Aliens:Phalanx

Title: Aliens:Phalanx

Author: Scott Sigler

Published in: 2020

Date read: 16th March 2026

Score: 5/5

Genre: Science fiction, Horror, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
Published in 2020, "Aliens: Phalanx" is a unique departure from the high-tech sci-fi of the Alien franchise. It blends the Xenomorph mythos with a medieval/pre-industrial fantasy setting, focusing on survival in a world where humanity has been driven to the brink of extinction.

The Plot:
The story takes place on the planet Ataegina, a world of castles and shields. For generations, humanity has been forced to live in "Holds"—mountain fortresses—to hide from the "Demons" (Xenomorphs) that swarm the surface. These Demons have decimated the population, and the survivors live in a constant state of terror, utilising "Runners" to travel between Holds to trade supplies.

The protagonist, Ahiliyah, is a young Runner from Lemuy Hold. Unlike the warriors who believe the Demons are invincible, Ahiliyah and her friends, Creen and Brandun, are determined to find a way to fight back. When a neighbouring Hold falls and a mysterious sickness begins to spread, the trio discovers a secret that could change the war: the "Demons" are not supernatural, but biological, and they have a specific weakness.

Key Characters:
• Ahiliyah: A brave and quick-witted Runner who refuses to accept a life of hiding.
• Creen: A brilliant young man who discovers the "gloop" (poison) that can actually kill a Xenomorph.
• Brandun: A strong, loyal friend and fellow Runner who provides the muscle for their dangerous missions.

The Resolution:
Well, I heard a note from the author imploring people not to share the details of this book that may spoil the ending. Although I warn that there may be spoilers, how could I ignore the wishes of the author, Scott Sigler.

Comments:
I wanted to listen to this after listening to Aliens: Bishop and I was a little worried because of the setting. I wrongly thought that this could only be a good "Aliens" book if it was futuristic and I was extremely wrong. Thinking back, I thought the same about the Predator film "Prey" and I was proven wrong there too.
I loved this as an audiobook, the characters were developed skilfully and, because of this, I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Highly recommend.

Books that we've read by Scott Sigler (1):
Aliens:Phalanx (2020)