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Aliens / Predator / Prometheus Universe
Aliens: Infiltrator
The official prequel to the huge new Alien video game from Cold Iron Studios, as a Weyland-Yutani scientist arrives at Pala Station and finds the researchers there courting disaster... of the Xenomorph kind.
Dr. Timothy Hoenikker arrives on Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani facility. Lured there by the promise of alien artifacts, instead he finds a warped bureaucracy and staff of misfits testing the effects of Xenomorph bio-materials on living creatures. Unbeknownst to the personnel, however, there is an infiltrator among them whose actions could spell disaster. Also on staff is Victor Rawlings, a former marine who gathers together other veterans to prepare for the worst. As the personnel receive a delivery of alien eggs, the experiments spin out of control, and only the former Colonial Marines can stand between the humans and certain death.
Alien: Infiltrator TM & © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
Dr. Timothy Hoenikker arrives on Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani facility. Lured there by the promise of alien artifacts, instead he finds a warped bureaucracy and staff of misfits testing the effects of Xenomorph bio-materials on living creatures. Unbeknownst to the personnel, however, there is an infiltrator among them whose actions could spell disaster. Also on staff is Victor Rawlings, a former marine who gathers together other veterans to prepare for the worst. As the personnel receive a delivery of alien eggs, the experiments spin out of control, and only the former Colonial Marines can stand between the humans and certain death.
Alien: Infiltrator TM & © 2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 20, 2021
76 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Weston Ochse
129 books295 followersThe American Library Association calls Weston Ochse “one of the major horror authors of the 21 st Century.” He has been praised by USA Today, The Atlantic, The New York Post, The Financial Times of London, Publishers Weekly, Peter Straub, Joe Lansdale, Jon Maberry, Kevin J. Anderson, David Gerrold, William C. Dietz, Tim Lebbon, Christopher Golden, and many more of the world’s best-selling authors. His work has won the Bram Stoker Award, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and won multiple New Mexico Arizona Book Awards.
A writer of nearly thirty books in multiple genres, his military supernatural series SEAL Team 666 has been optioned to be a movie starring Dwayne Johnson and his military sci fi trilogy, which starts with Grunt Life, has been praised for its PTSD-positive depiction of soldiers at peace and at war.
Weston has also published literary fiction, poetry, comics, and non-fiction articles.
His shorter work has appeared in DC Comics, IDW Comics, Soldier of Fortune Magazine, Cemetery Dance, and peered literary journals. His franchise work includes the X-Files, Predator, Aliens, Hellboy, Clive Barker’s Midian, and V-Wars. Weston holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and teaches at Southern New Hampshire University. He lives in Arizona with his wife, and fellow author, Yvonne Navarro and their Great Danes.
A writer of nearly thirty books in multiple genres, his military supernatural series SEAL Team 666 has been optioned to be a movie starring Dwayne Johnson and his military sci fi trilogy, which starts with Grunt Life, has been praised for its PTSD-positive depiction of soldiers at peace and at war.
Weston has also published literary fiction, poetry, comics, and non-fiction articles.
His shorter work has appeared in DC Comics, IDW Comics, Soldier of Fortune Magazine, Cemetery Dance, and peered literary journals. His franchise work includes the X-Files, Predator, Aliens, Hellboy, Clive Barker’s Midian, and V-Wars. Weston holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and teaches at Southern New Hampshire University. He lives in Arizona with his wife, and fellow author, Yvonne Navarro and their Great Danes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 7, 2021
I wanted to read this book because Aliens: Infiltrator is a prequel novel to the upcoming video game Aliens: Fireteam Elite and I can't wait to play this game.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as Alien: The Cold Forge or Alien: Into Charybdis because the story isn't nearly as complex or interesting and it suffers from too many subplots to make this an excellent read for me. I also found the rushed ending disappointing.
What I liked a lot are the new Xenomorph varieties. You know the humans at Pala Station are screwed when one of the scientists reveals that he trained a Xenomorph to become invisible.
Overall, Aliens: Infiltrator is a fun read with non-stop action and enough blood and gore to satisfy anyone, but it isn't one of my favorite books in the Alien franchise.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as Alien: The Cold Forge or Alien: Into Charybdis because the story isn't nearly as complex or interesting and it suffers from too many subplots to make this an excellent read for me. I also found the rushed ending disappointing.
What I liked a lot are the new Xenomorph varieties. You know the humans at Pala Station are screwed when one of the scientists reveals that he trained a Xenomorph to become invisible.
Overall, Aliens: Infiltrator is a fun read with non-stop action and enough blood and gore to satisfy anyone, but it isn't one of my favorite books in the Alien franchise.
February 4, 2025
A great prequel to the video game, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, that does a good job of blending the horror and scifi genres this franchise is known for. It also works well on its own!
I found this to be a much better read than Weston Ochse's AVP: Rift War, that I read a few years back. There are quite a few bad Alien/Aliens novels out there and this is not one of them.
Recommended!
I found this to be a much better read than Weston Ochse's AVP: Rift War, that I read a few years back. There are quite a few bad Alien/Aliens novels out there and this is not one of them.
Recommended!
November 28, 2025
Decent edition to the Aliens franchise which I understand to be a 'kickoff' for a new Aliens video game; must be a first-person shooter as there were so many references to it. Ochse utilizes a basic Aliens motif-- the evil Weyland-Yutani corporation doing underground research on the Xenomorph on a remote planet. Our lead, a scientist named Hoenikker, starts the novel arriving at Pela Station; he was tired of his old job and Weyland-Yutani made him a nice offer. Hoenikker studies alien artifacts and was promised he would have a chance to study them at Pela, but he quickly finds out that is not in the cards.
