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series Reading Order

Alien Books in Order

38 Books
2 Reading orders
0 – 2023 Published
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Where to Start Reading the Alien Books

With dozens of novels spanning multiple decades, publishers, and timelines, jumping into the Alien universe can be intimidating. If you are looking for the best entry points, here are the two recommended starting paths:

  • The Modern Canon Starter Path: Start with Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Lebbon. This kicks off Titan Books' modern lineup and is set between the events of the films Alien and Aliens, making it a natural transition for movie fans.
  • The Fan-Favorite Standalone Path: Start with Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White. Widely considered one of the best novels in the franchise, it functions as a brilliant standalone corporate thriller featuring terrifying Xenomorph horror. You can follow it directly with its sequel, Alien: Into Charybdis.

The Chronological Timeline vs. Publication Order

Because the novels jump back and forth across centuries—ranging from prequels to the original 1979 film to stories set hundreds of years in the future—reading chronologically can be confusing. For the best experience, readers usually choose between the two major publishing eras.

1. The Classic Bantam Books Era (1992–1998)

In the 1990s, Bantam Books published a series of original novels, many of which adapted popular Dark Horse comic book runs. These are generally treated as their own self-contained universe separate from the modern Titan Books canon. If you read these, start with Steve Perry's core trilogy:

  1. Aliens: Earth Hive (1992) by Steve Perry
  2. Aliens: Nightmare Asylum (1993) by Steve Perry
  3. Aliens: The Female War (1993) by Steve Perry & S.D. Perry
  4. Aliens: Genocide (1993) by David Bischoff
  5. Aliens: Alien Harvest (1994) by Robert Sheckley
  6. Aliens: Rogue (1995) by Sandy Schofield
  7. Aliens: Labyrinth (1996) by S.D. Perry
  8. Aliens: Music of the Spears (1996) by Yvonne Navarro
  9. Aliens: Berserker (1998) by S.D. Perry

2. The Modern Titan Books Era (2014–Present)

Titan Books is the current official publisher, creating original novels that closely align with the modern film canon. These can generally be read in publication order or grouped by their specific mini-series:

  • The Canonical Shadow Saga: Out of the Shadows (2014), Sea of Sorrows (2014), and River of Pain (2014) form an interconnected narrative.
  • The Cold Forge Duology: The Cold Forge (2018) followed by Into Charybdis (2021).
  • Prequel Novels: Alien: Covenant Origins (2017) and Alien: Covenant (2017) tie directly into Ridley Scott's prequel films.
  • Unique Standalones: Aliens: Phalanx (2020) places Xenomorphs on a medieval-level fantasy world, while Alien: Isolation (2019) novelizes the beloved video game.

Frequently Asked

QIs Robert Sheckley's 'Alien StarSwarm' part of the Alien franchise?

No. Despite the misleading title, Alien StarSwarm is a 1990 science fiction chapbook written by Robert Sheckley that features a completely different alien race called the 'Balderdash' and is entirely unrelated to the Xenomorph universe.

QWhich Alien books should I read in order?

You should read the classic Bantam trilogy in order: Earth Hive, Nightmare Asylum, and The Female War. For modern releases, you should read The Cold Forge before its direct sequel Into Charybdis.

QWhat is the premise of Aliens: Phalanx?

Written by Scott Sigler, Aliens: Phalanx is a unique standalone novel set on a pre-industrial, medieval-like planet where humanity lives in castles and refers to the Xenomorphs as 'demons' or 'demons of the dark.'

QDo I need to watch the movies to understand the Alien books?

While having basic knowledge of the movies (especially Alien and Aliens) is highly recommended, most of the novels introduce their own cast of characters and provide enough context to be enjoyed on their own.

QWhat is Aliens: Bishop about?

Written by T.R. Napper, Aliens: Bishop (2023) is a direct sequel to the films Aliens and Alien 3. It follows the recovery of the synthetic Lance Bishop, whose mind contains invaluable Xenomorph data sought by both Weyland-Yutani and the Colonial Marines.

QAre the Bantam Books novels still canon?

The 1990s Bantam novels are generally considered 'legends' or part of a legacy continuity. While they are no longer part of the modern official canon established by Titan Books and newer films, they remain highly popular among expanded universe fans.