Tag: alien invasion

The Time Mercenaries

The Time Mercenaries

by Philip E. High (Dobson, 1969)

High_Time Mercenaries

The anachronistic juxtaposition promises much—a submarine crew, fighting instincts still intact, is resurrected to defend a future civilisation of genetically ordained pacifists from alien invasion—but the premise is too quickly cast aside; the captain and his men become largely superfluous.

 

 

Three to Conquer

Three to Conquer

by Eric Frank Russell (Avalon, 1956)

Russell_Three to Conquer

Russell selectively breeds two SF storylines — alien body snatchers and telepathic outsider — to produce a memorable invasion tale, told in the manner of hardboiled detective fiction (itself melding lone wolf with FBI manhunt). Cited for possible adaptation during Doctor Who’s planning stages.

 

 

The Fifth Wave

The Fifth Wave

dir. J Blakeson (2016)

Blakeson_Fifth Wave

A not-terribly acted alien invasion film introducing young adults to the soul-destroying clichés and tropes infesting the genre. While The Others plot dystopian sequels, we learn only that teens (both as characters and viewers) are considered incapable of recognising a plot hole.

 

 

Monsters vs. Aliens

Monsters vs. Aliens

dir. Conrad Vernon & Rob Letterman (2009)

Vernon_Letterman_Monsters vs Aliens

Monsters vs Aliens is an animated comedy with a surplus of incidental humour but a concomitant deficit of cohesive, character-driven plot. The jokes are funny enough but the heroine’s journey of discovery is no more compelling than a walk to the shops.