Scan barcode
A review by sallytwibbles
Aliens: Bug Hunt by David Farland, Jonathan Maberry, Rachel Caine, Heather Graham, Scott Sigler, Larry Correia
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.