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The Molecule Men
2 short novels: "The Molecule Men" & "The Monster of Loch Ness":
"The Molecule Men" concerns a fluid invader who takes over Earth by way of shape changes through a summit conference of blanked-out world leaders. But it all begins on a low level of intimidation: "...a man has turned somehow into a swarm of bees..."
If you've assumed there's something nasty in that Scots tourist attraction "The Monster of Loch Ness" there is--& when it's bombed for its subversive activities, it raises hell. The style's a bit crowded & ragged but these are two examples of the triumph of matter over method.
"The Molecule Men" concerns a fluid invader who takes over Earth by way of shape changes through a summit conference of blanked-out world leaders. But it all begins on a low level of intimidation: "...a man has turned somehow into a swarm of bees..."
If you've assumed there's something nasty in that Scots tourist attraction "The Monster of Loch Ness" there is--& when it's bombed for its subversive activities, it raises hell. The style's a bit crowded & ragged but these are two examples of the triumph of matter over method.
- GenresScience Fiction
254 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 1971
About the author
Fred Hoyle
115 books182 followersProfessor Sir Fred Hoyle was one of the most distinguished, creative, and controversial scientists of the twentieth century. He was a Fellow of St John’s College (1939-1972, Honorary Fellow 1973-2001), was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1957, held the Plumian Chair of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy (1958-1972), established the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy in Cambridge (now part of the Institute of Astronomy), and (in 1972) received a knighthood for his services to astronomy.
Hoyle was a keen mountain climber, an avid player of chess, a science fiction writer, a populariser of science, and the man who coined the phrase 'The Big Bang'.
Hoyle was a keen mountain climber, an avid player of chess, a science fiction writer, a populariser of science, and the man who coined the phrase 'The Big Bang'.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 20, 2020
The Molecule Men
The Molecule Men is the story about an alien invasion by a shape-shifting creature, but nothing is quite what it seems. First, the main character, Dr. West, encounters an odd passenger in the airport, R. A. Adcock. Later he meets Adcock again in a courtroom. Adcock can barely talk. Then, in the middle of the trial, he hurls himself through a window and turns into a swarm of giant bees. From there, things get even stranger.
It's a little hard to believe that Dr. West, a university professor, has such easy access to the Prime Minister of Great Britton, or that the PM spends so little time actually being Prime Minister. Also, the disappearance of all the cabinet members doesn't seem to cause much of an upheaval.
From the language to the setting, this book is uniquely English with lots of details of London. Although The Molecule Men was published in 1971, it feels as if it were written in 1951. This is a man's world. Not in a macho superman kind of way, but simply by the invisibility of female characters.
The Monster of Loch Ness
There is something at the bottom of Loch Ness according to Tom Cochrane and the Loch Ness Researchers. Both the turbidity and temperature readings are impossible. There has to be something either stirring up the lake or heating it. There is even a credible sighting and photographic proof of a flat-headed monster with a long neck and humps on its back.
A trip through the Loch Ness Visitor's Center will dispel any lingering doubts you might have. No monsters live in Loch Ness. Also, it assumes the temperature gradient and deuterium levels in the lake remain stratified and constant, yet lakes typically turn over every fall. As the weather cools, the surface water to sinks to the bottom and the bottom water to rises to the surface mixing everything. This makes the story was a bit hard to believe, but never fear, nothing is quite what it seems.
This is hard science fiction. From water temperature readings to deuterium levels, the author uses science to explain the abnormal findings and freak storms plaguing the area. As it turns out, something does live in Loch Ness, something alien.
The book has excellent descriptions of Scotland and a very British, or Scottish, use of language. For an American, some of the word usage may seem odd, but rather than distracting from the story, it adds character to the writing style and flavor to the setting.
The Molecule Men is the story about an alien invasion by a shape-shifting creature, but nothing is quite what it seems. First, the main character, Dr. West, encounters an odd passenger in the airport, R. A. Adcock. Later he meets Adcock again in a courtroom. Adcock can barely talk. Then, in the middle of the trial, he hurls himself through a window and turns into a swarm of giant bees. From there, things get even stranger.
