Predator: If It Bleeds

Aliens / Predator / Prometheus Universe

by Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Editor/Contributor), Holly Roberds (Contributor), Steve Perry (Contributor)

An anthology celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Predator franchise, If It Bleeds includes 17 brand new, never-before-seen or heard stories - exclusive to this collection - featuring the Predators throughout space and time. Based entirely on the original films, novels, and comics, Predator: If It Bleeds (a quote from the original movie) reveals the Predators stalking prey in 12th-century Japan, ninth-century Viking Norway, World War I, Vietnam, the Civil War, Hurricane Katrina, and the modern day, as well as across the far reaches of future space.

- "Devil Dogs" by Tim Lebbon
- "Stonewall's Last Stand" by Jeremy Robinson
- "Rematch" by Steve Perry
- "May Blood Pave My Way Home" by Weston Ochse
- "Storm Blood" by Peter J. Wacks and David Boop
- "Last Report from the KSS Psychopomp" by Jennifer Brozek
- "Skeld's Keep" by S. D. Perry
- "Indigenous Species" by Kevin J. Anderson
- "Blood and Sand" by Mira Grant
- "Tin Warriors" by John Shirley
- "Three Sparks" by Larry Correia
- "The Pilot" by Andrew Mayne
- "Buffalo Jump" by Wendy N. Wagner
- "Drug War" by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds
- "Recon" by Dayton Ward
- "Gameworld" by Jonathan Maberry

The complete list of narrators includes Tom Taylorson, Nicol Zanzarella, Traber Burns, Bradford Hastings, Bahni Turpin, Emily Sutton-Smith, Ulf Bjorklund, James Patrick Cronin, Andrew Eiden, Scott Brick, Feodor Chin, John Pruden, Mark Bramhall, Dan John Miller, Peter Berkrot, and John McLain.

©2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Audiobook, Aliens

Audible Audio

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

Bryan Thomas Schmidt is a national bestselling author and Hugo nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. His fourth novel, Simon Says is a page-turning near future thriller. His debut novel, The Worker Prince received Honorable Mention on Barnes & Noble Book Club’s Year’s Best Science Fiction Releases for 2011. His children’s books, 102 More Hilarious Dinosaur Books For Kids and Abraham Lincoln: Dinosaur Hunter- Land Of Legends appeared from Delabarre Publishing in 2012. His short stories have appeared in Tales of The Talisman, Straight Outta Tombstone, The X-Files: Secret Agendas, Predator: If It Bleeds, Decision Points and many more.

He edited the anthologies Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales #6 for Flying Pen Press, Beyond The Sun for Fairwood Press, Raygun Chronicles: Space Opera For a New Age for Every Day, Shattered Shields with coeditor Jennifer Brozek (Baen, 2014), Mission: Tomorrow (Baen, 2015), Galactic Games (Baen, 2016), Decision Points (WordFire, 2016), Little Green Men--Attack! with Robin Wayne Bailey (Baen, 2017), Monster Hunter Files with Larry Correia (Baen, 2017), Joe Ledger: Unstoppable with Jonathan Maberry (St. Martin's Griffin, 2017), Predator: If It Bleeds and Infinite Stars And Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers both for Titan Books, 2017 and 2019.

As editor, he has edited books for Grail Quest Books, Wordfire Press, Delabarre Publishing and authors including Andy Weir's The Martian which hit number 6 on the New York Times Bestsellers list in 2014, Alan Dean Foster, Mike Resnick, Frank Herbert, Todd McCaffrey, Tracy Hickman, Angie Fox, Leon C. Metz , Ellen C. Maze, David Mark Brown, and more.

He’s also the author of the bestselling nonfiction book How To Write A Novel: The Fundamentals of Fiction.

Bryan can be found online at Facebook, on Twitter as @BryanThomasS and @sffwrtcht and via his website.

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predator is one of my favorite movies so I had to read this the second it came out! I was not disappointed, this was a consistently good time.

My favorite stories were the Predator through history:
Vikings vs Predator
Samurai vs Predator
Civil War plus Predator
Vietnam War plus Predator
I ate this up.

There were also several clever stories of people using the Predator to their advantage:
Abused kids lure Predator home
POW rescues Predator
Pretend to kill Predator... and then let it kill everyone Else
Good stuff.

There was even a story with a female Predator! Oddly, I’d never thought about this... but, uh, it seems other have. A lot.

No comment.

There were two stinkers:
Hurricane Katrina vs Predator vs Megawolf vs Military - the writing was everywhere. Too much for a short story, even with the cute ending.
Retired LAPD + flaming Brazilian gay guy spouting butchered action movie one-liners vs Predator. Oh man did this stink.

Overall, highly entertaining for the Predator fan. Four stars, give me more stories!

