Alien Influences

by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Book Overview

Disaster has devastated the small band of humans inhabiting Bountiful, an ironically named, sun-scorched planet. Six children are found dead--murdered inexplicably by the colony's eight surviving... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553569988
• ISBN13: 9780553569988
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Spectra Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Alien Influences

This is the best book I've ever read. Descriptions were strikingly vivid and characters were excellently written and very human. The interesting and original plot kept me reading. I could not put it down!

Another winner

A book that surprised me, from an author I have never read. A story told from multiple points of view, it reminded me of the style used in the film 'Pulp Fiction', through a large period of time. The author uses different character narration to examine one pivotal event in the book. This book is really a mystery. After every chapter it had me asking what the hell is going on and what is going to happen next. I didn't find any weaknesses in this book. A well told-story from start to finish. No wonder it was nominated for so many awards. I'm surprised it didn't win any. I highly recommend this one.

Terrific, thought-provoking

This beautifully-written book haunted me long after I read it. Although I didn't realise it as I was reading it (call me slow or call Rusch subtle), this book is actually about child abuse and the ways in which children cope with it, minimise it, forget it, internalise it, fight it. It is also about what happens when adults intervene (or don't). I have read others of Rusch's books; this is her best.

Alien Influences offers disturbingly human characters

This novel is a wonderful and absorbing read. The characters - some of whom are half-altered because of "Alien Influence" - never really convince the reader they are all good or all bad - in other words, they are quite human. It reads a bit like the several short stories patched together that were its original form, but is a great rainy day book none-the-less. Ms.Rusch did such a good job keeping me intriegued with the personalities of these characters, though, that I ran out and bought some of her other books.

Fabulous!

One of the best books I've read in a long time. . . somewhat slow getting started, the story soon takes off and turns into a brillant piece of fiction.