What do you think?
Rate this book
Needle #1
Needle
The Hunter and his quarry raced through space—when suddenly both ships crashed head on into one of the oceans of earth!
Both the Hunter and his quarry were symbiotes—creatures who had to live within the body of another organism.
When the Hunter emerged from his wreck of a ship, he soon realized that a man of earth would make a suitable host. It became obvious, too, that his quarry had already selected his host—but which human being.
Then the Hunter found an excellent host in the person of young and intelligent Robert Kinnaird. He made his presence known and, in return for some clever suggestions and help with his search, he helped Robert with his problems. There follows an exciting, excellently wrought, and—you will agree—absolutely unique chase and deduction story. Tense, dramatic, and humorous, too, it's a top-drawer tale of scientific ingenuity. — From the dust jacket
Originally published in Astounding Science Fiction. Also published as From Outer Space, followed by a sequel: Through the Eye of a Needle
Both the Hunter and his quarry were symbiotes—creatures who had to live within the body of another organism.
When the Hunter emerged from his wreck of a ship, he soon realized that a man of earth would make a suitable host. It became obvious, too, that his quarry had already selected his host—but which human being.
Then the Hunter found an excellent host in the person of young and intelligent Robert Kinnaird. He made his presence known and, in return for some clever suggestions and help with his search, he helped Robert with his problems. There follows an exciting, excellently wrought, and—you will agree—absolutely unique chase and deduction story. Tense, dramatic, and humorous, too, it's a top-drawer tale of scientific ingenuity. — From the dust jacket
Originally published in Astounding Science Fiction. Also published as From Outer Space, followed by a sequel: Through the Eye of a Needle
222 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1950
16 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Hal Clement
178 books115 followersHarry Clement Stubbs better known by the pen name
Hal Clement
, was an American science fiction writer and a leader of the hard science fiction subgenre.
Further details at Wikipedia.
Further details at Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 20, 2011
My second experience with Hal Clement left me feeling exactly like the first...impressed by the scientific detail and marvelous concepts and drowsy and disappointed by a story with the pulse and energy of a week-old corpse.
This one ended up really yanking my happy out because it started off so well. An alien copper (known as the Hunter) crash lands on Earth in pursuit of an alien criminal. Both Hunter and hunted are blobs of sentient protoplasm that hook up with other life forms in order to carry out physical tasks. The Hunter’s race has strict rules against causing any harm to their host and this book was notable for being among the first to portray a beneficial alien symbiote….golf clap….golf clap….
The first 50 to 60 pages of the book are wonderful as Clement straps on his superior science skills and describes in intricate and credible detail the process of our blobby T.J. Hooker (no Shatner jokes please) crash landing in the ocean, joining with a passing shark and making his way to shore where he eventually melds with 15 year old Bob Kinnaird.
This was really terrific stuff and had me thinking I was in for something really special.
Unfortunately, the book had another 175 pages to go and the story just nose dives like a kamikaze into monotony, boredom and flaming shards of MEH. Clement, while staying true to his inner science geek, neglects telling an engaging story or even developing a likeable character. There was nothing riveting or suspenseful or even interesting in the final 3 quarters of the book and I found my eyes getting heavier and heavier…
I had a very similar experience when I read Clement’s most famous novel, Mission of Gravity, although I enjoyed that one more because the science fiction element and concepts explored were so novel and well done that the lack of interesting plot was less damaging to the overall experience. Not so here as I found nothing but tedium beyond the original premise which was not “oh WOW” enough to save this one. Thus, despite competent writing, the characters are dull and lifeless, the bad guy inspires zero angst and the story just plods along at gimpy snails pace towards what passes for a big finale.
As for the end, well let’s just say it was a limp noodle of a climax and did nothing add satisfaction to this bad situation.
Overall, Hal Clement was a great science guy and had some marvelous ideas but I have not been carried away by his stories and intend to take an indefinite hiatus from his work before seeking him out again.
2.0 stars.
This one ended up really yanking my happy out because it started off so well. An alien copper (known as the Hunter) crash lands on Earth in pursuit of an alien criminal. Both Hunter and hunted are blobs of sentient protoplasm that hook up with other life forms in order to carry out physical tasks. The Hunter’s race has strict rules against causing any harm to their host and this book was notable for being among the first to portray a beneficial alien symbiote….golf clap….golf clap….
The first 50 to 60 pages of the book are wonderful as Clement straps on his superior science skills and describes in intricate and credible detail the process of our blobby T.J. Hooker (no Shatner jokes please) crash landing in the ocean, joining with a passing shark and making his way to shore where he eventually melds with 15 year old Bob Kinnaird.
This was really terrific stuff and had me thinking I was in for something really special.
Unfortunately, the book had another 175 pages to go and the story just nose dives like a kamikaze into monotony, boredom and flaming shards of MEH. Clement, while staying true to his inner science geek, neglects telling an engaging story or even developing a likeable character. There was nothing riveting or suspenseful or even interesting in the final 3 quarters of the book and I found my eyes getting heavier and heavier…
I had a very similar experience when I read Clement’s most famous novel, Mission of Gravity, although I enjoyed that one more because the science fiction element and concepts explored were so novel and well done that the lack of interesting plot was less damaging to the overall experience. Not so here as I found nothing but tedium beyond the original premise which was not “oh WOW” enough to save this one. Thus, despite competent writing, the characters are dull and lifeless, the bad guy inspires zero angst and the story just plods along at gimpy snails pace towards what passes for a big finale.
