Body Snatchers [Paperback]

Everyone knows about the movie adaptation of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" -- pod people, creepy takeover, lots of suspense. While the movie was good, the original novel is perhaps a more enjoyable story -- a creepy, tense novel that raises some intriguing 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 relatives. She claims that while they look, talk, dress and act just like Uncle Ira and Aunt Aleda, they are fakes. Miles talks with Wilma, but she doesn't show any typical signs of insanity. 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 -- for example the female characters are kind of wimpy -- they tend to get hysterical and follow the level-headed manly men. Fortunately these flaws are few and far between.

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, but he does develop a certain strength and intelligence as the story goes on. 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, and a chilling look at what makes humans really human.

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.

Since these reviews are based on The Lightyear Press publication, I am assuming from the comments in this review that this is an updated revised version which would include the identical updated text also found in the Fireside published version - which was the softcover trade publication owned by Simon and Schuster.

Why I am confused is that the photo of the book listed by [...] depicts the copyright page of the Buccaneer Press limited edition printing which was a reprint of the original 1950's unaltered text. Whereas further down the page it lists Lightyear Press as the publisher.
I can't find Lightyear Press anywhere listed on the internet.
I have a copy of an original Buccaneer Press published copy of "The Body Snatchers" with the unaltered 1950's text.

Can someone enlighten me here?

Of course the book is one of the best Finney has written and in fact one of the best sci-fi books to come out of the 1950's and still to this day is a great read.

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