About the Book
Collected together for the first time, this omnibus brings new authors to the Alien universe. Across three epic novels, discover the origins of fan-favorite character PFC Jenette Vasquez and her family, fight extinction at the hands of Xenomorphs, and find the researchers of Pala Station courting disaster of... the Xenomorph kind.
INFILTRATOR:
The official prequel to Aliens: Fire Team Elite from Cold Iron Studios.
Dr. Timothy Hoenikker arrives on Pala Station, a Weyland-Yutani facility. Lured there by the promise of alien artifacts, instead he finds a warped bureaucracy and staff of misfits testing the effects of Xenomorph bio-materials on living creatures. Unbeknownst to the personnel, however, there is an infiltrator among them whose actions could spell disaster.
Also on staff is Victor Rawlings, a former marine who gathers together other veterans to prepare for the worst. As Pala Station receives a delivery of alien eggs, the experiments spin out of control, and only the former Colonial Marines stand between the humans and certain death.
PHALANX:
Ataegina was an isolated world of medieval castles and rich cultures-vibrant until the demons rose and slaughtered ninety percent of the planet's population. Swarms of lethal creatures with black husks, murderous claws, barbed tails and dreaded "tooth-tongues" rage across the land. Terrified survivors hide in ruined mountain keeps, where they eke out a meager existence. Skilled runners travel the treacherous paths between keeps, maintaining trade and sharing information. If caught, they die screaming.
Ahiliyah of Lemeth Hold is an exceptional runner, constantly risking her life for her people. When she and her closest companions discover a new weapon, it may offer the one last chance to end the demon plague. But to save humanity, the trio must fight their way to the tunnels of Black Smoke Mountain-the lair of the mythical Demon Mother.
VASQUEZ:
Even before the doomed mission to Hadley's Hope, Jenette Vasquez had to fight to survive. Born to an immigrant family with a long military tradition she looked up to the stars, but life pulled her back down to Earth-first into a street gang, then prison. The Colonial Marines proved to be Vasquez's way out-a way that forced her to give up her twin children.
Raised by Jenette's sister Roseanna, those children-Leticia and Ramon-have been forced to discover their own ways to survive. Leticia by following her mother's path into the military, Ramon by embracing the corporate hierarchy of Weyland-Yutani. Their paths converge on an unnamed world, which some see as a potential utopia, while others would use it for highly secretive research.
Regardless of what humans might have planned for it, however, Xenomorphs will turn the planet into a living hell. Sarcastic, sexy, and action-packed, Vasquez brings generational heritage into the Alien universe in an explosive way.
About the Author :
Scott Sigler is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of sixteen novels, six novellas and dozens of short stories.
Stoker Award-winner Weston Ochse has produced more than thirty works of literary fiction, poetry, comics, and non-fiction. His Burning Sky duology was hailed as the best military horror of the generation. Weston holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and teaches at Southern New Hampshire University.
V. Castro is a Mexican American writer from San Antonio, Texas now residing in the UK. As a full-time mother she dedicates her time to her family and writing Latinx narratives in horror, speculative fiction, and science fiction. Her most recent releases include The Queen of the Cicadas from Flame Tree Press and Goddess of Filth from Creature Publishing. Connect with Violet via Instagram and Twitter @vlatinalondon or www.vcastrostories.com.
Review :
Praise for Aliens: Phalanx
"Suspenseful... [Alive] lives up to its hype, packing plenty of thrills."-Entertainment Weekly
"Fascinating and intriguing... a cross between Lord of the Flies and The Maze Runner and yet... so much more."-Fresh Fiction
"A ripping, claustrophobic thunderbolt of a novel."-Pierce Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising
"A tense, unsettling page-turner of a story-both deeply strange and wildly compelling."-Cherie Priest, author of Boneshaker and Maplecroft
"Aliens: Phalanx brings a wholly different vibe to an already incredible franchise. I think anyone who loves the movies will enjoy the hell out of this one, and it would be a great choice for someone's first foray into the Alien novels!... An intense, gory, and super addictive read!"-Grimdark Dad Review
"The story itself escalates in a way that any xenomorph fan will enjoy... Aliens: Phalanx is a brilliant story"-Casey Douglass Review
Praise for Aliens: Infiltrator
A fast, fun read that sets up the plot of the video game well-Polygon
Eloquent and beautiful with one of the most poetic final sentences that I have ever read in a horror tale-HorrorDNA
My favourite kind of Alien story: Science Goes Wrong-Alien Theory
Relishes in the lore-expanding big picture, and in the small, horrible and murderous intimate moments... fun, scary and satisfying-Adventures in Poor Taste
This is Saw meets Alien, a gory, violence-filled revisit to a classic sci-fi horror work, H.G. Wells' The Island of Doctor Moreau-borg.com
Praise for Weston Ochse:
Horror fans will be drawn in by Ochse's cool, collected writing style and then blown away when he peels back reality's skin to uncover the supernatural terrors lurking just beneath the surface.-Publishers Weekly
A wised-up, clued-in, completely trustworthy writer of high-action fiction.-Peter Straub, acclaimed author of Ghost Story and The Hellfire Club
Ochse's writing finds the beauty in the language of brutality, which will appeal to fans of Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.-Booklist on Burning Sky
A wild blend of nail-biting thriller action and out-of-the shadows horror. This is the supernatural thriller at its most dynamic. Perfect!-Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Dead of Night
Praise for Aliens: Vasquez
"Castro uses the world and creatures to tell an intense, kickass story from a new point of view."-Cemetery Dance
"Aliens: Vasquez is a fantastic piece of literature."-The Boss Rush Network
Praise for V. Castro and The Queen of the Cicadas:
"In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it."-Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs
"In The Queen of the Cicadas, there's a thin, bloody veil between worlds, the past isn't past at all, and you can feel your heart beating in the pages, the words pulsing with life. Touch them if you dare, and don't be surprised if they quiver into flight all around you."-Stephen Graham Jones, NYT bestselling author of The Only Good Indians
"V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro's not already on your radar, she should be."-Christopher Golden, NYT bestselling author of Alien: River of Pain
"Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale of Mexican folklore and horror."-Publishers Weekly starred review
"Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to family saga to a tale of righteous vengeance, all while maintaining its unflinching condemnation of colonialism on both sides of the Mexican-American border."-Kirkus starred review
"A riveting #ownvoices novel exploring Mexican folk tales and legends mingled with the history of Texas... Castro does not pull any punches."-Booklist starred review
"Castro's expert storytelling upends classic horror tropes to make 'The Queen of the Cicadas' an exhilarating and frightening literary ride."-Los Angeles Review of Books
"A deliciously sinister story"-Harper's Bazaar
"A truly original and surprising work of fiction... Castro weaves several familiar tropes from the slasher and ghost story sub-genres into a blood-drenched (literally) story of both personal and cultural reclamation."-Toronto Star
"A keenly written work of suspense that also reflects upon humanity's capacity for good and evil, The Queen of the Cicadas is a compelling page-turner for connoisseurs of the genre. Highly recommended."-Midwest Book Review
