Specimens

by Fred Saberhagen

The terror began the very first night that Dan Post spent with his children in the old house on the hill. In his sleep he felt his identity dissolving, merging with human beings of the distant past, creatures who had somehow returned to life as they invaded his defenseless mind. At first Dan Post thought he was going mad. Then he discovered the truth about the house that he and his children lived in ... what waited for them at the end of the tunnel behind the basement wall ... And Dan Post could only wish that he was mad ... that the nightmare was only a dream that the horror was not inescapably real...

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction

214 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Fred Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his ''Beserker'' and Dracula stories.

Saberhagen also wrote a series of a series of post-apocalyptic mytho-magical novels beginning with his popular ''Empire of the East'' and continuing through a long series of ''Swords'' and ''Lost Swords'' novels. Saberhagen died of cancer, in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Saberhagen was born in and grew up in the area of Chicago, Illinois. Saberhagen served in the [[U.S. Air Force]] during the Korean War while he was in his early twenties. Back in civilian life, Saberhagen worked as an It was while he was working for Motorola (after his military service) that Saberhagen started writing fiction seriously at the age of about 30. "Fortress Ship", his first "Berserker" short shory, was published in 1963. Then, in 1964, Saberhagen saw the publication of his first novel, ''The Golden People''.

From 1967 to 1973, he worked as an editor for the Chemistry articles in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' as well as writing its article on science fiction. He then quit and took up writing full-time. In 1975, he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He married fellow writer Joan Spicci in 1968. They had two sons and a daughter.

Reviews

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
This was a fun old-school science fiction horror novel. Short and fun.

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

The late Fred Saberhagen was a great storyteller. Example: Empire of the East is a favorite of mine and one of the few series I have ever bothered to read twice-it is full of thrills and wonder. Specimens is a different kettle of fish. I think the fault for that actually lies, at least in part, with the publisher. I typically read the back of a book before I start the book itself-big mistake in this case as the full plot of the novel is there for all to see. Specimens would have been a far more exciting and effective reading experience if I did not have such a painfully accurate idea of what was going to happen next. And of course this book is a bit dated-it was written in 1976 (I have the presumably uncollectable first edition in my hand) and a lot has changed in forty-five years. There were still spots of Saberhagen cleverness here that I enjoyed reading. But there is not enough of that here to get Specimens over the two star threshold.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. I’d probably rate this 3.5 stars, if I could. Not especially deep, but it does have some interesting themes and Dan’s initial helplessness in trying to stop his family from being taken is quite palpable.

The epilogue feels a bit abrupt, I kinda wish it went on longer, but such a story would likely have required its own book.

[Mike S · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the Beserker theme you'll definitely find several stories in this book that are very pleasing. Some great work here.

[Luca Gonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urania piuttosto mediocre. Classica storia di fantascienza vecchio stile. Leggendo la trama sul retro di copertina immaginavo un romanzo totalmente diverso, senza la solita presenza degli alieni.

[Nicola Strangis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non il peggior Urania di sempre: per buoni due terzi della storia, l’attenzione è alta. Il finale è molto raffazzonato è poco credibile.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[James]

A science fiction novel.

[Brick Marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! As a fan of Fred Saberhagen's Berserker series, this tale was different, falling under the term of body snatching. Tales in which I have became a huge fan, stemming from Jack Finney's "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers".

After smelling odd odors inside his new house Dan Post investigates, bringing him to the basement, and pursues by using tools to rip down a wall. Opened, an evil which has been lurking there for centuries abducts his flesh, making Dan its puppet, forcing his hand to abduct his children for specimens for an alien species.

As well as abducting Dan's fiance', Nancy.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark got this for 25 cents from the library book sale and I picked it up one night. I had a hard time putting it down and a hard time going to sleep! It was that scary! Ha! I finished it yesterday. It is definitely pulp sci fi but a lot of fun.