PUBLISHED ON
Tuesday November 11, 1997
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2024-09-11 07:46:25
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Novelization
SUMMARY
The X-Files novelization titled The Host (Book #8 in the series) was released in November 1997. It is based on the episode "The Host" from season 2 of the X-Files TV show, which features the iconic Flukeman creature.
STORY
The X-Files episode titled "The Host" is the second episode of Season 2, originally airing on September 23, 1994. Here's a detailed breakdown of the story:
Plot Summary:
Opening Scene:
The episode begins with a Russian freighter anchored off the coast of New Jersey. A crew member goes down into the sewage hold to fix a problem. As he works, something pulls him into the water, and he screams in terror. His body is later discovered dead onshore in a sewer system.
Mulder's Frustration:
Agent Fox Mulder is at a low point in his career. After the closure of the X-Files, he has been assigned mundane cases and is seriously considering leaving the FBI. He receives a seemingly unimportant assignment: to investigate the death of the crewman from the Russian freighter. Initially, Mulder thinks the case is just another dead end, and he feels increasingly frustrated with his situation.
Scully's Involvement:
Though the X-Files have been shut down, Agent Dana Scully continues to assist Mulder unofficially. She performs an autopsy on the body and finds strange evidence: the victim’s liver appears to have been partially eaten. She also discovers what looks like a flatworm in the corpse's body.
The Flukeman:
Mulder returns to Newark, New Jersey, where more deaths occur in the sewage system. A sanitation worker is attacked by a strange, humanoid creature while cleaning the pipes. The man survives but suffers from a severe bite wound. Mulder begins to suspect that something monstrous may be living in the sewers, and he contacts the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to assist with the investigation.
The team soon discovers that the attacker is not human. In one of the most iconic moments of the episode, they capture the Flukeman, a terrifying, parasitic creature resembling a large humanoid worm with a grotesque, sucker-like mouth.
The Creature's Origin:
Further investigation reveals that the Flukeman may have originated from the Russian freighter's sewage system, which had dumped waste into the ocean. The creature likely mutated due to exposure to radioactive materials. Scully hypothesizes that the creature is an example of a "genetic freak," a bizarre combination of human and flatworm DNA.
Containment Efforts:
The Flukeman is imprisoned in a holding cell, but it manages to escape by crawling through the prison’s plumbing system. Mulder and the local authorities scramble to locate the creature before it can harm more people.
Climax in the Sewers:
The episode culminates in a chase through the sewage treatment plant. Mulder confronts the Flukeman in the sewers, where the creature attempts to attack him. Mulder fights back and manages to trap the creature by pulling a lever that closes a large gate, effectively bisecting the Flukeman.
Ending:
Though Mulder believes the creature is dead, the final scene hints otherwise. As the remains of the Flukeman are washed into the water, one final shot shows the creature's eyes opening, implying that it might still be alive.
Themes and Reception:
Mutation and Fear of the Unknown: The episode touches on the theme of environmental contamination and its unforeseen consequences, in this case, creating a monstrous mutation.
Mulder’s Isolation: Mulder’s emotional state is a key subplot, as he feels disconnected from his work and colleagues after the X-Files are shut down.
Flukeman as a Memorable Monster: The Flukeman became one of the most iconic monsters of The X-Files series due to its grotesque design and disturbing nature.
The Host is often regarded as one of the creepiest and most memorable monster-of-the-week episodes in the series.
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HISTORY
2024-09-11 07:46:25 -
Pike:
Updated the summary.
2024-09-10 10:50:25 -
Pike:
Added the summary and story.
2024-09-10 10:49:01 -
Pike:
Added the release date.
2024-09-10 10:47:58 -
Pike:
Updated the title.
2024-09-10 10:47:33 -
Pike:
Added the cover.
2024-09-10 10:46:10 -
Pike:
New book added.
