Alien - River of Pain (Book 3)

ALIEN: RIVER OF PAIN is the third book in the new Titan Books trilogy billed as canonical companion pieces to the movies. Written by Christopher Golden, a dab hand at the ol’ franchise tie-ins, it tells the story of the fall of LV-426 (aka Acheron aka Hadley’s Hope). For those a little rusty with the franchise, that’s the moon where we first met a facehugger back in 1979′s ALIEN and then, 57 in-movie (and 7 actual) years later in ALIENS, it was the terraforming colony upon which Ripley and the Colonial Marines dropshipped their asses after receiving a distress call. Of course, they were too late. Acheron had already fallen, its people, save one little girl called Newt, either dead or impregnated with chestbusters-in-waiting. RIVER OF PAIN tells the story of what went down.It’s not the first attempt to fill in this blank. Back in the 90s, Dark Horse Comics released a GN entitled NEWT’sTALE and, like that book, Golden tells his story partly from the POV of Newt. But there are other characters, too, including the science team, the colonial marines employed to protect them, and the everyday colonists – the men, women and children who have made this place their home.For the most part, it’s a solid story, very much maintaining the feel of the second movie. Golden has been careful to reference events through a series of flashbacks to the movies, in order to correspond with the timeline established within the ALIEN franchise. It makes the book feel all the more genuine in terms of continuity. If I have any criticism, it’s perhaps the leisurely pace employed. Golden invests a lot of time in developing the characters, most of whom, it’s fair to say, quickly devolve to “red shirts” when we get to the business end of this book. When things do heat up, the pace becomes frenetic with all the blood and acid and plasma fire you would expect from an Alien book but, for the less patient reader, it may not come soon enough.That said, as a fan of the movies, I did find this book hugely enjoyable and, like its predecessor, ALIEN: SEA OF SORROWS, it feels a lot more true to the movies than some of the earlier tie-in novels. What more can you ask for?

very good link to the film series, perhaps this rather than the crap that was the other prequels should have been the film. you can guess whats going to happen to most of the characters but that does not stop it being an entertaining read. i couldn't put it down once it got to the death throes of the colony. the other two books in the series while not bad dont really fit in as well as this but are still worth a read.

Of the three books in the series this is by far the best You get to learn more about LV-426 or Acheron and Hadley's Hopes inhabitants So unlike the aliens film you don't look at them as just dumb assed colonists The story is also interlinked with Ripley's rescue and you learn more about Newt and the rediscovery of the derelict alien ship If you a into the Alien franchise I would strongly recommend this book It stands up well against the originals and does not ruin the Alien mythos or mess with the original stories

When I heard tell this book was set pre-Aliens I was a bit apprehensive; after all how much story could possibly be told? However of the Trilogy that I have read this has by far been the best and superior read. Christopher Golden the author is a wonderful wordsmith and he really helps to suck you in to this dark and hopeless world.The characters of Anne Jorden (Newt's mother) and soldier Brackett whom Anne has a previous history with are shining examples of great characterisation, however in this entire piece there is not one weak link. Every character no matter how unimportant or evil is given different layers, and by the end you will be left gobsmacked. So enamoured with the characters was I that I found myself hoping against hope the characters would pull through. Any fan who has seen Alien however knows how this story ends for the colony on Acheron. That being said it is worth your time if your a fan of the series. There's enough twists and turns throughout to keep you guessing, and there are some moments that genuinely pull at the heart strings.What I loved about the book though is how similar it is to Alien. I didn't realise but there is not an Alien to be seen at all until the last third of the book, the author instead choosing to focus on building up the characters and their relationships; humanizing the Alien fodder so to speak rather than immediately throwing them to the wolves. It's something that works. When characters begin to be abducted by the Xenomorphs, you actually care.It's also a great companion to read before Aliens.This is a must have for any Alien fan!

There were a few negative reviews about this book which initially put me off, however after reading the first two books I couldn't refuse. I enjoyed reading this book, yes you don't see the aliens until about 60% into it and there are a few to many scenes from the films however its still a good read. I enjoyed seeing how the colony began and how it got to the state it was in at the beginning of aliens. The book is finished off brilliantly by tying in an action scene with the entrance scene from aliens, it was good to see the connection. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story of the Fall of Hadley's Hope (the colony in Aliens) is one that needs telling. It has the potential to be a great and tense descent into the abyss. Unfortunately this novel didn't do the potential idea justice. The characters are weak, there's a tedious 'romantic' subplot that adds little to the characterization and, of course, the obligatory Company mega-conspiracy.It was also a bit of surprise to find Hadley's Hope had a platoon of marines stationed there before the Alien out break: even though Alan Dean Foster's Aliens novelization is explicit that there were no soldiers in the colony 'No soldiers. Maybe one or two cops'! I can't help but feel that someone like ADF would've done the story more justice and added a bit of consistency.Fine if you just want the sci-fi equivalent of a bag of crisps. Not so good if you're looking for the sci-fi equivalent of a decent meal.