Prey: Alien vs. Predator (Aliens Vs. Predator) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

After the interesting but poorly executed Alien trilogy by the Perrys, and a well executed but uninteresting Alien novel from Bischoff, I was fairly skeptical when I came to this one, but it was worth it.

This was easily the best book so far in this Aliens/Predator series. The aliens are an unknown threat who are to be "contained until the Marines arrive." The colonists are just normal people, not Marines or, in fact, essentially armed at all except for a few personal sidearms.

But where this book is really interesting is in the exploration of the Predator, or "Yautja," culture. While occasionally their thought processes are a little too human, that's okay, because they are biologically similar.

The action is fun and fast, the characters interesting, and, if not perfectly believable, they aren't bad either. The confrontation with the Queen was a little anticlimactic, but other than that this was a really good book.

Definitely recommended.

The best measurement for my how good a book is, is by counting the number of days it took me to read it.
And I was so hooked that I almost read it through the night in one go.
So I can honestly say that this book is as captivating like only very few have been so far. A great adventure for me and I'm sure, for any Si-Fi fan.

Right form the first page on you get sucked into this alien world. There is not a dull moment in this fast-paced rollercoaster ride. The writing style is rather unique. Often telling the same incident from different perspective, i.e. Alien - Human - Predator. First I thought, "Oh noooo" I know this one already. But then I realised that it adds tremendously to the story, since every party has a different approach and reaches another conclusion.

What I found interesting was the personal metamorphosis Noguchi went through from a uninspired corporate administrative. To a carying coporate Boss, pushed into events which require a military leader. Until she faced her ultimate challenge and had slip into the mode of an all out warrior. All were believable and intriguing.

The insight we got from the Predator society is very rich and detailed. Even as an Predator movie enthusiast there were many details which I didn't know and made perfectly sense. Like the training, the Predator society, the warriors code of honor, etc. just marvelous. The same is true about the Aliens, especially concerning their behavior and biological characteristics.

And the characters are all so very well laid out, believable and I was almost gonna say "human".

There are only very few and minor downsizes:
- Like for example that the queen is only double the size of a standard drone.
- The drones fall like flies. Even Noguchi disposes of them rather quickly.
- While drones seem to pose no bigger obstacles a double sized queen on the other hand is supposedly almost invicible? Rumor has it, 12 Predators were once needed to take one down, while 9 Predators found their demise??? Well, that somehow makes no sense. At least there is no real explanation given for that notion.
- If any, there is the suggestion that the queen is somewhat smarter. Yet, losing one's head in a vacuum door is not very high on the smart-scale either. There could have been a little bit more grandeure to that final battle.
- Dachande the Blooded Predator Samurai turns rather docile within a very short period of time. He is little more than a pet-monster which cuts ahead in the enemy lines in front of Noguchi. I would have liked him to be a little more unattached, mystique and a leader himself.
He has everything going for him. He is the ultimate Warrior and their intelligence, judged by their superior technology which outclasses human technology by far, is at least at the same level if not advanced. So why should he be lead by a tiny human, which has no experience in a real fight wathsoever? Still, her experience concerning the human buildings and structure explains it somewhat.
- But until the end the storyline is all rather concise, save fot the Epilogue. Here for no good reason we find Noguchi striving to be a Predator-warrior. Well, she is Blooded and wears the sign to proof it, but that doesn't make her a bloodthirsty bitch. Killing without justification seems to be a little out of her character. Besides, weren't blooded warriors not allowed to hunt?
- She seems to be accepted by the male Predators in the warrior guild. That didn't really make sense to me. Because the female Predators are even bigger and stronger and the better warriors by instict. Yet, obviously not allowed in the Blooded warrior society. Now, why should a female human be???

Even though I wrote some critics this should not one bit deviate from the fact that this is a must read and a great one at that.

Steve and Stephani write like an "Aliens" fan wants it said! That is REAL SciFi!The book: A great plot, great characters and light speed action! I loved the fast-paced read! I highly recommend this book!