As for the end, well let’s just say it was a limp noodle of a climax and did nothing add satisfaction to this bad situation.
Overall, Hal Clement was a great science guy and had some marvelous ideas but I have not been carried away by his stories and intend to take an indefinite hiatus from his work before seeking him out again.
2.0 stars.
December 17, 2020
Novela de 1950 de un autor, Hal Clement (1922-2003) considerado en la época como de la línea de CF “Hard”. Y además esta fue su primera novela.
Y fue novedosa porque aparece un extraterrestre simbionte y no hostil (que por la época habían sido malos malotes todos los anteriores). El ser en cuestión es una especie de ameba que se introduce en cualquier ser vivo y es capaz de interaccionar con él y comunicarse.
Bueno, que llamar a esto “Hard” a fecha de hoy no tiene mucho sentido. Es simple, sencilla, lineal y lo justo para entretener; nada extraño en una primera novela de un escritor nacido en 1923 y con 27 añitos cuando la escribió.
Recomendable como curiosidad sobre la CF de la época de Campbell o sobre el autor en cuestión, pero muy alejada de lo que gusta hoy. Por supuesto no hay ni romance, ni mujeres, ni distintos puntos de vista por capítulo, ni flashbacks, ni humor ni nada de eso. Modo narrador en tercera persona y diálogos para que el lector se entere bien.
Otra de sus novelas, “Misión de gravedad”, es considerada su mejor novela y más “Hard” ( y lo cierto es que está bien, al menos para rarunos amantes de CF). Y ya puestos, decir que me gustó más su novela de Ciclo de Fuego, en la que se encuentran un humano y un extraterrestre varados en un planeta extremo, tipo “Enemigo mío” pero escrita treinta años antes.
Y ya.
Y fue novedosa porque aparece un extraterrestre simbionte y no hostil (que por la época habían sido malos malotes todos los anteriores). El ser en cuestión es una especie de ameba que se introduce en cualquier ser vivo y es capaz de interaccionar con él y comunicarse.
Bueno, que llamar a esto “Hard” a fecha de hoy no tiene mucho sentido. Es simple, sencilla, lineal y lo justo para entretener; nada extraño en una primera novela de un escritor nacido en 1923 y con 27 añitos cuando la escribió.
Recomendable como curiosidad sobre la CF de la época de Campbell o sobre el autor en cuestión, pero muy alejada de lo que gusta hoy. Por supuesto no hay ni romance, ni mujeres, ni distintos puntos de vista por capítulo, ni flashbacks, ni humor ni nada de eso. Modo narrador en tercera persona y diálogos para que el lector se entere bien.
Otra de sus novelas, “Misión de gravedad”, es considerada su mejor novela y más “Hard” ( y lo cierto es que está bien, al menos para rarunos amantes de CF). Y ya puestos, decir que me gustó más su novela de Ciclo de Fuego, en la que se encuentran un humano y un extraterrestre varados en un planeta extremo, tipo “Enemigo mío” pero escrita treinta años antes.
Y ya.
May 17, 2020
After Mission of Gravity, Needle is Clement's best known book. It was first published in Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction in 1949; it would probably fall into the Y.A. category today. Unlike most of Clement's novels it's set on Earth, though much of it is in an undersea environment. The sciences examined are more biochemical than physical in nature, though, as always, Clement is always more interested in the scientific content than the characters. Though Needle has more humorous content than his later works, I don't think it holds up quite as well overall. It's essentially an alien detective story, with the young human protagonist serving as a symbiotic host. It's good old stuff, but more nostalgic than cutting-edge anymore.
September 3, 2017
Classic SF novel I haven't read since I was a teen. It stands up pretty well. Aliens who take other creatures as hosts end up on Earth--one a fleeing criminal, the other the detective (referred to only as the Hunter) tracking him down. The potentially problematic aspects of parasitism are addressed by making the aliens ethically bound not to harm their hosts in any way (the quarry being sought is a criminal precisely because he violates this prime directive when it benefits him to do so) and further downplayed by the equanimity with which the humans who do learn of the aliens deal with the idea of having a jellyfish-like creature take up residence in one's body. At a time when SF paranoia about parasitic aliens, or aliens indistinguishable from real humans (think Invasion of the Body Snatchers, written in 1954, The Puppet Masters, written in 1951, Fredric Brown's the Mind Thing, published in 1961 etc.), a book representing such a creature as potentially friendly was actually not merely anomalous bit almost subversive. Clement's optimism about the ability of profoundly different creatures to get along and work together is admirable.
