The Predator / The Capture / The Stranger / The Alien (Animorphs #5-8) + Andalite's Gift (#7.5)[February 1, 2024]

[Nirkatze]

Interesting. I just finished 7.5 The Andalite's Gift and I agree on it being a much weaker book. It still had some interesting bits in it--but then they didn't really get explained or explored. (view spoiler)[Like what was up with that crazy lady in the alleyway when Rachel first started with the amnesia? And the amnesia plotline was fairly superfluous--it would have been stronger just with the morph-hunter plotline. (hide spoiler)]

However--curious about the rule (view spoiler)[that they can't move from one morph into another and have to return to their original state. During #6 the Capture, didn't the Yeerk controlling Jake morph from a wolf to a hawk and so on without Jake-ing between? I feel like I need to go back and check that... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

The Stranger #7 Up to Ch. 4... The International Elephant Police was awesome!

Rachel has a ton of tension in the family. I like how these books don't shy away from any of these more adult themes...

[Choko]

Just finished The Stranger #7 ... It was interesting. The idea of the Elimist as preservationists is intriguing and the non interventionist policies they have could get to be frustrating...

My favorite part of the book was getting to know more about Rachel and her family. I love the emotional insights into the kids' lives... Also, being a grizzly bear fit her personality perfectly:)

Favorite scene was when they were all human, and Rachel rushed to hug Tobias and he freaked out and tried to fly away flapping his hands...

[Choko]

I don't have the .5 books... Only 12.5... How much am I missing and could one of you summarize it for me, please... I don't want to be a bother, so it's OK if you don't:)

[Nirkatze]

The Andalite's Gift is on Hoopla, Choko, it's just a bit hard to find... it didn't show up in the series list for me, I had to search for the title. Though not everyone has the same catalogue. I would summarize, but it's all a muddle in my memory already... honestly, I don't think missing it will make any difference...

[Choko]

Thank you, Nirkatze! You are awesome!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Reading Andalite's Gift now... it has all 6 POVs, but Marco, Jake, and Rachel seem to get the most chapters by a large margin... Cassie comes in 4th I think, and Ax/Tobias come in last, just like in full-book POVs...

(view spoiler)[Feels weird that only Jake does the "We're animorphs schtick"... makes sense from a book perspective, but that's pretty meta...

Anyway... I assume the bald eagle tree incident causes the amnesia... and Tobias just happened to witness it?... and again doesn't realize it's his friends in morph... that's happened once or twice already, in the first 7 books... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Finished Andalite's Gift... definitely pretty standalone... (view spoiler)[the alien is interesting, if kinda easily dealt with, and then pretty much unimportant to the rest of the series... interesting to see an alien life form from within the solar system tho... (hide spoiler)]

Jumped back over to read The Alien (#8), after finishing Mort, since my other ipod was at 3% charge...

(view spoiler)[Ax's predilection for food, and crawling along the floor of the movie theater was pretty cringe and disgusting...

It's nice getting in his head, tho, for more lore expansion and details about the Andalite... we've finally had every POV at least once now, excluding the Megamorph book as optional... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Just finished Andalite's Gift #7.5 ... I enjoyed it:) Velik, the monster's name, means Great in most Slavic languages, by the way. A hive monster from Saturn, that was new. As you said, kind of a standalone, but I enjoyed that it had all the POVs. Favorite part - the mice morph in the beginning. I am interested to know if the crazy lady, who obviously used to be possessed, will be back...

[Nirkatze]

I'm glad you found a copy, Choko! Very cool about the monster's name meaning.

Starting #8 The Alien, just through the Prologue--(view spoiler)[I'm glad it gives us Ax's POV from before we met him, how he ended up on Earth, and stranded. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

#8 The Alien Through Chapter 9--really interesting being in Ax's head--(view spoiler)[though I find his phoneme and food obsessions a bit annoying. I like the hints that keep getting dropped about the Andalite/Yeerk history, as well as Andalite tech and culture. The computer program thing was pretty funny. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

#8 The Alien Through chapter 16--(view spoiler)[I wasn't actually expecting the radio to work, and Ax to be able to talk to his people. The unrealistic demands the adults have of Ax, and how they force him to take responsibility for his brother's actions, deny him any assistance and make demands that he not assist the humans more... makes me think of soldiers given distasteful orders from above...

The Yeerk confrontation, mourning for his friend... further de-demonizing the Yeerks... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "#8 The Alien Through chapter 16..."

(view spoiler)[there's some interesting discussions out there about #8, and how it makes all factions involved a bit less black and white, good and evil...

Andalites aren't some holy alien race of protectors, just aliens trying to clean up a mess they made...

Yeerks aren't all an evil scourge...