Hoenikker joins a research team which is experimenting with 'black goo' of unknown origins (alien? we never find out). When injected into the local fauna, all kinds of interesting things happen, like making them more violent and nastier. Ochse does give us some good monsters! As you might imagine, the experiments soon turn toward the Xenomorphs; what would happen if they inject them with the goo? You can pretty much tell where this is going and Ochse does not employ any misdirection. The most interesting thing I found about the book involves the former colonial marines at Pela who now work in various capacities there. They start 'getting twitchy' that something bad will happen soon and make some plans if/when the bad arrives. Hoenikker makes for a decent lead-- a scientist in way over his head forced to work on the biological experiments because he knows the Corporation has him by the short and curlies. 2.5 shoot'em up stars, rounding up for the interesting monsters.
Hoenikker joins a research team which is experimenting with 'black goo' of unknown origins (alien? we never find out). When injected into the local fauna, all kinds of interesting things happen, like making them more violent and nastier. Ochse does give us some good monsters! As you might imagine, the experiments soon turn toward the Xenomorphs; what would happen if they inject them with the goo? You can pretty much tell where this is going and Ochse does not employ any misdirection. The most interesting thing I found about the book involves the former colonial marines at Pela who now work in various capacities there. They start 'getting twitchy' that something bad will happen soon and make some plans if/when the bad arrives. Hoenikker makes for a decent lead-- a scientist in way over his head forced to work on the biological experiments because he knows the Corporation has him by the short and curlies. 2.5 shoot'em up stars, rounding up for the interesting monsters.
May 1, 2021
3.5
This book was surprisingly better than I anticipated it would be. By no means does it feel like a prequel novel designed to set up a video game ,it is it’s own standalone story and it was great. It follows the tried and true alien story formula of scientists experimenting on Xenomorphs , Xenomorphs getting loose , and then chaos ensuing. The character development was impressive especially with some of the growth and changes they made throughout the novel. My only critique would be the ending felt a little rushed. Ochse’s book definitely could’ve been a bit longer but overall a great addition to the long list of alien tie in novels.
This book was surprisingly better than I anticipated it would be. By no means does it feel like a prequel novel designed to set up a video game ,it is it’s own standalone story and it was great. It follows the tried and true alien story formula of scientists experimenting on Xenomorphs , Xenomorphs getting loose , and then chaos ensuing. The character development was impressive especially with some of the growth and changes they made throughout the novel. My only critique would be the ending felt a little rushed. Ochse’s book definitely could’ve been a bit longer but overall a great addition to the long list of alien tie in novels.
April 16, 2021
While Aliens: Infiltrator is a prequel to the forthcoming videogame Aliens: Fireteam, it acts rather nicely as a standalone title and lets author Weston Ochse do his own thing with the franchise. Even though this story doesn't break tremendous new ground or push Titan Books' tie-in novelizations into interesting new directions the way Alex White has done with their recently released Alien: Into Charybdis, Infiltrator is still a fun, tough-as-nails Aliens book.
Weyland-Yutani scientist Dr. Timothy Hoenikker is assigned to Pala Station, a posting sold to him under false pretenses. He thought he was going to be working on alien artifacts, but has instead found himself shanghaied into working with live specimens. The scientists of Pala Station have been researching methods to improve the responses of Colonial Marines when squaring off against Xenomorphs, and have even developed a prototype acid-resistant armor. Of course, given that they're Weyland-Yutani, they're also working on ways to make the Xenomorphs into even better killers via genetic engineering. Because what could possibly go wrong there...
The genetic experimentation angle gives Ochse a chance to fiddle around with expectations and upgrade your traditional bloodthirsty bugs into even more lethal predators. Much of Infiltrator serves to prove Jurassic Park's Ian Malcom correct in his assessment that "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should." Then again, that's practically Weyland-Yutani's corporate motto. They probably even put it on their dot matrix printed letterhead.
Needless to say, creating new species and variants of Xenomorphs doesn't exactly work out in anyone's best interests, and it doesn't take long for Hoenikker to repeatedly kick himself for listening to his best friend, who encouraged him to be bold and dangerous and take the job. On the bright side, he at least makes more useful friends along the way, some of whom are former Colonial Marines who live with the expectation that things are going to go sideways sooner rather than later.
Ochse introduces some neat new monsters, giving Infiltrator much welcomed creature feature aesthetic that I heartily approve of. Given that as I was reading this yesterday, the BBC reported on a study confirming that a team of US-China scientists have grown human cells in a monkey embryo, I can help but think, you know, maybe don't? Infiltrator is a great reminder that we're probably a lot better off not genetically tampering with nature just for shits and giggles. It's also a nice reminder that your friends are probably idiots and you really shouldn't listen to them.
Weyland-Yutani scientist Dr. Timothy Hoenikker is assigned to Pala Station, a posting sold to him under false pretenses. He thought he was going to be working on alien artifacts, but has instead found himself shanghaied into working with live specimens. The scientists of Pala Station have been researching methods to improve the responses of Colonial Marines when squaring off against Xenomorphs, and have even developed a prototype acid-resistant armor. Of course, given that they're Weyland-Yutani, they're also working on ways to make the Xenomorphs into even better killers via genetic engineering. Because what could possibly go wrong there...
The genetic experimentation angle gives Ochse a chance to fiddle around with expectations and upgrade your traditional bloodthirsty bugs into even more lethal predators. Much of Infiltrator serves to prove Jurassic Park's Ian Malcom correct in his assessment that "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should." Then again, that's practically Weyland-Yutani's corporate motto. They probably even put it on their dot matrix printed letterhead.
