# Any good alien invasion novels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724 "2012-05-12T20:10:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/21 "2012-05-13T12:39:01Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > You could read War Of The Worlds. You probably have already, but if not, you should. It’s the granddaddy of them all. I was going to suggest that. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/22 "2012-05-13T13:08:18Z")
John Ringo’s Legacy of the Aldenata series. Four main books plus some side stories. Very good military SF Plus you can get all four books for free at publisher’s website, Baen Books. The Wiki article has direct links for download. [Legacy of the Aldenata - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_the_Aldenata) ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/23 "2012-05-13T13:48:23Z")
Robert Silverberg’s _The Alien Years_ ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/24 "2012-05-13T16:59:12Z")
Re: Worldwar I would stick with just the first four set in the 1940s. The quality degrades from there. The Colonization books aren’t bad per se but I am not sure I would recommend them and the epilogue novel is just bad. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/25 "2012-05-13T17:01:41Z")
An interesting take on the idea of an alien invasion is Roger MacBride Allen’s _Ring of Charon_. In this book the aliens aren’t arriving from anywhere else, they’re already within the Solar System, it’s just that humanity’s actions have given the ‘aliens’ their wake-up signal. This may well be outside the OP’s limits for what they want to read - in a very real sense the largest part of the conflict between the humans and the ‘aliens’ is stunted and stalled, because neither side can easily get beyond their own preconceptions towards an accurate understanding of the nature of the other side. There are no ‘alien’ characters, for example, because the ‘aliens’ simply can’t be thought of as individuals, let alone individuals that the audience could relate to. One of the reasons I liked the book (and the follow-up, _The Shattered Sphere_) is that much of the plot hinges upon the protagonists answers to the questions, “What is life?” and “What is intelligence?” I will second many of the recommendations here: _Footfall_, _Worldwar_, and _The Legacy of the Aldenata_ (The invading Posleen are, IMNSHO simply the antagonists, not the villains of the piece. Though quite sufficient to give anyone nightmares.). Some of my favorite books with aliens interacting with humans are post-invasion stories, where the war has been lost and the aliens have conquered. Timothy Zahn’s _Blackcollar_ books; Eric Flint and K.D. Wentworth’s _[The Course of Empire](http://www.baenebooks.com/p-88-the-course-of-empire.aspx)_\* and _The Crucible of Empire_; and Gordon R. Dickson’s _Way of the Pilgrim_. \*Link goes to the book’s page in Baen eBooks’ Free Library where, with the permission of publisher and authors, anyone may read online, or download, the ebook version of the volume. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/26 "2012-05-13T18:09:56Z")
I read [noparse][http://variety-sf.blogspot.com/2011/08/fred-hoyle-john-elliot-for-andromeda.html[/noparse]](http://variety-sf.blogspot.com/2011/08/fred-hoyle-john-elliot-for-andromeda.html%5B/noparse%5D)_A for Andromeda_ (pub. 1962) so long ago I barely remember it, but it obviously made a strong impression. Warning: the link points to a synopsis which may be an unwanted spoiler. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/27 "2012-05-13T18:19:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Anyone considering reading the Chtorr series should go in knowing that the series is incomplete and probably will remain that way. (The last book published was in 1993. The most recent update was apparently in 2004 when David Gerrold released the titles of the remaining three books. And told people to be patient.) Patient was over long ago. I did like the series up to that point ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/28 "2012-05-13T19:20:58Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > John Ringo’s Legacy of the Aldenata series. > Four main books plus some side stories. > Very good military SF > Plus you can get all four books for free at publisher’s website, Baen Books. The Wiki article has direct links for download. > [Legacy of the Aldenata - Wikipedia](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legacy_of_the_Aldenata) He also co-authors the _Looking Glass Series_ with Travis S. Taylor, which kicks off with an alien invasion when a scientists accidentally creates wormholes to “other” places, and he also has the _Troy Rising_ series, which was partially inspired by Howard Tayler’s [Schlock Mercenary](http://www.schlockmercenary.com/) web comic. Granted, the Troy Rising series never has a direct alien invasion on Earth, but the Horvath do KE strike three large cities by way of saying “High!” And then park a battlecruiser in orbit and say, “Nice planet you got there, monkey boys. It’d be a real shame if a rock or something dropped on it. Now, in exchange for our benevolent protection, let’s talk about your stockpiles of heavy metals…” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/29 "2012-05-13T19:34:07Z")
Genesis. The Earth was a peaceful, pastoral planet and then humans just showed up overnight, took over and started trashing the place. In honor of Mother’s Day: My mom kept the family bible “on the shame shelf as the Oz books, with all the other fantasy fiction” (her words). ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/30 "2012-05-13T20:35:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Another alien invasion classic is _Footfall_ by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It’s a single novel so you can go through it in a lot less time than Turtledove’s series. This thread prompted me to go find the ebook so I can re-read it. Baen has it, DRM-free. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/31 "2012-05-13T20:53:03Z")
