Stephenie Meyer’s THE HOST is the story of Wanderer–a member of an alien species, known as “souls,” who are fast taking over the Earth. The aliens are implanted inside human hosts, thereby taking over the body and displacing the human who had lived in it. Wanderer is implanted in the body of Melanie Stryder–a young woman who had chosen to attempt suicide rather than have her body taken over by the aliens.
Wanderer, a legend among her species, soon finds that Melanie has no intention of being displaced. Melanie refuses to fade away. She remains entrenched, while trying to prevent Wanderer’s excursions into her memories. The stakes are high. Wanderer is being pressured to reveal the location of any other surviving humans. Melanie is desperate to prevent Wanderer from discovering the existence of two people: Jaimie, her adored brother and Jared, the man she is in love with.
When Wanderer starts finding her way into Melanie’s most secret memories, Melanie decides that her only hope is making Wanderer love her guys as powerfully as she does, so she unleashes all her memories of love into Wanderer’s mind–with world-altering consequences.
For those of you who haven’t read it yet I don’t want to go into the plot any further than that. For what it’s worth, I was unable to put the book down, and wandered around quite sleep-deprived until I finished it. I strongly recommend it. And you might find a box of tissues kept close at hand quite useful, too.
But does this book, which has been on the NEW YORK TIMES Best Seller list for several months, qualify as Science Fiction Romance? There’s no doubt that it qualifies as science fiction (albeit that is being marketed as, “science fiction for people who don’t like science fiction.”) But does it equally qualify as a romance novel?
According to Wikipedia: “Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.”
Without giving away too much of the ending I have to say that yes, this novel most definitely meets this definition. The entire plot is driven by the refusal of one woman to give up on love. The earlier scenes, as Melanie introduces Wanderer to the nature of her love for Jared, and her desperate longing for him, are among the best in the novel. In the end, the future of Earth and the survival of humanity come down to one thing–love. Oh yes–I know a romance novel when I read one.
So, if you’ll take my word that this is Science Fiction Romance, then I must ask the question: is THE HOST the first SFR blockbuster novel? Will the success of this novel encourage readers to explore the other offerings in our SFR world? Will publishers be more willing to take a chance on SFR submissions? Will current published SFR authors benefit? Or not?
And if you completely disagree that THE HOST is SFR, I’d love to hear your opinions. [Heather’s note: If we can have a spoiler-free discussion, that’d be appreciated]
Be seeing you!
Agent Z.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Stephenie Meyer’s THE HOST – Is It Science Fiction Romance?
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20 comments:
May I cut-and-paste this to YA Sci-Fi and link to Enduring Romance? I've had this one on my To-Be-Reviewed list for both and am afraid I won't be able to review in a timely manner.
I read this when it first came out and enjoyed it thoroughly. Now that you raise the question I can unequivicably say YES it is SFR. And a love triangle to boot. The SF elements were excellent, but the story was mostly character driven which was a plus.
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I'm confused -- is this post by Agent Z or Heather?
If this is SFR, where are washerboard abs with no heads?
This book is now one of my favorite books of all time and honestly, the best published this year. This is a book everyone can read and find something special inside.
And amazing and insightfully written book. Cannot wait for the next 2 in this series.
I think it surely is SFR and pretty soap opera SFR at that.
I enjoyed the book a lot, it was a fun read, but I also though it could have uses one more pass under an editor's knife and would have been a stronger book pared down a third or a quarter. I have not read any of Meyer's other books, vampires annoy me, so I can't speak to her writing style when she started out, but Host was full of sloppy writing deadwood - over reppepition of the same description, or phrases, telling-showing-telling again, that sort of thing. The sort of stuff thatwould have gotten someone seriously thumped in my critique group.
This seems to be a trend these days with big blockbuster writers, no one is curbing them in or editing them once they get to be a household name.
I also think the plot of the book felt to me like it was lifted from Stargate. Wanderer is essensially a Tok'ra. It's a cool plot idea, one of my fav, and does set up some fun interpersonal tension, but it's not all that original.
If the main plot involves a love story, I'd say it's SFR.
I'd love to see the genre take off as I'm writing my first ever sci-fi romance, that I hope to develop into a triology.
What is your definition of 'blockbuster'? There certainly is alot of talk about The Host amongst several different genre readers. What about Collins' Hunger Games (YA which I've yet to read but I've been told it is SFR), Bujold's Civil Campaign (SF), Hamilton's Anita Blake series (urban fantasy - ongoing romance)? Are the sales larger for The Host than any other SFR?
I can certainly hope that the success of The Host will encourage more readers for SFR. As to publishers, I'm not as optimistic. IMO, SF publishers just seem to have a knee-jerk reaction to the word romance and it's not a good one. (Reminds me of when you had to change your name to male just so you could be published in SF.) I see the word love used in SF blurbs, but I don't know if it is going to be a 'love story' or a romance like your cited definition.
If I were going to submit a manuscript for SFR consideration, I'm not too sure I would use the word romance in my pitch. Maybe J.L. Lichtenberg's phraze of 'intimate adventure' would be better.
>If this is SFR, where are washerboard abs with no heads?
goodness only knows, lol!
Hi, SciFi Guy! Looks like I need to add Meyer's name to my author list, eh?
Inky, I appreciate your effort very much!