Needless to say, creating new species and variants of Xenomorphs doesn't exactly work out in anyone's best interests, and it doesn't take long for Hoenikker to repeatedly kick himself for listening to his best friend, who encouraged him to be bold and dangerous and take the job. On the bright side, he at least makes more useful friends along the way, some of whom are former Colonial Marines who live with the expectation that things are going to go sideways sooner rather than later.
Ochse introduces some neat new monsters, giving Infiltrator much welcomed creature feature aesthetic that I heartily approve of. Given that as I was reading this yesterday, the BBC reported on a study confirming that a team of US-China scientists have grown human cells in a monkey embryo, I can help but think, you know, maybe don't? Infiltrator is a great reminder that we're probably a lot better off not genetically tampering with nature just for shits and giggles. It's also a nice reminder that your friends are probably idiots and you really shouldn't listen to them.
April 26, 2021
Ok im a huge fan of aliens stories but this one whilst having a good premise just was a wasted opportunity.
It took ages to get going and then when it did it was a bit of a farce of pathetic and inept characters. Some of the characters you thought were going to be good later on turned out to be a waste of space and so did the ones you didnt. The aliens were such a minor role and horribly changed into some freakshow (more than normal) that it didnt feel like aliens at all.
And please, please, please, please drop the idea that the aliens spit acid or their saliva is acidic. If that was the case theyd burn holes everywhere they went, not to mention in alien 3 Ripley wouldve had a hole burned into her when she got up close and personal.
Ive no idea how this relates to the upcoming game but id not be hopefuly the story would be much cop.
It took ages to get going and then when it did it was a bit of a farce of pathetic and inept characters. Some of the characters you thought were going to be good later on turned out to be a waste of space and so did the ones you didnt. The aliens were such a minor role and horribly changed into some freakshow (more than normal) that it didnt feel like aliens at all.
And please, please, please, please drop the idea that the aliens spit acid or their saliva is acidic. If that was the case theyd burn holes everywhere they went, not to mention in alien 3 Ripley wouldve had a hole burned into her when she got up close and personal.
Ive no idea how this relates to the upcoming game but id not be hopefuly the story would be much cop.
April 21, 2021
I read every Alien novel I can get my hands on and am always happy to see a new addition to the Alien universe. This book was enjoyable, but did not build a world with as much depth as say Alien: Charybdis did. Some of the characters were shallow or made decisions or said things that didn’t sit right with me. I really enjoyed the action and the monsters—at the end I found myself wishing this book were three times longer. I wanted more detail and I wanted to explore the places mentioned in the book that were never visited. The ending felt a bit rushed. As an aside, scientists don’t talk about the scientific method and their hypotheses in the terms used in this book. It was a bit jarring and cringey. Can’t wait for the next Alien book. Overall would recommend!
June 7, 2022
I’ve always loved all the Alien movies, so I’m excited to start making my way through all the books. This one was great, your typical Alien story, lots of death by Xenomorphs, of course.
The one thing I didn’t like was how quickly everything ended. The ending felt rushed and I felt like an additional 50 pages or so would’ve been nice.
All in all, it was a good read and definitely had me hooked.
The one thing I didn’t like was how quickly everything ended. The ending felt rushed and I felt like an additional 50 pages or so would’ve been nice.
All in all, it was a good read and definitely had me hooked.
October 23, 2021
I don't know when--or even if--I'll have a chance to play Aliens: Fireteam, but listening to the audiobook for Weston Ochse's Aliens: Infiltrator certainly sets the stage for a fascinating and original action/horror gaming experience. If I never get around to playing the game, it won't be for lack of interest, and it certainly won't be due to this book disappointing me.
The protagonist, Dr. Hoenikker, serves as a cipher of sorts, the lens through which we experience the introduction to the Weyland-Yutani scientific facility. While there's ample character development across the board, Hoenikker being the newest member of the scientific team provides us with a great opportunity to experience everything through a fresh set of eyes. With his military experience, Ochse does a fantastic job bringing the supporting cast of characters to life, particularly the former Colonial Marines on staff at Pala Station.
With Murphy's Law in full effect, Dr. Hoenikker joins the crew of Pala Station just as an infiltrator begins a campaign of corporate espionage. As with the real world, this relatively small trouble of spying and theft escalates in a cascade effect that explodes into an utter nightmare by the conclusion. Laboratory experiments go horribly wrong, communication breaks down, and everything falls apart.
Experimenting with what we've come to think of as the black goo from the Alien prequel films from Ridley Scott, we encounter some interesting and dangerous creatures produced from the local fauna, potentially more deadly than the Xenomorphs we've all come to know and love. This being an Alien novel, of course, there are Xenomorphs in the mix, and we get further exposure to how the black goo can modify the outcome of the genesis taking place.
Bronson Pinchot's narration is sufficiently skilled that the characters almost always sound distinctly separate and discernable as individual actors in the narrative playing out. I especially enjoyed the performance for Rawlings, who I couldn't help but picture as an African American Matthew McConaughey. The only instances where Pinchot's narration failed was concerning female characters, but I've heard worse over time.
The protagonist, Dr. Hoenikker, serves as a cipher of sorts, the lens through which we experience the introduction to the Weyland-Yutani scientific facility. While there's ample character development across the board, Hoenikker being the newest member of the scientific team provides us with a great opportunity to experience everything through a fresh set of eyes. With his military experience, Ochse does a fantastic job bringing the supporting cast of characters to life, particularly the former Colonial Marines on staff at Pala Station.
With Murphy's Law in full effect, Dr. Hoenikker joins the crew of Pala Station just as an infiltrator begins a campaign of corporate espionage. As with the real world, this relatively small trouble of spying and theft escalates in a cascade effect that explodes into an utter nightmare by the conclusion. Laboratory experiments go horribly wrong, communication breaks down, and everything falls apart.
