The Body Snatchers

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Houdini

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2014
295
1,418
USA
I recently just finished reading Jack Finney's book "The Body Snatchers" not to be confused with Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Body Snatcher" which is a great stand alone short story.

If you were to ask me what movie scared me the most when growing up it was no contest "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" a black and white film from 1955 (I also just acquired a DVD copy of the movie). Funny how the book title has suddenly morphed to the movie title. I remember going home and trying to sleep while checking the garden every 5 minutes to make sure no big pods were growing outside my window. Nothing bad can happen...as long as you stay awake muh-ha-ha-ha.

Actually the book does differ from the movie storyline in several very important aspects but I don't want to spoil the book for anyBODY :)

Houdini in Omaha
 

Blobb

Member
Aug 18, 2015
6
28
Germany
I just snapped the book, in German it's stupidly named "Invisible Parasites". Hope to get an exciting afternoon, despite I already saw several movies incl. "Invasion" with Nicole Kidman (not the worst of all, I think) ;)
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I recently just finished reading Jack Finney's book "The Body Snatchers" not to be confused with Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Body Snatcher" which is a great stand alone short story.

If you were to ask me what movie scared me the most when growing up it was no contest "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" a black and white film from 1955 (I also just acquired a DVD copy of the movie). Funny how the book title has suddenly morphed to the movie title. I remember going home and trying to sleep while checking the garden every 5 minutes to make sure no big pods were growing outside my window. Nothing bad can happen...as long as you stay awake muh-ha-ha-ha.

Actually the book does differ from the movie storyline in several very important aspects but I don't want to spoil the book for anyBODY :)

Houdini in Omaha
The Body Snatchers is one of my favorite novels because I think it was a breakthrough science fiction idea very well told. It's really creepy and scary. The original movie is fairly faithful to the story. I prefer the book's ending to the movie's, though. I personally don't care much for subsequent versions except for the 1993 one titled Body Snatchers, though that one has nothing much to do with the original story.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
The Body Snatchers is one of my favorite novels because I think it was a breakthrough science fiction idea very well told. It's really creepy and scary. The original movie is fairly faithful to the story. I prefer the book's ending to the movie's, though. I personally don't care much for subsequent versions except for the 1993 one titled Body Snatchers, though that one has nothing much to do with the original story.
I didn't know it was a book. Cool. Is Finney the guy who wrote Time and Again?
 
  • Like
Reactions: blunthead

sam peebles

Well-Known Member
Sep 17, 2008
2,080
509
Massachusetts
The Body Snatchers is one of my favorite novels because I think it was a breakthrough science fiction idea very well told. It's really creepy and scary. The original movie is fairly faithful to the story. I prefer the book's ending to the movie's, though. I personally don't care much for subsequent versions except for the 1993 one titled Body Snatchers, though that one has nothing much to do with the original story.

I've never read The Body Snatchers, so I'm unsure how similar they really are, but the Puppet Masters was actually published three years prior to The Body Snatchers.

My impression is that The Body Snatchers is more horror and noirish in its tone, whereas Puppet Masters is more science-fiction and military-focused. Still...without having read both, I'm unable to level any educated comparison.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blunthead

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I've never read The Body Snatchers, so I'm unsure how similar they really are, but the Puppet Masters was actually published three years prior to The Body Snatchers.

My impression is that The Body Snatchers is more horror and noirish in its tone, whereas Puppet Masters is more science-fiction and military-focused. Still...without having read both, I'm unable to level any educated comparison.
I haven't read Puppet Masters, but it sounds intriguing. I'd say The Body Snatchers is horror-scifi (you could say as opposed to scifi-horror).
 
  • Like
Reactions: sam peebles

sam peebles

Well-Known Member
Sep 17, 2008
2,080
509
Massachusetts
I haven't read Puppet Masters, but it sounds intriguing. I'd say The Body Snatchers is horror-scifi (you could say as opposed to scifi-horror).

Yeah, it's been a few years, but I don't recollect much horror in Puppet Masters. Sure, the idea of slug-like parasites controlling your body is disturbing, but it never seemed to focus much on the emotions involved with such a trespass. I remember it as fast-paced, with the main character a secret government agent trying to combat the invasion.

More like Michael Crichton and less like Stephen King, I guess.

I would still highly recommend it, as I loved it, and it's not heavy on the science either. I've looked for The Body Snatchers in the past but it seems like my local bookstores never have a copy of it (that and the damned Day of the Triffids!). Looks like I'll be reduced to Amazon...
 
  • Like
Reactions: blunthead

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Yeah, it's been a few years, but I don't recollect much horror in Puppet Masters. Sure, the idea of slug-like parasites controlling your body is disturbing, but it never seemed to focus much on the emotions involved with such a trespass. I remember it as fast-paced, with the main character a secret government agent trying to combat the invasion.

More like Michael Crichton and less like Stephen King, I guess.

I would still highly recommend it, as I loved it, and it's not heavy on the science either. I've looked for The Body Snatchers in the past but it seems like my local bookstores never have a copy of it (that and the damned Day of the Triffids!). Looks like I'll be reduced to Amazon...
I usually use Half.com.The prices are the best, including s/h costs. The only thing is to make sure you avoid doing business with someone whose feedback is less than 99.5.

Half.com: Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney (1989, Paperback)(9780671682118): Jack Finney: Books

I'm not finding a good deal at Half.com for Day of the Triffids.