Aliena

Aliena #1

by Piers Anthony

What’s a girl to do when her mind is not her own? A provocative novel of speculative fiction from the New York Times–bestselling author. Aliena is a nice person who turns out to be an alien in a human host. She just has things to learn about the human form and society. When her body starts immune-rejecting the alien brain, and the brain has to be replaced by another alien brain, maintaining the semblance of marriage and family becomes a challenge for both Aliena and the man who loves her.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2013

About the author

Though he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.

Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Viva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead.

Piers Anthony is one of my favorite authors but his books can be hit or miss. I'm in between series now and just going through some of his older books. This one is kind of a relationship primer disguised as a sci-fi book. We've seen this before in Split Infinity where he teaches the robot Sheen the intricacies and chaos of human behavior and feelings. Somehow I'm not feeling it now, or maybe it's because I'm not 13 anymore but I loved Split Infinity and I've read it many times. Anyway I just didn't feel it when the protagonist went from introduction to sex is a short time. Not because I'm a prude but because it's unrealistic and just too teenage boyish.

Short summary: Aliena is an alien in a beautiful woman's body and our protagonist just couldn't keep his hands off her. I dnf'd it on page 76.

[UniquelyDefined · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you've ever heard of "born sexy yesterday" as a plot trope, this book is the perfect example of it. It's pretty much a garbage male fantasy about having a woman who's an adult but has all of the intellectual maturity of a child. It gave me the creeps for obvious reasons.

[Sherwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and thought provoking

[Colleen Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Piers Anthony, but I just couldn't finish this one. I found it slow and plodding, and it didn't hold my interest past a quarter through the story. Unfortunately I can't reccommend this one.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book with a fascinating premise. Starfish who become experts at brain transplants! But more than that, it's a study in human behaviour and interaction.