Experimenting with what we've come to think of as the black goo from the Alien prequel films from Ridley Scott, we encounter some interesting and dangerous creatures produced from the local fauna, potentially more deadly than the Xenomorphs we've all come to know and love. This being an Alien novel, of course, there are Xenomorphs in the mix, and we get further exposure to how the black goo can modify the outcome of the genesis taking place.
Bronson Pinchot's narration is sufficiently skilled that the characters almost always sound distinctly separate and discernable as individual actors in the narrative playing out. I especially enjoyed the performance for Rawlings, who I couldn't help but picture as an African American Matthew McConaughey. The only instances where Pinchot's narration failed was concerning female characters, but I've heard worse over time.
May 19, 2021
I enjoyed this one a bit more than Cold Forge. Ochse lingers a bit more on the experiments being performed and overall laid out a more defined setting here.
October 2, 2021
If I had a nickel for each filler sentence in this book about a character taking a sip from a cup of coffee, I could afford a trenta cappuccino from Starbucks.
April 30, 2022
Up next from Darth's Colossal Stack of Stuff is 2021 novel "Aliens: Infiltrator," written by Weston Ochse. "Infiltrator" serves as prequel to "Aliens: Fireteam Elite," the hit videogame developed by Cold Iron Studios and Focus Entertainment.
"Aliens: Infiltrator" reads a lot like your father's Alien novel--and in this case, it's absolutely a compliment. "Infiltrator" introduces us to Dr. Timothy Hoenikker, the newest addition to Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani research facility. Lured to the station by a promise to study alien artifacts, Dr. Hoenikker quickly realizes he was sold a bill of goods, and that the "alien" researching is decidedly different than he thought. Suffice it to say that xenomorphs get loose, pandemonium ensues, and you get to tag along for the wild ride. What's not to like?
The plot of "Infiltrator" is certainly a conventional one by Aliens standards. Like many Alien novels that have preceded it, "Infiltrator" could accurately bear the title "Variations on a Theme by James Cameron." In other words, the plot is familiar and formulaic. Normally I might criticize a work for not going further out of the box, but "Infiltrator" is just so well executed that I couldn't help but love it and reflect on what I adore about the franchise.
Where to start with the praise? First of all, I enjoyed the deliberate pace of the plot. Early on, the novel doesn't feature the most expeditious action plotting, so don't expect a lot of xenomorph-blasting action from page one. The action comes in short bursts until all hell breaks loose later on in the story. The slower pacing gives ample room to develop some great characters (more on that later), explore corporate intrigue, and discover xenomorph morphology. The story features a lot of interesting experiments on xenomorphs as well as uncomfortable scenarios regarding scientific ethics (or lack thereof). Pala Station is well-conceived, and I enjoyed getting to explore the station and meet its denizens, some of whom are downright eccentric.
When the requisite chest bursting and xenomorph blasting commences, Ochse proves he can run with the best. I haven't had this much fun reading an Aliens novel since Steve Perry's novels of yesteryear. All of the gore, guts, gunplay, gusto, and primal fear you expect of an Aliens novel is present and accounted for. I also enjoyed some of the other creatures that author Ochse dreams up during the course of the story. Overall, the book is very well written and easily readable.
Being a prequel, the novel raises some questions that it doesn't answer, and features an incredibly abrupt ending. I guess I'll just have to play the game to find out what happens. Perhaps a game novelization might be in order? "Alien: Isolation" got a novelization that I enjoyed, so maybe a novelization of "Fireteam Elite" is not out the question.
"Infiltrator" features stellar characterization. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Cruz and Rawlings. They are so well done I can imagine them both in a movie, and could see a younger Samuel L. Jackson and Forrest Whitaker playing those characters. The author's experience in the military gives a certain weight to the martial characters that can only come from real world experience. Ochse certainly understands the psyche of the man-at-arms, and this obvious expertise is an asset to the novel.
Congratulations to Weston Ochse and Titan for a quality, downright fun addition to the Aliens pantheon. You've made the fans proud with this one. Feel free to keep 'em comin'.
"Aliens: Infiltrator" reads a lot like your father's Alien novel--and in this case, it's absolutely a compliment. "Infiltrator" introduces us to Dr. Timothy Hoenikker, the newest addition to Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani research facility. Lured to the station by a promise to study alien artifacts, Dr. Hoenikker quickly realizes he was sold a bill of goods, and that the "alien" researching is decidedly different than he thought. Suffice it to say that xenomorphs get loose, pandemonium ensues, and you get to tag along for the wild ride. What's not to like?
The plot of "Infiltrator" is certainly a conventional one by Aliens standards. Like many Alien novels that have preceded it, "Infiltrator" could accurately bear the title "Variations on a Theme by James Cameron." In other words, the plot is familiar and formulaic. Normally I might criticize a work for not going further out of the box, but "Infiltrator" is just so well executed that I couldn't help but love it and reflect on what I adore about the franchise.
Where to start with the praise? First of all, I enjoyed the deliberate pace of the plot. Early on, the novel doesn't feature the most expeditious action plotting, so don't expect a lot of xenomorph-blasting action from page one. The action comes in short bursts until all hell breaks loose later on in the story. The slower pacing gives ample room to develop some great characters (more on that later), explore corporate intrigue, and discover xenomorph morphology. The story features a lot of interesting experiments on xenomorphs as well as uncomfortable scenarios regarding scientific ethics (or lack thereof). Pala Station is well-conceived, and I enjoyed getting to explore the station and meet its denizens, some of whom are downright eccentric.