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a short story collection, it would only be fair to give thoughts on each story, so here goes:
Story Name: DevilDogs by Tim Lebbon
What is it about? A squad off colonial marines are tasked with a retrieval mission on a remote research station.
Thoughts: This one read very much like an aliens story. Right up to the appearance of the Yaujta. Actually, even then, the feeling remained. Mixed in with the violence and action is quite a hard look on the liberties humanity feels like it can take.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Stonewall’s Last Stand by Jeremy Robson
What is it about? A scouting mission during the American Civil War encounters a Devil in the woods.
Thoughts: This was an enjoyable reworking of the original film as if it were based in 1863 and with some of the hunting gear from Predator 2. It certainly felt as if it were inspired by the pistol given as a trophy at the end of Predator 2. A solid Predator story.
Score: Buy the book for this story
Story Name: Rematch by Steve Perry
What is it about? A Yaujta and her mate hunt down an ooman who had not only survived a previous encounter, but had also killed the hunter.
Thoughts: This is told in from two main perspectives, the humans’ and the predators’ and this does add a nice element with the predators’ interactions with one another. It’s interesting that Steve Perry has changed the lore he set down in his Aliens vs. Predator: Prey novel where the females dominate over the males and see the hunting is beneath them by having a female involved in this hunt.
It’s well paced with a hand bunch of useless oomans for the predators to butcher (literally as a stretching warm up exercise). The tension was well strung and the survival of any of the oomans we cared about was never certain, but then neither was it for the predators either.
Score: Buy the book for this story
Story Name: May Blood Pave My Way Home by Weston Ochse
What is it about? The story follows a band of Buffalo Soldiers based in Central Mexico during the 1916 Punitive Expedition. After an altercation with the native Comanches, four soldiers find themselves in a duelling match against four Ya-OOT-ja to the death.
Thoughts: Despite being based in a battle I’ve never heard of, I found myself quickly invested in this story. The link of the predators to the native Comanche’s was, perhaps, a little tenuous but still believable enough to make sense. The duel itself was refreshing in that I’d not seen predators in a straight-up one-on-one fair(ish) fight. (Unless you count the yakuza in the film Predators.) I also greatly appreciated the handy phonetic spelling of Yautja (I’ve always read it as Yowtcha).
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Storm Blood by Peter J. Wacks and David Boop
What is it about? Based in New Orleans during the height of Storm Catrina, a rescue team save an unconscious boy with some disturbing footage on his camera.
Thoughts: Even though there was no heist this had a resonant feeling of the film Hard Rain starring Christian Slater and Morgan Freeman. This story is a little bit different in that it’s not a Yaujta hunting the people. There’s something else, and the Yautja is hunting that. I can’t say more than that plot-wise, but I can say that the story was very enjoyable, and the creature is an interesting one. It started off using the found footage trope, but thankfully passed that and got on with telling the story properly. Exciting stuff.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Last Report From The KSS Psychopomp by Jennifer Brozek
What is it about? A salvage crew board a derelict scavenger ship, but they’re not alone on board.
Thoughts: This one probably was less impactful as it features in a compilation of Predator stories so you know exactly what’s in store for our hapless space crew. Indeed, this story does play out as expected and this could have had any alien nasty as the ‘monster’ in this one. I still found the action exciting and appreciated the uncertainty as to who, if anyone, would survive.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Skeld’s Keep by S. D. Perry
What is it about? In 820 AD a retired predator leads three newly blooded youngsters on a hunt for Viking oomans.
Thoughts: The story is told from two perspectives, the Vikings’ and the predators’. The Vikings are attempting to take the titular keep that has been ravaged by a mysterious disease. The action is understandably graphic and visceral with lots of bladed weapons encountering those fragile human bodies. The battle did have a certain A Song Of Ice And Fire feel to it. My only issue was that there was no real explanation as to what the illness was.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Indigenous Species by Kevin J. Anderson
What is it about? A colony on the brink of survival finds itself in the middle of a hunt between the planet’s top predator and the Yautja.
Thoughts: This was very reminiscent of Aliens Vs. Predator: Prey by Steve & Stephanie Perry in that the basic premise is the same. The only difference is that the gruzzlies are already native to the planet and the Yautja come specifically to hunt them. I enjoyed the
Score: Buy the book for this story
Story Name: Blood And Sand by Mira Grant
What is it about? Two orphans who live with their abusive aunt and uncle find a change in fortune when a mysterious star lands nearby.
Thoughts: This was a satisfying tale that suggest that the Yautja are more aware of humanity’s shortcomings than we would have thought.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Tin Warrior by John Shirly
What is it about? A soldier who has stood up against a superior officer finds himself testing a reverse-engineered suit of Yaujta armour, against a captive Yaujta.
Thoughts: Anther interesting concept that doesn’t quite go in the expected directions. I found myself rooting for the Yaujta as much as I did the soldier.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Three Sparks by Larry Correia
What is it about? A rogue samurai is given the task of hunting down the Oni of Aokigahara, a forest demon that kills and skins it’s human victims.
Thoughts: A very compelling tale that feels like a retelling of Predator but with a forest instead of a jungle and samurai with swords instead of soldiers with guns. And no chopper, obviously. This was very enjoyable and highly satisfying.
Score: Buy the book for this story
Story Name: The Pilot by Andrew Mayne
What is it about? When a downed American pilot captured by the Russians attempts to escape his captors, he discovers that his fellow prisoner hails from a little further than China as he initially believed.
Thoughts: Easily the best story in this collection so far. The character’s plight was believable and felt authentic from the start. His escape was thrilling and when he joins forces with the otherworldly captive the action is exciting and so well realised through his eyes. I enjoyed this one immensely.
Score: Storytastic!
Story Name: Buffalo Jump by Wendy M. Wagner
What is it about? It’s the wild west and the local sheriff of a small town is approached by a gang from his past.
Thoughts: What happens when a standard Western story is suddenly hijacked by an alien influence. Well, apart from Coyboys and Aliens, this. The story develops naturally as a standard Western with the sheriff standing up to a gang, and then embarking on rescuing a child from a kidnap situation. Then blood starts happening. I enjoyed the unique method used to get the better of the Yautja and again there was an nice insight into how the predators view humanity.
Score: Worth reading
Story Name: Drug War by Bryan Thomas Schmidt & Holly Roberds
What is it about? Twenty years after Predator 2 Harrigan and Garber find themselves facing a familiar threat.
Thoughts: I do appreciate it when a story can tie into established cannon. I like Predator 2 a lot and I thought it great that we had a return of Harrigan. Just like the film, this features a lot of explosive urban combat making this exciting and adrenalin-filled. The final twist was a delight.
Score: Buy the book for this story
Story Name: Recon by Dayron Ward
What is it about? A recon squad deep in the Vietnam jungle find that they’re up against not just the Vietnamese.
Thoughts: Another story heavily influenced by Predator. The characters were a little lacking in their characterisation and the story didn’t really play out much differently to how it does in Predator. It was enjoyable enough and still manages to stand out from the other stories in this collection.
Score: Worth reading.
Story Name: Gameworld by Jonathan Maberry
What is it about? Set in the future on a privately-owned world where an illegal fight arena pits combatants against enhanced dangerous animals. All goes well until a Yautja is made to fight.
Thoughts: This one had quite a bit of build-up, which again was undermined by featuring in a book with a Yautja on the front cover. However, even knowing that the lead character was going to be duelling against a Yautja, the action was still exciting with a Sherlock Holmes level of detail in the combat. The twist in this was very enjoyable, if a little anticipated.
Score: Worth reading.
Final thoughts:
Wow, this was a very enjoyable read were even the worst story was still worth reading. After the disappointing repetitiveness of the short story collection Aliens: Bug Hunt, this was a very pleasant surprise.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great collection of stories. Most are standalone, but for one of them you will want to have read the novel Turnabout and another follows up with characters from Predator 2.

