Alien 3

The Novelization

By: Alan Dean Foster

Narrated by: Lance Henriksen

Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Here, even the wind screams. Abandoned hulks of machinery rust in the colorless landscape. Dark, oily seas beat against a jagged black shore. And the remnants of a reentry space vehicle crash into the rough waves. In it sleeps Ripley, a woman who has battled the enemy twice. It killed her whole crew the first time. The second time, it slaughtered a spaceload of death-dealing Marines.

Now on this prison planet that houses only a horde of defiant, captive men, she will have to fight the ultimate alien horror one more time.

©1992 Alan Dean Foster (P)2009 Phoenix

The audiobook was much better than the film.

If you could sum up Alien 3 in three words, what would they be?

Underappreciated, well-written, excellent

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the setting and the conflict established. By placing the protagonoist (Ripley) on a new world, surrounded by prisioners (all male), and with no weapons it created an interesting delima in dealing with the Alien akin to the first film. The survivors are then forced to work together and use their surroundings to take on the Alien.

What about Lance Henriksen’s performance did you like?

This is one of my favorite audio books because of Mr. Henriksen's performance. It was nice to have an Alien alum perform the book in the first place, but I felt he did a good job. Some of his different character's voices are poorly done, but was able to forgive it because of the overall performance.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There wasn't a particularly "moving" part of a survival-horror/sci-fi tale.

Any additional comments?

I first listened to this audiobook on a two cassette tape set that I had for years. I have always like the story of Alien 3 and feel that the "original cut" of the film didn't do it justice. The novilization filled in a lot of holes and created a more complete story. As a fan of the franchise I would say this is my second favorite Alien story behind the second film. I would recommend a listen to anyone who may not have really enjoyed the film but would like a better "telling" of the story.

Just like the movie

This was just like the movie, almost word for word but to me it was better.

best movie to book adaptation

I love how they got the actor who played. Bishop to do the reading his voice and his narration spot on loved it

Not Bad For A Human...

Alan Dean Foster's attempt to rough out the edges of ALIEN 3's script makes for an interesting juxtaposition between the movie and the film. Even with the special edition of the film available, this one is worth a spin for hardcore ALIEN nuts, especially given Lance Henriksen's reading (which is excellent).

Aliens 3 but better!

Just like the movie ,but you get to listen to lance Hendrickson read it to you. Plus the book is always better than the movie. 2strokes rule!

my 6 star review !!!

love the narrator He was the robot type person in the second film and this third film and this book is amazing it's even better than the film and the fact that he narrated it makes it an a one , 5 ,6 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐for me

This abomination cannot be saved even by AD Foster

Not even by Lance Henriksen. The story is an utter mess, thanks to the horrid script. There was absolutely no need for a sequel to Aliens. Even if one was desired, there was no need to have face-huggers somehow smuggle their way onto the ship and then attack the hypersleep pods. All this idiocy sabotaged any efforts Alan Dean Foster and Lance Henriksen could possibly put forth.

Should have been unabridged.

What would have made Alien 3 better?

Making this audiobook an unabridged installment. As it is, it's no better than watching the film. So much of the story, that make novels such a joy, is made better by knowing all the extra details. It's a shame.

Which character – as performed by Lance Henriksen – was your favorite?

Honestly, every one of them, I'm a huge fan of Mr. Henriksen.

What character would you cut from Alien 3?

Nothing, too much was cut already.

Any additional comments?

Make all the Alien novels into unabridged audiobooks!

I loved Lance as a robot but he also reads as such

Aliens is my most favorite sci fi series. I love the original cast.
Bishop is my fav android.
But Lance butchered the text like no other. Why would someone let him continue reading the text if he does not recognizes any punctuation???
Most of the time I wondered where one sentence ends and other begin, but I was pretty sure it's not where Lance happens to take a breath.

Geezus, it was so painful to listen to. I hope he does not hate is role in that movie because he surely hates this novel.
Ouch.
It was the worst narration.

a real high in low!

I really hate to give any sort of negative review but this audio book is so awful I almost feel its my duty. I think what really makes book bad is the narration. Frequently the narration can really make or break a story it this book may not be as awful as I think it is just because of Lance Henriksen's naration. There isn't anything really wrong with Mr. Henriksen's narration, its just that he should have not been hired for this vocal. His voice was soft and almost soothing so the fright I should have felt when Ripley was fighting her alien and the Company has come to collect both her & the alien was just not there.

Save your credit or your $$ & run, don't walk away from this book!