If you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy this book

I jumped at the chance to read it and was not disappointed!

From what I understand this was created from the movie. So, if you have seen the movie, you know what is going to happen. That does not take the terror out of the book though! It is still just as intense, maybe even more so, than the movie.

Getting to read how this all started and the ins and outs of the crew is what made this even more special. There are just not things that the movie tells you about. There is more in here about Ripley and a lot about the corporation behind all of the choices made.

I just rewatched the movie so I could really critique how closely these two are based. It is as if I was watching the movie. I realize that is the purpose but it still surprised me just how closely these two were. A lot more in the book than the movie, which is expected. So much background!

I love this! If you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy this book. Outstanding novelization and the acting was incredible. I already have a voice for Ripley and the crew but the narration was spot on. Peter Guinness did a great job of bringing the terror out of the book and allowed me to feel as if I were really in this.

The production quality was also superb. I did not hear one misstep. I would have preferred a full production with this being a story that is so well known, but that does not take away from how good this was. Very well done!

Audiobook was purchased for review by ABR.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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61 people found this helpful

I named my cats Ripley & Newt

It's been at least 25 years since I saw Alien & Aliens. I was fan enough to name my cats Ripley & Newt (RIP, you two). I just noticed this audiobook, saw the rave reviews & snapped it up. It's been my greatest audio disappointment ever, and I've listened to a lot of books between Audible & the public library.

The story begins with ~2 hours of communications about mechanical damage & repairs to the ship. Dialogue was cryptic & contributed little to the plot or character development.

About character development... there was little of it. The movie may not be suited to novelization. In the movie, much of the atmosphere and characterization would be hard to convey in writing because it took place visually, without much dialogue.

Poor choice of narrator... Most of the characters were street smart, lower middle-class American types. (Think of World War II movies showing interactions in a platoon of American soldiers.) An English accent just didn't work in the situation.

54 people found this helpful

Oustanding read!

Awesome time listening to and remembering this story all at once. True to the iconic film with very little deviation from what I could recall. Just as exciting too. Wish all movies were given audio novelizations. Great way the experience new worlds while at work.

22 people found this helpful

Bland, Boring Recount of the Film

Alien was one of my favorite films. I don't know why I hadn't gotten around to reading the film novelization. Unfortunately, it's like many of Alan Dean Foster's books. A straight retelling of the film, with only a couple added scenes. Very little in the way of added insight as well. The one major difference is in the reveal of the extent of the company's knowledge of what the alien world had. They knew it was a warning, what happened and had specifics on what they alien could do. Otherwise, a tense thriller is a rather dull read. Even the audio book version wasn't exciting. The audio book contains a portion of Aliens as well. You are netted off with the newer Alien novels like Out of the Shadows, Sea of Sorrows and River of Pain in addition to the Alien Omnibus series.

9 people found this helpful

Missed opportunity

I love Alien. This is a Novel based on a Movie with an exceptional Script. The novel, it seems, was made for listening. I believe this Audiobook is perfect for blind people to "watch" the movie - it's doing a great job in describing what people can see on screen.
It has, unfortunately, missed a great opportunity to add to the script in ways that would have normally been left out from a movie, due to length constrains. Or give insights that a movie technically can't.
I'm somewhat disappointed, although it was nice to "watch" the movie during several days of commuting.. ;)

7 people found this helpful

Peter Guinness' narration is TERRIBLE!

Would you try another book from Alan Dean Foster and/or Peter Guinness?

I have read many Alan Dean Foster books and have enjoyed every one. This is the first book I have listened to narrated by Peter Guinness and I will not listen to another one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I couldn't tell you; Guinness's narration didn't allow you to tell one character from another; it may as well have been a single, ridiculously up-beat, male character having a conversation with himself.

Would you be willing to try another one of Peter Guinness’s performances?

No. As mentioned above no effort was made to distinguish between the different characters. The one exception to this was Parker, who had a slightly deeper voice, however, when having to say more than a single line of dialogue even Parker's voice slipped back into the same voice being used by all the characters. The tone of the narration was also completely wrong; this is science-fiction horror, not a kids book. Every line of dialogue was far too upbeat, even in times of stress (when the engine room catches fire on first landing for example) the characters sound like they're having a fine old time. I echo the thoughts of a previous reviewer, it sounded like a first reading of the book by someone who has never seen the film. I have been looking forward to these books appearing on Audible for a long time and I am extremely disappointed at the result; I'm just grateful that Aliens is read by someone else.

Could you see Alien being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Sigh.

Any additional comments?

Fingers crossed that the book will eventually be re-recorded with a different narrator. Please do not let Peter Guinness ruin any more books; I have not heard narration this bad since Stephen King chose to narrate The Wind Through The Keyhole. I am a huge fan of the Alien series and would say this to other fans: You will want to get this audio book but if you do it will make you unhappy; best to leave it and dream of what could have been.

7 people found this helpful

A novelty. Not as gripping as the movie.

This book was written as a companion novelization to the film. Not the other way around. It is entertaining - something to listen to while doing other things, maybe.
The Alien is scarier in the film. It's more mysterious. And since the book follows the film (except for a few extra scenes) a lot of the drama and fear was mitigated. I knew what was going to happen next.
Narrator is a good reader in general but did not attempt any of the mystery or terror of the film. (Probably an unfair expectation...)

4 people found this helpful

Monotone Reader

I did enjoy the story, hell it's based on one of my all time favorite movies and they mostly kept to the story, but the orator left something to be desired since I couldn't always tell who he was trying to portray.

3 people found this helpful

Better than the movie.

If you liked the movie, the novel is just as good. Great pacing. The Xenomorph is not that vicious through.

3 people found this helpful

preety good listen

So .... Where do I start. OK it is a great listen.
but why 4 stars only well it's because it is an movie novolastion
. which begs the question , how accurate is it... Well it is pretty close to the movie.... From what I have heard so far in the book. Not only is it good it's great, and edge of the seat... It's suspense reminds me of when I was younger reading Jurassic park. And in my opinion a perfect listen, and as far as I'm concerned its certainly worth the time and money.

3 people found this helpful