Most instances listed so far – _Worldwar, Footfall_ – involve non-humanoid invaders. “Humanoid” is quite a restriction in this genre. How about _Invasion of the Body Snatchers?_ The Pod People are humanoid-by-imitation, that’s why they’re scary. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/32 "2012-05-13T21:04:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How about _Invasion of the Body Snatchers?_ The Pod People are humanoid-by-imitation, that’s why they’re scary. In that genre, I’d also suggest _The Puppet Masters_ by Robert Heinlein. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/33 "2012-05-13T21:10:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Another alien invasion classic is _Footfall_ by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It’s a single novel so you can go through it in a lot less time than Turtledove’s series. IMO Niven has written at least two better invasion stories than that, namely “World of Ptavvs” and “Protector.” And just seeing the title of this thread made me decide to read Heinlein’s “Puppet Masters” again. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/34 "2012-05-13T23:11:00Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I read [_A for Andromeda_ (pub. 1962)](http://variety-sf.blogspot.com/2011/08/fred-hoyle-john-elliot-for-andromeda.html) so long ago I barely remember it, but it obviously made a strong impression. Warning: the link points to a synopsis which may be an unwanted spoiler. I got a malware warning from Chrome on that page. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/35 "2012-05-13T23:49:52Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I got a malware warning from Chrome on that page. How appropriate! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/36 "2012-05-13T23:58:01Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > This thread prompted me to go find the ebook so I can re-read it. Baen has it, DRM-free. 🙂 Baen doesn’t believe in DRM, nothing they sell has DRM. That is why they get my money. Fictionwise can burn in hell. [Fictionwise has a bad habit of unlisting books, or whatever you call it. I bought 20ish Pratchett novels from them, and they no longer list Pratchett at all. Thankfully I backed them up to cd, memory stick and external HDD …] ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/37 "2012-05-14T00:39:44Z")
Good idea for a thread, I love a good alien invasion story. One to avoid: (this was posted by me on another board in a thread discussing the worst books we had ever read, prior to this my vote was for \*Ice Station \*by Matthew Reilly) > [@](#): > > Just found a new one: > > _Battle Earth_ by Nick S. Thomas. > > Now I wasn’t expecting much for $3 for the Kindle edition but I got even less! > > First the title: Battle Earth…reminds me of something else…Battle Earth…_Battle Earth_…Battle_field_ Earth?!?.. Ahhhh there we go, this book is to literature what the _Battlefield Earth_ film is to cinema. > > Our hero(?) is one Major Mitch Taylor a hard-as-nails-officer-with-a-heart-of-gold who loves his men but has no problem insulting junior officers in front of their troops while sleeping with one of his (female) sergeants and, who seems quite unconcerned when his troops start getting killed around him. > > Its a pretty standard Earth-invasion story, set a bit into the future - baddies show up & frag Mars base, invade (mostly) the Moon base and then push onto Earth. > > A few high-points - every conversation carried out over the radio ends with “over and out.” - I get the feeling Mr. Thomas learned radio procedure by watching TV. > > A few days after (literally - I think this bit takes place two days after the aliens land) being invaded US scientists are able to remove the engines from two captured alien ships, bolt them to two of their own ships (again - literally - the alien engines are self-contained units, just connect your own control systems, kind of like an alien Ikea store I guess) and use them to do a high-speed re-supply run to the moon! - take that! Independence Day with your Mac virus delivery! > > My favorite - instead of writing interesting or exciting dialogue, almost every conversation has people joining it or contributing to it, \*by shouting \*- really on almost every page someone shouts something at or to someone else - even meetings between generals to discuss tactics or alien technology. This device is, apparently, used to create excitement! and urgency! and demonstrate conflict! between characters! (the author also likes exclamation marks!) > > There are also two sequels, creatively named _Battle Earth II_ & _Battle Earth III_ - no, I won’t be reading them. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/38 "2012-05-14T00:49:07Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > IMO Niven has written at least two better invasion stories than that, namely “World of Ptavvs” and “Protector.” Well, Thrintun are **not** humanoid. Pak Protectors, OTOH . . . well, I won’t spoil what they are, but it’s definitely humanoid. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/39 "2012-05-14T02:32:59Z")
> [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](#): > > If you’ve got several days free, I can heartily recommend Harry Turtledove’s _[Worldwar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwar)_ series, which mashes together an alien invasion, alternative history, and World War II without being a complete train wreck. That sounds interesting. Thanks! Joe ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724/40 "2012-05-14T02:42:38Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > That sounds interesting. Thanks! > > Joe You’d best be prepared to invest a lot of time in it, though. Turtledove’s storytelling-style is usually unbearably tedious, like, “And then another locust came and carried away another grain of corn . . .” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-alien-invasion-novels/621724.md?page=3)