Customer Reviews

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

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2004 marks the 50th anniversary of this classic science fiction novel's publication, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers remains firmly entrenched in pop culture and continues to exert a significant influence on the writers and filmmakers of today. Everyone has heard of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, no less than three film adaptations of the story have been produced, and the book itself remains in print and will surely remain so for the foreseeable future. What makes this story so popular? The answer to this question isn't so simple. While I think the novel is a thoroughly good, gripping read, there are a few elements of the plot and premise that I find fault with. In the grand scheme of things, these issues have little impact on the story, but I do believe that Finney's novel is not perfect.

Of course, this is a story borne out of a culture of the 1950s seemingly obsessed (at least Hollywood was) with the idea of aliens coming to earth and, in most scenarios, arriving with hostile intentions. "Aliens attack" books and movies were a dime a dozen in those days, and most of them became variations on the same theme. The stories were new, but the ideas were well-established, going back at least as far as H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. Finney's premise was different than most, and it drew strength not only from its originality but from the political atmosphere of the time. America became quite paranoid in the decade after World War II; the Red Scare had many people observing their neighbors and associates and sometimes wondering if they might actually be Communists. America was preoccupied for some time with the dangers of an invisible, insidious threat within the nation's very midst. Invasion of the Body Snatchers played upon and drew from this type of internal self-doubt and paranoia, and I believe that is its true secret of success.

Finney's "aliens" didn't blast down from the heavens and immediately begin attacking human beings; instead, they arrived silently and secretly - in the very midst of what was unassuming, small-town America, in the form of giant pods. Reports of these pod landings were reported but largely ignored, allowing the spores of alien life to begin their work in secret. The material inside the pods could completely replicate any life form, and thus was born the first "changed" human being. This "new" person looked and acted completely like the original and went about living that person's normal, every day life. The number of changed individuals quickly grew as each day passed. A few people began to sense that one or more of their friends or loved ones was somehow different, but it was all but impossible to prove such a thing to themselves, let alone others. Dr. Miles Bennell, the story's narrator, spoke to several such patients and dismissed their claims as some sort of psychological delusions - at first. His eyes were opened to the truth only when a friend chanced upon a developing replacement body in his home, and by this time virtually the whole town had been changed. Bennell and three other "survivors" were alone, trapped among friends who were no longer themselves, and their growing paranoia soon metastasized into true fright.

What could be more unsettling than the fear that your neighbor, your co-worker, even your own spouse, parent, or child was no longer the person you had known all your life? Anyone and everyone was a potential threat, a secret agent conspiring with others to assimilate you, to rob you of everything you value most in life. External threats and the fears they invoke can be dealt with, set aside for short periods of time; nuclear attack is a horrifying nightmare, but it does not prevent you from leading your normal life in the present. The enemy within is always the most insidious threat, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers is the very embodiment of this most terrifying of fears.

Has someone you know been acting strangely lately? Nothing you can put your finger on, just.... Maybe your husband's stopped yelling at the kids? Don't assume it's nothing. More than likely, his body's been replicated cell by cell, down to *almost* the last detail, as part of an attempt by extra-terrestrial pod creatures to take over the earth.

Or maybe not. The point is, you've seen the movie, maybe even the *movies*--the original 1956 film (with Kevin McCarthy) was remade in both 1978 (with Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nimoy) and (less successfully) 1993. Now it's time to read the book.

Jack Finney's classic science fiction novel, first published in 1954, is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you up reading late into the night. The prose is light; the plot is unbeatable. And you never know: just because you've seen the movies doesn't mean you know how the book's gonna end.

P.S. Another must read is Finney's haunting novel Time and Again, a book that will have you believing that time travel is wholly possible.

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.

Three motion pictures and almost 50 years ago, Jack Finney's POD PEOPLE made the scene in run-of-the-Mill Valley,California.THE BODY SNATCHERS...following its "eerialization" in COLLIERs magazine in 1954...has remained king of pulp fiction, science fiction thrillers. Jack Finney's writing style (or lack thereof) employs every technical cliche known to the Hack Writers Union. Except pace...here Mr. Finney's is Podlitzer Prize winner ultra-non-plus. By page 5, Miss Becky Driscoll is regailing Dr. Miles Bennell regarding her friend Wilma's delusion: "Uncle Ira ISN'T Uncle Ira!" From this cautious "leap" off the 10 meter board comes a dizzying plunge into terror that becomes classic exploration of ARCHETYPAL fear.

The Pod People are BOGYEMEN; "things that want to eat you up". Jack Finney has taken everyman's nightmare from the Id and coiled it into fearsome FLOWER POWER invasion from outer space where interplanetary parasites anti-incarnate themselves as deadly, non-human replicants. What are PODs...why are they...what is the essence of their Alien Will-to-Power? are themes that Jack Finney masterfully conjectures in a parable that asks ultimate questions: What constitutes humanity? What does it mean to be human? And is a truly HUMAN LIFE worth living and fighting for?

INVASION of the BODY SNATCHERS writing craft is light weight to the max. That its plot, again and again, stikes chords of sheer
terror is undeniable. In this Post-Modern age of genetic engineering; mass abortion; euthanasia; own-it or clone-it consumerism; is chlorophyll-less Pod Plant power more disturbing than "bloodless" DINK Yuppieism? Like our ENRON ubermenschen, I take the "Fifth". Jack Finney's terror tale doesn't. The POD PEOPLE are among us. As the third movie( BODY SNATCHERS)version declares in paranoid banshee wail:THE INVASION CONTINUES......

By now, almost everyone is familiar with the story of Jack Finney's classic science-fiction novel, 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', about alien pod-people invading a small town in California and making exact duplicates of it's citizens. And while the element of surprise about the plot may be lost on the viewer, the book still manages to be entertaining.

Finney's writing style is simple, and he never gets too indulged in specifics, making for a quick read. In fact, the pace of the book zips by pretty fast, so it's easy to get caught up in action. However, the course of events the novel takes never gets too complex, so it's fairly easy to understand the story. The characters themselves are likable, if not stereotypical of those of black and white TV sitcoms. Everyone has been in a situation where they were confused, so it's easy to identify with the characters.

What makes it all work is the way Finney incorporates suspense into the action, and it works wonderfully. The story essentially requires our hero to gradually come to realize what is going on, giving the book a feel of a good mystery novel. Finney effectively chooses to be very suggestive at key points in the book, letting the reading use his or her imagination to fill in the rest. The story itself poses many questions, some of which go unanswered. If you're a reader who doesn't like loose ends in their novels, the abrupt ending might not satisfy you. It's also important to note that this is not a graphic story... don't go in expecting slimy aliens or explicit violence. Finney is much more interested in creating an atmosphere of ambiguity. At many points in the story, you're never quite sure what direction the book is heading in.

What makes 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' so effective is that it taps into a common fear... paranoia. The idea of uncertainty doesn't sit well with most people. It's why children are so afraid of the dark or the monster that lives in the closet... our imagination often scares us out of our wits. 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' is a novel that understands that concept, and utilizes it to its fullest extent. Maybe that's why it has become an instantly recognizable part of pop-culture. Many times, what is suggested is much more frightening than anything that an author can write on a page.

I have always said that the movie is never as good as the book, but I may make an exception here. Finney's story 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' has been a favorite for many years. Everyone knows the story: people in a small California town are not what they seem to be. People are being replaced by some type of alien that looks and acts just like the real thing. Finney's original story is still gripping, suspense-filled reading fun, and I enjoyed it a lot. The edition I read had many references to the year being 1976 and not in the 1950's (when it was actually written). I wondered if Finney doctored the book a bit to make it fit the 1978 remake. If so, I wish he hadn't. The atmosphere and feel of the book are all out of the 50's...the 70's references are out of place.

In this case, I think the original 1956 film is slightly better. Some parts are different, many are similar, but the feel of the film probably made a better connection with film audiences of the 50's than the book did. I also think as far as the ending goes, less is better, which is what you get from the film. I thought the book explained a little too much, and for me, that took away part of the fun. Still, 'Invasion' the book still continues to be a science fiction favorite and deservedly so.

I read this book in a single sitting, it was so good! True, I am a lover of science fiction, but Finney's sharp and precise writing skills really appealed to me. The book is quite different from the 1978 movie, but just as good. Two times whilst reading, my blood was chilled by the unnerving descriptions. When Finney writes, he really gets into character, and the result is amazng. You can actually feel the creeping horror and desperation of the characters, which only adds to the suspense and makes the ending all the more marvelous. A truly great classic!