This'll be explored more later in the series, as the Animorphs get to meet other Andalites on occasion, especially with Ellimist fiddling... (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Finished #8 The Alien--I feel like we'd already gotten some of those vibes you're talking about there Iain, even before this book, but this one definitely synched it. (view spoiler)[When we first meet Ax, some the aspects of his behavior made me think that the Andalites aren't the paragons they seem in the five minutes we meet them in book 1... or even just looking at how arrogant the Yeerks are--and yet they haven't managed to defeat them? Hobbled by their own honor, perhaps. Seems like human kids are doing a better job in some aspects.

I really liked how the consequences of their actions in the previous book (#7, not 7.5) are really felt in this one, with the random Yeerks dying and the upper levels killing off the controllers to keep the secret safe--and then showing some Yeerks as individuals who balk at this process...

I also wasn't expecting the answer to the Yeerk/Andalite connection to come out so quickly--seeded in the last book and answered here--but I feel like I should be getting used to how quickly paced these books are. (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea... definitely... I also spoiled some of those things early, so I wasn't 100% sure...

This also reveals why the Animorphs wiki is called Seerowpedia...

[Choko]

I also just finished The Alien #8 ... I love Ax! I can't help it... (view spoiler)[ Yes, in one of the previous books we were already told that the Andalites had something to do with the Yeerks being able to do what they are doing now, so we finally got the details. That was satisfying.

Favorite part - I really enjoy Ax's shenanigans when he tastes things:) It's a bit of a slapstick comedy in the middle of some pretty horrific things that happen in these books... Also, I loved how he "fixed the game" Marko's dad was "playing" with:)))

It was interesting to see that the Yeerks have a more relatable side too... What had me confused is why Ax and the gang didn't at least try to save the Andalite in whose body Visser 3 was living, once he was out of him... I mean, they didn't even try! Or even think about it... That was a bit of a let down story wise... (hide spoiler)]

Otherwise, another fun installment. I guess we will do it again next month:)

[Nirkatze]

LOL that "game" of Marco's dad was pretty awesome.

[Tonari no Emily]

Still haven't read Andalite's Gift, maybe I'll try to fit it in today..
I've still been highly enjoying these though! Finnished #7 and #8- Love how much Applegate packs into these very short books... I actually found Ax's shenanigans very funny in a horrifying sort of way... A bit annoyed at the voice thing though... (view spoiler)[ And very happy to see a greyification of the parties involved.. I feel for these kids trying to survive normal teenage problems along with the weight of the world on their shoulders!

I do think Rachel would have gone with her dad if not for the animorph thing... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Isn't it funny how enjoyable they are, despite us not being the target audience? I have been continuously surprised by that as well...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Tonari no Emily wrote: "Still haven't read Andalite's Gift, maybe I'll try to fit it in today..
I've still been highly enjoying these though! Finnished #7 and #8- Love how much Applegate packs into these very short books...."

This BR has been going so well I requested threads through October (36-40.5)

I think this BR can go the long haul... they're super short, pretty meaty plotwise, and don't shy away from the realities of war & animal mindsets... I'm happy to have everyone along for my nostalgia re-read...

I tried a re-read in 2011ish, but just binging them all in a row was too much for me... I made it through a dozen before pausing and never returning... with the way I read/listen these days, doing 1 per week and a dozen other books in between works much better...

[Choko]

Spacing, that is my mantra when it comes to long series, otherwise the burnout is real...

[Katie]

Time for me to play catch up! I didn't know they were on different threads! XD

The Predator (Marco book #5)
(view spoiler)[I'm loving the perspective of each of the kids once again. Marco using his humor and kindness to shed some happiness in the dark times. I was shocked for him to play the hero in the first chapter as well! Considering how he doesn't like morphs. But he went out of his way to safe a poor old man from being mugged...but in the end...the old man saw gorilla Marco as a monster too...best to stay out of other people's business is right ^^;

Ax is a great new addition to the team. I loved him figure out his human form and discovering what taste was.

The Lobster scene was terrifying! That poor woman! I don't think she'll ever cook lobster again ^^;

It was mentioned by others in the group. But man oh man that ant morph was so scary! We've had times where the kids shrunk down and they didn't kind of exist so their human voice could be heard. We've had prey terror and flleight. But never this. The blindness. The not knowing oneself. The hive mind mentality. Insects are terrifying O.O I'm amazing they made it out ok. Even more so after the enemy ant attack!! How do these kids not have PTSD from being ripped limb to limb?? Well I guess they do have nightmares....but more of morphs...less of dying in morph O.O

So the kids are trying to get a ship for Ax. But they get caught in the process. And they meet the head hancho. Visor one. ... IT'S MARCO'S MOM?! WHATTTT?! Twist for sure! I didn't see that coming. I hope there is a way they can save those controlled. Poor Marco.