[clumsyplankton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly really loved the majority of the stories in this short collection. Much better then I had expected

[Chris The Lizard from Planet X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predator: If It Bleeds," edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt, is a captivating anthology short story collection that brings together sixteen thrilling stories set in the expansive Predator franchise. Featuring a lineup of talented authors, including Tim Lebbon, John Shirley, Kevin J. Anderson, S.D Perry, and Steve Perry, this anthology explores new and exciting encounters between the formidable Yautja hunters and humanity.

The strength of "Predator: If It Bleeds" lies in its ability to transport readers to different periods of human history and the sci-fi future, providing a fresh and diverse range of settings for the Predator tales. Each story skillfully weaves the Yautja hunters into these unique landscapes, pitting humans against the alien hunters in intense battles of survival.

The anthology showcases the talents of authors who have already made their mark in the Alien/Predator universe through comics and novels. Readers who are familiar with the works of Tim Lebbon, John Shirley, Kevin J. Anderson, S.D Perry, and Steve Perry will find their storytelling expertise on full display in "Predator: If It Bleeds." These authors bring their own unique perspectives and writing styles, ensuring a varied reading experience that will entertain both longtime fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.

One of the highlights of this anthology is the exploration of different periods of human history. From ancient civilizations to Vietnam War and beyond, the stories in "Predator: If It Bleeds" offer a fresh take on the interactions between humans and the Yautja hunters. The clash between primitive societies and the advanced technology of the Predators creates a compelling dynamic, showcasing the resilience and resourcefulness of humanity in the face of a formidable adversary.

In addition to historical settings, the anthology also ventures into the sci-fi future, providing a glimpse into the evolving world where humans must navigate a harsh and unforgiving landscape. These stories offer a blend of action, suspense, and futuristic elements, immersing readers in a world where survival is paramount and the Predators lurk in the shadows.

Each story in "Predator: If It Bleeds" brings its own unique twist to the Predator mythology. From unexpected alliances to clever strategies employed by the human characters, readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning the pages to discover the outcome of each encounter. The anthology effectively captures the essence of the Predator franchise, delivering intense action, thrilling suspense, and the ever-present sense of danger associated with the Yautja hunters.

While the anthology successfully expands the Predator universe and offers a captivating collection of stories, there are instances where certain tales may not resonate as strongly with all readers. The subjective nature of storytelling means that individual preferences may come into play, and some stories may stand out more than others. However, the overall quality of the anthology and the variety it offers make it a worthwhile read for fans of the Predator franchise.

In conclusion, "Predator: If It Bleeds" is a riveting anthology that expands the Predator movie franchise through sixteen thrilling stories. With its exploration of different periods of human history and the harsh sci-fi future, the anthology offers a fresh and diverse range of settings for the Yautja hunters to unleash their deadly skills. Fans of the franchise and newcomers alike will find themselves captivated by the intense action, suspenseful storytelling, and the ever-present sense of danger that permeates this collection.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The anthology began strongly. Then it got mired into history. Then it exploded into other places, other times, and into absolutely different sort of nightmares that seemed both known as well as unknown. Eventually the book ended just like that thirty-five year old film had ended— with all our adrenaline spent but with a huge grin on our faces.
My favourites were~
1. Tim Lebbon's 'Devil Dogs';
2. Steve Perry's 'Rematch';
3. Peter J. Wacks and David Boop's 'Storm Blood';
4. Jennifer Brozek's 'Last Report from the KSS Psychopomp';
5. Mira Grant's 'Blood and Sand';
6. John Shirley's 'The Warror';
7. Larry Correia's 'Three Sparks' (this story alone can make any anthology a must-read);
8. Andrew Mayne's 'The Pilot';
9. Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds's 'Drug War' (this was such a loving tribute to 80-s Hollywood stuff that I had to laugh through lots of violence);
10. Jonathan Maberry's 'Gameworld' (the BEST story of this book).
With so many readable and hugely enjoyable stories, this anthology simply forces me to give it five stars. Highly recommended, goes without saying.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's only so many times you can repeat the exact same formulae across multiple short stories before it becomes an exercise in sheer endurance. Especially when every scenario, no matter how novel, ends up so similar to the last one.

As such this anthology features about two or three tales worth your time with the rest serving as filler. While it's all competently written I would've much preferred fewer, more expanded, stories rather than the scattershot approach of sixteen we've gotten with If It Bleeds instead. A Yautja encounter during hurricane Katrina, as outlandish as that sounds, could have been interesting yet it follows the exact same plot beats as the stories set during the Vietnam war, the American Civil war or feudal Japan.

That said, if you go in with low expectations and spread these out over a longer period you might get more enjoyment out of it. For me however I had forgotten most of these shorts as soon as I turned the page to start the next one...

[Kyle J. Durrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard one to review because 1. It's an anthology, and 2. I read two thirds of it a few years ago and only just read the final few stories.

Fortunately, I kept a running log of my thoughts on each story, including notes on whether they fit into my combined Alien/AvP/Predator headcanon.

Devil Dogs
An interesting story. In some ways, the Yautja was a background presence, but it remained a threat even so. When it struck, it struck with gusto. An effective ending, too, coupled with decent worldbuilding. Does it fit into the continuity I'm piecing together for a combined Alien/AvP/Predator Universe...I'm not sure. Allusions to in-depth knowledge of Yautja and tech not seen in Alien titles. Perhaps late in the timeline, circa the AvP titles I've slotted in.

Stonewall's Last Stand
Set in 1863.
A fun story set during the American Civil War. Reminded me a little of a comic book story set in the same period. Something of a spiritual successor, perhaps. Definitely one that can fit into canon, though.

Rematch
Not a fan of Steve Perry's writing style, I've decided. It works for the pseudo-non-fiction of "The Weyland-Yutani Report" but I struggle with it in fiction. Also, not a big fan of this story, though maybe that's because I don't have a connection with the characters from the (non-canon) novel I haven't read that it's a sequel to. Not canon, and a bit meh.

May Blood Pave My Way Home
Set in 1916.
Fun story. Well-written (mostly) and felt very true to the Yautja. Honestly, better than the author's entry into the "Bug Hunt" anthology. Also one I think fits into my personal headcanon of the shared Alien/AvP/Predator Universe.

Storm Blood
Set in 2005.
This was great. In some ways, the Predator was a background presence, a plot point rather than a character. This worked well for this story, as there were two other threats ongoing. A satisfying ending, too, and it even addressed ways to fit into canon.

Last Report from the KSS Psychopomp
Another fun one. Nothing too crazy. A pleasant future based story. Predator wasn't too prominent, but it worked well for this one. There was another story in the background that could be pieced together from the established clues on this one. Not suitable for my canon, though.

Skeld's Keep
Set in 820AD.
I had my doubts as this one started. We were in a Viking setting, but certain elements didn't seem quite right. I didn't really connect with the Human characters, either. The Predator side of the story was much more interesting. Decent insight into the minds and culture of the Yautja. Overall verdict: good, but could have been better. Fits into canon.

Indigenous Species
Future setting.
A decent one. Played into the Predator's honour code a little, and was a strong enough story of survival in the face of extreme danger. I'll accept this one as canon.

Blood and Sand
Set in 1933.
This one was interesting. Another very human-centric story, but a heartfelt one. It seemed to have a decent understanding of the Yautja, too. I liked it. Fits into canon.

Tin Warrior
An interesting story. Humans using Yautja tech, Yautja as a prisoner, plus some vengeance stuff for extra conflict. A good story, but not one I'd include in canon.

Three Sparks
Set between 1192 and 1199.
An entertaining story from feudal Japan, with good historical insights alongside a well-crafted Predator story. Felt like something that could be effectively expanded into a movie, perhaps.
And nothing that, I feel, clashes with canon.

The Pilot
Set between 1980 and 1987.
A decent Cold War story. Not a huge fan of the writing style, but interesting enough. Tech falls into human hands and the Yautja destroy it, so I don't think it contradicts my canon.

