US First Printing from June 1986
Aliens novelization, like the book based on the first film, was also written by Alan Dean Foster and released in June 1986 by Warner books. As with the first one, lets look at some interesting facts from it
1. Ripley wasn't prosecuted thanks to her long hypersleep
Long hypersleep has been cited as the reason for lack of prosecution for Ripley, but the novelization also implies at least twice that the evidence has been tampered with. The board simply wanted Ripley to stay quiet
(Van Leuwen) cleared his throat, then his conscience. "In view of the unusual length of time spent by the defendant in hypersleep and the concomitant indeterminable effects on the human nervous system, no criminal charges will be filed at this time". At this time, Ripley thought humorlessly. That was corporatese for " Keep your mouth shut and stay away from the media and you'll still get to collect your pension" (pg 23)
2. Bishop doesn't sleep
As in the earlier drafts, Bishop does not sleep in cryotubes with the rest but instead watches over the crew and the ship during the trip
Executive Officer Bishop checked readouts and adjusted controls. The long wait has ended. An alarm sounded throughout the length of the massive military transport. Long dormant machinery, powered down to conserve energy, came back to life. So did long dormant humans as their hypersleep capsules were charged and popped open (pg 48)
3. Vasquez has a nickname
Her nickname was Gamin Assassin. It was not misplaced (pg 59)
4. There are 30 Atmosphere Processors on LV426
"How many of those are on Acheron" Ripley asked Burke. That's one of thirty or so. They're scattered all over the planet. Well, not scattered. Placed, for optimum injection into the atmosphere. Each is fully automated, and their output is controlled from Hadley Operation Central. (pg 74)
5. Aliens have stings
The novelization explain how the aliens immobilize their victims for the trip to the hive. Instead of concussion, Burke gets stung by one in the APC
"It's a muscle-specific neuro-toxin. Affects only the nonvital parts of the system. Leaves respiratory and circulatory functions unimpaired. I wonder if the creatures instinctively adjust the dosage for different kinds of potential hosts?" (pg 161)
6. The ending is slightly different. The outer door to space isn't opened by Ripley, and instead is burned and eventually destroyed by acid from the Queen's wounds while Ripley is already safe with the inner doors locked.
Summoning strength from unknown depths, she dragged herself onto the deck just as the inner airlock doors slammed shut. Beneath her, the alien queen uttered another scream of rage and exerted all her incomprehensible strength. The heavy loader squealed as she began to push it aside.
It was half off when the outer doors, honeycombed by acid, fell apart, sending chunks of metal, bubbles of acid, the queen, and the powerloader spilling out into space. Ripley rose and stumbled to the nearest viewport. (pg 245)
Alien Queen's first description is great, it's mostly lifted off the script but there it is nonetheless
"A gigantic silhouette in the ruddy mist, the alien queen glowered above her egg cashe like a great, gleaming insectoid Buddha. The fanged skull was horror incarnate. Six limbs, two legs and four taloned arms, were folded grotesquely over a distended abdomen. "
