicks, Sgt. Apone and Vasquez. There is a story about Deitrich and Frost in a backwater colony. What you must know is that while the stories are called Bug Hunt, these are not only Aliens stories. There a new and terrifying Xenomorphs and other Aliens written about here. There is also a story from the viewpoint of an Alien warrior, and even a newly emerged Queen. Really interesting takes on the source material and some expanded to reflect time periods before, during and after the events of Aliens. This one is a must for fans of the movies like me. There is even a story that takes place a decade after the events of Aliens 3.
Man this was a hoot!
Danny
What you have here is a set of short stories by many very good authors, including my favorite author of all time, Dan Abnett. Jonathan Maberry is the editor of this book, compiling these stories to make this wonderful tome. He himself has written a bunch of books and is an awesome writer. There are quite a few stories here, and many made me really interested. Some take events from the Colonial Marines past, including distinct stories that are about the Marines from Aliens, such as Hudson and Hicks, Sgt. Apone and Vasquez. There is a story about Deitrich and Frost in a backwater colony. What you must know is that while the stories are called Bug Hunt, these are not only Aliens stories. There a new and terrifying Xenomorphs and other Aliens written about here. There is also a story from the viewpoint of an Alien warrior, and even a newly emerged Queen. Really interesting takes on the source material and some expanded to reflect time periods before, during and after the events of Aliens. This one is a must for fans of the movies like me. There is even a story that takes place a decade after the events of Aliens 3.
Man this was a hoot!
Danny
June 16, 2022
This collection of stories is a love-letter to the Colonial Marines— those intrepid fighters who are sent to deal with alien horrors. They describe such acts as 'Bug hunt'. But unlike mere descriptions of movements and gore-fest, I found the stories to be surprisingly diverse, nuanced, humane. But above all, they were terrifying!
Here the Marines (and one of their collegueas) encounter not only the xenomorphs, but also other, stranger horrors.
My favourites were~
1. Dan Abnett's 'Reaper';
2. Rachel Caine's 'Broken';
3. Yvonne Navarro's 'Reclamation';
4. Ray Garton's 'No Good Deed';
5. David Farland's 'Dark Mother';
6. Larry Correia's 'Episode 22';
7. Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter's "Hugs to Die For"— the BEST story in this book;
8. Jonathan Maberry's 'Deep Black';
9. Scott Sigler's 'Dangerous Prey';
10. Tim Lebbon's 'Sprite'.
With so many memorable stories in this one, I have no choice but to give five stars to this thoroughly enjoyable anthology.
Highly recommended.
Here the Marines (and one of their collegueas) encounter not only the xenomorphs, but also other, stranger horrors.
My favourites were~
1. Dan Abnett's 'Reaper';
2. Rachel Caine's 'Broken';
3. Yvonne Navarro's 'Reclamation';
4. Ray Garton's 'No Good Deed';
5. David Farland's 'Dark Mother';
6. Larry Correia's 'Episode 22';
7. Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter's "Hugs to Die For"— the BEST story in this book;
8. Jonathan Maberry's 'Deep Black';
9. Scott Sigler's 'Dangerous Prey';
10. Tim Lebbon's 'Sprite'.
With so many memorable stories in this one, I have no choice but to give five stars to this thoroughly enjoyable anthology.
Highly recommended.
October 28, 2019
Kuperberg the author of the very first story doesn't know the difference between radar and sonar or a flashbang vs. concussion grenade and yet he is writing military sci-fi about colonial Marines in the aliens universe? are you kidding me?
you could accuse me of nitpicking but I would disagree. the author has no background in military sci-fi he writes comic book such a Spider-Man and Scooby-Doo and should not have been chosen for this anthology.
I could just skip this first story move on to the next as there are many in this anthology but if the editor did not catch these obvious mistakes in the very first story then I have no confidence in the rest of the book.
maybe there are good stories here that I'm going to miss out on. that's the fault of crappy editing. when my suspension of disbelief is wrecked at the very beginning in the first story than the entire anthology is wrecked for me.
this is bad writing by authors who have no business in this genre.
you could accuse me of nitpicking but I would disagree. the author has no background in military sci-fi he writes comic book such a Spider-Man and Scooby-Doo and should not have been chosen for this anthology.
I could just skip this first story move on to the next as there are many in this anthology but if the editor did not catch these obvious mistakes in the very first story then I have no confidence in the rest of the book.
maybe there are good stories here that I'm going to miss out on. that's the fault of crappy editing. when my suspension of disbelief is wrecked at the very beginning in the first story than the entire anthology is wrecked for me.
this is bad writing by authors who have no business in this genre.
February 8, 2021
I find it can be challenging to review collections of short stories because of the varying degrees of styles and skill levels of the authors but unfortunately in the case of this 80% of these were just bad. A lot of them didn’t fit in with the continuity they were trying to establish and the ones that did their own thing we’re just out right uninspired. There really were not any memorable stories here. Unfortunately I recommend just skipping this.