I'm glad the kids got out ok...due to "politic plays?" The moment at the end with Marco and his dad was very touching. I can't imagine what those two must have been going through in the past two years... and now for Marco to have this big secret too >_< (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Sorry... trying to do less series threads, as per the group direction... box set monthly threads seemed like a good workaround...

[Katie]

No worries!! It was a good workaround!!

[Choko]

I am loving your commentary, Katie! It is good to remember what happened and when. That ant morph was the traumatizing first one...

[Katie]

Thanks Choko!!

[Nirkatze]

Really enjoying these little tastes... nice quick and parsley.

[Katie]

The Capture (Jake Book #6)
(view spoiler)[
Back to Jake's perspective! Right from the start we get some creepy morphs. Cockroaches. Yuck. Why did you morph infront of a mirror Jake, why?

The team is finally going to check out "The Sharing". Good idea. Not the best plan though. Right from the start Jake in his practice morph gets in a roach motel. That. Is. Terryfying! What if he couldn't change back?! What would happen then? He was lucky.

He nearly ran out of luck in the sharing. Bug spray is not a roaches friend. They got pretty graphic there with the twitching and losing consciousness. Good thing Tobias was in time for a quick save!

Next stop is the hospital. The Yeerks using the establishment to infiltrate the human race via doctors is quite clever. Again. Another bug infiltration. Not a fan. Flies. Bleh. And they even bring up the movie "The Fly". Kids. Don't watch that before a mission. lol. I'm not even an animorph and the whole concept of that movie is terrifying!

Right away we see a hot tub full of yeerks. So nothing will go wrong, right? Boil them and be done with it. But of course Jake he's tossed near the tub. JakeJakeJake be careful dude!!

And low and behold he's a controller. .... the team make it out.... but he's being weird. And cannot warn the team! Thank goodness for Ax. If it wouldn't be for him the kids might still be in the dark.

I can't believe Jake got the controller who controlled Tom!! And this is where we find out that in three days without their energy supply they fade away and die. Useful info to have!

The kids "locked in a cabin plan" worked out great! I loved their tricks and clever use of the animals in the woods. Made things a lot tough for our villain. One time it got pretty dark there when Tobias even mentioned he was gonna kill the controlled Jake. When they were in bird form. The kids will do whatever to stop this! O.O Luckily they didn't need to go that far. Jake's luck held out and everyone was fine.

The ending was made a little lighter by saying how hungry Ax was while imitating Jake. A whole pie! XD

This was an intense read! Even if it's for kids the pure terror of not being in control is insane! (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Nirkatze wrote: "On to #6 The Capture as well... through Chapter 10. The morphing is reminding me of Wild Magic series--Especially the bit where Jake is reflecting on how he used to laugh at roaches ca..."

Oh my gosh! I used to love the Wild Magic Series as a kid!! Tamora Pierce was my jam!! I totally forgot about these moments~ Thanks for bringing them up ~

[Katie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Ooh, I like your questions, Emily--and I totally want that to be explored...

Makes me wonder if The Host wasn't inspired by the Animorphs... when I read it I thought it was a Starga..."

Oh my gosh! I wonder!! There's so much good scifi out there

[Nirkatze]

@Katie--Ditto on Tamora Pierce!! I still reread her books as comfort. Keladry's series is my absolute favorite.

[Katie]

Oh my gosh! I loved the Protector of the Small series!!

[Nirkatze]

Pierce has really slowed down the last several years though, makes me sad... I think we've only had one new book in the past decade...

[Katie]

Awww. That’s so sad!! I should really check to see some of her new works!! Would you recommend any??

[Nirkatze]

I don't think she's had anything since Tempests and Slaughter--and I haven't read that yet, keep waiting for the sequels... She added some books to the Circle world before that, Battle Magic I think was the last book before Tempests... and before that the Beka Cooper Chronicles... I liked those...

Hm... I guess it's not as bad as I thought, Tempests was 2018, and Battle Magic 2013... so she's still doing better than some authors... I just miss the years when it seemed like we got a new book every year...

[Katie]

The Stranger(#7)
I really really enjoyed this one. (view spoiler)[We start of with a wonderful elephant rescue ala Rachel and Cassie. Well. Sort of. More of a threat to the person abusing the animals. So it's a start. Where are the elephants to go?

It turns out Rachel's dad is moving...and wants to come with her? Parents of divorce must be tough. Poor Rachel. That's a big deal for her. I'm glad she had Tobias to fly off to and talk with. At least vaguely about her problems.

