When we first began outlining the scope of the Euphoria Verse, Darius Kell was intended to be a catalyst, a figure defined by his actions during the events of Alien: Euphoria.

But as we developed the layers of these early events on Tartarus Island, we realised that to understand his hesitance, we first had to understand the society. Once we began to explore the pressures and decisions he must face, the extent of the world we needed to establish became clear.

In the Alien franchise, we are often presented with survivors who are thrust into chaos by circumstance. We wanted to explore the inverse: a man who walks willingly into the fire because he believes he can control the burn.

I can tell you that Darius Kell, The Prequel Story, is set in 2831, years before the events of Alien: Euphoria. The story is written to give you a foundation into the society of Portman Rome, the history of some influential characters and the dynamics between them.

But what I can’t tell you, is how many of the featured characters, perhaps serve the Euphoria Verse is more catastrophic ways than Darius.

We wanted to explore the tragedies which come with ambition, duty and the cost of doing business in the darkest corners of space. We aim to present themes and story arcs not before seen in the Alien Franchise.

With the resurgence of the franchise through Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth, we saw a hunger in the community, not just for creature features, but for corporate intrigue. Set many years into the future, we explore how and why the colonies are broken, even before the first egg opens.

The stories within the Euphoria Verse, when read in the order of publication, will enable you to slowly unravel the secrets long kept and locked away in plain sight.

This deep dive aims to add a new layer of richness to your reading experience. We’d love to hear your theories on how Darius’ past dictates his future. Drop by anytime on X @AlienPurgatory.

My kindest regards, deepest thanks and gratitude, for taking the time to read this.

James Spindler