When the requisite chest bursting and xenomorph blasting commences, Ochse proves he can run with the best. I haven't had this much fun reading an Aliens novel since Steve Perry's novels of yesteryear. All of the gore, guts, gunplay, gusto, and primal fear you expect of an Aliens novel is present and accounted for. I also enjoyed some of the other creatures that author Ochse dreams up during the course of the story. Overall, the book is very well written and easily readable.
Being a prequel, the novel raises some questions that it doesn't answer, and features an incredibly abrupt ending. I guess I'll just have to play the game to find out what happens. Perhaps a game novelization might be in order? "Alien: Isolation" got a novelization that I enjoyed, so maybe a novelization of "Fireteam Elite" is not out the question.
"Infiltrator" features stellar characterization. I particularly enjoyed the characters of Cruz and Rawlings. They are so well done I can imagine them both in a movie, and could see a younger Samuel L. Jackson and Forrest Whitaker playing those characters. The author's experience in the military gives a certain weight to the martial characters that can only come from real world experience. Ochse certainly understands the psyche of the man-at-arms, and this obvious expertise is an asset to the novel.
Congratulations to Weston Ochse and Titan for a quality, downright fun addition to the Aliens pantheon. You've made the fans proud with this one. Feel free to keep 'em comin'.
October 16, 2021
Absolutely loved every minute listening to this one, along with the Perry Aliens books this is a favourite. Charismatic realistic characters and I really enjoyed the emphasis on the scientific method aspect of the story. Narrated fantastically as well, really loved this one.
April 28, 2021
This novel really reminds me of alien:resurrection quite a lot.
This is both good and bad in a few ways. The characterization of the humans is superior to a lot of very well known novels. Most of the characters are very fun and interesting; the writer is very apt at making characters both surprising and round with obvious personality. I started reading this book for everyone’s favourite space monster, but found the cast of characters more interesting-instead-...
On the topic of the monsters, there are both the aliens we know from the films and some new varieties. I will criticize the author for not really being very creative with his own creations or varieties at all. The “hive mind” thing is kind of an overplayed trope in a lot of media, aliens with extra arms and rats with spider legs had me rolling my eyes. Comparatively to the films this isn’t necessarily inspirational at all.
One human becomes more monstrous through the story in a very well done twist regarding eating a dead creature, but the description of the creature he became really took me out of his arc. (More spider legs, sharp teeth.. that’s all?). Beginning the novel with the aliens stored in controlled environments delivered to them really made me feel like the Xenomorphs weren’t as horrible as described, which was put into concrete when they are easily killed by pistol bullets and fire from nervous scientists. So if you’re looking for something more like Alien rather than Aliens, this will not be the book for you. The “most dangerous creatures in the universe” splatter like bugs.
Next to the human characters, the violence was very well done. These days I lament that there’s not a lot of shocking gruesome imagery in books (come on guys, it’s fun!), but this book was full of torn off heads and guts smeared on walls. This was the one thing that kept me excited to read forward from the aliens’ inevitable escape from the laboratory. The ending of the book was also masterfully done.
I suppose I would recommend this book to science fiction fans, but not necessarily alien fans. (:
This is both good and bad in a few ways. The characterization of the humans is superior to a lot of very well known novels. Most of the characters are very fun and interesting; the writer is very apt at making characters both surprising and round with obvious personality. I started reading this book for everyone’s favourite space monster, but found the cast of characters more interesting-instead-...
On the topic of the monsters, there are both the aliens we know from the films and some new varieties. I will criticize the author for not really being very creative with his own creations or varieties at all. The “hive mind” thing is kind of an overplayed trope in a lot of media, aliens with extra arms and rats with spider legs had me rolling my eyes. Comparatively to the films this isn’t necessarily inspirational at all.
One human becomes more monstrous through the story in a very well done twist regarding eating a dead creature, but the description of the creature he became really took me out of his arc. (More spider legs, sharp teeth.. that’s all?). Beginning the novel with the aliens stored in controlled environments delivered to them really made me feel like the Xenomorphs weren’t as horrible as described, which was put into concrete when they are easily killed by pistol bullets and fire from nervous scientists. So if you’re looking for something more like Alien rather than Aliens, this will not be the book for you. The “most dangerous creatures in the universe” splatter like bugs.
Next to the human characters, the violence was very well done. These days I lament that there’s not a lot of shocking gruesome imagery in books (come on guys, it’s fun!), but this book was full of torn off heads and guts smeared on walls. This was the one thing that kept me excited to read forward from the aliens’ inevitable escape from the laboratory. The ending of the book was also masterfully done.
I suppose I would recommend this book to science fiction fans, but not necessarily alien fans. (:
November 14, 2021
At some point in this book someone literally remarks that man is the real monster.
I'm giving it a positive rating in spite of this. Take that how you will.
I'm giving it a positive rating in spite of this. Take that how you will.
March 31, 2023
I have read almost all of the Alien novels. Each author's interpretation of the xenomorph is unique, blending the well-known life cycle of the alien with social commentary on corporate greed and/or authoritarianism.
Westen Ochse captures the true horror and tension of the alien universe in "Aliens: Infiltrator". Introducing truly original characters and presenting difficult moral dilemmas, "Infiltrator" delivers the thought-provoking thrill ride that fans seek when entering the Xenoverse. This book has everything I look for in an Alien novel: strong and relatable characters, logical storyline progression, and, of course, high-stakes Xenomorph action.
Ochse is a very gifted writer who excels at creating characters. I felt myself getting attached to each person in the story, empathizing with their internal struggles and feeling invested in their fates. The author also creates and introduces ideas that are so scary that I felt my heart racing as I devoured the book, simply NEEDING to know what would happen next. Though the story is set for the predictable and inevitable disaster that is present in just about every alien novel, the way in which it unfolds and the extra twists and turns that arise keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Trust me when I say that you will not be prepared for what happens in this book. At all.
