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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
4.5 Rating, this book is what got me back into reading and into sci-fi
I must commend Sigler for writing an Alien novel with a premise such as this. It's all so easy to regurgitate previous settings and call it a day — an easy buck! However, his exploration of this context led me to disappointment.
The story is written in a safe, bland, and juvenile way. For a book such as this, I expected way more political intrigue and interpersonal drama. Sure, there are some parts were this is the case, but it's done in such a boring and trivial way that it's non-impactful for the story. Secondary and tertiary characters are essentially invisible: they aren't intertwined with the other primary character's arcs that makes their own paths consequential or momentous. Events that occurred in the latter half of the book made me ask "Who?" when I read their afflicted names. Most of these characters are quickly introduced and thrown aside with little exposition. You won't remember them.
Factions bicker, but again, no events pan out that surprise or enthrall you. It's a real disappointment as the setting created a perfect canvas for Game of Thrones-esque story with an over- bearing and arching xenomorph enemy that influences the secondary political movements of the different factions. We don't get that here.
The suspenseful and horror moments of the book made me feel tense, particularly a final quarter section of the book. It's difficult for written media to evoke responses like that from me, so credits to the author for that one.
Ultimately, many people adore this book. I don't dislike it, I just don't think it's great. So, with that said, I recommend reading it if descriptive scenes regarding combat and suspense are your thing. Don't bother if you expect a book about complicated characters and their drama. This story is about three main characters: Ahiliyah, Creen, and Brandun. It's about going against all odds and trying to achieve the impossible.
The story is written in a safe, bland, and juvenile way. For a book such as this, I expected way more political intrigue and interpersonal drama. Sure, there are some parts were this is the case, but it's done in such a boring and trivial way that it's non-impactful for the story. Secondary and tertiary characters are essentially invisible: they aren't intertwined with the other primary character's arcs that makes their own paths consequential or momentous. Events that occurred in the latter half of the book made me ask "Who?" when I read their afflicted names. Most of these characters are quickly introduced and thrown aside with little exposition. You won't remember them.
Factions bicker, but again, no events pan out that surprise or enthrall you. It's a real disappointment as the setting created a perfect canvas for Game of Thrones-esque story with an over- bearing and arching xenomorph enemy that influences the secondary political movements of the different factions. We don't get that here.
The suspenseful and horror moments of the book made me feel tense, particularly a final quarter section of the book. It's difficult for written media to evoke responses like that from me, so credits to the author for that one.
Ultimately, many people adore this book. I don't dislike it, I just don't think it's great. So, with that said, I recommend reading it if descriptive scenes regarding combat and suspense are your thing. Don't bother if you expect a book about complicated characters and their drama. This story is about three main characters: Ahiliyah, Creen, and Brandun. It's about going against all odds and trying to achieve the impossible.
Aliens set on a planet that has pre-industrial technology? Count me in. I was shocked that I’d never heard of Aliens: Phalanx before when I saw someone on social media mention the concept. It’s such an obviously cool idea and Scott Sigler did a brilliant job of bringing the idea to life.
Set on the planet of Ataegina, where Xenomorphs have taken over and humanity huddles in isolated forts dotted along a mountain range. The worldbuilding is exceedingly well done, especially in the words they use for the Xenomorphs. They are called demons by the citizens of Ataegina and the Xenomorph Queen is the Demon Mother. As the story progresses, it’s clear that the humans are on their last legs, and this sense of hopelessness is well handled by Sigler. Humanity, as they are want to do, are in the throes of infighting between forts. The presence of the demons is blamed on the sins of those in the other forts by the leadership and when Ahiliyah, one of the main characters, discovers a way to defeat them, she is blocked by superstition and fear.
Aliens: Phalanx is filled with suspense and action and some of the best world building I’ve seen in a sci-fi novel. If I was going to make any criticisms, I would say that the story solves itself in Ahiliyah’s favour a little too easily sometimes. Just when it seems as though she’s going to come up against an impassable barrier, the novel has a sudden bout of deus ex machina. But this doesn’t detract from just how good the novel is. Aliens: Phalanx is worth the read even if you aren’t a fan of the Alien franchise.
Set on the planet of Ataegina, where Xenomorphs have taken over and humanity huddles in isolated forts dotted along a mountain range. The worldbuilding is exceedingly well done, especially in the words they use for the Xenomorphs. They are called demons by the citizens of Ataegina and the Xenomorph Queen is the Demon Mother. As the story progresses, it’s clear that the humans are on their last legs, and this sense of hopelessness is well handled by Sigler. Humanity, as they are want to do, are in the throes of infighting between forts. The presence of the demons is blamed on the sins of those in the other forts by the leadership and when Ahiliyah, one of the main characters, discovers a way to defeat them, she is blocked by superstition and fear.
Aliens: Phalanx is filled with suspense and action and some of the best world building I’ve seen in a sci-fi novel. If I was going to make any criticisms, I would say that the story solves itself in Ahiliyah’s favour a little too easily sometimes. Just when it seems as though she’s going to come up against an impassable barrier, the novel has a sudden bout of deus ex machina. But this doesn’t detract from just how good the novel is. Aliens: Phalanx is worth the read even if you aren’t a fan of the Alien franchise.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The plot was not what I was hoping for going into it, and I found myself disinterested in the book.