The story itself is an engaging SF mystery, in which rather than focusing on the sort of science problems that tend to dominate his stories, Clement instead focuses on the problem of how one goes about finding a creature that can be hidden inside literally anyone--hence the title, as the search is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. The book still privileges reason and conforms to Clement's standard view of the universe as complex but fundamentally ultimately knowable if one simply applies rational analysis to any problem, but explicitly scientific problems are not as foregrounded as usual. Indeed, I was somewhat surprised that none of the future science of the novel (methods for producing hybridized plants that produce useful chemical compounds; the creation of impenetrable polymers--I was sure for a while that the bad alien was going to end up encased in this stuff-etc) ultimately served no plot purpose at all, with primal weapons (fire) and fears (the fear of being burned by fire) end up being enough to resolve matters.
Regardless, Clement crafts a narrative that manages to generate interest and drama despite its prosaic style. Clement's style is almost the absence of style, a matter-of-fact clarity of expression and analytical tendency governing even the most visceral moments, such as when our here, in whom the Hunter is residing, spears his leg badly on a branch. One does not read Clement for poetic language or complex emotional landscapes, but if you can admire a clearly-told tale about characters who ultimately fall back on the power of the mind as their most valuable asset, you can probably enjoy this novel.
The story itself is an engaging SF mystery, in which rather than focusing on the sort of science problems that tend to dominate his stories, Clement instead focuses on the problem of how one goes about finding a creature that can be hidden inside literally anyone--hence the title, as the search is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. The book still privileges reason and conforms to Clement's standard view of the universe as complex but fundamentally ultimately knowable if one simply applies rational analysis to any problem, but explicitly scientific problems are not as foregrounded as usual. Indeed, I was somewhat surprised that none of the future science of the novel (methods for producing hybridized plants that produce useful chemical compounds; the creation of impenetrable polymers--I was sure for a while that the bad alien was going to end up encased in this stuff-etc) ultimately served no plot purpose at all, with primal weapons (fire) and fears (the fear of being burned by fire) end up being enough to resolve matters.
Regardless, Clement crafts a narrative that manages to generate interest and drama despite its prosaic style. Clement's style is almost the absence of style, a matter-of-fact clarity of expression and analytical tendency governing even the most visceral moments, such as when our here, in whom the Hunter is residing, spears his leg badly on a branch. One does not read Clement for poetic language or complex emotional landscapes, but if you can admire a clearly-told tale about characters who ultimately fall back on the power of the mind as their most valuable asset, you can probably enjoy this novel.
September 11, 2011
Hal Clement had a fifty year career in sf and was made a Science Fiction Writer of America Grand Master in 1999.
Needle (1950) was his first published novel and it suffers the dubious fate of containing so many new sf elements that they have become standards of the medium over time. Two aliens, one good, one bad, crash onto Earth, The good alien, Hunter, is after the criminal alien and yes this is roughly the plot of Critters along with many lesser sf movies and books. Just the other night I decided not to watch something called Alien Hunter which I suspect had a similar plot.
These aliens are gelatinous beings that must find a host organism for survival. They exist cooperatively with their host, doing generally good things for its immune system and such, although they are also capable of killing it in a variety of ways. The good alien, Hunter, enters the body of a fifteen-year-old boy and is ready to track down his prey, but finds himself transported from the research island in the South Pacific where he landed to a boys boarding school in Massachusetts. Bob, the alien's host, gets on well with his new bodily resident and manages to leave school and return to the South Pacific so the hunt can proceed.
If published today, Needle would be YA fiction. It's dated. The world of Booth Tarkington is in its past, but the spirit of the Hardy Boys makes itself felt. Everyone rides bicycles, wears swimming outfits, and they organize their days around returning home in time for dinner. Various of Bob's friends are suspects, and clearing them of potential possession drags on for the middle third of the book. This gets a little boring. Also, I am not particularly good at this sort of thing, but I guessed where the bad alien was hiding out just by deciding which character would offer the biggest payoff for a finale.
Clement's strengths, as in Mission of Gravity, his only other novel I have read, is working with alien psychology, alien/human interaction, and those scenes where the alien acts like an alien. Clement returned to these characters almost thirty years later, and even as unengaging as I found much of this novel, I am curious to see what he does with them a second time around.
Needle (1950) was his first published novel and it suffers the dubious fate of containing so many new sf elements that they have become standards of the medium over time. Two aliens, one good, one bad, crash onto Earth, The good alien, Hunter, is after the criminal alien and yes this is roughly the plot of Critters along with many lesser sf movies and books. Just the other night I decided not to watch something called Alien Hunter which I suspect had a similar plot.
These aliens are gelatinous beings that must find a host organism for survival. They exist cooperatively with their host, doing generally good things for its immune system and such, although they are also capable of killing it in a variety of ways. The good alien, Hunter, enters the body of a fifteen-year-old boy and is ready to track down his prey, but finds himself transported from the research island in the South Pacific where he landed to a boys boarding school in Massachusetts. Bob, the alien's host, gets on well with his new bodily resident and manages to leave school and return to the South Pacific so the hunt can proceed.
If published today, Needle would be YA fiction. It's dated. The world of Booth Tarkington is in its past, but the spirit of the Hardy Boys makes itself felt. Everyone rides bicycles, wears swimming outfits, and they organize their days around returning home in time for dinner. Various of Bob's friends are suspects, and clearing them of potential possession drags on for the middle third of the book. This gets a little boring. Also, I am not particularly good at this sort of thing, but I guessed where the bad alien was hiding out just by deciding which character would offer the biggest payoff for a finale.