Out of the 15 alien novels I have read so far, I would put "Infiltrator" in the top three along with "Out of the Shadows" by Tim Lebbon and "The Cold Forge" by Alex White. As in "Out of the Shadows", the characters in "Infiltrator" are well-developed, witty, and brave. Like in the novel "The Cold Forge", Ochse sets his story in a future where Weyland-Yutani has acquired Xenomorphs for experimentation, creating drama and tension that makes an excellent stand-alone story. Even with its similarities to some of my other favorites, "Infiltrator" is completely independent and sets the standard as it’s own great contribution to the Xenoverse.
I rate "Aliens: Infiltrator" five stars. This book gave me everything I look for in an alien novel in addition to genuine originality. I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a satisfying thrill ride: "Infiltrator" will have you on the edge of your seat!
My one criticism is that the book is set up for a sequel. In the novel, most, but not all, issues are resolved. I understand that this book is a prequel for the video game "Aliens: Fireteam Elite", however, I am not a gamer, so I am hoping there will be a novelization. I have questions that need to be answered!
Westen Ochse captures the true horror and tension of the alien universe in "Aliens: Infiltrator". Introducing truly original characters and presenting difficult moral dilemmas, "Infiltrator" delivers the thought-provoking thrill ride that fans seek when entering the Xenoverse. This book has everything I look for in an Alien novel: strong and relatable characters, logical storyline progression, and, of course, high-stakes Xenomorph action.
Ochse is a very gifted writer who excels at creating characters. I felt myself getting attached to each person in the story, empathizing with their internal struggles and feeling invested in their fates. The author also creates and introduces ideas that are so scary that I felt my heart racing as I devoured the book, simply NEEDING to know what would happen next. Though the story is set for the predictable and inevitable disaster that is present in just about every alien novel, the way in which it unfolds and the extra twists and turns that arise keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Trust me when I say that you will not be prepared for what happens in this book. At all.
Out of the 15 alien novels I have read so far, I would put "Infiltrator" in the top three along with "Out of the Shadows" by Tim Lebbon and "The Cold Forge" by Alex White. As in "Out of the Shadows", the characters in "Infiltrator" are well-developed, witty, and brave. Like in the novel "The Cold Forge", Ochse sets his story in a future where Weyland-Yutani has acquired Xenomorphs for experimentation, creating drama and tension that makes an excellent stand-alone story. Even with its similarities to some of my other favorites, "Infiltrator" is completely independent and sets the standard as it’s own great contribution to the Xenoverse.
I rate "Aliens: Infiltrator" five stars. This book gave me everything I look for in an alien novel in addition to genuine originality. I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a satisfying thrill ride: "Infiltrator" will have you on the edge of your seat!
My one criticism is that the book is set up for a sequel. In the novel, most, but not all, issues are resolved. I understand that this book is a prequel for the video game "Aliens: Fireteam Elite", however, I am not a gamer, so I am hoping there will be a novelization. I have questions that need to be answered!
April 27, 2021
Aliens: Infiltrator by Weston Ochse is a Media-tie novel based on the 20th Century Alien Film franchise. Acting as a prequel to the upcoming Video game Aliens: Fireteam from ColdIron Studios. Set in 2202 a few years after the Events of the movie Aliens. Infiltrator, focuses on Doctor Timothy Honenikker who travels to LV-895 lured by the prospect of working with ancient alien artifacts. Upon arrival he’s assigned to Pala Space Station a Weyland-Yutani facility. Instead, of working on ancient artifacts Dr. Hoenikker is shocked to be assigned with a crew of misfit scientists to test the effects of the Black goo Bio-Material (The same from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant Movies) on living creatures. To make thing worse among the Pala Station staff is a Infiltrator, working for a rival Corporation, who's actions in corporate espionage could mean disastrous outcome for Pala Station. Also a focus in the book is Section Chief Victor Rawlings a former Colonial Marine on Pala Station, who gathers a group of former marine veterans and forms a little militia to prepare for the worse case scenarios. When Pala Station receives a shipment of human test subjects and Alien eggs, the experiments done to them by Dr. Hoenikker and his misfit team lead to new types of Xenomorphs. Which quickly get out of control and escape, and threaten everyone on Pala Station. As Chaos ensues On Pala Station Victor Rawlings and his band of former Colonial Marines are all that stand between the survivors, and certain death, and what ensues is a during escape.
Alien: Infiltrator is a fun, relatively fast-paced book, with so many of the elements that I enjoy in an Alien novel. There is greed, some corporate espionage, and a bit of creature worship, along with a variety of encounters and combat situations that keep the interest. There are the typical scenes where the unaware get jumped by the Xeno, and there are scenes where the “very much aware” clash with it in desperate combat. There is some novel use of technology at times, and the “extra danger” these new types of Xenomorphs embodies is a really nice touch to add a splash of novelty to proceedings.
Overall, this works as a great introduction to the upcoming Aliens: Fireteam video game, but also acts as a good stand alone story set in the Aliens expanded universe. I would definitely recommend Aliens: Infiltrator to any fellow Fan of the Alien franchise.
Alien: Infiltrator is a fun, relatively fast-paced book, with so many of the elements that I enjoy in an Alien novel. There is greed, some corporate espionage, and a bit of creature worship, along with a variety of encounters and combat situations that keep the interest. There are the typical scenes where the unaware get jumped by the Xeno, and there are scenes where the “very much aware” clash with it in desperate combat. There is some novel use of technology at times, and the “extra danger” these new types of Xenomorphs embodies is a really nice touch to add a splash of novelty to proceedings.
