The Alien Factor [Mass Market Paperback]

Stan Lee (Author), Stan Timmons (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

The first ever ibooks novel by the legendary Stan Lee, founding father of Marvel Comics and co-creator of Spider-Man and the X-Men! The German war machine rolls across Europe, crushing everything in its path. America and her Allies have only recently entered the war, but is seems both sides are too evenly matched. The war could drag on for years, could go either way...until the day the saucer fell like an arrow from the heavens, bringing with it secrets of world-shattering consequence. The Nazis are quick to capture the spacecraft and its unearthly occupants; the Allies send in a suicide squad, a group snidely referred to as 'Logan's Losers' - to either retrieve the aliens and their secrets...or destroy them. Russia, too, learns of the downed UFO and sends their own agent into the heart of Germany. But there is a traitor among the Allied invasion force, working to bring the Allies down from within, and when Logan at last reaches his objective, it is a prisoner of the Third Reich, sentenced to die at the hand of an old, implacable enemy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-This alternate history, sci-fi novel packs more punch than one of Lee's superheroes. In 1942 occupied France, a spacecraft has crash-landed, stranding two of its occupants. Before one dies and the other is captured, the aliens befriend a young farm boy. Thinking he has seen an angel, as Joan of Arc once did, he is convinced that he has been chosen to save his country from the Germans. As Marcel begins his quest, the enemy has already captured the remaining live alien and its spacecraft in hopes of discovering their secrets. Meanwhile the Allies, led by Joe Logan (straight out of a superhero mold), are forced to break into a German "Forbidden Zone" and stop Hitler and his Nazis from learning enough not only to win the war but also to take over the entire world. The action keeps coming through short chapters and lots of warfare. A creative force behind some of the most famous Marvel comics of all time, including Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, Lee has no trouble getting across the emotions and actions of mere mortals. Bound to have a huge crossover appeal to comic readers, this sci-fi novel should do well with teens.
James O. Cahill, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Stan Lee is known to millions as the man whose superheroes propelled Marvel Comics to its prominent position in the comic book industry. Stan has written more than a dozen bestselling books for Simon & Schuster, Harper & Row, and other major publishers. Presently he resides in Los Angeles, where he chairs Marvel Films and has served as co-executive producer for Marvel's many motion picture, television and animation projects.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: I Books (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743452623
• ISBN-13: 978-0743452625
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,931,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stan Lee is a man who needs no introduction. Nevertheless: Having begun his career with wartime Timely Comics and staying the course throughout the Atlas era, Stan the Man made comic-book history with Fantastic Four #1, harbinger of a bold new perspective in story writing that endures to this day. With some of the industry's greatest artists, he introduced hero after hero in Incredible Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men and more -- forming a shared universe for rival publishers to measure themselves against. After an almost literal lifetime of writing and editing, Lee entered new entertainment fields and earned Marvel one opportunity after another. He remains one of Marvel's best-known public representatives.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A unique deviation from Stan Lee's natural element, May 10, 2002

By 

Joshua C Harrison (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alien Factor (Hardcover)

Alien Factor is a sci-fi, action book based in a time that Stan Lee has practice with -- the Second World War. But this isn't exactly Captain America material. Rather, Lee makes heros out of Hogan, a thick skinned soldier, and a young French boy tangled in an intergalactic debacle.

The book has a great theme beneath its pages, though I often could sense that Stan Lee was straining to write the book. From time to time it can be hard to follow Lee's written form, and I often felt that if he had a picture next to the text (like in a comic book) it would have made much more sense. But if you can devote yourself to the book, you may find it worthwhile. I think this is a 3 star book that was written by a 5 star mind.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "Logan's Losers" lose it, February 21, 2003

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alien Factor (Hardcover)

This is not a bad book, but is not the book it claims to be. Lee combines two favorite ideas in a story of alien contact during WWII. But the alien is really just a McGuffin, and the reader is treated to a tale of Allies, Nazis, Communists, spies and resistance all trying to outfox one another and protect their own ideas. The alien could easily be replaced with a munitions dump, secret weapon, or other typical WWII target without changing the story very much. Good war story but a lousy alien tale.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this one, December 14, 2002

By 

Timothy J. Mccarthy "Mongo" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Alien Factor (Mass Market Paperback)

Sci Fi and WWII don't mix well in this failed effort. Imagine the Dirty Dozen saving ET from the Nazis in "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and you've got the story. Lee is not a bad writer, but there's just no originality here. He gets sloppy with his facts too. The villan's pistol is alternately a Luger and a Ruger. The good guy is sometimes referred to as a Captain, sometimes a Major, and sometimes a Colonel. Give this one a miss.