The good news for Professor Andrew Martin is
that he has just achieved his lifetime ambition as a mathematician by
discovering a proof of the Reimann Hypothesis, key to understanding the
distribution of prime numbers (not that you need to know that).
The bad news is that his discovery is
perceived as a threat to the rest of the civilized universe by its
self-appointed guardians, the “Host”. Their view is that mankind’s lack of
social development and a propensity to violence would make such a discovery
dangerous. As a result the professor is immediately abducted, killed and
replaced by a look-alike agent of the Host with instructions to eliminate all
traces of the discovery. So bad news too for Andrew Martin’s wife, son and
close colleagues at Cambridge University.
Haig has fun pointing out some absurdities
of human customs, which take some getting used to even for the
super-intelligent imposter. This is not helped by learning the English language
and a skewed view of social behaviour from perusing a copy of Cosmopolitan.
At first these absurdities strengthen his
contempt for humans. However as he establishes his position in his new typically
dysfunctional family he slowly realises that beneath the superficiality of
style and posturing there is something he has never known before – a feeling of
belonging and responsibility for others.
The initial premise is easily swallowed, and
then the book runs smoothly through the gears. From its comedic start it moves
through insightful comments (my favourite that everything on Earth is wrapped
up and hidden from plain view – food, bodies, even feelings) to emotional
turmoil and tension as the new Professor Andrew Martin tries to resolve divided
loyalties to his mission and his increasing respect for these earthlings.
A good book on more than one level.
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