Also, the worldbuilding and political system of the book felt unrealistic considering the way gender roles are set up in the society the mc lives in and the fact that she still experiences classic "women bad" sexism.
Also, the worldbuilding and political system of the book felt unrealistic considering the way gender roles are set up in the society the mc lives in and the fact that she still experiences classic "women bad" sexism.
4/5
I'm a little biased but I really enjoyed this read. It was a fun crossover with a crazy ending that felt satisfying and I thought was a great adaptation to the source material. Strong female lead, very entertaining with a dark and gritty fantasy world that I really liked. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a more unique and interesting take on the scifi+fantasy / horror genre (mostly fantasy/horror), however I would recommend watching one of the alien movies before hand.
I'm a little biased but I really enjoyed this read. It was a fun crossover with a crazy ending that felt satisfying and I thought was a great adaptation to the source material. Strong female lead, very entertaining with a dark and gritty fantasy world that I really liked. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a more unique and interesting take on the scifi+fantasy / horror genre (mostly fantasy/horror), however I would recommend watching one of the alien movies before hand.
My review of ALIENS: PHALANX can be found at High Fever Books.
I remember reading plenty of franchise crossovers with 20th Century Fox’s Aliens comic book tie-ins as a kid — we had Aliens vs Predator and a spate of sequels, which pitted two of Fox’s biggest science fiction horror alien phenomenas against one another; there was Judge Dredd vs Aliens, too; and even DC got in on the act with Superman/Aliens, Batman/Aliens, and Green Lantern versus Aliens. Scott Sigler’s opus borrows a bit from this crossover idea of What If Aliens Fought [Insert Cool Idea For A Mashup Here], creating a fresh take on a popular, long-running property that’s unlike any other Aliens media tie-in that I’m familiar with.
Rather than opting for the safer, tried and true formulas that are most commonly associated with Aliens, Sigler eschews all the usual stuff one might expect. There’s no cramped spaceship or starbase with an alien (or several) running amok onboard and there’s no heavily armed marines with itchy trigger fingers. Sigler, for the most part, does away with all that, presenting us with his riff on what an Aliens vs 300 crossover event might look like.
While Aliens: Phalanx is set on the alien world of Ataegina, it’s borrows a lot from humanity’s ancient days. The humans that live on Ataegina are forced to live in underground habitats because the surface of their world is, quite literally, crawling with, as they call them, demons. After centuries of warfare between themselves and the alien threat, humanity has been decimated, leaving only a few surviving shelters, each of which are dependent on their mutually beneficial trading system. Ahiliyah is a runner, one of the young women who, with a small team, brave the surface of Ataegina to trade supplies between the various strongholds. She has grander ambitions, of course, but because she’s a woman of Lemeth Hold, a highly patriarchal society ruled by bloodline, her destiny is taken for granted and she is forbidden from training as a warrior.
Sigler eschews the typical science fictions trappings of the Alien movies and leans hard into fantasy genre elements. There’s a lot of history behind the (for lack of a better term) present-day events confronting Ahiliyah, as well a lot of characters, and a more mythological, ancient history take on the proceedings here. Like most fantasy books (maybe even all?), it’s a thick book, requires a bit of patience, and even has a map right in its opening pages. Even though I’m not a fan of the fantasy genre, I found quite a lot to appreciate in Aliens: Phalanx. Honestly, if this weren’t an Aliens book, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it, but Aliens: Phalanx certainly does have that glossy, high-concept appeal of a big crossover mishmash, and the lingering questions of what would happen if an ancient society had to contend with these bugs certainly drew me in. What really piqued my interest the most, initially, was the way these societies of Ataegina have adapted and responded to the threat of the aliens (or demons, if you prefer). Lacking the advanced weaponry of Colonial Marines (something they’ve never even heard of), the runners live by a simple rule of avoidance. Ahiliyah’s fellow Lemethians have plenty of myths and stories about the demons, though, which give us a slightly different perspectives on their relationship to these beasts, how they view them, and they understand them and their place in the world. All these people have to survive on is guesswork and their wits.
As much as I liked Sigler’s sideways approach to this story (and the oh-so-many questions it raised!), what I most appreciated was Ahiliyah’s journey. She’s a strong, brave heroine, and every time her mettle is tested she rises above and beyond the call of duty to protect her friends, her home, and her people. She is, simply put, an awesome, powerful force, and she makes for an excellent addition to Alien canon. The aliens may have acidic blood, but Ahiliyah has a spine of pure steel. And god, what I wouldn’t give now for an Ahiliyah/Ripley crossover…good lord, the pair these would make squaring off against some big nasties!
The phalanx in the title, of course, comes from the ancient Greek’s rectangular military formation of spear-armed infantry. One must naturally wonder how well such an old technique would work, and how well this low-tech, Bronze Age-styled civilization would fare, against the nasty critters of the Alien universe. To say it gets complicated is probably underselling it, but you’ll have to read the book to find out for yourself.