She has all of this pressure on her from being a kid with good grades and good sports prowess, she's gotta save the world as an animorph, and now she has to decide if she moves away?! It makes sense to me why Rachel chooses the morphs she does. She feels she has so little control in her life she wants to have that power. Like the eagle, grizzly bear, or elephant. I'm glad she can have a little of that.

Ok. Wow! The kids almost got eaten AGAIN?! These stealth missions need to be safer!

And now we get a look at an Ellimist?! Not really a fan of his. And wow. What a choice they have to make. I don't know how I feel about abandoning my friends and family to start a new life on an alien planet zoo to "safe" our species...

I was super happy in the end that some loopholes were found and things were a-okay! But we did end up seeing a rather terrible future where Rachel was a Controller O.O

The battle at the end was INSANE! I mean. Jake had to tell Rachel to demorph because the whole arm of her grizzly bear was gone!! My gosh!! That whole team was torn to shreds. But they dealt a good blow to the yeerks. Destroying their pool I believe.

That makes for a happy alien and a happy animorph team.

I'm just glad Rachel came out of it ok! (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

The Alien(#8)
I don't know why...but this book was harder for me to get into. I don't know if it was the perspective or what? Maybe I just connect to the other kids more? (view spoiler)[So this one was Ax's book. His little journal entries at the top were cute. I loved his attention to food and unique human things.

The movie scene was so hilarious and gross! Eating off the floor? Flavorful indeed! yuck!

I can't believe the yeerks killed a controller at the school! That teacher was spouting blood and talking crazy. Class was dismissed. But not before another controller came in to finish the job. These kids have dire consequences for their actions. The yeerk pool is gone. Aliens going hungry. But they're not becoming free. the aliens are getting rid of evidence?! Jake has every right to be mad at Ax. His brother is a controller!? What would happen? those poor kids...

Lots of trust issues and secrets with Ax this issue.

He has his own little E.T. phone home moment as he upgrades the local telescope to talk to his people. But in the process he broke the code of his people and gave humans more technology than they should have (baby games, he jokes). Oof

But Ax gets little more than a slap on the wrist as he talks to the others and recaps what's been going on in Earth. Even the talk with his father was kinda dismal as he just had to prove he'd get revenge for his brother. I honestly don't trust that andalite who popped in to talk next... maybe something is up...

the end kind of sped up. but we almost had a fight with visor three. but they escaped and we got some andalite talks. (ps I'm super glad the animorphs had Ax's back as he went on a solo assassin mission). Didn't he say people on his home planet aren't to be trusted either?? How far have the yeerks invaded??

But yeah. Kinda slow issue for me. imo. But it was a fun perspective to see. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

Nirkatze wrote: "Started #7 The Stranger and also LOL'd at Iain's LOL... Through Chapter 9--I like how the book is delving into a very common child crisis--divorce, and divorce + parent moving away... I have to won..."

I love how they brought up divorce too Nirkatze. Such a relatable thing for kids to be reading about. They can be like "hey, this girl is going through the same thing as me." And I do wonder too how global the invasion is O.O

[Katie]

Choko wrote: "Just finished The Stranger #7 ... It was interesting. The idea of the Elimist as preservationists is intriguing and the non interventionist policies they have could get to be frustrating...

My f..."

Oh my gosh! I completely forgot to talk about Tobias! How cruel that was. To see him back to normal. And for the kids to make that choice!

[Katie]

It looks like a lot of you enjoyed Ax's book! You're right in that it gave a lot of great lore chunks too! Seeing the other culture!!

Thanks all for giving some recaps on the .5 book! I didn't get a chance to read it either, but it looks like I wasn't missing much?

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Yea... 7.5 is a lackluster first side book... Megamorphs are hit or miss, mostly miss maybe... the Chronicles are big lore books tho, that matter...

[Katie]

Good to know!! I’ll have to see if my library has them!!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Hoopla seems to have everything, if your library has hoopla and has books on there... libraries can opt into tiers of hoopla and don't always have everything...

[Katie]

Thank you!!

[Katie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Hoopla seems to have everything, if your library has hoopla and has books on there... libraries can opt into tiers of hoopla and don't always have everything..."

I just downloaded Hoopla! I'd been using Libby before...have you tried that one? I just feel Hoopla has so much more! Thanks for the suggestion!

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I mostly use Hoopla... has limited monthly credits, but no waiting for copies...

Depending on local popularity, you might/probably need to do all your checkouts after midnight or when you get up in the morning... especially towards the end of the month when everyone is trying to use up the rest of their credits... there's a person credit limit and library credit limit, by package, and libraries generally put a daily limit to avoid running out before the end of the month...