It's a little hard to believe that Dr. West, a university professor, has such easy access to the Prime Minister of Great Britton, or that the PM spends so little time actually being Prime Minister. Also, the disappearance of all the cabinet members doesn't seem to cause much of an upheaval.
From the language to the setting, this book is uniquely English with lots of details of London. Although The Molecule Men was published in 1971, it feels as if it were written in 1951. This is a man's world. Not in a macho superman kind of way, but simply by the invisibility of female characters.
The Monster of Loch Ness
There is something at the bottom of Loch Ness according to Tom Cochrane and the Loch Ness Researchers. Both the turbidity and temperature readings are impossible. There has to be something either stirring up the lake or heating it. There is even a credible sighting and photographic proof of a flat-headed monster with a long neck and humps on its back.
A trip through the Loch Ness Visitor's Center will dispel any lingering doubts you might have. No monsters live in Loch Ness. Also, it assumes the temperature gradient and deuterium levels in the lake remain stratified and constant, yet lakes typically turn over every fall. As the weather cools, the surface water to sinks to the bottom and the bottom water to rises to the surface mixing everything. This makes the story was a bit hard to believe, but never fear, nothing is quite what it seems.
This is hard science fiction. From water temperature readings to deuterium levels, the author uses science to explain the abnormal findings and freak storms plaguing the area. As it turns out, something does live in Loch Ness, something alien.
The book has excellent descriptions of Scotland and a very British, or Scottish, use of language. For an American, some of the word usage may seem odd, but rather than distracting from the story, it adds character to the writing style and flavor to the setting.
May 3, 2022
Perhaps these stories were intended for a different time, or a different audience. Both stories have very interesting (if somewhat basic and similar) premises. But when your stories require firm geographical knowledge of London (in Story 1) and the highlands of scotland (in Story 2) and don't provide maps--well, it makes them somewhat restricted in the number of people who actually will care. The writing in both stories isn't amazing, but it does remind me of noir novels.
July 31, 2018
1982 grade B+
2018 grade B+
This 214 page book actually has two stories in it of roughly equal length. The first is called "The Molecule Men" and the second "The Monster of Loch Ness." Don't let the second title fool you, it is scifi not fantasy. Both take place in the United Kingdom, the first in England in the London vacinity and the second in Scotland in the coast to coast geographic split that holds Loch Ness. This read was different because I took two long vacations in the UK and pretty vividly remember them, though especially the rural areas of Scotland which I really loved. You might want to pick up a map of the areas in any case, because the Hoyles use a lot of geography and place names in both stories. But it is not a necessity. Both are fun reads, although not so good that I had problems putting them down for a while.
2018 grade B+
This 214 page book actually has two stories in it of roughly equal length. The first is called "The Molecule Men" and the second "The Monster of Loch Ness." Don't let the second title fool you, it is scifi not fantasy. Both take place in the United Kingdom, the first in England in the London vacinity and the second in Scotland in the coast to coast geographic split that holds Loch Ness. This read was different because I took two long vacations in the UK and pretty vividly remember them, though especially the rural areas of Scotland which I really loved. You might want to pick up a map of the areas in any case, because the Hoyles use a lot of geography and place names in both stories. But it is not a necessity. Both are fun reads, although not so good that I had problems putting them down for a while.
July 14, 2016
A very strong collection of ideas
I had to deduct a mark as Fred Hoyle did make a few basic errors in trying to make the stories surreal and to avoid the hero doing anything useful. Having said that, I rate The Molecule Men as a superb piece of social science fiction (where the science fiction is a means to expound on the human condition) and The Monster of Loch Ness as a lighter variant. James Blush tended to be the master of this genre, Fred Hoyle was at his best when the setting exemplified the impact of the science. This was the best of the exceptions.
I had to deduct a mark as Fred Hoyle did make a few basic errors in trying to make the stories surreal and to avoid the hero doing anything useful. Having said that, I rate The Molecule Men as a superb piece of social science fiction (where the science fiction is a means to expound on the human condition) and The Monster of Loch Ness as a lighter variant. James Blush tended to be the master of this genre, Fred Hoyle was at his best when the setting exemplified the impact of the science. This was the best of the exceptions.
May 24, 2011
Two fair science fiction novellae by the astrophysicist Fred Hoyle and Geoffrey Hoyle, his son.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews