With Alien: Out of the Shadows due out for release at the end of January, details of the second novel in the trilogy have just surfaced:
“The Alien film franchise has been embraced by sci-fi fans around the world. The series stars Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battles with the deadly Xenomorph commonly referred to as the Alien. Continuing the groundbreaking story from ALIEN: OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Tim Lebbon, this novel will reveal Ripley’s legacy, as her descendants continue to be harried by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation in their unceasing effort to weaponize the aliens.”
Alien: Sea of Sorrows Cover
Written by James A. Moore, Sea of Sorrows is due out in July 2014 and looks like to be continuing the theme of using the Ripley family in 2014. You can currently pre-order this over at Amazon. Thanks to Ultramorph for the hint.
Good catch.
Although, this should mean the first book would have a water-themed title, too.
Am I seeing a water theme going on here? And River of Pain.. sounds like a gothic poem or a death metal song.
-Rakai'Thwei
Well, that was my own interpretation of it; as many people here have already said; the idea of roping Ripley's TRUE descendants into this is just one big mess, it's comic book stupid for obvious reasons, let alone the continuity issues presented with Amanda having NO kids. Descendants being an analogy to successors makes much more sense in my opinion and is probably the path the books will actually take, but I suppose we'll find out soon enough.
But ultimately we don't know, and not in a position to judge quite yet.
Yeah, a daughter who had no children of her own, although I admit that's only mentioned in the extended version of Aliens. It's the descendants plural bit I don't get. But even if Amanda didn't have kids, and it refers to her alone... no one's telling Ripley about how her kid fought the Xenomorphs before she died? Besides, clearly no one knows about the Xenomorphs in Aliens, so it's pretty improbable humanity has had even more contact with them between the films.
Is that the scene where Ripley is actually in the meeting with the Weyland-Yutani board?
Then I can see how Ripley having descendents after Amanda can be a problem.
-Rakai'Thwei
But no, Amanda has no children.
Assuming one takes the Directors Cut of the film as canon.. and I for one, do.
But does Amanda Ripley McClaren have any children of her own?
-Rakai'Thwei
Should we take what you say literally?
Because, according to the films, Ripley absolutely has a daughter.
/dɪˈsɛnd(ə)nt/
noun
1. a person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor.
We aren't taking it too literally at all. That's just what the word means.
Just waiting for someone to claim Weyland-Yutani covered it up.
But...but...it's canon!
- Burke.
Yeah, that whole descendants thing is going to go down really well...
It's the same as the first book. It's like they've put Ripley in it just because of the recognition of the name, regardless of the fact the movies pretty much render any events impossible (short of some lame "her memory got wiped" excuse). I'll still read it, but my hopes at them effectively shoehorning it into the narrative of the films (which is what they're claiming) isn't high.
And yeah you had the option to play as her in some of the movie tie-in games (Alien Trilogy, Aliens arcade game, Alien3 console games, Alien Resurrection for PSX) but that was kind of expected.
I'm not saying bringing Ripley's family into the EU is a good idea (it's not), let alone as heavily as they seem to be intending to with these books and games, but it's also not like it's been done constantly for the last 30 years or something. It *is* something different from what we've been seeing lately, but it's still not *good*.
She died at the end of alien3.......
MAKE UP SOME NEW F*CKING CHARACTERS! I really hate how it always has to involve Ripley or Hicks.
I don't see why everyone has a problem with this statement. Alien did launch three very successful sequels. They made tons of money.
it's not like they said it launched three very good movie sequels.
Dr. Daniel Ripley. Earth Angel.
-Rakai'Thwei
Not counting clones.
The company is only doing itself a disservice by cramming in all this half baked garbage. It will continue to drive away fans until all that are left are the hardcore fanboys. Much as Lucas did with star Wars, I can't even bring myself to watch the original SW trilogy anymore.
I fear the future of the much beloved Alien franchise is circling the drain. And here I had hoped that Prometheus and Aliens Colonial Marines might provide a renaissance. So stupid.
Yeah, it's quite cheesy isn't it? They always find new ways to cheapen the legacy of Ripley and the original saga.
I know, haha! Just let the poor woman (...and anyone unfortunate to ever meet her) alone for jebus sake!
They just h a v e to milk it dry and then some...
That's the signature of the "everything is canon" crowd (...cult). Best way to deal with them is to ignore them. Logic & Reason does not mean to them what it means to the rest of us. Debating with them is like debating with a stone wall with a speaker pumping out a selection of prerecorded annoying, bullheaded messages mixed in with a few "la-la-la-la-la- can't hear you -la-la-la-la-la-la!".