Buffalo Jump
Set In 1892 - approx.
A Predator Western. Decent, not much Predator but delivered well. I didn't fully understand the ending, it seemed a little rushed and too easily wrapped up, but it was okay. Seems okay for canon, to me.

Drug War
Set in 2022
The writing was a bit clunky, but the story was a good one. It was nice to revisit Harrigan from Predator 2 in this one. I think I can accept this as being in canon.

Recon
Set in 1968
Set during the Vietnam War. Character names made me think it might be a Predators prequel but events made it clear that wasn't the case. Still, certainly one of the stronger stories, and it included a Predator's POV. Probably safe to include in canon.

Gameworld
Date unspecified, but definitely in the future.
I enjoyed this one quite a lot. The cage fight setting was good fun, and the ending was satisfying. Also some nice insights into Predator/Yautja culture. From a story quality perspective, I'd happily make it canon, but unfortunately the science and politics of the story/setting don't line up with my canon.

So overall, a combination of good and...not-so-good. Still, certainly enjoyable overall and I think the authors' interest in the Predator/Yautja was clear. None of them felt like cop-outs - more like their ideas didn't want to be constrained by word limits so they had to be forced into that box.

If you like the Predator movies, definitely worth grabbing. Oh, and I think every story in here is better than The Predator. Just saying.

As for favourites, I have to choose from my more recent reads, and that's definitely Three Sparks.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If It Bleeds" was absolutely fantastic! It's a bunch of short stories set in the "Predator" universe.

Devil Dogs: Captured, tortured and experimented on Predator escapes...with predictable and brutal results.

Stonewall's Last Stand: Predator vs the Confederate Army. Also, includes the "real" death of Stonewall Jackson. I would see this movie in a heartbeat.

Rematch: Brings back the protagonist of my other favorite Predator book "Predator: Turnabout". I could have read a whole book about this!

May Blood Pave my way Home: Indians and Predators vs the Cavalry.

Storm Blood: Worst of the book. The writing was incomprehensible. I guess it took place in New Orleans...maybe?

Last Report from the KSS Psychopomp: Abandoned ship in space isn't abandoned. Can you guys guess what's on board?

Skeld's Keep: Vikings vs Predators (vs Vikings)!

Indigenous Species: Colonists on a new planet vs Predators!

Blood and Sand: Depression-era boy and girl vs abuse (and Predators)!

Tin Warrior: The government captured a Predator and stole its suit technology! I'm sure this ends well!

Three Sparks: Samurai vs Predators!

The Pilot: U.S. POW teams up with (you guessed it), a Predator in a Siberian jail break!

Buffalo Jump: Old west bank robbery foiled by...a Predator!

Drug War: Sequel to Predator 2! Mike Harrigan is back! Not the strongest story but still fun.

Recon: U.S. Vietnam soldiers vs Predators! (And Viet Kong)

Gameworld: The most sci-fi of the bunch. A highly trained killer joins "Gameworld" in order to make money for his family. He ends up fighting...that's right, a Predator!

If you've made it this far into this review, you will most assuredly enjoy this book!

[jeremy dierst · Rating 3 out of 5]

As being just a fan of the movie series and not a comic book follower, this was not a bad take on Predator. A pretty decent mix of really great authors, who put their own twist on the Predator universe. Some of the stories actually could have been filled out more and become stand-alone novels. But that being said, "If it bleeds", used in every story kind of gets boring and redundant. I kept on waiting for the much-used 'Get to the chopper" quote to pop up. Overall, the plots were easy to follow and for the most part left the reader, looking for more knowledge from these certain writers. And that is the main purpose of a decent anthology.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this (almost) back-to-back with the Aliens anthology it came more-or-less in tandem with (Bug Hunt) and the difference in quality is startling. Yes, the stories are repetitive, and no truly new ground has been broken in any of them, but almost none of the writing whiffs of cheap fan-fic – it is all solid, dependable yautja-on-ooman action, just as the cover promises.

[Galina Krasskova · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly good.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very sceptical about this after the Aliens one (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) but this is a very different beast.

For a start all the stories were enjoyable and felt like the authors had at least seen the films (if not the EU material and comics) which made things a lot nicer. The predators felt like they should, menacing yet honourable and interested in the hunt above all, the human characters usually had a good role to play and it all worked together nicely.

There's some nice AvP world stories (no actual aliens though) some historical predator encounters which are fun and some modern day and random futuristic encounters too.

If you like Predators you'll enjoy this book which whilst not offering anything groundbreaking and new is enjoyable and some fun bonus tales of our stealthy friends.

[Benji's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a quick read this turned out to be. Or maybe it just feels like that because I just finished the Lord of the Rings and I'm actually somewhat of a quick reader. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

There were some hits and misses, but overall, the good outdid the bad. Most of the short stories gave us the classic "lone survivor of a squad faces the alien responsible for killing his or her men". And on top of that, a handful of them feature parts told from the Predator's point of view.

Some stories featured a nice twist or one of those scenes that make you respect the Predator (which I personally love when they do). What I mean by that is the Predator hunts for sport. If you seem like a worthy opponent or appear to be a threat, then he or she will attack you. In some cases, if you lower your weapon before they get to you, they'll give you a nod or something and be on their way. Stuff like that, I've always found interesting.