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS is one of those novels that have become part of popular culture. This is due more to the fact that three movie adaptations have been filmed (by Don Siegel in 1956, Philip Kaufman in 1978, and Abel Ferrara in 1993), than it has to do with the overall quality of the novel itself. Surprisingly, given the B-movie theme, INVASION remains quite an entertaining read.

The plot is far too well-known to bother repeating here. Suffice to say, people in a small town are being replaced with exact duplicates. Or are they? We all know the answer by now, but I won't ruin the surprise for those four people who don't know the ending.

I think the reason this works so well is that the story never stops moving. It propels the characters along, not pausing for more than a cursory examination of their backgrounds. Which makes it ideal fodder for a movie. It reminds me of Stephen King's self-review of his novel THE RUNNING MAN. It may not be perfect, or subtle, but it MOVES.

Granted, it is not perfect. Its examination of male/female relations seen slightly dated. The lead character makes conclusions that seem reasonable when you know the ending, but implausible when you don't.

But the sense of paranoia is very real. The slow death of the town is eerie and palpable (I wouldn't be surprised if King has reread INVASION several times before penning his own ode to the death of a small town, SALEM'S LOT). And the ending actually is surprising, for people only familiar with the movies. All three movies have different endings, but the original is one that couldn't be explained to satisfaction on film. It would seem too abrupt. On the page, however, it is quite surprising. Even logical, which is a rare commodity for stories these days.

INVASION is by no means a masterpiece of literature. But it is a fine example of pure storytelling.

I had quite a good time with this novel. Even though there are now thousands of books about alien invasion, the plot of this one still remains original. Due to the nature of the aliens, which are indeed transmissible vegetable parasites (but I won't tell you more about them ;) ), the story does not contain the slightest violence: no serious fight, no bloody killing, no catastrophe. However, suspense, anxiety, mystery are at the rendezvous. Just imagine indeed what psychosis it would generate if there was a mortal epidemic of some sort in your immediate surrounding, epidemic that would pervert the mind. Think about the people you cross everyday, including your own family. Are they really safe? Can you trust them? Don't they plan to contaminate you? On the other hand, you can't eternally confine yourself at home. So, what can you do? It's exactly what the inhabitants of Mill Valley are confronted to, except that a very few of them will hazily suspect the nature of the epidemic; for the others, it will be too late. There are a lot of notable passages in this book. For instance, when Jack reads to Miles (the hero) and their wives his collection of newspaper clippings, all related to irrational events, it gives you the creeps, especially if you are still vividly aware of the context. It's crazy to see how this sequence adds to the malaise, even if the articles have nothing to do with their situation. Ahh, and the final face to face encounter in chapter 17 between Miles and the psychiatrist Mannie, then contaminated and no longer the same we knew at the beginning of the novel. I remember that fine piece of eloquence and philosophy: Miles still doesn't understand why the vegetables, the "pollen" in fact, came from so far away to poison terrestrial life and Mannie, softly, quietly, gives him a long but memorable speech in answer. I'd so much like to reproduce an extract of his words but late Mr Finney's editor would probably resent it -damn good old copyright ;) Beyond that, the author has a very good sense of humor. His character Jack Belicec is all but a self-caricature and he takes benefit of the opportunity to make self-publicity, his previous book "Time and Again" is even quoted! Don't worry, it spoils nothing. These were the positive points. Now, I confess 2 trifles prevents me from giving 5 stars. First, I think that sometimes Miles is too smart a hero. He figures things out a little too fast and unfortunately, I caught myself saying "Mmm... he's too smart to be true." Second, Jack Finney's conception of man and woman relationship flirts a little with machismo, i.e the man is always acting and the woman is always screaming or crying, you known, that sort of thing. It's undoubtedly worthy of the 50's but this conception got old so badly that it has become a misconception so... Well, anyway, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is rather a good book, easy to read and pleasant. You can go ahead :)

This thrilling sci-fi book is full of suspense. The entire plot is eerie and once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down. There are pods and blanks and things that will boggle your mind. This book may even give you nightmares. You should really read this book. It's a page turner and great summer reading.