In January 2014 Titan Books released Alien – Out of the Shadows, written by Tim Lebbon. It was the first Alien novel for 5 years. In September 2015 Tim Lebbon returned to the world of Alien literacy with Predator – Incursion (don’t let the title fool you, it definitely has Aliens in), the first in an Alien vs. Predator novel trilogy (The Rage Wars), making Tim Lebbon the first author to pen their conflict on the pages of a book since S.D Perry finished AvP – War in 1999 (not counting the film novelization).
AvPGalaxy had the chance to catch up with up Tim following the release of the first Rage Wars novel, Predator – Incursion and ask him some questions about this sortie into the world of Alien vs. Predator.
“AvPGalaxy – The Founders/Rage are a very interesting concept and I’ve wanted to see something like them for a long time. What was the genesis of the Rage?
Tim Lebbon – During my initial conversation with my Titan editor, he proposed the idea of an alien species attacking humanity with weaponised Xenomorphs. But for me, a much more interesting proposition is that humans finally managed to weaponise them … but not W-Y. From that idea grew the Rage, and a 15 page proposal for the trilogy. I also liked the concept of the Founders morphing eventually into the Rage, perhaps a sad, cynical idea, but it made the story feel much more whole and rounded.”
Cover art for Tim Lebbon’s Predator – Incursion.
Beware some minor spoilers. Tim Lebbon answers questions from our community members and talks about the name Yautja, the development of the novel and a little bit about we can expect in the second book in The Rage Wars, Aliens – Invasion. Head on over to our Interviews section and be sure to check out the full interview with Tim Lebbon.
Out of the Shadows introduces us to the Dog-Aliens.
Sea of Sorrows mentions Arcturians and "loads of aliens" plus the Dog-Aliens.
River of Pain mentions trading with Arcturians and then "friendly and hostile aliens".
Predator: Incursion adds "friendly, hostile and indifferent aliens" and once more mentions the Dog-Aliens while introducing the
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Alien: Invasion not only mentions Arcturians, but introduces the idea of humans settling with them and forsaking their humanity. And again Dog-Aliens are mentioned and the
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Could we expect anymore teases like this in Armageddon? Or in Aliens: Bug Hunts?
I'm just really curious as I recall someone mentioning one of the authors saying that there were plans for them, when he was asked about the Arcturians. I think it was James A. Moore who said it since we were all curious as to why he mentioned them in Sea of Sorrows for the first time in a long time. I wonder if Tim knows anything about that.
I can float him an invite over towards the release of Armageddon.
Also folk, get thinking if you have any questions for Tim for our next interview with him.
So we can have our "Ask Tim" thread.
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I always assumed the
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But imagine it's the other way around!
That's not the point of the comment. It's to show how advanced they have become. It's not a focus.
It's still not clear if
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I doubt something simple and dumb could build biomechanical warp-30 ships with shields, modify completely alien tech and improve upon it, as well as track people like Liliya across many lightyears.
Plus I love how it built the Watcher in self defence, as if it knew Liliya's violent intentions, or as a response to her actions after she escapes.
So it's probably been purposely ignoring the Founder's communication attempts in the past. It may have just played along.
For all we know, maybe the Faze was responsible for the downfall of the Dog-Aliens... notice how they were untouched by the Xenomorphs whereas their masters got wiped out?
Do we even know if the Dog-Aliens actually built the Faze? Or found them and implemented them just like the Founders?
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Maybe Lebbon might be going back to
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Only he made it seem like it was humans, when it could've been the Faze all along.
I'm also hoping to see a Dog-Alien or two... or an Arcturian although Lebbon said they won't be showing up. But perhaps in some future book...
I'm also looking forward to what happens with
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And what happens to
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Haha! I was like "what?!"
Whilst I acknowledge that The Rage Wars are intended as canon at the minute, I don't expect the films to acknowledge anything from them in the slightest. I'd say they're obviously intended as similar concepts but I don't expect to hear the Covenant be called Fiennes ship at all.
And adventurous people do! You don't got into it with the assumption you're going to meet a horrible end!
Made me double-take thought it doesn't fuss me too much either way.
No? Prey tell?
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While reading this book, I couldn't help but think...
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And who the heck signs up for that? None of this stuff ends up well... you either end up being biologically violated on the genetic level by David, or the Rage... depends on your luck.
Also as a fan of Star Trek, what did you think of them using terms like "Warp-15" and such?
Also did you guys catch the Star Wars reference? It's official, Star Wars exists as an in-universe movie!
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Yeah, I'm in complete agreement with you there. The definitive
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And no, the Othello has been completely destroyed by the nukes that Mains and Lieder set off in their last moments. Beatrix Maloney hears of the Othello's destruction later on.
I know Incursion pretty much made it seem like they were screwed, but trust me man, this time they WERE screwed. I am willing to bet that they are deader than a dodo.
If they show up in Armageddon and I am wrong, then I shall donate myself to the nearest Alien hive for facehugging.
And regarding your earlier question, I loved the Xenomorphs with the exopacks on their backs to help them breathe in space. That was an interesting twist.
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Do we think that Mains and Lieder will get rescued again, or do we think they're gone for good this time?
To be perfectly honest, I kinda saw that coming.
The biggest hints were that
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I wasn't expecting that either.
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What took you by surprise?
And by all accounts the Auriga was taken out of mothballs and it was all done on the down-low.
They had laser guns in Alien and this is set over 300 years after Resurrection and the marines in it have the top of the line gear.
That's the wrong description. It's more like a different genre of science-fiction than we're used to with Alien and Predator. It's more like hard military sci-fi.
I am slightly with you on that. One of the things that drew me to the EU in the first place is the exploration of new alien series and etc. I'm hoping we get to see some more of the dog-aliens or their masters. Whilst I would have loved to have seen another new alien species with a fleshed out background, I absolutely love the Rage so I'm not that fussed about the change.
I thought that one was a little strange. People tend to perceive the Aliens as being able to operate fine in space so I'll be curious to see Tim's thoughts behind that one.
I'm just about 150 pages in now. Recently met the Alien experts. I really hope they stick around.
Agreed. The first 100 pages or so has a few random character chapters but it seems to have settled now.
Yeah, I liked that original idea too. Hopefully something like that is explored in the future though.
Yeah. I wouldn't mind if he set it another 100 years in the future, or more (depending how devastating Armageddon will be), to the point where humans have mostly recovered and the Rage War is something taught in history class.
Then we can explore how much humans know about the Engineers. They're probably just as mysterious, if more so, than the Yautja.
I wanna see the Arcturians, they've been mentioned in Aliens, Role Playing Adventure (kind of), Sea of Sorrows, River of Pain, Alien: Invasion. And a human police force on Arcturus was mentioned in one of the older Alien books and now Invasion solidifies that there are human settlers coexisting with the Arcturians in yet another one line reference.
It's about time they show up! Give us some Arcturians damn it! I wanna see them explored.
Marine ships get raped by the Rage here... and then when the Predators show up, even the Rage get a taste of true power.
Like I said before, the Marines were destroying hunter jeeps in space, not tanks.
Their space ships got raped in Book 1.
I guess that's a small improvement
Their space ships are quite formidable.
Such as a
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They may be different.
How far are you into it, Corporal? Liliya and Isa Palant are still my faves! I am loving the Predators as always. Lebbon has expanded so much on his world in this book.
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