Overall, this works as a great introduction to the upcoming Aliens: Fireteam video game, but also acts as a good stand alone story set in the Aliens expanded universe. I would definitely recommend Aliens: Infiltrator to any fellow Fan of the Alien franchise.
September 2, 2021
This book doesn't do anything particularly special with the Xenomorphs. It's your typical "scientists study Xenomorph, Xenomorph escapes" affair. It does set itself apart from other stories of its kind, though. For starters, it uses the Pathogen/Accelerant (from Prometheus/Covenant) as an actual plot element, and the scientists actually have some successes...for a time.
The main characters are interesting and varied. Each brings something different to the story and is entertaining in their own way, be they the scientist tricked into working at this base, the hapless infiltrator blackmailed into betraying his colleagues, or the ex-Colonial Marine looking to redeem himself.
Something I really enjoyed about this story was there were a number of false alarms, and they were carried out very effectively.
Once the terror did begin, it was a very tense story. There was no way of knowing who would survive or what would happen next. That's even with the knowledge that the events of this story lead into the events of Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
The book did have shortcomings. Description became somewhat repetitive, some plot points seemed to go nowhere, and some characters were rather barebones. They were little more than "corrupt coward", with nothing more interesting to them. Other characters appeared only to be removed from the narrative within a page.
This was a fine addition to the Alien franchise, in my opinion. Some elements of the Xenomorph didn't quite seem to gel with established continuity, but that may be somewhat linked to the incorporation of the black goo (Accelerant/Pathogen) in the story.
Well worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of the franchise and/or planning to play Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
The main characters are interesting and varied. Each brings something different to the story and is entertaining in their own way, be they the scientist tricked into working at this base, the hapless infiltrator blackmailed into betraying his colleagues, or the ex-Colonial Marine looking to redeem himself.
Something I really enjoyed about this story was there were a number of false alarms, and they were carried out very effectively.
Once the terror did begin, it was a very tense story. There was no way of knowing who would survive or what would happen next. That's even with the knowledge that the events of this story lead into the events of Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
The book did have shortcomings. Description became somewhat repetitive, some plot points seemed to go nowhere, and some characters were rather barebones. They were little more than "corrupt coward", with nothing more interesting to them. Other characters appeared only to be removed from the narrative within a page.
This was a fine addition to the Alien franchise, in my opinion. Some elements of the Xenomorph didn't quite seem to gel with established continuity, but that may be somewhat linked to the incorporation of the black goo (Accelerant/Pathogen) in the story.
Well worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of the franchise and/or planning to play Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
June 4, 2025
I will start by saying I am massively biased because I am a huge fan of the original Alien movies. However, I do think this adds a lot to the universe of Alien and has some fantastic scares in it.
I loved the set of characters that were introduced they all felt like people you would find in this universe. All of them are driven in different ways with tragic back stories, especially Cruz, who quickly became my favourite.
There was also some creativity with the Leon 895 experiment, which I thought was a really cool addition to the franchise.
Quite heavy on the gore, so if that's not your thing, you should avoid it. But if you don't already love the Alien universe, the chances of you picking up this book are very slim 🤣.
Is there room for improvement, yes. Some of the story felt like it progressed too quickly in some areas and too slowly in others, and the dialogue is a bit clunky at times.
But I enjoyed it and I did creep me out which is what I wanted it to do.
I loved the set of characters that were introduced they all felt like people you would find in this universe. All of them are driven in different ways with tragic back stories, especially Cruz, who quickly became my favourite.
There was also some creativity with the Leon 895 experiment, which I thought was a really cool addition to the franchise.
Quite heavy on the gore, so if that's not your thing, you should avoid it. But if you don't already love the Alien universe, the chances of you picking up this book are very slim 🤣.
Is there room for improvement, yes. Some of the story felt like it progressed too quickly in some areas and too slowly in others, and the dialogue is a bit clunky at times.
But I enjoyed it and I did creep me out which is what I wanted it to do.
June 22, 2021
I really enjoyed it for most part(despite some minor inconsistencies both in the story and with Xenomorph lore) but the ending felt very rushed, anticlimactic and just left me feeling a little annoyed/dissapointed.
June 28, 2021
Exceeding my expectations, but oh hell what are the humans dumb in this one😂
August 6, 2024
A couple poorly designed subplots away from being a very good book, but fun.
January 6, 2025
world building is 10/10
August 31, 2023
This book is very campy, I wish the xenomorphs had been introduced earlier into the book.
October 21, 2023
Could have been better
January 9, 2025
A fun little read, cool story to set up Fireteam Elite (I did pick it up around the games release but never got around to reading!) but some questionable passages and characters.
A lot of larger than life characters, and the odd complete change in character which felt slightly off.
I particularly liked the sciencey passages, and I think in retrospect it sort of ties to Romulus too which is cool.
A lot of larger than life characters, and the odd complete change in character which felt slightly off.
I particularly liked the sciencey passages, and I think in retrospect it sort of ties to Romulus too which is cool.
August 7, 2022
Did I looove this novel? No.
Do I like when Prometheus lore is used? Also no.
Do I consider "the black goo" a cheap plot device? Yes.
I'm I a sucker for Alien novels? Also yes.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Do I like when Prometheus lore is used? Also no.
Do I consider "the black goo" a cheap plot device? Yes.
I'm I a sucker for Alien novels? Also yes.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
April 3, 2024
Possibly the least competent lab Weyland-Yutani has ever put together.
