Alien: Out of the Shadows
Cover of the first edition of the book
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| Author | Tim Lebbon |
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| Original title | Alien: Out of the Shadows |
| Cover artist | Dan Luvisi |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Alien |
| Genre | Thriller |
| Publisher | Titan Books |
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Publication date
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January 28, 2014 |
| Media type | Print (paperback, hardcover); Digital (Kindle, audio); Audio play |
| Pages | 352 |
| Preceded by | Alien |
| Followed by | Aliens |
Alien: Out of the Shadows is a 2014 novel written by Tim Lebbon and published by Titan Books. Set between Alien and Aliens, the book chronicles Ellen Ripley's involvement in a Xenomorph outbreak on the planet LV-178 and the mining vessel in orbit above it. The survivors' attempts to escape the creatures are further complicated by Ash, whose AI consciousness has survived inside Narcissus, the shuttle that brought Ripley to them.
As well as standard print editions, in 2016 the novel was released in audiobook format, published by Audible Studios. Instead of a traditional audiobook, the novel was presented in the format of an audio drama, read by an ensemble cast and directed by Dirk Maggs. It was released on April 26, 2016, as part of Alien Day.
Out of the Shadows is the first novel in the 2014 Canonical Alien Trilogy of novels, designed to tie into the events of the existing film series. It was followed by Alien: Sea of Sorrows and Alien: River of Pain. Originally slated for release in December 2013, the book wouldn't see release until January 28, 2014.
As a child, Chris Hooper dreamed of monsters. But in deep space, he found only darkness and isolation. Then on planet LV178, he and his fellow miners discovered a storm-scoured, sand-blasted hell – and trimonite, the hardest material known to man.
When a shuttle crashes into the mining ship Marion, the miners learn that there was more than timonite deep in the caverns. There was evil, hibernating – and waiting for suitable prey.
Hoop and his associates uncover a nest of Xenomorphs, and hell takes on new meaning. Quickly they discover that their only hope lies with the unlikeliest of saviours…
Ellen Ripley, the last human survivor of the salvage ship Nostromo.
In 2159, the deep space mining vessel DSMO Marion, under the command of Captain Jordan, is in orbit around LV-178 while its crews mine for trimonite beneath the planet's surface. Two days after the Marion's crew lose contact with the mine complex, the ship's transport shuttles, the Samson and the Delilah, launch from the planet and head for the Marion at full speed; contact with their crews reveal alien creatures on board that are slaughtering the shuttles' occupants. The Delilah arrives out of control and ploughs into the Marion, severely damaging the ship and killing Jordan, along with Security Officer Cornell. The Samson arrives under autopilot and docks successfully, but the survivors aboard the Marion, now led by Chief Engineer Chris "Hoop" Hooper, seal it off to contain the four Aliens on board. The damage report on the Marion is grim — the impact has knocked the vessel out of its orbit, and with no way to correct it the ship will eventually burn up when it hits LV-178's atmosphere. Worse still, the long-range antenna has been destroyed, leaving the survivors unable to transmit anything other than a localized distress call.
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