May 15, 2017
A wonderful collection filled to the brim with entertaining stories set in the Aliens/Colonial Marines universe. A couple of the tales didn't resonate with me, but for the most part I was on the edge of my seat whilst reading. Well worth picking up if you love anything related to the xenomorph.
4 out of 5 stars.
4 out of 5 stars.
August 27, 2019
Some of the stories were okay. The rest were awful.
The worst was one where a bunch of marines read a report about xenomorphs, went to an abandoned ship, heard screams and xenomorph shrieks inside, said nope and left. The end.
The worst was one where a bunch of marines read a report about xenomorphs, went to an abandoned ship, heard screams and xenomorph shrieks inside, said nope and left. The end.
Read
October 1, 2017This is an odd blend of mostly competent fan fiction and some great gems in the midst of these. The Bishop based story is a real standout, and also the one from Brian Keene. Worth taking a gander for Aliens completists but like some of the comics they can verge on overly repetitive scenarios i.e marines are sent to a random planet, aliens or similar beasties are there, most if them die horribly! These aren't exactly as Lovecraftian as I'd have hoped but they are mostly (mostly...) punchy and action oriented. Just don't expect every single one to be a winner.
December 24, 2024
4.5*
Col·lecció de 18 relats, la majoria dels quals excel·lents, ambientats en l'univers de la pel·lícula Aliens i interpretats pels Marines Colonials, editat pel gran Jonathan Maberry. Lectura molt recomanable per a tothom i obligatòria si, com jo, ets fan d'Alien i Aliens, tot un plaer retrobar en Hicks, en Hudson i la resta, també en Burke, excepcional el relat que ens explica el que li passa i no veiem a la pel·lícula.
Col·lecció de 18 relats, la majoria dels quals excel·lents, ambientats en l'univers de la pel·lícula Aliens i interpretats pels Marines Colonials, editat pel gran Jonathan Maberry. Lectura molt recomanable per a tothom i obligatòria si, com jo, ets fan d'Alien i Aliens, tot un plaer retrobar en Hicks, en Hudson i la resta, també en Burke, excepcional el relat que ens explica el que li passa i no veiem a la pel·lícula.
April 27, 2017
Some good stories, but overlong and badly edited. One story even had the notes from the editor left in...
May 28, 2021
I enjoyed it, but found it a bit of a hit and Miss collection. Several hits, and many more hits than misses. A good collection of writers. I enjoyed it overall.
October 21, 2023
I expected more of this I really did
September 3, 2024
Consistently strong Aliens prose tales told from a variety of creative perspectives. Despite a few so-so stories, the entire collection still earns 5 stars for consistency, creativity, and fun. I discovered a few new authors along the way, so big wins all around.
May 5, 2025
A good anthology for fans of the Alien/Aliens universe; less so for anyone else. I liked some of the stories a lot more than others. The audiobook had a wide cast of readers - a different one for each story.
Most of the best stories were the ones with other xenomorph styles. The ones that focused on the film aliens were more of a rehash. That said, my favorite from the volume was probably Hugs to Die For, which was better than "fine" (read the story, you'll get the joke).
Most of the best stories were the ones with other xenomorph styles. The ones that focused on the film aliens were more of a rehash. That said, my favorite from the volume was probably Hugs to Die For, which was better than "fine" (read the story, you'll get the joke).
June 21, 2019
So yeah, I’m gonna try reading pretty much anything that comes from the Alien/Predator universe, and damn the torpedoes (or in this case, reviews). With this book, I’m not sorry I did, but the fun I had is probably not the fun I was expected to have. I felt like an editor reading through a slush pile of submissions to find the few hidden gems that will be published, and I did find them – about two or three really kickass stories, a few more competent-but-unremarkable ones that merit publication. If there were, as the editor says in the intro, tons of submissions that didn’t make the cut, I have to wonder how utterly hopeless the discards looked if this is what made it through.
And then, of course, the editing.
Sure, there are a bunch of typos that slipped through proofreading, but that is nothing remarkable. What is remarkable is a (completely unnecessary) Burke story that, on its own, makes no sense within firmly established canon, and then to add insult to injury it is published in a cut-up editorial-comments-and-all form smack dab in the middle of the anthology, making me wonder whether anyone has even read through the final product before hitting the “publish” button (or whatever it is that publishers do to sign off on a book). I really wanted to like this, but c’mon. As Scott Sigler has shown with the penultimate story, you can do much, much better with such rich source material.
And then, of course, the editing.
Sure, there are a bunch of typos that slipped through proofreading, but that is nothing remarkable. What is remarkable is a (completely unnecessary) Burke story that, on its own, makes no sense within firmly established canon, and then to add insult to injury it is published in a cut-up editorial-comments-and-all form smack dab in the middle of the anthology, making me wonder whether anyone has even read through the final product before hitting the “publish” button (or whatever it is that publishers do to sign off on a book). I really wanted to like this, but c’mon. As Scott Sigler has shown with the penultimate story, you can do much, much better with such rich source material.
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