-Allowed an infestation of rats to proliferate despite being a sterile xenobiology lab
-Were unable to solve a murder for several days despite everyone having trackers implanted in their skin and the murder being unplanned
-Continued w/ a scheduled delivery of ovomorphs (the eggs that make facehuggers) even after a lab specimen escaped, KILLED TWO PEOPLE, and HAD NOT YET BEEN CAUGHT
-Said specimen had been conditioned to TURN INVISIBLE
-They didn't even bother looking for it until another attack happened
-Mistook a mutated technician for a xenomorph and assumed the lab had been breached because they "saw an empty specimen room" when that specimen also could turn invisible
-Let a telepathic xenomorph live despite it conducting organized escape attempts
-Had literally no containment procedure in place and had a secret stash of ovomorphs that allowed for a mass xenomorph outbreak
-Allowed an infestation of rats to proliferate despite being a sterile xenobiology lab
-Were unable to solve a murder for several days despite everyone having trackers implanted in their skin and the murder being unplanned
-Continued w/ a scheduled delivery of ovomorphs (the eggs that make facehuggers) even after a lab specimen escaped, KILLED TWO PEOPLE, and HAD NOT YET BEEN CAUGHT
-Said specimen had been conditioned to TURN INVISIBLE
-They didn't even bother looking for it until another attack happened
-Mistook a mutated technician for a xenomorph and assumed the lab had been breached because they "saw an empty specimen room" when that specimen also could turn invisible
-Let a telepathic xenomorph live despite it conducting organized escape attempts
-Had literally no containment procedure in place and had a secret stash of ovomorphs that allowed for a mass xenomorph outbreak
June 8, 2025
Infiltrator is a solid entry into the Alien/Aliens Universe novels. It is fast paced and "fun" (assuming you like reading about characters being torn asunder and acid melting most of their extremities), with a few variations on the usual Xenomorphs which do the killing.
The infiltration plot elemment from the focus of the story, and in fact, it is more the B plot to what might have been called Aliens: Science Gone Wrong. Thankfully, Ochse leans into what he knows as a veteran, allowing retired Colonial Marines to make up a high percentage of the POV characters, nicely off-setting the "sciency" chapters where characters pontificate about what they might be able to achieve if they can better understand the genetic composition of the Xenomorphs and isolate the parts they wish to harness.
My major complaint would be the way most if not all the characters seem very able to shrug away the critical danger they are constantly in. At one point, one experiment disappears after killing a few people, and everyone seems to shrug their shoulders and say "Oh well, it must be gone". And I can't for the life of me reconcile how any human in that scenario would be so cool with that outcome.
There are also probably one too many creatures which escape before the main event of the Xenomorphs getting lose, so the whole novel has a bit of "rinse and repeat" about it.
So this one likely won't change your life, but if you're a fan of these novels or this Aliens Universe in general, you should have a good enough time with Infiltrator.
3 Acid Resistant Suits of Armour for Aliens: Infiltrator.
The infiltration plot elemment from the focus of the story, and in fact, it is more the B plot to what might have been called Aliens: Science Gone Wrong. Thankfully, Ochse leans into what he knows as a veteran, allowing retired Colonial Marines to make up a high percentage of the POV characters, nicely off-setting the "sciency" chapters where characters pontificate about what they might be able to achieve if they can better understand the genetic composition of the Xenomorphs and isolate the parts they wish to harness.
My major complaint would be the way most if not all the characters seem very able to shrug away the critical danger they are constantly in. At one point, one experiment disappears after killing a few people, and everyone seems to shrug their shoulders and say "Oh well, it must be gone". And I can't for the life of me reconcile how any human in that scenario would be so cool with that outcome.
There are also probably one too many creatures which escape before the main event of the Xenomorphs getting lose, so the whole novel has a bit of "rinse and repeat" about it.
So this one likely won't change your life, but if you're a fan of these novels or this Aliens Universe in general, you should have a good enough time with Infiltrator.
3 Acid Resistant Suits of Armour for Aliens: Infiltrator.
July 24, 2022
Listened to this after Cold Forge and it was very disappointing. Cold Forge was tremendous. This was flat, rushed, and used gore as an excuse for describing the characters’ actual emotions as fear.
Not sure how to evoke terror? Just put in more descriptions of blood spraying on walls! /sarcasm
Um, no. Gore =/= terror. (As an aside, if you’re looking for gory Aliens books which I know some readers like, you’re going to love this one.)
Also, the narrator of the audiobook is painful - he doesn’t take breaths between his sentences or at least it’s edited that way so when you’re listening everything just becomes one endless sentence as he tells you that the alien leapt down from the rafters the man grabbed a knife but it was too late the alien was coming straight for him the table nearby was solid metal so he rolled underneath hoping it would protect him in another instant the alien was on top of the table ramming it with its claws he gripped the knife tighter knowing he could do nothing but still unwilling to die without trying to fight for his life globs of alien spittle rained down on every side….
DUDE, take a breath!! It’s exhausting listening to this narrator.
I love all things Alien but this book is quite low on that list.
Not sure how to evoke terror? Just put in more descriptions of blood spraying on walls! /sarcasm
Um, no. Gore =/= terror. (As an aside, if you’re looking for gory Aliens books which I know some readers like, you’re going to love this one.)
Also, the narrator of the audiobook is painful - he doesn’t take breaths between his sentences or at least it’s edited that way so when you’re listening everything just becomes one endless sentence as he tells you that the alien leapt down from the rafters the man grabbed a knife but it was too late the alien was coming straight for him the table nearby was solid metal so he rolled underneath hoping it would protect him in another instant the alien was on top of the table ramming it with its claws he gripped the knife tighter knowing he could do nothing but still unwilling to die without trying to fight for his life globs of alien spittle rained down on every side….
DUDE, take a breath!! It’s exhausting listening to this narrator.
I love all things Alien but this book is quite low on that list.
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