The Captive

Set in the American Midwest during the years of the Depression, the Book of the Beast trilogy introduces a concept of alien life new to science fiction. The "Beast" of the series inhabits various human bodies during its evolution into a fully alien form. Sometimes the beast is ascendant; sometimes the human personality is the stronger; and the push-and-pull between the two keeps the reader guessing until the end. "Stallman reminds me of Ray Bradbury.... a big talent."--Peter Straub