Clement's strengths, as in Mission of Gravity, his only other novel I have read, is working with alien psychology, alien/human interaction, and those scenes where the alien acts like an alien. Clement returned to these characters almost thirty years later, and even as unengaging as I found much of this novel, I am curious to see what he does with them a second time around.
August 26, 2018
Three and half stars.
About the plot, I only can say that it reminds me the great B movie "The Hidden". That is, alien simbionts, but this book can be considered juvenile literature (or young adult, more or less).
Correctly written, with the disaapassionate prose by Hal Clement, I think the author wants more to tell a story of "facts" than a enjoyable reading. But don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed this book and someday, if I have the time, I would read the two secuels.
About the plot, I only can say that it reminds me the great B movie "The Hidden". That is, alien simbionts, but this book can be considered juvenile literature (or young adult, more or less).
Correctly written, with the disaapassionate prose by Hal Clement, I think the author wants more to tell a story of "facts" than a enjoyable reading. But don't misunderstand me, I enjoyed this book and someday, if I have the time, I would read the two secuels.
September 5, 2023
Titulo: Persecucion cosmica (1949)
Autor: Hal Clement
Motivo de lectura: #buzzwordathon
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 2/5
Es la primera vez que leo a Hal Clement, y aunque admito que es un libro que podria entretener a cierta clase de lector, en mi caso eso no ocurrio.
La construccion de personajes tiene un nivel medio, no es ni excelente, pero tampoco diria en extremo pauperrimo. El tema es que ningun personaje resalta, y eso hace que al ir leyendo las interacciones entre los personajes se sienten planas y hasta por momentos algunas interacciones son aburridas.
La trama en un inicio la encontre novedosa/original (teniendo en cuenta que es un libro escrito en 1949), pero a medida que se avanza en el libro comienzan a aparecer las "soluciones magicas" que dejan ciertos huecos en la historia, se solucionan conflictos de manera muy simple o directamente quedan cabos sueltos.
Lamentablemente este libro no me gusto.
Autor: Hal Clement
Motivo de lectura: #buzzwordathon
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Mi edicion: Electronico
Puntuacion: 2/5
Es la primera vez que leo a Hal Clement, y aunque admito que es un libro que podria entretener a cierta clase de lector, en mi caso eso no ocurrio.
La construccion de personajes tiene un nivel medio, no es ni excelente, pero tampoco diria en extremo pauperrimo. El tema es que ningun personaje resalta, y eso hace que al ir leyendo las interacciones entre los personajes se sienten planas y hasta por momentos algunas interacciones son aburridas.
La trama en un inicio la encontre novedosa/original (teniendo en cuenta que es un libro escrito en 1949), pero a medida que se avanza en el libro comienzan a aparecer las "soluciones magicas" que dejan ciertos huecos en la historia, se solucionan conflictos de manera muy simple o directamente quedan cabos sueltos.
Lamentablemente este libro no me gusto.
October 31, 2009
Needle is Hal Clement's first novel first published in the May and June 1949 issues of the pulp magazine Astounding Science Fiction.
The book is wonderful example of a 1950's science fiction 'juvenile' in the best tradition of Robert Heinlein. It was a fun read and I could easily go into kid mode and identify with 15 year old Bob and his adventures with an alien who crashed on earth.
The book is wonderful example of a 1950's science fiction 'juvenile' in the best tradition of Robert Heinlein. It was a fun read and I could easily go into kid mode and identify with 15 year old Bob and his adventures with an alien who crashed on earth.
May 8, 2008
One of the Best Hal Clement 'juveniles' Needle tells the story of an alien creature that can live inside a human host--benignly, and from the alien's point of view much of the time. Very good read. Interesting and sharp. Could not put down!
July 31, 2025
CF dura pero juvenil, un combo interesante. La historia es como para adolescentes, pero el trasfondo cientifico riguroso a veces es demasiado incluso para adultos.
Me enganché varias veces y me aburrí otras. Me gustó el argumento; un alien con un cuerpo muy leve que se pone en simbiosis para vivir, aporta beneficios muy interesantes y a cambio pide ayuda con una investigación. Poco creíble, pero entretenido.Más breve hubiera sido mejor.
Me enganché varias veces y me aburrí otras. Me gustó el argumento; un alien con un cuerpo muy leve que se pone en simbiosis para vivir, aporta beneficios muy interesantes y a cambio pide ayuda con una investigación. Poco creíble, pero entretenido.Más breve hubiera sido mejor.
July 13, 2010
Needle is the second book by Hal Clement that I’ve read recently. I had to look hard to find it as it is no longer in print. I was actually inspired to read it by a review of Stephanie Meyer’s Host which I read late last year. Someone said this was much better. They were right.
In both books a human is taken over by an alien being. In one case the take over is against the will of the person. In the second the alien enlists the aid of it’s host. Stephanie Meyer covers the psychological aspects of the invasion and subsequent coexistence much better. But her book is written for adults. Hal Clement wrote his book for teenage boys. There is nary a sign of a teenage girl in the book. It was written in the late 40s.
