The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Author: Jon Herrera
Published: September 20, 2010 at 7:57 am
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The HostImage Robert R. Heinlein's Puppetmasters from the point of view of the alien invaders. Or the Invasion of the Body Snatchers from the point of view of the Pod People. Stephane Meyers's Host is one more story where there is no black and white, only many shades of gray. The bad guys aren't really bad, the good guys aren't really good.

The Host is set in the not too distant future where the Earth has been invaded and conquered by small parasitic lifeforms which attach themselves to the victim's brains. The alien minds are stronger than our own and they suppress, possibly destroy, the mind of the host body. Except that this is not what happens to our hero, Wanderer, who ends up with a rebellious body and with a mind that remains conscious of itself and its alien invader.

What follows is a kind of dream world where almost every human is possessed by an alien called a Soul. The Souls have science and medicine so far advanced as to appear magical. They are all kind and friendly. They never break any laws, never argue and shy away from any kind of conflict at all. The Souls are so offended by violence that they can't even watch old TV shows because the hostility of even the most mundane show (even the Brady Bunch) offends their delicate sensitivities.

In short, the world has become a paradise without violence, hunger, or disease. So naturally, there is a hidden group of humans hiding in the wilds, hoping to put an end to it.

The remaining humans, of course, don't think this brave new world is all that much like paradise. They have seen loved ones turned into hosts and outright killed by the invaders. They have been living very primitive lives, stealing what they can from the Souls, living in a cave where they can't be found. Our hero, Wanderer, finds this cave because her host body knows where to look for it.

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Article Author: Jon Herrera

Blogger and Professional Portrait Photographer who never lets his lack of information limit his opinions.

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