World Famous Comics: War (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 3)
War (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 3)
By: Randy Stradley Publisher: Spectra Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Spectra Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 209 Publication Date: December 01, 1999 Release Date: December 01, 1999
Sliced, diced and tasteless... First, as other reviews have pointed out, this is the third published book, but the events happen between book one and book two. Also, it is based on the graphic novel, with many of the best parts removed. With only 209 pages a lot of stuff just did not make it into the novel - but the stuff they cut out was either very important or really cool. What we get as a result is somewhat bland, like pudding without any flavor. Good to fill in the time between GOOD books, but nothing to bother with. Start with Prey and end with Hunter's Planet. DON'T get this book, new, used, downloaded. Just don't.
Okay Prompt delivery but the book had numerous scrathes on the back cover. Not the end of the world but was noticed.
More Predator Pulp I used to love these books when I was a kid. Upon reading them now I begin to wonder where the brilliance is that I originally saw. Maybe now that I'm older and a bit more refined pulp like this doesn't appeal to me much anymore. Still, there's a couple of interesting bits in this book. But not much.
I've never read the graphic novel on which it's based and it also seems to be a continuation from an Aliens graphic novel too as characters introduced at the beginning seem to have quite a bit of back-story.
Nothing really happens in this. Almost all of the pages are filled with a build-up to a big fight that never really happens. It just kinda fizzles out. No big epic battle, no big plot twist. No reason to read it really. It is, however, better than the wanton AvP film. A brick in the face is better than that.
Pick this up only at a charity shop.
Pretty quick read... I just bought this book saturday and I already breezed right through it. I really wish it was a little longer...almost every scene in the story seemed fast paced. Yes, there were some parts of the book that I liked; the character Machiko was pretty likeable, but that's about it. There weren't to many other characters in the story that you could get attached to. I also didn't like how the 'Predator' characters were written; almost as if they were "chauvinistic" men. But I guess it made sense(in a way), given that Machiko was both human and a woman; so you gotta add some conflict of discrimination. It's not a bad a book... if you're a 'die-hard' fanatic of AVP you're probably like it a lot. But if you're new to the franchise, I recommend you read the first book and pick up this copy later; that is, if you're interested in finding out what happens after 'Prey.'
Fantastic Novel This series contains 3 books: Prey, Hunter's Planet, and War. The first and third are absolutely spectacular. The writing is fantastic--beautifully descriptive, with believable characters, and most importantly, they fit seamlessly with both the Alien and Predator universes. The second is a different story--Hunter's Planet certainly isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it's far inferior to the other two in this series. It is an enormous let-down, both in terms of writing quality and just plain fun. It makes all Machiko's adventures in Prey seem meaningless, and the behavior of both the Aliens and Predators just doesn't feel right, doesn't feel like things they would actually do. (Note that the first and third have the same author; the second is different.)
This is going to sound peculiar, but I recommend reading the first and third and skipping the second, and not just because of the differing quality of the novels. The events of War actually take place between Prey and Hunter's Planet, and War is perfectly readable without reading Hunter's Planet. In fact, several scenes that were told in flashback in Hunter's Planet are RETOLD in War, only told far more descriptively, and even with important events completely altered! If I had the chance to start over, I would skip Hunter's Planet entirely.
I have read many science-fiction novels, and I rank Prey and War among my absolute favorites, worthy members of the Aliens and Predator franchise. On the one hand, it's like getting more of the movies--more terrifying bugs, more awesome Predators, more battles, more excitement--and on the other, there is a lot of fascinating new information about the culture of the Predators, things I always wanted to know but never thought I would. I love the star character, and appreciated the fact that she wasn't the typical mindless sci-fi babe. If you love Aliens and Predator, you might find Hunter's Planet mildly interesting.
(As a side note, the AvP movie borrowed a LOT from these books :)
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