What Hal Clement does so much better than Meyer is to justify everything that he is writing with plausible science. This is never a concern for Meyer. As in the earlier Clement book that I read, science is one of the main themes, almost a character.
I truly enjoyed this book. The plot is good; I was even misdirected towards the wrong suspect. And that was a pleasure. The solutions were ingenious, not self-evident. While I enjoyed both books, this was the better one from my perspective.
In both books a human is taken over by an alien being. In one case the take over is against the will of the person. In the second the alien enlists the aid of it’s host. Stephanie Meyer covers the psychological aspects of the invasion and subsequent coexistence much better. But her book is written for adults. Hal Clement wrote his book for teenage boys. There is nary a sign of a teenage girl in the book. It was written in the late 40s.
What Hal Clement does so much better than Meyer is to justify everything that he is writing with plausible science. This is never a concern for Meyer. As in the earlier Clement book that I read, science is one of the main themes, almost a character.
I truly enjoyed this book. The plot is good; I was even misdirected towards the wrong suspect. And that was a pleasure. The solutions were ingenious, not self-evident. While I enjoyed both books, this was the better one from my perspective.
September 27, 2010
After reading Cycle of Fire I went online and bought a few more of his books, and I'm pretty impressed. Very fun story, and I was really torn between 4 and 5 stars.
All of the sci-fi aspects with the Hunter were really great, and with a lot of scientific detail, but I feel like there was too much detail in the back story of wandering around the islands building boats, etc, and that part of it really didn't pull me in much.
Also, given the nature of what was going on, you never really saw much disbelief when he told his story to family and friends, which seems a bit off.
All of the sci-fi aspects with the Hunter were really great, and with a lot of scientific detail, but I feel like there was too much detail in the back story of wandering around the islands building boats, etc, and that part of it really didn't pull me in much.
Also, given the nature of what was going on, you never really saw much disbelief when he told his story to family and friends, which seems a bit off.
March 9, 2012
This story has an interesting premise--two aliens, a detective and the criminal he is chasing, crash land on earth. They are a symbiotic species who need a host to survive. The story is told from the perspective of the detective and the teenage boy who willingly becomes his host.
The book was published in 1950 and it shows. However, I actually enjoyed the simpleness of the story, it had a Hardy Boys feel to it that amused me.
The book was published in 1950 and it shows. However, I actually enjoyed the simpleness of the story, it had a Hardy Boys feel to it that amused me.
October 4, 2016
Un bel mix di fantascienza e poliziesco.
Abbastanza credibile nel complesso.
Perplime la facilità con cui tutti accettano la situazione.
Abbastanza credibile nel complesso.
Perplime la facilità con cui tutti accettano la situazione.
June 20, 2022
Needle by Hal Clement is a re-read for me, but the time I read it was so long ago I had almost no recall of the story. I do remember that I liked it so in that regard it kept its status. I really like Hal Clement's humor when he shows it.
During a high-speed (faster than light) chase a detective and the criminal he's chasing crash land on Earth. Both are stranded. These aliens are like large amoebas that require a "host" to live in. They have a mind but no bodies to speak of so they depend upon a symbiotic relationship to survive. The only names they've been given by Mr. Clement are Hunter and Quarry.
Hunter crashes into the ocean near an island that is close to and manages to absorb into a shark and he rides the shark to the island. As he looks for a likely host, he notices a group of teenagers playing on the beach, he remains hidden until they lay down and take a nap after eating a lunch brought by Bob Kinnaird's mother. The Hunter crawls up to Bob and absorbs himself into Bob through his feet.
Unfortunately for the Hunter Bob is scheduled to leave for school back in the states thousands of miles away.
The Hunter is a passive tenant riding inside Bob. It's when Hunter attempts to communicate with Bob that the first signs of humor are shown. Hunter attempts to speak using Bob's vocal chords and making his arms spasm. Bob has no idea what's happening and he's rushing to the school infirmary when he falls and cuts his arm badly. The Hunter immediately closes the wound and stops the bleeding. As Bob is examined the nurse uses alcohol to clean what looks to her to be a scratch. The second the alcohol touches the part of Hunter that has closed the wound, he retracts and immediately the blood comes freely. Finally, Hunter is able to convince Bob that he's not crazy and the search for the Quarry is on.
During a high-speed (faster than light) chase a detective and the criminal he's chasing crash land on Earth. Both are stranded. These aliens are like large amoebas that require a "host" to live in. They have a mind but no bodies to speak of so they depend upon a symbiotic relationship to survive. The only names they've been given by Mr. Clement are Hunter and Quarry.
Hunter crashes into the ocean near an island that is close to and manages to absorb into a shark and he rides the shark to the island. As he looks for a likely host, he notices a group of teenagers playing on the beach, he remains hidden until they lay down and take a nap after eating a lunch brought by Bob Kinnaird's mother. The Hunter crawls up to Bob and absorbs himself into Bob through his feet.
Unfortunately for the Hunter Bob is scheduled to leave for school back in the states thousands of miles away.
