The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

By: Jack Finney

Narrated by: Kristoffer Tabori

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

On a quiet fall evening in the small, peaceful town of Mill Valley, California, Dr. Miles Bennell discovers an insidious, horrifying plot. Silently, subtly, almost imperceptibly, alien life-forms are taking over the bodies and minds of his neighbors, his friends, his family, the woman he loves, and the world as he knows it.

This classic 1955 thriller of the triumph of the human spirit over an invisible enemy inspired the acclaimed 1956 film, directed by Don Siegel and named one of Time magazine's 100 Best Films. Blackstone's edition is read by Don Siegel's son, actor-director Kristoffer Tabori, an Emmy and Audie Award winner, and concludes with the narrator's insider reminiscences of his father's work on the film.

©1955, 1983 Jack Finney (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

• Nominee, 2008 Audie Award, Science Fiction

very entertaining story--better than the movie

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes but not to everyone. the story is good. i know someone who could enjoy this story but because it is science fiction, he will never give it a try.

if you saw the movie the audiobook is great. but if you never saw the movie i think the book will be even better.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

when the bady snatchers were in town waiting for the truck.

What about Kristoffer Tabori’s performance did you like?

the book was well read, great voice, enjoyable reader!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

many moments. moments when miles and rebecca were fighting to save their existance

Any additional comments?

i wish i never saw the movie. i do for some reason think the audiobook would be even better. but it was a great entertaining read.

the book was a little different than the movie. i liked the book better.

i don't want to be a spoiler in case some readers don't know the story tho.

Awesome read.

What made the experience of listening to The Invasion of the Body Snatchers the most enjoyable?

I loved the this book even if it was written so long ago.

What other book might you compare The Invasion of the Body Snatchers to and why?

Don't know?

What about Kristoffer Tabori’s performance did you like?

I really felt like I was in the story and could picture it in my mind.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Could not stop listening and if I had to I hurried back to it.

Excellent

The narration is excellent, though I found myself jerked out of the story by the protagonist being described as 28 while he sounds much older. Trivial but annoying. If the protagonist was 48 it would be a five star performance :) So pretend before starting that the main character is middle aged.

The crafting of the story is excellent. The suspense and pace, written and performed, are a marvel.

entertaining listen!

The narrator made this book suspenseful. I felt the urgency to run and hide. It was hard to leave my car each day when I arrived at my destination. I wanted to keep listening!

Engrossing 1950s sci-fi pulp

Enjoyable but a bit like a doctor who episode. The narrative was a tense and kept you listening. There are a few moments where you'll be scratching your head about why the characters who are "so smart" did a few things.

Unexpected gem

The narrator brought a lot to this rendition. The story was consistent and stimulating. Good fun read.

Watch the movie

This book was entertaining but I thought it was one of those rare circumstances where the movie was better than the book.

A thrilling listening experience

An eerie tale of a small town where people start behaving slightly different then they used to. At first this is attributed to a mass delusion, but soon the real threat to humanity reveals itself...
A fascinating story written in 1955 about an alien invasion of a special kind. The plot is mostly dense and fast paced making it a thrilling listening experience.

Agree with Jenna -

Where does The Invasion of the Body Snatchers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

"Do not start this audiobook unless you have 6hrs free to sit and listen!" Excellent novel, superb reading by Mr. Tabori. Really cannot praise this audiobook highly enough.

We Win?

If you have never read this short novel, little over two-hundred pages, you're missing out. Mr. Finney does a great job of keeping the pressure up once the story starts. The language is easy to grasp, unlike some pulp novels of the same decade. There is a good explanation for how the pods arrived here and what their purpose is that is left out in both movie adaptions.
I particularly enjoyed how the copies are shown. You feel the differences between us versus them because the narrator adds a menace to his voice.