I have to applaud Sigler and Titan Books for being ballsy enough to do something so radically different than what’s expected. While there’s still plenty of bad-ass alien action to go around, this book’s a real nice change of pace from the standard Alien staples. If you’re a fan of ancient history and the Alien flicks, Aliens: Phalanx is right up your alley, no doubt. If you’re a fan of the Alien franchise looking for a taste of something different, something that hasn’t been tried yet, you’ll definitely want to give this one a shot. Even though it has a very different feel to it, and Sigler’s approach to the franchise is itself very different, this is most definitely an Alien story, through and through.
I remember reading plenty of franchise crossovers with 20th Century Fox’s Aliens comic book tie-ins as a kid — we had Aliens vs Predator and a spate of sequels, which pitted two of Fox’s biggest science fiction horror alien phenomenas against one another; there was Judge Dredd vs Aliens, too; and even DC got in on the act with Superman/Aliens, Batman/Aliens, and Green Lantern versus Aliens. Scott Sigler’s opus borrows a bit from this crossover idea of What If Aliens Fought [Insert Cool Idea For A Mashup Here], creating a fresh take on a popular, long-running property that’s unlike any other Aliens media tie-in that I’m familiar with.
Rather than opting for the safer, tried and true formulas that are most commonly associated with Aliens, Sigler eschews all the usual stuff one might expect. There’s no cramped spaceship or starbase with an alien (or several) running amok onboard and there’s no heavily armed marines with itchy trigger fingers. Sigler, for the most part, does away with all that, presenting us with his riff on what an Aliens vs 300 crossover event might look like.
While Aliens: Phalanx is set on the alien world of Ataegina, it’s borrows a lot from humanity’s ancient days. The humans that live on Ataegina are forced to live in underground habitats because the surface of their world is, quite literally, crawling with, as they call them, demons. After centuries of warfare between themselves and the alien threat, humanity has been decimated, leaving only a few surviving shelters, each of which are dependent on their mutually beneficial trading system. Ahiliyah is a runner, one of the young women who, with a small team, brave the surface of Ataegina to trade supplies between the various strongholds. She has grander ambitions, of course, but because she’s a woman of Lemeth Hold, a highly patriarchal society ruled by bloodline, her destiny is taken for granted and she is forbidden from training as a warrior.
Sigler eschews the typical science fictions trappings of the Alien movies and leans hard into fantasy genre elements. There’s a lot of history behind the (for lack of a better term) present-day events confronting Ahiliyah, as well a lot of characters, and a more mythological, ancient history take on the proceedings here. Like most fantasy books (maybe even all?), it’s a thick book, requires a bit of patience, and even has a map right in its opening pages. Even though I’m not a fan of the fantasy genre, I found quite a lot to appreciate in Aliens: Phalanx. Honestly, if this weren’t an Aliens book, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with it, but Aliens: Phalanx certainly does have that glossy, high-concept appeal of a big crossover mishmash, and the lingering questions of what would happen if an ancient society had to contend with these bugs certainly drew me in. What really piqued my interest the most, initially, was the way these societies of Ataegina have adapted and responded to the threat of the aliens (or demons, if you prefer). Lacking the advanced weaponry of Colonial Marines (something they’ve never even heard of), the runners live by a simple rule of avoidance. Ahiliyah’s fellow Lemethians have plenty of myths and stories about the demons, though, which give us a slightly different perspectives on their relationship to these beasts, how they view them, and they understand them and their place in the world. All these people have to survive on is guesswork and their wits.
As much as I liked Sigler’s sideways approach to this story (and the oh-so-many questions it raised!), what I most appreciated was Ahiliyah’s journey. She’s a strong, brave heroine, and every time her mettle is tested she rises above and beyond the call of duty to protect her friends, her home, and her people. She is, simply put, an awesome, powerful force, and she makes for an excellent addition to Alien canon. The aliens may have acidic blood, but Ahiliyah has a spine of pure steel. And god, what I wouldn’t give now for an Ahiliyah/Ripley crossover…good lord, the pair these would make squaring off against some big nasties!
The phalanx in the title, of course, comes from the ancient Greek’s rectangular military formation of spear-armed infantry. One must naturally wonder how well such an old technique would work, and how well this low-tech, Bronze Age-styled civilization would fare, against the nasty critters of the Alien universe. To say it gets complicated is probably underselling it, but you’ll have to read the book to find out for yourself.
I have to applaud Sigler and Titan Books for being ballsy enough to do something so radically different than what’s expected. While there’s still plenty of bad-ass alien action to go around, this book’s a real nice change of pace from the standard Alien staples. If you’re a fan of ancient history and the Alien flicks, Aliens: Phalanx is right up your alley, no doubt. If you’re a fan of the Alien franchise looking for a taste of something different, something that hasn’t been tried yet, you’ll definitely want to give this one a shot. Even though it has a very different feel to it, and Sigler’s approach to the franchise is itself very different, this is most definitely an Alien story, through and through.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No