The Hunter is a passive tenant riding inside Bob. It's when Hunter attempts to communicate with Bob that the first signs of humor are shown. Hunter attempts to speak using Bob's vocal chords and making his arms spasm. Bob has no idea what's happening and he's rushing to the school infirmary when he falls and cuts his arm badly. The Hunter immediately closes the wound and stops the bleeding. As Bob is examined the nurse uses alcohol to clean what looks to her to be a scratch. The second the alcohol touches the part of Hunter that has closed the wound, he retracts and immediately the blood comes freely. Finally, Hunter is able to convince Bob that he's not crazy and the search for the Quarry is on.
November 18, 2025
I found an original copy of Needle from 1954 at Powell's Books and (as usual) couldn't resist picking it up. I have a weak spot for old books, and this one is in great shape, plus it smells delicious.
This is a classic hard sci-fi book in that it - sometimes myopically - focuses on one Big Idea, at times neglecting other aspects such as character development and context. At it's root this book is about an alien detective who's crash landed on Earth while chasing a fugitive, who teams up with a 15-year-old kid. This alien is a symbiote, so he uses his new friend as a host body as well. This book travels in a straight line from start to finish, with very little subtlety or focus on peripheral characters and settings. Even some major characters aren't given much personality (the main character's father, for example) in a way that gave me the sense that the author just didn't think it was necessary.
Overall, I found some real satisfaction in recognizing the bones of what science fiction has grown into in this book. This author takes the time to really flesh out his big idea of cohabiting a body with an alien who may or may not be friendly. While I wish this author has provided a bit more in the way of context and details for his characters and settings, I still enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and respect it for its place in the foundations of modern sci-fi. A twist somewhere wouldn't have gone amiss, but note the really cool idea for petroleum-producing microbes from way back in the '40s!
This is a classic hard sci-fi book in that it - sometimes myopically - focuses on one Big Idea, at times neglecting other aspects such as character development and context. At it's root this book is about an alien detective who's crash landed on Earth while chasing a fugitive, who teams up with a 15-year-old kid. This alien is a symbiote, so he uses his new friend as a host body as well. This book travels in a straight line from start to finish, with very little subtlety or focus on peripheral characters and settings. Even some major characters aren't given much personality (the main character's father, for example) in a way that gave me the sense that the author just didn't think it was necessary.
Overall, I found some real satisfaction in recognizing the bones of what science fiction has grown into in this book. This author takes the time to really flesh out his big idea of cohabiting a body with an alien who may or may not be friendly. While I wish this author has provided a bit more in the way of context and details for his characters and settings, I still enjoyed the uniqueness of this novel and respect it for its place in the foundations of modern sci-fi. A twist somewhere wouldn't have gone amiss, but note the really cool idea for petroleum-producing microbes from way back in the '40s!
March 25, 2020
Un buon romanzo d'avventura e fantascienza ambientato in qualche isola della Polinesia a un giorno e mezzo di barca da Tahiti. Oggi rientrerebbe negli YA. Mi è piaciuta particolarmente la tematica, l'ambientazione mentre la descrizione dei personaggi, a parte il principale, è scarna o comunque appena sufficiente. Buona l'idea del tipo di alieno, e della caccia al criminale, per come è impostata.
Secondo me un poco affrettato il finale, ma ci sta.
Secondo me un poco affrettato il finale, ma ci sta.
June 11, 2021
Simpatico, ma poco credibile.
July 31, 2025
3.5 estrellas en realidad
fue muy ameno y ligero de leer a pesar de las explicaciones cientificas y lo disfruté bastante.
fue muy ameno y ligero de leer a pesar de las explicaciones cientificas y lo disfruté bastante.
January 25, 2023
Audiobook
Definitely a little dated and thus inherently sexist. Occasionally a bit boring. A cross between a sci-fi novel and a 'Boys Own' manual. Could make an interesting film. It's a shame not was much made of the isolation likely to be felt by two aliens forever marooned.
Definitely a little dated and thus inherently sexist. Occasionally a bit boring. A cross between a sci-fi novel and a 'Boys Own' manual. Could make an interesting film. It's a shame not was much made of the isolation likely to be felt by two aliens forever marooned.
August 8, 2017
I was in a used book store, waiting for my companion to finish up their purchase, when I saw a table of sci-fi paperbacks and a sign reading $0.25 each. I grabbed a few by author names I recognized but do not have on my shelf, this one by Hal Clements was among them.
The book, Needle, hearkens back to 1949 and I had just been discussing original ideas and where they have gone over the years; was the derivative typically superior to the original? In reading Needle I found Hal Clements performed a far superior job of establishing the science portion of the SCI-FI than he did the Fi part but overall it was a great return to the simple stories that hooked me on reading as a boy.
A great read? Well, no, but certainly entertaining and with the typical 1050's Sci-Fi 'surprise' ending which, of course leaves you open for the possibilities of the next issue/episode/movie. "Wait wasn't there an egg that fell into the shaft before the bomb went off?" type of thing.
VERY typical of the period and therefore EXACTLY what I wanted it to be.
"THEY ARE AMONG US NOW
The Hunter: shape shifter, magical healer, and posse of one
who has joourneyed light years in search of the other.