My favorites were either "the Pilot" or "Gameworld", whereas my least favorite would probably be "Buffalo Jump". I can't really remember any other names of stories I disliked which should say how much I enjoyed this one. Definitely give this one a read if you're a fan of the Predator and/or want to read more of his species.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

My personal highlights:

•Stonewalls's last stand by Jeremy Robinson
•Skeld's Keep by S. D. Perry
•Three Sparks by Larry Correia


There's nothing wrong with the stories they're mostly okay some better than others, but after a while it's like you're reading the same story over and over again...and yeah, that was pretty much what I expected (sort of) after reading a Alien vs Predator anthology, but it was still disappointing to find out that this would be the case, because while I was hoping a general formula in the stories, I also had high hopes that the formula would only be present in some stories, not almost all of them.

It just that i feel that is a shame that the authors of the stories has limited themselves to the most basic scenarios rather than tried to innovate or be more creative (i would be the first to recognize that i'm not a hardcore fan of the franchise and i don't have any idea of how "purist" the fans are so maybe the authors are constricted for that reason).
Also why are the humans always on top? somebody please explain to me because it just ...seems fake. And the lack of Yautja POVs is shameful and yes the title implies that we are to root for the humans but a full story in the hunter perspective is not much to ask right?

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is essential for anyone that is a fan of the Predator franchise. There are no disappointments in any of the stories and the action is fast and furious. One of the standouts for me was Larry Correia's entry, set in feudal Japan, that ends with a wonderful revelation. I really like when fiction blends well with fact! Additionally, the final story of the collection by John Mayberry took me back to a story I read as a child. (It was a story about human fighters competing against vastly superior alien ones). While the story was not a duplication, rather an unintentional homage, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane as a result.

All in all, this collection expands on the mythos, providing some of the Predator's species background and culture, while taking us to a variety of times and settings. It does not get repetitive and is never boring. If you like any of the movies I am certain you will enjoy this collection. 5 stars not for outstanding literary merit, but for remaining absolutely true to the subject matter.

[peachrings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Predator books, and this is one of the best. The short story format works well for this franchise, focusing on the actual human/Predator encounters - the good stuff - without getting bogged down in a full-length plot about the same old soldiers or colonial marine characters. Some of the stories are mediocre in both plot and writing quality, but most of are good enough to make up for a few duds. We get different time periods and settings, and variety of situations (Vikings, feudal Japan, children on a 1930s farm, American Civil War, Predator mates hunting together, an Old West sheriff, Vietnam War) plus we get to see a lot of the actual Predator, with several stories even giving us a good chunk of Predator perspective. That's hard to come by in Predator content and I was thrilled to see it. Skeld's Keep (the Vikings) is the shining stand-out, and Three Sparks (feudal Japan) and Gameworld (futuristic gladiatorial-type combat with a nice twist) are also great. The film studios could take a page out of this book, quite literally!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really surprised by this book. I picked it up on a whim because my son is really into Predator stuff right now. I've seen a few of the movies but know like 0 of the lore. Having said that, these stories were 100% excellent reads. They were easy to follow even without knowing the lore and i can only imagine that people who do know it would love them even more than I did. Each story is self standing and pretty short so they don't take to long to read. I would 100% suggest this book to any fan of the Sci-Fi genre.

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

About what you would expect. A bunch of pretty good, a couple horrifically bad, and a few pretty good. Some of the stories were just retreads of the original movie but set in different times like Vietnam or Katrina or the Civil War (why do so many alternate histories and speculative fiction stories use the Confederates in these stories? Is it some Lost Cause BS or is it that you are immediately taken a very specific time/place?). Some felt like cheap cop outs on recycling "Alien" Xenomorph stories, but this time is a Predator!

The good ones:
"Rematch" by Steve Perry - I guess a sequel to another Predator short story
"May Blood Pave My Way Home" by Weston Ochse - Buffalo Soldiers vs Predators
"Skeld's Keep" by SD Perry - Vikings vs Predators
"Blood and Sand" by Mira Grant - no spoilers!
"Gameworld" by Jonathan Maberry - underground fight club on the edge of the solar system
"Three Sparks" by Larry Correia - Samurai vs Predators

The alright ones:
"Indigenous Species" by Kevin J Anderson - exocolonists caught in the crossfire of a Predator hunting expedition. Premise was good. Execution was pretty good.
"Storm Blood" by Peter J Sacks and David Boop - Predator vs hoodoo creature with people trapped by Hurricane Katrina too

Absolutely terrible and I almost skipped them:
"The Pilot" by Andrew Mayne - Cold War, so pilot gets to use semi-racist terms with some jingoistic overtones
"Drug War" by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds - Direct sequel to move "Predator II" and it's terrible. So much terrible dialogue. Anything gross you could say about Rio and Brazil that is supposed to feel complimentary.

Why are do so many of these stories have two authors? They're short stories and require collaboration?

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towards the end of 2017/at the start of 2018 I picked up both this and Aliens: Bug Hunt, as I'd always had a soft spot for both those films.

Both as sci-fi anthologies; both are based around their respective properties.

