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badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those random pickups that was advertised on one of the many book clubs I am a member of. I enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. I am a huge fan of Jonathan Maberry and as the editor and a contributor, how could I not read it. All in all, it was a decent collection, and for the fan of the Alien series a nice addition to the world.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 3.5 (maybe?). I'm a casual fan of the Alien series and love Scott Sigler, so I picked this one up. Like most anthologies, there were some hit-and-miss moments. On the one hand, I really enjoyed the action packed stories or ones that had a unique flair to them, my favourite being Sigler's (no surprise). But other stories, didn't quite hit the mark for me.
If you're a big fan of the Alien universe, this is a decent collection to add to, and isn't very long. If it interests you, check it out!
If you're a big fan of the Alien universe, this is a decent collection to add to, and isn't very long. If it interests you, check it out!
birdloveranne's review against another edition
3.0
Finally finished this. Sorry to say it only rates three stars, which is "good." Some of the stories were pretty good, but it was altogether just too much of a mish mash of different stories (a lot of them featuring the same characters). One was very good, by Scott Sigler. Maberry's story was good, until the non-ending. Sorry, I like to know how things end.
samrmarshall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
heregrim's review against another edition
5.0
Great snippets into the Aliens universe, I loved the switching between the various deadly species that infest this place. I never felt helpless for the Marines (which could easily have happened) and the aliens felt mysterious and deadly in their own right...bonus that most weren't about the Xenomorphs. I will be returning to the book when I need ideas for the Alien: RPG.
justgina93's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting for some short stories in the expend universe
sallytwibbles's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Excellent collection of short stories with a few duds in the mix (happens to the best of collections). My favorites were Broken, Episode 22, and Hugs To Die For. Here's my quick takes for each story:
Chance Encounter by Paul Kupperberg: 3 Stars--quite forgettable spoiler: handheld xeno egg?
Reaper by Dan Abnett: 4 Stars--Corporate grain farming gone wrong.
Broken by Rachel Caine: 5 Stars--Bishop's early career.
Reclamation by Yvonne Navarro: 5 Stars--Hicks's early career.
Blowback by Christopher Golden: 3 Stars--most of the Aliens movie marines on a forgettable early mission.
Exterminators by Matt Forbeck: 5 Stars--Dietrick and Frost (Aliens movie marines) picked the wrong bar.
No Good Deed by Ray Garton: 5 Stars--Bounty hunters chasing escapees arrive on LV-426 at just the wrong time.
Zero to Hero by Weston Ochse: 5 Stars--Trigger Warning: Spit!
Dark Mother by David Farland: 5 Stars--What happened to that dick Carter Burke (very satisfying read).
Episode 22 by Larry Correia: 5 Stars--So well written it feels like I watched a documentary on the M41A pulse rifle.
Deep Background by Keith R. A. DeCandido: 5 Stars--A reporter is embedded with the marines.
Empty Nest by Brian Keene: 5 Stars--if I say anything it will ruin it. Creepy!
Darkness Falls by Heather Graham: 4 Stars--Good read but the ending didn't feel right for the Alien Universe.
Hugs to Die For by Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter: 5 Stars--Excellent pacing in a clever situation (loved this one!)
Deep Black by Jonathan Maberry: 3 Stars--I didn't really know what was going on and characters where just thrown at me left and right.
Distressed by James A. Moore: 2 Stars--Skip this one (I will next time I read this collection). It was so forgettable I can't remember a single thing.
Dangerous Prey by Scott Sigler: 5 Stars--From the xenomorphs's points of view. Great idea well executed!
Spite by Tim Lebbon: 3 Stars--I think Mr. Lebbon's writing is not for me. Forced relationships that meant nothing by the end of the story and a quick villain reveal only to have them dispatched within mere paragraphs.
Chance Encounter by Paul Kupperberg: 3 Stars--quite forgettable spoiler: handheld xeno egg?
Reaper by Dan Abnett: 4 Stars--Corporate grain farming gone wrong.
Broken by Rachel Caine: 5 Stars--Bishop's early career.
Reclamation by Yvonne Navarro: 5 Stars--Hicks's early career.
Blowback by Christopher Golden: 3 Stars--most of the Aliens movie marines on a forgettable early mission.
Exterminators by Matt Forbeck: 5 Stars--Dietrick and Frost (Aliens movie marines) picked the wrong bar.