The Fugitive: criminal and corruptor
of his distant civilization. But
to survive on Earth , they must
find 'host' human bodies-
willing or otherwise.
A PRESENCE WITHIN
Young Robert Kinnaird
knew something was terribly
wrong. his hands shook uncontrollably.
Inhuman groans came from his mouth. Then he knew
The Hunter was with him, guiding, protecting,
preparing him for the final confrontation. But once the
duel of possessed men began, it was not their alien mentors
that prevailed - it was the timeless struggle of courage and
fear, compassion and hatred for the domain of the human heart."
~Rear Book Cover Avon edition 5th printing of 1957 edition
"Imaginative, Ingenious" Kirkus Reviews
"A VERY GOOD STORY ... thoroughly original" SATURDAY REVIEW
The book, Needle, hearkens back to 1949 and I had just been discussing original ideas and where they have gone over the years; was the derivative typically superior to the original? In reading Needle I found Hal Clements performed a far superior job of establishing the science portion of the SCI-FI than he did the Fi part but overall it was a great return to the simple stories that hooked me on reading as a boy.
A great read? Well, no, but certainly entertaining and with the typical 1050's Sci-Fi 'surprise' ending which, of course leaves you open for the possibilities of the next issue/episode/movie. "Wait wasn't there an egg that fell into the shaft before the bomb went off?" type of thing.
VERY typical of the period and therefore EXACTLY what I wanted it to be.
"THEY ARE AMONG US NOW
The Hunter: shape shifter, magical healer, and posse of one
who has joourneyed light years in search of the other.
The Fugitive: criminal and corruptor
of his distant civilization. But
to survive on Earth , they must
find 'host' human bodies-
willing or otherwise.
A PRESENCE WITHIN
Young Robert Kinnaird
knew something was terribly
wrong. his hands shook uncontrollably.
Inhuman groans came from his mouth. Then he knew
The Hunter was with him, guiding, protecting,
preparing him for the final confrontation. But once the
duel of possessed men began, it was not their alien mentors
that prevailed - it was the timeless struggle of courage and
fear, compassion and hatred for the domain of the human heart."
~Rear Book Cover Avon edition 5th printing of 1957 edition
"Imaginative, Ingenious" Kirkus Reviews
"A VERY GOOD STORY ... thoroughly original" SATURDAY REVIEW
July 27, 2016
My brother was cleaning out his bookshelves in anticipation of his upcoming move, and so I "inherited" about 100 of his books. A nice haul all the way around and among them, were about 30-35 science fiction books, many from the so-called classical era. I haven't really read all that much of the older science fiction for many years now but have wanted to get back into it and thought this the perfect opportunity.
So this book was my first to read out of that whole collection from my brother. I had read one other Hal Clement book, Mission Of Gravity but that was at least 25 years ago. This one, I believe, was Mr, Clement's first published work, written in 1949. Unfortunately it shows. The book opened delightfully, with the nice hard science that the author is known for. A protoplasmic alien creature has crash landed on earth while chasing another of the same species who has committed some sort of crime. The "hunter" alien absorbs into a 15 year old boy and uses him to function and chase after the criminal alien. Yeah I know it sounds a bit hokey but the first 1/3rd of the book was quite riveting to see how the biology of the alien species worked. This was just the sort of hard science I was looking for. Unfortunately, the actual "story" took off from there and turned into a detective story that seemed aimed at younger readers, reminiscent of Heinlein's juveniles only not nearly as good.
The book spawned a sequel several years later, which I may read, but I may have to get through those other 99 books from my brother first.
So this book was my first to read out of that whole collection from my brother. I had read one other Hal Clement book, Mission Of Gravity but that was at least 25 years ago. This one, I believe, was Mr, Clement's first published work, written in 1949. Unfortunately it shows. The book opened delightfully, with the nice hard science that the author is known for. A protoplasmic alien creature has crash landed on earth while chasing another of the same species who has committed some sort of crime. The "hunter" alien absorbs into a 15 year old boy and uses him to function and chase after the criminal alien. Yeah I know it sounds a bit hokey but the first 1/3rd of the book was quite riveting to see how the biology of the alien species worked. This was just the sort of hard science I was looking for. Unfortunately, the actual "story" took off from there and turned into a detective story that seemed aimed at younger readers, reminiscent of Heinlein's juveniles only not nearly as good.
The book spawned a sequel several years later, which I may read, but I may have to get through those other 99 books from my brother first.
April 29, 2019
The concepts covered in this classic piece of hard science fiction are certainly worth thinking about, and the depiction of an alternate 1949 Earth where oil is grown rather than drilled for is compelling. But the real star of this story is the alien: Hunter is a unique character in science fiction. As a detective, he has a very specific skillset -- but as a castaway, he has almost no capability to use any of it, save for his thought processes. The resolution of this story is beautifully put together. This is a detective novel of the best sort: one where the reader can play along and figure out the mystery on their own if they're skilled enough, but it's by no means easy to do so. Very few mystery novels share this trait, especially when it comes to science fiction. Usually, in a scifi mystery, some fact is brought forth by the intervention of a technology the characters are aware of but the reader could not possibly have known in advance -- a prime example of deus ex machina if ever I saw it. But Hal Clement is fair with his reader, and the only background information you might require outside of what he gives you in the text is a cursory knowledge of science and humanity that any schoolchild should be able to claim.