I read the latter first, and (truth be told) wasn't overly impressed: while there were some good stories amongst those included, none really stood out all that much.

As a result, I put off reading this until I worked my way through some 'proper' novels, and only came back to this relatively recently.

Thankfully, of the two anthologies, I found this to be the better (despite a somewhat ropey start). I think that may be due to the central conceit of the Predators: as (effectively) alien Big Game hunters, that allows these stories to be set at any point throughout human history, not 'tied down' to the future as the Alien stories are.

That's a concept put into full use in this, with stories that run the gamut from the traditional sci-fi setting of the future, to the American Civil War, to the Wild West, to feudal Japan, to present-day Third World countries and to pretty much every point in-between!

[SteveL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the course of human history the famed alien hunters, the Predators, have interacted with humanity as adversaries, allies, and everything in between. This volume is filled with short stories of those encounters. From the Civil War to the far future each show the different levels of interaction between humanity and the Predators.

This was an audiobook for me and all the narrators do a good job. The stories themselves were solid with a few standouts that were fantastic. The one I enjoyed the most was "The Pilot". While they all do try and do things a bit differently, a few felt like they were in the same time period between the Civil War and WWI. The most surprising story to me was one involving Mike Harrigan from Predator 2 returning for another encounter with the alien hunters in Brazil.

One thing that threw me from story to story was it felt like no particular order was used to place the stories. I do think keeping it as a timeline would have helped because a few stories went from the past to the far future. There isn't one bad story but a few do feel too similar to stand out. Overall it a good bunch of short stories, but I do wish it was organized a bit differently. Still a solid read and good for fans.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a huge Predator fan. Love the films - yes, even the Alien vs Predator series - and the Dark Horse comic books as well as the tie-in novels. When I heard this book was coming out I immediately hit pre-order. After finally gotten to it on my TBR pile and cracking it open, I couldn't be more disappointed. This is a huge let down, with the majority of stories landing flat.

There's a few gems in here. Larry Correia's 'Three Sparks' was my favourite, with Jonathan Maberry's 'Gameworld' a close second. After that I can recommend 'Storm Blood', 'Rematch', 'Stonewall's Last Stand', and 'Recon'. I felt the rest were duds. I like the concept of the book and would welcome a second volume, but maybe bring in some authors who excel in action. I'd love to see what DJ Molles, Will Jordan, or Nicolas Sainsbury Smith could do with the concept.

If you're a Predator die-hard like me you're still going to want to have this in your collection. Just keep your expectations grounded when sitting down to read.

[Christopher Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another anthology of short stories from a variety of writers. This one seemed better than the ALIENS: Bug Hunt but still had its flaws. The stories center around the Predators at different times in human history and the anthology flip-flops backward and forwards in time. One story might be in the future, another in Feudal Japan, another during the American Civil War, another during Vietnam. There's even a story where the survivor of Predator 2 has his day again. The stories range from WTF to meh to good to outstanding but there's more bad than good. In other words, it's another cesspool that you're going to have to wade through to find gold. I think the prime requirement for anyone putting together one of these anthologies, while they are assembling the writers, is to ask the writers if they have ever seen ANY of the films that they will be writing stories about. If the answer is "no" then mark them off the list and move on.

It's a decent read, has some surprises, but it's not a keeper for my shelf. Not by a long shot.

[Tana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Throughout the centuries their tech doesn't change. Unlesd they're going back in time? Anyway this isn't literature and you may lose a few brain cells reading it. But some stories are ok like the Japanese Samurai warrior one

DEVIL DOGS by Tim Lebbon : 3*
Futuristic space ship setting. Predator being experimented on by an ammunition corporation

STONEWALL'S LAST STAND by Jeremy Robinson : 3.5*
American Civil War setting.

REMATCH by Steve Perry :4*
Husband & wife predators hunting down a human couple who had once defeated a bunch of them 10 years earlier in Alaska.

MAY BLOOD PAVE MY WAY HOME by Weston Ochse : 3*
Buffalo cavalry (fighting Comanche tribes) versus young predators. Ending had a pretty cool twist


STORM BLOOD by Peter J. Wacks and David Boop : 0*
Hurricane Katrina /New Orleans setting. Dull.

LAST REPORT FROM THE KSS PSYCHOPOMP by Jennifer Brozek: 3*
Spaceship rescue service soldiers versus Predator

SKELD'S KEEP by S. D. Perry: 4*
Vikings versus jumior Predators

INDIGENOUS SPECIES by Kevin J. Anderson: 2.5*
Outer space colony versus Predators versus Gruzzly

BLOOD AND SAND by Mira Grant: 3.5*
Young kids *not quite* versus the Predator. Emotional-ish read

TIN WARRIORS by John Shirley: 2.5*
Soldiers versus soldiers versus trapped Predator

THREE SPARKS by Larry Correia: 5*
Samurai versus Predator. Origin of the ninja

THE PILOT by Andrew Mayne: 0*
American patriotic cr*ap. Predator teams up with CIA against Soviet Russians.

