The Host!!!

[Alcyone]

May 1, 2008, Stephenie Meyer's first novel for adults will be released.

From StephenieMeyer.com

The Host takes place after a bodysnatchers-style invasion of the earth. We (the humans) lost. Our narrator is Wanderer, one of the invading "souls," who struggles to navigate all the bewildering challenges that come with living inside a human body. She was forewarned about these challenges - the overwhelming emotions, the stunning physical responses, the glut of senses, the too vivid dreams and memories... However, there was one challenge Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body, human survivor Melanie Stryder, refuses to fade away into oblivion the way she should. Melanie lingers as an angry presence in Wanderer's head, holding on to her human secrets and filling Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves -- Jared, another human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for the man she's never met. Outside forces combine to make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, and, working together, they set off to search for the man they both love. It's possibly the first love triangle that only involves two bodies.

Discuss the novel, theories and whatnot here.

For anyone interested, I made a The Host website where we have all the information, message boards and a chat. Just click my banner or link is this one: www.thehostindex.net

[LiquidTopaz]

Oh, um, my name is Melanie. What a coincidence....

[Alcyone]

liquidtopaz said:

Oh, um, my name is Melanie. What a coincidence....

lol My name was also featured in Twilight. I was happy though I'd have been happier if it had been one of the Volturi.

What do you think about the body-snatchers? Do they need a body to live, like parasites? Or is it just so they can have use of the senses and emotions?

[LiquidTopaz]

They sound like parasies to me. Maybe they can even occupy animal bodies, but find human ones more comfortable or suitable. What do you think?

Alcyone, which character were you named after? That's not the only coincidence, my birthstone is Topaz.

[Alcyone]

I vote parasitic beings. But something about the summary makes me think they don't start off inside a host. That they're trained to do so.

(Emily. Oh the irony to be named after a werewolf)

[LiquidTopaz]

(Emily is my grandma's name and my sister's middle name!)

I agree with you. Maybe they use up the current body that they are in then move on to the next?

[WaruiUsagi]

The body snatchers sound awesome! Though I have to wonder if, because the story is being told from Wanderer's POV, is she the bad guy because they've invaded earth? I wonder if we'll end up liking Wanderer, I think is my point, even if she is "the bad guy". Melanie sounds like a fiery character as well. I can't wait to see what the internal struggle between the two of them will be like. Woohoo!

[Alcyone]

We have several discssions already going at the Index's forums. You can go check those out for what people are thinking.

For now, we're considering that either Melanie is stronger than expected or Wanderer screwed up somewhre--or both. From the summary, it seems lik they invade the host quite some time after they've been born, created, whatever so it could be that Wanderer never learned correctly and that's why Melanie is still there.

[LiquidTopaz]

Mmm...I wonder if Jared will in the end love Wanderer more than Melanie? If they manage to find him, what will he think of the "new" Melanie?

[WaruiUsagi]

I just pre-ordered it from Amazon! Lord knows how long it's going to take to come to Australia and I'll be d**ned if I have to wait that long!

[Alcyone]

New official date for The Host: May 6, 2008. And you can pre-order signed copies at the Changing Hands bookstore website.