Lisa, this is by Agent Z. I just added the note 'cause I'm sensitive to spoilers.
Katiebabs, thanks for your input!
Mfitz, I hear ya.
Susan, thanks for visiting! Best of luck with your project. Keep me posted.
Vicky, hello and glad you could visit. I'll defer your question to Z; I'm sure she'll swing by later.
Regarding pitching an SFR story, I think a lot has to do with where on the SF-Romance spectrum the book falls as well as who is being pitched. Writers may have to spin the same story differently depending on the agent/editor.
Mainly, publishing folks want to know where it would be shelved, and as far as brick and mortar stores are concerned, that's either Romance or SF/F. I'm not sure how much they take into account online venues where it's a matter of searching by keywords. ??
I definitely agree that this is SFR. Definitely. All the ear-markings. Disregarding sales numbers, biggest difference between this and other SFR? Marketing and Shelf location. Period.
Vicky, I think the other books you mentioned, especially the Anita Blake series, aren't SFR. Hamilton's books in particular aren't Romance. Anita Blake doesn't have her romantic HEA to date, that I've heard of anyway. And I could be wrong, but I don't think the other books mentioned have spent as much time on the NYT best seller list. I haven't read them, so I don't know about the Romance side. So, in the end, is it the biggest selling SFR ever? I can't think of any other that might compete against it.
I didn't read The Host, I listened to it in unabridged audio book, so maybe I had a different perspective than some. Still, it sounded like Romance to me. :)
Hi, Ella! Seeing as the vote is unanimous so far, I went ahead and added Meyer to the Author list here. I've got some other names to add as well so look for them soon.
kimber an - go for it. I'd be honored to have my piece on those sites.
Re: the headless abs. I really like the cover to 'The Host.' It's intriguing and beautiful, but not at all sexy. Makes me wonder if the marketing departments (or whoever) that decides the man titty covers need to try a little harder and come up with more creative ideas.
katiebabs - I'll read the sequels, but I would have been happy with a stand alone.
mftz - you make some good points. I don't think it needed as harsh as edit as you are suggesting. One of the things that made me want to read this book was that it was a hefty book. I love a big story. It made me wonder what other SFR authors would do with that kind of freedom with word count.
I've read a few criticisms, similar to yours, of Meyer's writing style. I can honestly say I didn't even notice. I was sucked right into the story and carried along. I didn't even notice the writing.
I haven't read any of her other stuff. I'm not a big fan of vamps, either. Maybe Meyer's is a natural story teller vs. a skilled writer?
Re: the plot. I've come across similar plotlines quite a few times before. You are absolutely right that it's not an original idea. But I give her props for her very fresh take.
Vicky W. - Hmmm. My definition of blockbuster is 20+ weeks on the bestseller lists, but there's probably a better definition than that.
I'm looking forward to reading The Hunger Games." It sounds (again) like a fresh twist on a plotline I've come across before.
Thanks for reading, everyone. And thanks, Heather, for providing me with a venue for my musings.
I'm really hoping that 'The Host' turns out to be the gateway read for a large crop of readers who love the melding of SF and Romance.
Be seeing you!
Agent Z.
Good review Agent Z. I find the ancestory of stories to be fascinating. Sherrilyn Kenyon has stolen from Greek Mythology, and done a great job of it. Christine Feehan has gone with the Wiccan tradition in her Drake Sisters. Robin Owens has used the Celtic tradition. Does anyone have an idea of Stephanie Meyers' well spring? Any other authors who have interesting backgrounds for their stories? Alright, I'm an analytical geek. I know it.
Having read this book a while ago and recommended it to my daughter as a science fiction romance I guess I agree with you :D
It's certainly a great story that is character driven and intense.
I'm late to the discussion, but I read The Host last summer after reading Stephenie Meyer's first 3 books in the Twilight series. I think she is a natural story-teller. I actually liked the Twilight stories better than The Host (until the 4th book-I didn't like the concluding book as well as the 1st three in the series.)
I gave The Host to my sister to read and she really liked it. I think for her it was SFR, but because the setting is Earth, it is easier to relate to and doesn't have the feel of what many people consider to be traditional SF.
Stephenie Meyers has an excellent web site. She goes into detail as to the origin of her Twilight books, but I don't recall reading a source for The Host. I also didn't know there was a plan for any sequels. I know the story has the potential for sequels. Anybody know the source for that information?
Hi, Ilona, and thanks for your thoughts!
Patty, thanks for stopping by! And I'll take converts to SFR any way I can get them!
I did a brief search regarding sequels, and according to The Host entry at Wikipedia:
"Stephenie Meyer has stated a sequel to The Host is "almost done" as of March 2008.[7] She stated in an interview that, if published, the first sequel would be entitled The Soul and the second The Seeker"
Hope that helps!
I have just finished reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it yes it is sci-fi more so i would say than romance, yet again a fantastic story from Stephanie Meyer, I laughed and I cried........whens the sequel coming!!!!!
Rebecca, thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts about the book!
When I started this book, I was unimpressed. Then, as someone has already stated, I got sucked in! Definitely a SFR. Except for all the tears I cried, I *definitely* enjoyed this book. Ok. I enjoyed it partly *because* it drew the emotions that *caused* the tears. *g* I must admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as the Twilight series, but enjoy it I did. Thanks to Ms. Meyers for another fasinating take on a familiar subject!
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