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Charmed #26
Survival of the Fittest
Survival of the Fittest Taken bodies were found unchanged, but their minds are under control. Release all thoughts of this new craze; find the demon that plagues their souls. Alien abduction fever has gripped San Francisco. People everywhere are reporting loved ones missing...only to have them show up at home with no recollection of having been gone. The Charmed Ones can't help but become involved, especially when Phoebe receives a letter to her advice column from a woman who's convinced her sister was "taken." The victim says she was just out, but since she's returned, she's developed an almost demonic devotion to a new workout program. The workout program in question, created by Meg Winship, has become incredibly popular in the Bay Area. Even Piper, after seeing an infomercial, suddenly finds herself jogging to the "Winship Way." Luckily there's a rally being held in San Francisco in the next few days. Meg Winship herself will appear to further inspire and thank her new disciples. If there's something supernatural involved, as the sisters suspect, the fitness fiesta is their best bet to figure out who -- or what -- is in charge of the chaos.
227 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2004
6 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey J. Mariotte
161 books163 followersAlso writes as Jeff Mariotte
Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.
He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.
Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.
Also writes as Jeff Mariotte
Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.
He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.
Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.
Also writes as Jeff Mariotte
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 4, 2017
Up till this point there has never been a charmed book that I disliked more than this one. This was entirely bullshit with the fitness program and the UFO. It was ridiculous and annoying to read and 250 pages were too long. My theory of the sister in trouble is nonsense too so that is over and now I simply have to finish the rest to be able to continue with better books, thank you very much.
May 15, 2022
I have officially found the worst Charmed book of all time. I am so mad at myself for not DNFing at page 10.
July 28, 2025
Yeah, I couldn't even round this one up to three stars.
It's a real shame because Jeff Mariotte has written some good tie-ins and novelizations of Angel and Buffy. I just try and tell myself he was given this plot and title to write with.
Another season 4/season 5 setting because of Ask Phoebe and Piper and Leo talking about having children.
The book tries to play up alien abductions going on around San Francisco, but the women taken are returned home safely just with an overwhelming urge to exercise to a program created by a young woman named Meg Winship.
Phoebe gets roped into this weird plot by having a letter written to her by a woman who says her sister was "abducted" and is now exercising so much she's afraid the exertion will make her keel over from a heart attack. Phoebe doesn't know how to answer that and asks an actual reporter from the Bay Mirror, named Bill, about the actuality of the reports.
Paige becomes involved because she is the only other sister who believes these could be real abductions and goes to talk to an old college professor who was always keen on UFOs. Paige now finds the man disavowing aliens and a little on the crackpot side but providing Paige with a book about such things.
Piper trying to go to bed late one night but failing miserably finds a commercial advertising Meg Winship and her "Ideal Me" program on the TV. The next day, she is working out and jogging but not completely herself.
Poor Darryl also gets pulled into the plot when a man comes to the police after his wife was "abducted" and tries to pin it off as her being kidnapped. Darryl can only turn to the Halliwells because...they have to deal with the weird and unusual so who else would he consult with?
We already know that this has nothing to do with extraterrestrials or alien life-forms...Meg Winship is either a demon, an evil witch or a human dealing with paranormal or demonic forces. To achieve wealth, fame, power, all of the above but by brainwashing women to exercise?
Survival of The Fittest is a Charmed tie-in that needs to be read to believe all of the things I have just told you...just not one you'll be re-reading anytime soon.
It's a real shame because Jeff Mariotte has written some good tie-ins and novelizations of Angel and Buffy. I just try and tell myself he was given this plot and title to write with.
Another season 4/season 5 setting because of Ask Phoebe and Piper and Leo talking about having children.
The book tries to play up alien abductions going on around San Francisco, but the women taken are returned home safely just with an overwhelming urge to exercise to a program created by a young woman named Meg Winship.
Phoebe gets roped into this weird plot by having a letter written to her by a woman who says her sister was "abducted" and is now exercising so much she's afraid the exertion will make her keel over from a heart attack. Phoebe doesn't know how to answer that and asks an actual reporter from the Bay Mirror, named Bill, about the actuality of the reports.
Paige becomes involved because she is the only other sister who believes these could be real abductions and goes to talk to an old college professor who was always keen on UFOs. Paige now finds the man disavowing aliens and a little on the crackpot side but providing Paige with a book about such things.
Piper trying to go to bed late one night but failing miserably finds a commercial advertising Meg Winship and her "Ideal Me" program on the TV. The next day, she is working out and jogging but not completely herself.
Poor Darryl also gets pulled into the plot when a man comes to the police after his wife was "abducted" and tries to pin it off as her being kidnapped. Darryl can only turn to the Halliwells because...they have to deal with the weird and unusual so who else would he consult with?
We already know that this has nothing to do with extraterrestrials or alien life-forms...Meg Winship is either a demon, an evil witch or a human dealing with paranormal or demonic forces. To achieve wealth, fame, power, all of the above but by brainwashing women to exercise?
Survival of The Fittest is a Charmed tie-in that needs to be read to believe all of the things I have just told you...just not one you'll be re-reading anytime soon.
January 31, 2024
"Und was sie wahrzunehmen glauben, ist nicht immer das, was wirklich ist." S.31
This was such a fun take on the plausible monsters and dimensions of the Charmed World. Happenings similiar to alien invasion and mind control slowly take over San Francisco, with the Sisters and Darryl right in the middle of it.
Yes, the ending could have been way more climatic, with the plot resolution being more complicated than the written one BUT episodes of charmed were often written that way - with the problem being easily solved with a spell and a potion.
This was such a fun take on the plausible monsters and dimensions of the Charmed World. Happenings similiar to alien invasion and mind control slowly take over San Francisco, with the Sisters and Darryl right in the middle of it.
Yes, the ending could have been way more climatic, with the plot resolution being more complicated than the written one BUT episodes of charmed were often written that way - with the problem being easily solved with a spell and a potion.
February 17, 2020
It had me interested in how this weird plot was going to play out and how everything was going to fit together. The beginning and middle had me hooked and intrigued, the action was less than five pages and the ending left me unsatisfied.
August 7, 2022
Little bit far fetched this one, even for a Charmed story! The whole alien storyline was a bold one to try but they just stuck with it a bit too long for me, the ending was rushed and anti climactic. Just didn’t feel true for Charmed
May 12, 2024
Tulipahan luettua XD
January 2, 2015
Like all the other Charmed novels, a great book, and just as good as the actual show.
October 10, 2008
ok but not the best one
Read
March 22, 2010F CHA
Fantasy
Fantasy
Read
July 27, 2011Good read kinda of predicable but good
July 10, 2018
Great book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews