Book review: Stephanie Meyer's 'The Host' a science fiction rush

By Seili Lewis

February 25, 2008 | The Host by Stephenie Meyer is due to be released May 6, but I managed to get ahold of an advance copy of the book.

I read the book as quickly as I read Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. It was a total rush and a different genre from the vampire love story. It's an exciting battle between humans and an invading species of "peace"-loving aliens.

The Host is an alien science fiction that is very human. The main character is a galactic spirit named Wanderer. Her species has traveled from world to world conquering one planet after another by taking over the host bodies of the reigning intelligent species of the planet.

One of the many drawbacks of taking the body of a host species is that Wanderer and her people experience the memories and emotions of their host.

"How did anyone survive this world, with these bodies whose memories wouldn't stay in the past where they should? With these emotions that were so strong I couldn't tell what I felt anymore?"

Another unexpected drawback to this host species is that not all of them go away quietly into their minds and disappear.

Melanie Stryder, a headstrong human, was chosen as host for Wanderer. Wanderer soon discovered that Melanie had no intentions of going away, and it was becoming increasingly harder to be like everyone else because of the hostile host.

Often times it becomes hard for the two to discern what they think and feel as individuals as they grow to be one, in more than just physically being in the same body.

"I woke up covered in sweat. Even before I was all the way awake, my fingers were on the back of my neck, tracing the short line left from the insertion. I could barely detect the faint pink blemish with my fingertips. The medicines the Healer had used had done their job."

MS
MS