The bestselling author of the TWILIGHT series comes to adult list with a gripping novel of love and betrayal, set in a future when the fate of humanity is at stake.
Stephenie Meyer is a 30-year-old mother of three children based in Arizona.
Adult/High School-A race of parasitic aliens has nearly completed its benevolent conquest of the aggressive, violent human race. By implanting themselves into humans, the souls have access to all of the hosts' memories and emotions and are indistinguishable from them. The humans do not realize they're being taken over until it is nearly too late. Some resist the invasion, including Melanie Stryder, her brother, and her lover. When Melanie is killed on a mission, her body is taken over by a soul named "Wanderer." Melanie's memories prove overwhelming for Wanderer, who eventually succumbs to her need to search out her family. What follows is a tale of survival, friendship, and love. By discussing Earth's invasion from the conqueror's viewpoint, the novel takes a unique look at a fairly standard plot device. It overcomes a slow beginning after Wanderer reaches the humans and begins to care about the ones she meets personally. She comes to love Melanie's brother like her own, fights her body's attraction to Melanie's lover, and grows ever closer to another human, Ian. The humans in turn accept Wanderer as a valuable and caring individual, rather than as Melanie's oppressor. They overcome their prejudices and begin to work together in the humans' best interests. Host will likely appeal to readers interested in supernatural romance or character-driven science fiction. Questions of what defines humanity and love add a philosophical angle to an engaging and entertaining title.-Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
In this tantalizing SF thriller, planet-hopping parasites are inserting their silvery centipede selves into human brains, curing cancer, eliminating war and turning Earth into paradise. But some people want Earth back, warts and all, especially Melanie Stryder, who refuses to surrender, even after being captured in Chicago and becoming a host for a "soul" called Wanderer. Melanie uses her surviving brain cells to persuade Wanderer to help search for her loved ones in the Arizona desert. When the pair find Melanie's brother and her boyfriend in a hidden rebel cell led by her uncle, Wanderer is at first hated. Once the rebels accept Wanderer, whom they dub Wanda, Wanda's whole perspective on humanity changes. While the straightforward narrative is short on detail about the invasion and its stunning aftermath, it shines with romantic intrigue, especially when a love triangle (or quadrangle?!) develops for Wanda/Melanie. 10-city author tour. (May) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
After Earth is invaded by a small, sluglike species that uses human bodies as hosts, a small group of unhosted humans survives in hiding. When rebel Melanie is caught by alien police "seekers" while on a raid, she is implanted with an alien. Wanderer, the "soul" now in Melanie's head, expects her to fade away. Melanie refuses, eventually winning over her captor with memories of her lover. Melanie convinces Wanderer to go in search of her human family hiding somewhere in the Arizona desert. Meyer questions the definition of what it means to be human as well as what it means to love. The narrative is told entirely from Wanderer's viewpoint, which offers a unique perspective. Verdict Kate Reading's excellent narration aside, the plot drags for far too long with little action and less romance. Recommended to fans of Allie Condie's Matched and Meyer's "Twilight" series. ["The Host will likely appeal to readers interested in supernatural romance or character-driven science fiction. Questions of what defines humanity and love add a philosophical angle to an engaging and entertaining title," read the more accepting review of the New York Times best-selling Little, Brown hc, LJ 6/1/08. A motion picture adaptation was released March 29, 2013.-Ed.]-Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix P.L. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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