Aliens - Colonial Marines Technical Manual [Paperback]

lee Brimmicombe-Wood (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 29, 2012

The United States Colonial Marines. Ultimate troubleshooters equipped with state-of-the-art firepower, capable of power projection across the vast expanse of deep space. They can sharpshoot a man at a thousand meters or obliterate an entire world from the safety of orbit. They reckon they are unbeatable.

But on a dirtball colony planet known only as LV-426 the unthinkable happens. 

The Marines lose. 

The Aliens - Colonial Marines Technical Manual is your official guide to the equipment and organisation of the United States Colonial Marine Corps. Packed with diagrams, technical schematics and plans, the manual takes a detailed look at the guns, vehicles and ships of the USCMC, and the men and women who use them. 

A must-have book for any Aliens fan, the Aliens - Colonial Marines Technical Manual examines the technology of the movie's futuristic nightmare in every detail.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lee Brimmicombe-Wood, British board- and computer games designer, creator of PC air combat simulators Team Apache and Ka-52 Team Alligator, and author of the Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual. His board wargame titles include the award-winning Downtown and The Burning Blue.

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Titan Books (May 29, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1781161313
• ISBN-13: 978-1781161319
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.7 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,978 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Conceptual
  • #35 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies > Reference
  • #42 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies > Genre Films

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book! Detailed and believable; excellent for AvP! July 30, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

Excellent book that goes into detail about almost every aspect of the colonial marines featured in Aliens. Also, it's clear that the creators of the game "Aliens vrs. Predator" used this book, as certain weapons, symbols, and features (such as the smartgun and SADAR) are explained in detail, and correlate with the game. If you can't get enough of an "Aliens" fix from the game and the first two movies (let's just leave Aliens3&4 alone, shall we?), then this is the book for you! On occasion, the book gets a little bit gory, with none-too-subtle allusions made to the vietnam war. This gives the book a much more realistic feel, but may make some folks uncomfortable. The Aliens section is kinda neat; gives a little more insight into the "Weyland-Yutani" corporation, and once again demonstrates the poor judgement of this profit-seeking company.

A very enjoyable read, especially to sci-fi "technophiles"!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book talks about 97% of stuff NOT in the movie! August 24, 2001

By Peter

Format:Paperback

It's a great informative book and covers USCMC tanks, ships, artillery, air-defense, personal weapons, armor, mines, spacesuits, etc...things not seen in the movie. What makes it superb is almost each weapon entry has a drawing so if you're a modeler, you can almost make a replica of the weapon or vehicle. Descriptive text accompanies each entry. And best of all, it MAKES SENSE! The drawings, ideas, and text aren't comic-book like or totally sci-fi fantasy but seemingly very real with today's weapons. I really liked the made-up Marine comments. The book's text says this missile works but then the Marine in the comment box says the opposite. You believe the Marine instead and not the engineers. Also, the book doesn't skimp...the photos aren't black and white and the drawings aren't kiddish. The book presents the USCMC in a very good light and as a true powerful force with many high-tech weapons and superior training that works (unlike the USS Sulaco Marines shown in the movie). A must-have if you're an ALIENS fan.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Incredible! April 20, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I only reluctantly picked up this book when I saw it in a bookshop--I figured, another cheesy fan-boy tie-in. Was I surprised! Utterly flabbergasted! The author obviously did his research. I've been in the Navy for a few years, and the Techman reads like a modern military digest. The weapons sound like plausible evolutions of modern weapons; they have their good points and kinks. They have correct military designations, even details like the naming of tanks after famous generals. An article on USCMC force resturcturing and tactics sounds eerily like something from today's "Proceedings" (the USN/USMC professional journal), including the Marines vs. Army gibes. Even the sections on theoretical stardrives and space-fighting tactics are wholly plausible. The ALIENS techman is easily the "best of the breed." You don't even have to be an Aliens fan to enjoy it.