The Body Snatchers

Rating:
Summary: Creepy
Review: Best known for the movie adaptation (which deviates strongly from the book in certain areas) , "Invasion of the Body-Snatchers" is a pretty creepy, weird scifi story which raises some interesting questions about human nature.

Dr. Miles Bennell receives an odd patient from his old ex-girlfriend Becky: Her cousin Wilma is making bizarre claims about her uncle Ira and aunt Aleda. She claims that while they look, talk, dress and act just like Uncle Ira and Aunt Aleda, that they are somehow imposters. Miles talks with Wilma, but she doesn't show any typical signs of insane delusions. What's more, other people are insisting similar things about their friends and family -- that they seem just the same, but that they aren't themselves.

Then things get more complicated. Miles's pal Jack and his wife Theodora have an "unfinished" person in their basement, a never-been-alive-and-not-living-now human being that is slowly turning into a duplicate of the real person. Growing out of alien pods that have migrated to our planet, the pod people are slowly and seductively working over the town -- and they will soon have the entire world.

This now-classic SF book was published in the 1950s, before the advent of space opera and Star Wars. (It also has a noteworthy resemblance to Robert Heinlein's "Puppet Masters," a similar book published four years before) Finney's book can be a bit dated in places (the female characters are kind of wimpy -- they tend to get hysterical and follow the level-headed manly men) and some of the supporting characters remain undeveloped, but overall it's an entertaining read.

The writing and dialogue are solid, not outstanding, but pretty good. It does raise some interesting questions about human nature: In one scene, Miles is offered a life without strife by the pod people, and quickly turns it around to reveal that not only would a world of pod people be doomed, but also would have no drive, no enjoyment, no real living as we know it. It would all be bland, with no suffering but also no pleasure. Finney's writing is probably at its peak there, especially given the cold, pleasant attitude of the pod people -- no mustache-twirling and cackling for these villains.

As with many first-person narrators, Miles is not a fantastic character. In fact, he's dull; the only time he peps up at all is when he and Becky make out. Writer pal Jack is a bit more interesting (I wonder if he was a sort of alter ego for Finney); Becky and Theodora have secondary roles, but are nevetherless fairly good. All other supporting characters, unfortunately, are pretty forgettable.

Though the movie deviated strongly from the book, fans of that film might want to check the origjnal story out anyway. Interesting and pretty well-written, especially for fans of horror/SF.

Rating:
Summary: Worth a read although Finney has an irritating style
Review: If you've seen the 1950's film version of this book then you know the story although the ending is different. Finneys idea is one of the classics of science fiction and is just as terrifying and fresh today as it was 40 years ago. However, Invasion of the Body snatchers is difficult to read because of Finneys unusual writing style. Finney seems to write both in the past and present at the same time which is very confusing.Women also play a very traditional role in the story: making breakfast, being loyal to their men and fainting. This would be fine if the book had not been updated in the late 80's as it would be a product, and reflection, of the 1950's. However set, as the book now is, in fall 1976 the stereotyped women are very irritating. Despite these shortcomings the book is worth a read as one of SF's classics and I prefer Finneys ending to the 1950's film.

Rating:
Summary: BRING IN THE CLONES...
Review: This is a wonderfully inventive story that has spawned three films. Well written, the book tells the tale of a small town through the eyes of its young doctor, Miles Bennell. It seems the town is undergoing a drastic change which is as subtle as it is deadly. It seems that all the townspeople are not what they seem. They look the same. They sound the same. Their memories are intact. Still, they are just not the same.

Those who have noticed this, suddenly end up retracting their concerns days later. Something is not right in the town of Mills Valley, and Dr, Bennell knows it. Those large seed pods that are suddenly showing up every where are at the root of it. Their unearthly presence is connected to the profound changes that the people of Mills Valley are undergoing, and Dr. Bennell will stop at nothing to save his beloved town and the world from the invasion of the body snatchers.

This is a great story by a wonderfully inventive writer. Jack Finney is a masterful story teller. He expertly weaves a tale that will keep the reader riveted to the pages of this book. It is no wonder that three films based upon this book have been made, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), and Body Snatchers (1994). All three are worth watching.