The Host (novel)
 Front cover of The Host | |
| Author | Stephenie Meyer |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science Fiction, Romance |
| Publisher | Little, Brown & Company (Adult) |
Publication date | May 06, 2008 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 624 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-316-16017-2 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
The Host is a science fiction/romance novel by Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series. The Host was released on May 6, 2008.[1] However, an international version of the novel was released on April 2 2008 in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and Hong Kong by the UK publishing division.[2] The prologue and the fourth chapter of the book can be found on Meyer's official website.[3]
Plot summary
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love. A lot of the plot is focused after they find 'wild humans' some of which Melanie knows...
Characters
Melanie - the original body, she has a fierce love for Jamie, her brother, and Jared, the man who she loves. This determination to ensure that they are alive, is the factor spurring her to stay alive, and not cease to live anymore. Mel is a fiesty character who will easily jump to violence if she needs to.
The Wanderer - The Wanderer or Wanda, is a very pure being. She can not lie without people realising, and shows compassion to everything, regardless of her own safety. Due to the frequent memories played in her head by Melanie, she begins to love Jared and Jamie; making her willing to find them. A lot of the humans are not inclined to trust Wanda, especially Sharon, Maggie and Kyle.
Jared - The main love interest, a beautiful strong man. Often seen as 'the miracle' within the human community. He hates Wanda, frequently calling her 'it' but their relationship develops and he begins to see her as a being rather than a body stealing alien.
Ian- One of the humans who befriends Wanderer and later falls in love with her. Ian is the volatile Kyle's brother and originally despised Wanderer. As he gets to know her, he soon realizes that even though she is not technically human, she is every bit as much a person as any of the actual humans. He is incredibly protective of her and kind in general; Wanderer states that Ian is the kindest human she's ever known, almost kind enough to be a Soul. (Souls are naturally good, completely honest, and compassionate.) Wanderer suffers many conflicting emotions about Ian; though she admires him she has trouble realizing to what extent these feelings are due to Melanie's (and therefore her body's) disgusted reaction to any man who is not Jared. Eventually 'Wanda' comes to recognize Ian as her true partner, an agonizing realization due to the fact he is not of 'her species' ('Eight full lives and I never found anyone I could stay on a planet for, anyone I would follow when they left. I never found a partner. Why Now? Why You? You're not of my species. How can you be my partner?'), coupled with the fact Melanie's body is unable to love Ian the way Wanda's soul desires.
Jamie - Jamie is incredibly close to Melanie due to all the time they've been running together, so when she returns but with the Wanderer's soul inside her, he immediately accepts it. Jamie is one of the first people to understand that Mel is still active within Wanda's mind too.
The Seeker - the main antagonist in the book; a volatile being, who has a tendancy to irritate most people around her. Unlike most of the aliens, she is not a peaceful soul so when Wanderer leaves, she will not take it lightly, and hunts her down.
Petals Open To The Moon - A former night flower, Petals Open To The Moon, or "Pet" is kiddnapped by Jamie, Jared, and Melanie, and her body is used as a new host for Wanderer after she leaves Melanie.
Jeb- Melanie's uncle, who is said to be crazy, but is also extremely insightful. He is the only one who had it in him to be polite to Wanderer at the beginning Jeb-
References
- ^ "StephenieMeyer.com:The Host". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- ^ Twilight Lexicon | The Host in multiple forms
- ^ The Host excerpt
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