Well after reading Alien out of the Shadows I didnt think an Alien story could get much worse. Well....I was right. Sea of Sorrows isnt as bad as Out of the Shadows but still isnt without its issues.
((Spoilers Ahead))
While James A. Moore is a way better writer and story teller then Lebbon he suffer from an dreadful case of shoehorning element from the Alien movie franchise namely the character of Alan Decker.....the descendant of Amanda and Ellen Ripley.
This is a savage push at best. He does have around about way of explaining it.....along with the resurgence of Wayland-Yutani. Keep in mind this book is set 300 years after Alien Resurrection which makes it set a further 200 after Alien3. That would suggest that Wayland-Yutani had been biding their time for 500 years. Now while I and many fans hated the idea of the W-Y been bought out buy fucking "Wallmart" of all things the fact Moore decided to do it to please the fans or hassle from Fox in doing the book just felt so forced.
He also brings back atmosphere processors and The Colonial Marines who use pulse Rifles in some parts(yet another lost fan fave) This makes no sense to bring back an out dated army is one thing but bring back tech thats 500 years old in this books time line makes no sense. Its like us using steampower and flintlocks today.....its just kinda silly. Even when he does do fan service he gets it wrong like stating the Auriga crashed in France which was the case.....in the uncut edition of Alien Resurrection the transport ship the Betty with Ripley and Call landed in Paris France not the Auriga crashing into country. He does get some other minor things wrong and only if your a hardcore fan like myself would you notice.
That said Moore is a very good writer with both characters and tension both top notch. Alan Decker if you can look past his backround is a likeable guy along with some of the mercs. The latter part of the books is Decker blackmailed buy W-Y into joining some mercenaries in a misson to capture a live xenomorph on the same planet from Tim Lebbons book. Moore also does a great job of getting inside the Xeno hive mind and hunting pattern with reminded me of the Alien Resurrection movie novel but done a lot better here.
At the end of the day there just too many issues with James A. Moores Sea of Sorrow to ignore. Is it an shit Alien novel?....No. Its failing like Out of the Shadows it try's to connect its self two closely Alien movies. If you were to read S.D Perry's fantastic Aliens Dark Horse adaption novels they were their own stories that only every once and awhile referenced the movies but for the most part did do their own thing. Be it pressure from Fox or too eager to please fan boys Moore blew off his own foot with the ham fisted fan service which is a sham cause he really is a fantastic writer. If your a die hard fan pick it up but be prepared to pick it apart too.
On a funny side note Sea of Sorrows is the 2nd in a trilogy which as I mentioned is set 500 years after Alien while the next River of Pain is set in that Aliens time line which leaves me baffled on how their going to connect those books.
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