Hunter's Planet (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 2) [Paperback]

David Bischoff (Author), Randy Stradley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Aliens Vs. Predator | Publication Date: November 1, 1994

The best time of Machiko Naguchi's life came in the wake of the Ryushi colony massacre. It was then that she abandoned her human heritage and ran with the Predators as a dedicated Hunter. But it was only two years before she returned to live with humanity and work for the Chigusa Corporation,



Livermore Evanston is an ambitious developer who has built the ultimate hunter's paradise: a world just beyond the reach of human regulations, populated by ferociousm genetically engineered animals. But Evanston didn't plan on being patronized by the galaxy's most ruthless Predators--or the Aliens they brought along as prey. As his human customers fall victim to the unsceduled hunt, Evanston realizes that the Predators must be curbed, and there's only one woman for the job. But there's even more to this world than meets the eye, and Machiko Naguchi may only have one way out: to take complete control of the deadliest planet in known space!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The best time of Machiko Naguchi's life came in the wake of the Ryushi colony massacre. It was then that she abandoned her human heritage and ran with the Predators as a dedicated Hunter. But it was only two years before she returned to live with humanity and work for the Chigusa Corporation,

Livermore Evanston is an ambitious developer who has built the ultimate hunter's paradise: a world just beyond the reach of human regulations, populated by ferociousm genetically engineered animals. But Evanston didn't plan on being patronized by the galaxy's most ruthless Predators--or the Aliens they brought along as prey. As his human customers fall victim to the unsceduled hunt, Evanston realizes that the Predators must be curbed, and there's only one woman for the job. But there's even more to this world than meets the eye, and Machiko Naguchi may only have one way out: to take complete control of the deadliest planet in known space!

From the Inside Flap

The best time of Machiko Naguchi's life came in the wake of the Ryushi colony massacre. It was then that she abandoned her human heritage and ran with the Predators as a dedicated Hunter. But it was only two years before she returned to live with humanity and work for the Chigusa Corporation,



Livermore Evanston is an ambitious developer who has built the ultimate hunter's paradise: a world just beyond the reach of human regulations, populated by ferociousm genetically engineered animals. But Evanston didn't plan on being patronized by the galaxy's most ruthless Predators--or the Aliens they brought along as prey. As his human customers fall victim to the unsceduled hunt, Evanston realizes that the Predators must be curbed, and there's only one woman for the job. But there's even more to this world than meets the eye, and Machiko Naguchi may only have one way out: to take complete control of the deadliest planet in known space!

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553565567
• ISBN-13: 978-0553565560
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,214 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So-so, August 16, 2004

By 

Sci-Fi fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hunter's Planet (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 2) (Paperback)

This series contains 3 books: Prey, Hunter's Planet, and War. The first and third are absolutely spectacular. The writing is fantastic--beautifully descriptive, with believable characters, and most importantly, they fit seamlessly with both the Alien and Predator universes. The second is a different story--Hunter's Planet certainly isn't the worst book I've ever read, but it's far inferior to the other two in this series. It is an enormous let-down, both in terms of writing quality and just plain fun. It makes all Machiko's adventures in Prey seem meaningless, and the behavior of both the Aliens and Predators just doesn't feel right, doesn't feel like things they would actually do. (Note that the first and third have the same author; the second is different.)

This is going to sound peculiar, but I recommend reading the first and third and skipping the second, and not just because of the differing quality of the novels. The events of War actually take place between Prey and Hunter's Planet, and War is perfectly readable without reading Hunter's Planet. In fact, several scenes that were told in flashback in Hunter's Planet are RETOLD in War, only told far more descriptively, and even with important events completely altered! If I had the chance to start over, I would skip Hunter's Planet entirely.

I have read many science-fiction novels, and I rank Prey and War among my absolute favorites, worthy members of the Aliens and Predator franchise. On the one hand, it's like getting more of the movies--more terrifying bugs, more awesome Predators, more battles, more excitement--and on the other, there is a lot of fascinating new information about the culture of the Predators, things I always wanted to know but never thought I would. I love the star character, and appreciated the fact that she wasn't the typical mindless sci-fi babe. If you love Aliens and Predator, you might find Hunter's Planet mildly interesting.

(As a side note, the AvP movie borrowed a LOT from these books :)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't live up to Prey, March 2, 2005

By 

Annaleise Ferreira "Acolyte of Cthulhu" (Marina, California ,United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hunter's Planet (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 2) (Paperback)

I think this is the first book by David Bischoff I've read, and so I don't know how it matches the quality of his other work, but this overall was passable but not up to my expectations after having read Prey. The only really good scenes are involving the Yautja, such as the opening scene, the Pack flashbacks, and the final fifty or so pages of climax. In between it does get rather boring.

I enjoyed the character of Atilla, I rather like the human characters, though they're written a bit broad (Dick Daniels, especially), Machiko is well-characterized, and the Yautja characters are well written as well, although they do tend to blend together and Bischoff actually calls them by the wrong names a few times.

Bischoff's style can get old fast. He's fond of cliched expressions and repeats himself, a lot. His dialogue isn't the most realistic I've read, either.

I also didn't like the inclusion of a love interest for Machiko. I wasn't interested in reading romance in a Predator novel, but if it must be done, I would prefer that it wasn't so thrown together and contrived. Fortunately it only takes up a few pages and is easily skipped if you don't like it.

I have to wonder why this is the second book in the trilogy, instead of the third, since I understand that the story that was glossed over in this novel will be described in detail in "War". The whole novel made me a little frustrated with the way Bischoff kept referring to the events at the mining colony but never elaborating on them. I'm off to read War and I really hope for a return to Prey-like greatness.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wrong Consecutive (should be 3, not 2), February 2, 2006

By 

Gehrig K. LaVelle "Doc La Velle" (Cedar Falls, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hunter's Planet (Aliens Vs. Predator, Book 2) (Paperback)

I've read the three novels in this trilogy but take issue with continuity. Hunter's Planet should be the last one you read!!! Why? Machiko Naguchi kills "Shorty" twice. Huh? Please believe me and read Hunter's last. You'll get more out of the story threads and development. Being a surviver, Machiko spends some time with the "Pack" as she dedicates herself to the Hunt. Dark Horse doesn't usually make mistakes as becomes so obvious in these 2 & 3 novels. So, read "War" after "Prey"and then, and ONLY then, read "Hunter's Planet. I believe you'll enjoy all three if you manage to "think Sanaa Lathan, pronounced Sa-NAA, "like Sinatra without the tra" as Machiko. Maybe I'll wander over to the DVD's and "Review" the AVP. Enjoy, it's just entertainment, right?