This is well worth the read, even if Clement's writing sty;e does make the characters seem a bit flat. The strength of the story is not in the relationships (at which Clement only gets a passing grade), but in the mystery, the setting, and the unique alien biology. This should definitely be on your to-read list if you have any interest in science and scifi mysteries.
This is well worth the read, even if Clement's writing sty;e does make the characters seem a bit flat. The strength of the story is not in the relationships (at which Clement only gets a passing grade), but in the mystery, the setting, and the unique alien biology. This should definitely be on your to-read list if you have any interest in science and scifi mysteries.
June 26, 2014
‘The two ships raced in from outer space and crashed head-on into the Pacific Ocean.
One carried: THE HUNTER
The other: HIS QUARRY
corrupt, evil, a criminal from an unearthly civilisation light years away.
Both were unable to exist alone – both needed a ‘host’. a human body which they could invade and control…’
Blurb from the 1963 Corgi paperback edition
A gelatinous alien detective in pursuit of a gelatinous alien criminal crashes in earth’s sea just off the coast of a US island. The aliens are symbiotic by nature and would normally live within the body of a willing host, siphoning off some food and oxygen while helping to fight off disease and repair injuries.
The detective manages to invade the body of a teenage boy and realises he will have to communicate with his host in order to track down his prey, who is presumably concealed in another human body.
The boy is persuaded, once the alien has been able to make contact, to help track down the criminal and the two enlist the help of the local doctor to try and determine, by a process of deduction and elimination, where the alien might be hiding.
It’s a short and very satisfying read; a bit of a juvenile wish-fulfilment fantasy, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
There are some points of interest. Clement has set this tale in a near-future where bacteria have been genetically engineered to produce a clean form of crude oil. Much of the action is set in and around the oil refinery on the island where the boy’s father works.
One carried: THE HUNTER
The other: HIS QUARRY
corrupt, evil, a criminal from an unearthly civilisation light years away.
Both were unable to exist alone – both needed a ‘host’. a human body which they could invade and control…’
Blurb from the 1963 Corgi paperback edition
A gelatinous alien detective in pursuit of a gelatinous alien criminal crashes in earth’s sea just off the coast of a US island. The aliens are symbiotic by nature and would normally live within the body of a willing host, siphoning off some food and oxygen while helping to fight off disease and repair injuries.
The detective manages to invade the body of a teenage boy and realises he will have to communicate with his host in order to track down his prey, who is presumably concealed in another human body.
The boy is persuaded, once the alien has been able to make contact, to help track down the criminal and the two enlist the help of the local doctor to try and determine, by a process of deduction and elimination, where the alien might be hiding.
It’s a short and very satisfying read; a bit of a juvenile wish-fulfilment fantasy, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
There are some points of interest. Clement has set this tale in a near-future where bacteria have been genetically engineered to produce a clean form of crude oil. Much of the action is set in and around the oil refinery on the island where the boy’s father works.
February 20, 2019
This had a potentially interesting concept, but it got bogged down with unlikely reactions from human characters that were not quite believable. If I woke up one day and found out a symbiotic blob of jelly had taken up residence inside my body, I'd freak out a lot more than the young protagonist did.
I'll remember this more for the the wild eyed fellow commuter on the train with a tattered copy of Whitley Strieber's "Communion" who saw this book in my hand and asked me if it was real. I said "No, it's fiction," then he carried on a 25 minute monologue about demonic angels and alien encounters of his own, complete with biblical references and quotes from the aforementioned "Communion." If that guy ever writes a book, I'd read it.
Update as of 2/19/19 - I added one star to my rating, due to Mike's very relevant quote from the book relating to my main point of criticism.
I'll remember this more for the the wild eyed fellow commuter on the train with a tattered copy of Whitley Strieber's "Communion" who saw this book in my hand and asked me if it was real. I said "No, it's fiction," then he carried on a 25 minute monologue about demonic angels and alien encounters of his own, complete with biblical references and quotes from the aforementioned "Communion." If that guy ever writes a book, I'd read it.
Update as of 2/19/19 - I added one star to my rating, due to Mike's very relevant quote from the book relating to my main point of criticism.
Read
July 3, 2021This isn't as good as I remembered it to be, and it's set in a type size that is not suitable for someone having eye problems. Also it was written before the invention of women. (I believe women were invented sometime in the late fifties in order to to have someone to wear all those clingy, gaping space suits.)
However I still love the ideas.
However I still love the ideas.
June 10, 2011
Great book. I definitely recommend this, even though the ending is a bit cheesy.
September 23, 2013
Rating: 9/10
November 6, 2014
1980 grade A-
2011 grade A-
Series book B1
aka From Outerspace
2011 grade A-
Series book B1
aka From Outerspace
May 22, 2015
An alien detective seeks a killer hiding inside a human body. And he has to perform his search while inhabiting another human.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews