X-COM: UFO Defense - A Novel [Paperback]

Diane Duane (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 22, 1995 | Series: X-Com

Commander Jonelle Barrett is determined to win. Having moved from Morocco to a new base in Switzerland, she is well-placed to build a fortified base and defend Europe from the marauding aliens who harvest humans as lab animals for breeding stock . . . and for their dinner tables!

Barrett soon finds that her new territory is already riddled with alien invaders. Her handpicked garrison is all she has—until she learns that one of her most trusted people may be a traitor. Her task is twofold: keep the aliens at bay and keep her own sanity in the face of despair. She doesn?t know which will prove more difficult.

About the Author

Diane Duane is the bestselling author of numerous science fiction novels, including The Door Into Fire, Star Trek: The Wounded Sky, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She lives in Ireland.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Alien Forces Will Enslave Humanity . . . Unless X-COM Can Stop Them!

From the Inside Flap

Commander Jonelle Barrett is determined to win. Having moved from Morocco to a new base in Switzerland, she is well-placed to build a fortified base and defend Europe from the marauding aliens who harvest humans as lab animals for breeding stock . . . and for their dinner tables!

Barrett soon finds that her new territory is already riddled with alien invaders. Her handpicked garrison is all she has?until she learns that one of her most trusted people may be a traitor. Her task is twofold: keep the aliens at bay and keep her own sanity in the face of despair. She doesn?t know which will prove more difficult.

About the Author

Diane Duane is the bestselling author of numerous science fiction novels, including The Door Into Fire, Star Trek: The Wounded Sky, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. She lives in Ireland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (December 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761502351
• ISBN-13: 978-0761502357
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #722,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not much to drool over, but fun like the game. January 3, 2002

By Lorin Reed

Format:Paperback

Thing is, I couldn't imagine how someone would put the game's content into novel form. And after reading the novel, I still can't. This was a really quick read, and it had sort of a superficial bite to it. None of the characters are really worth caring about, and it doesn't go into much detail about the technologies or species of aliens. But none of that really matters much; I don't think anyone was expecting a masterpiece here.

If ya liked the game, you'll probably have fun with the book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Xcom, a good game, now a good book October 4, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book fits in nicely with the game. If you were interested and enjoyed the gameplay, this book will also entertain you. It takes you right along as if you were in a mission of the game. It could stand to be more descriptive, and perhaps some more character development. BUT as it stands, it is very entertaining, and I think works well with the Xcom saga.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars X-Com: an exciting and enjoyable read February 2, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Although I have never played the game, X-Com, I found this book to be very fun and exciting to read, and particularly enjoyed the geographic descriptions of the locales. It felt as though the writers had either spent some time there, or else done their research very well.

It was not all rosy, of course; there could have been a bit more description of some of the aliens and some of the starships; some of it felt as though it relied upon the reader's prior experience with the game. But all in all, the book was exciting, action-packed, and a real page-turner, and kept me guessing right up to the end as to who the traitor really was. I definitely recommend it.