No Good Deed by Ray Garton: 5 Stars--Bounty hunters chasing escapees arrive on LV-426 at just the wrong time.
Zero to Hero by Weston Ochse: 5 Stars--Trigger Warning: Spit!
Dark Mother by David Farland: 5 Stars--What happened to that dick Carter Burke (very satisfying read).
Episode 22 by Larry Correia: 5 Stars--So well written it feels like I watched a documentary on the M41A pulse rifle.
Deep Background by Keith R. A. DeCandido: 5 Stars--A reporter is embedded with the marines.
Empty Nest by Brian Keene: 5 Stars--if I say anything it will ruin it. Creepy!
Darkness Falls by Heather Graham: 4 Stars--Good read but the ending didn't feel right for the Alien Universe.
Hugs to Die For by Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter: 5 Stars--Excellent pacing in a clever situation (loved this one!)
Deep Black by Jonathan Maberry: 3 Stars--I didn't really know what was going on and characters where just thrown at me left and right.
Distressed by James A. Moore: 2 Stars--Skip this one (I will next time I read this collection). It was so forgettable I can't remember a single thing.
Dangerous Prey by Scott Sigler: 5 Stars--From the xenomorphs's points of view. Great idea well executed!
Spite by Tim Lebbon: 3 Stars--I think Mr. Lebbon's writing is not for me. Forced relationships that meant nothing by the end of the story and a quick villain reveal only to have them dispatched within mere paragraphs.
clotalksbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
3.5
As others have said this collection was a bit hit and miss. Some of them were really good, and added to the Alien universe (or whatever you would call it). Some of them...did not. Here is a little one liner I was doing as I was listening...
Chance encounter - 3 stars. Just really forgettable.
Reaper - 3.5 stars. Liked the open ending.
Broken - 3.5 stars. Nice exploration into Bishop and how he is how he is.
Reclamation - 4 stars. Very emotional, but would have preferred it not to be Hicks.
Blowback -3 stars. Some of the crew from Aliens. Didn't feel for the characters.
Exterminators - 4 stars. Real tension and believable characters.
No Good Deed - 2 stars. The language used was atrocious and I didn't like the characters we were supposed to be rooting for - or maybe we weren't supposed to...
Zero to Hero - 4 star. interesting premise.
Dark mother - 3.5 stars. Burke during Aliens. Felt feasible.
Episode 22 - 3 stars. About the pulse rifle. Just a little boring.
Deep background - 4 stars. Tragic, liked the characters.
Empty Nest - 4.5 stars. Sinister, who is the real enemy?
Darkness falls - 4 stars. Good characters, interesting "host".
Hugs to die for - 3.5 stars. Story was quite good but the narrator wasn't great for this one...
Deep Black - 2.5 stars. Nothing really happened...
Distressed - 2.5 stars. Lots of dying. Not sure what the plot was for this one, just lots of violence.
Dangerous Prey - 4.5 stars. From xenomorph perspective. Really liked it.
Spite - 4 stars. Liked the way they dealt with company men.
Chance encounter - 3 stars. Just really forgettable.
Reaper - 3.5 stars. Liked the open ending.
Broken - 3.5 stars. Nice exploration into Bishop and how he is how he is.
Reclamation - 4 stars. Very emotional, but would have preferred it not to be Hicks.
Blowback -3 stars. Some of the crew from Aliens. Didn't feel for the characters.
Exterminators - 4 stars. Real tension and believable characters.
No Good Deed - 2 stars. The language used was atrocious and I didn't like the characters we were supposed to be rooting for - or maybe we weren't supposed to...
Zero to Hero - 4 star. interesting premise.
Dark mother - 3.5 stars. Burke during Aliens. Felt feasible.
Episode 22 - 3 stars. About the pulse rifle. Just a little boring.
Deep background - 4 stars. Tragic, liked the characters.
Empty Nest - 4.5 stars. Sinister, who is the real enemy?
Darkness falls - 4 stars. Good characters, interesting "host".
Hugs to die for - 3.5 stars. Story was quite good but the narrator wasn't great for this one...
Deep Black - 2.5 stars. Nothing really happened...
Distressed - 2.5 stars. Lots of dying. Not sure what the plot was for this one, just lots of violence.
Dangerous Prey - 4.5 stars. From xenomorph perspective. Really liked it.
Spite - 4 stars. Liked the way they dealt with company men.
ethanjpollard's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0