BUFFALO JUMP by Wendy N. Wagner: 2.5*
Predator rescues girl from gang in cowboy wild west america

DRUG WAR by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds: 1*
Cartel versus Criminal Predator versus Law Abiding Predators

RECON by Dayton Ward: 1*
Vietnam war predator

GAMEWORLD by Jonathan Maberry: 3*
Teenage predator saved by parent predator heloed by human warrior

[Nannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is very good. The stories include:
DEVIL DOGS by Tim Lebbon
STONEWALL'S LAST STAND by Jeremy Robinson
REMATCH by Steve Perry
MAY BLOOD PAVE MY WAY HOME by Weston Ochse (one of my favorites)
STORM BLOOD by Peter J. Wacks and David Boop
LAST REPORT FROM THE KSS PSYCHOPOMP by Jennifer Brozek
SKELD'S KEEP by S. D. Perry (very good)
INDIGENOUS SPECIES by Kevin J. Anderson
BLOOD AND SAND by Mira Grant
TIN WARRIORS by John Shirley
THREE SPARKS by Larry Correia
THE PILOT by Andrew Mayne
BUFFALO JUMP by Wendy N. Wagner (very good)
DRUG WAR by Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds (meh but still good)
RECON by Dayton Ward
GAMEWORLD by Jonathan Maberry

All the narration was wonderful. It all reminds me of the Nights of the Living Dead: An Anthology. I really enjoyed that one too. It is difficult to create a solid anthology where the majority of stories are very good. This anthology does that.

[Kelvin Hawkes · Rating 1 out of 5]

i really tried. i couldnt even get a quarter in. if anyone has good recs please i beg, but all these short stories just showed to me what is wrong with this entire entire franchise. it is always the same story.

predator kills people, though guy turns up, "i can handle this sir", "no Maggot you cannot", "sir i am wider and bigger than you and my bicep is bigger and i will go find this thing without your permission", goes to find predator, predator Fights tough guy, tough guy wins.

sometimes its a tough girl sometimes its a girl predator but its really always just that. if its not a military guy its a hunter guy or whatever but its always the same. i love this franchise for reasons that are beyond me but it lacks depth in every single iteration.

that being said i enjoyed the first story here a lot. it reminded me of alien somehow and it had these deserted space lab vibes that i enjoy from my sci fi horror. but one good story isnt enough to make up the Lack of depth. i might come back to look at the other stories but so far its all just the same and i am so tired of it

[John Opalenik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection was very reminiscent of the Dark Horse Comics mini-series they did with Alien, Predator, and combinations of the two set against several other foes including Batman. I say that as a compliment. Each story drops us into a new setting with a new set of characters, some more connected to the films than others, and tells us a quick, exciting story centered around the creature from the Predator franchise.

As with any anthology of short stories with multiple authors, I enjoyed some better than others, but I am happy to say that they ranged from pretty good, to great. I enjoyed May Blood Pave My Way Home written by Weston Ochse and Gameworld by Jonathan Maberry were some of my favorites.

After reading this and Bug Hunt, a similar collection centering around xenomorphs, I hope these quick, fun anthologies of short stories can be a regular release from their publishers.

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of the mysterious Predators and their prey in the past…present…and future…

Predator: If It Bleeds is an anthology with stories of varying quality, but it’s also one of the only predator anthologies available.

The stories run the gambit of set during past wars (such as the Vietnam War and American Civil War), the recent present day (such as Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq War), and the distant future…where predators are hunting space marines and salvage crews in equal measure.

A handful of the stories are even told from the Yautja’s perspective giving us a handful of names and what they think of their “prey”.

The historical stories give us an idea of how ancient warrior peoples might have perceived them (years before that Prey prequel came out), with ancient Vikings fighting a “draugr” and Japanese samurai tracking an “oni”.

You know what you’re getting with this…

[Richie The Collector · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devil Dogs (Tim Lebbon) **** [featuring a character from the RAGE WAR series]
Stonewall's Last Stand (Jeremy Robinson) ****
Rematch (Steve Perry) ****
May Blood Page My Way Home (Weston Ochse) ***
Storm Blood (Peter J. Sacks and David Boops) ****
Last Report from the KSS Psychopomp (Jennifer Brozek) ***
Skeld's Keep (S.D. Perry) ****
Indigenous Species (Kevin J. Anderson) ****
Blood and Sand (Mira Grant) **
Tin Warrior (John Shirley) ***
Three Sparks (Larry Correia) ****
The Pilot (Andrew Mayne) *****
Buffalo Jump (Wendy N. Wagner) ***
Drug War (Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Holly Roberds) ** [featuring characters from and set 20 years after PREDATOR 2]
Recon (Dayton Ward) **
Gameworld (Jonathan Maberry) ****

3.4 stars overall average for the collection.

[Cheryl Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As it should be...8-26-2020

I normally spend my reading/listening time with multiple genre’s that involve Alpha men and the women they love... but I also love all the Predator movies, Supernatural TV series, Underworld, X-Files, V-WARS, Frindge, SG1, Star Trek, Star Wars, Twilight, Buffy, Angel, well basically anything that I consider supernatural! My son told me about this compilation, and now I am hooked! Needless to say, I have cashed in all of my Audible credits to feed my new found way of entertaining myself while going about real life! I will use the brilliance of the authors in this collection below to begin. As to the narration for these stories, BRAVO to everyone of you! Although I have to say, Drug Wars had me laughing the most!