In the town of Haven, Maine, fiction writer Bobbi Anderson discovers a metallic object buried in the earth behind her house. As she unearths the massive, ancient spacecraft, it begins emitting a specialized radiation that alters the biology and intellect of the local residents. The townspeople undergo a physical transition, gaining the ability to build advanced telepathic technology out of household appliances while losing their individual morality and human empathy. Jim Gardener, an alcoholic poet with a metal plate in his head that shields him from the ship’s influence, becomes the lone witness to the town’s descent into a collective, alien hive mind.
Horror fans and readers of science fiction read this book for its depiction of technological addiction and the erosion of local community. It appeals to those interested in the psychological effects of obsessional labor and the loss of autonomy. The reader finishes the story with a clinical understanding of how external influences can strip away personality, leaving behind a cold, efficient intelligence. It provides a detailed look at the physical toll of chemical and psychological possession within a small-scale social ecosystem.
Escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1985
- Language
- EN
Quotes by Stephen King
More →Books are a uniquely portable magic.
On Writing
The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.
The Body
