Aliens Stole My Body

Aliens Stole My Body is a childrens science fiction novel by Bruce Coville first published in 1998. This is the fourth book in a series about a fictional character, Rod Allbright,

Plot summary

Aliens Stole My Body concludes the saga. After the departure of Selima Khan, the group splits up into three groups, Rod/Seymour head for the planet Kryndamar, along with Snout, Elspeth, and Madam Pong (the Diplomatic Officer of the Ferkel). Meanwhile, Grakker and Phil (the sentient plant who serves as the Ferkel's science officer) leave to reestablish contact with the Galactic Patrol, and Ah-Rit heads off with Tar Gibbons in an attempt to reclaim Rod's body from BKR.

While on Kryndamar, Rod begins training his mind with Snout, and later gains a few unlikely allies in the form of the intergalactic pet trader Mir-Van, his family, and his business partner Grumbo. They also encounter one of BKR's henchmen, and from him they learn that BKR has already discovered their deception: Rod's brain is empty. However, BKR still plans to use it as bait, and he intends to capture Rod's mom and younger twin siblings from Earth, to serve as more bait.

After arriving on Earth and locating Rod's family, the entire group (sans Grumbo, Mir-Van and his family) are captured by BKR and his gang in the Merkel, including the traitorous Arly Bung. They, along with Grakker, Phil and Selima Khan (who arrives and is captured shortly before they would have left the solar system), are taken to BKR's headquarters. There, the entire group is joined by Ah-Rit and Tar Gibbons.

With all his main enemies in one place, BKR delivers an ultimatum: reveal where they've hidden Rod's mind, or die. Finally, Rod tells Snout to send him back to his own body. Using the skills that he's learned from both Tar Gibbons and Snout, Rod is able to take out all of BKR's crew, and finally BKR himself.

Following the defeat and capture of their enemies, Rod and his family are returned to Earth, while BKR and his gang are locked up and awaiting trial. After a final goodbye (at least for now) to his teacher and his friends, Rod watches as the Ferkel and its crew depart for GP headquarters so they can deliver BKR and his gang to stand trial, as well as standing trial themselves: they did break the law, going renegade instead of following orders. With luck, their fate will be a kinder one.

For now, the journey is over. But one day, when he's ready, Rod will be able to contact them again and return to space, to serve alongside his friends once more.

This was written by Bruce Coville, an American children's series author and was published first in August, 1998. The illustrations and the front cover was done his wife, Katherine Coville, a self taught artist.

References

*Lempke, Susan Dove. "Books for Youth: Books for Middle Readers." Booklist 95.5 (Nov. 1998): 490.

*Feulner, Debbie. "Grades 5 & Up: Fiction." School Library Journal 45.2 (Feb. 1999): 105.

Other Books in the Series

Aliens Ate My Homework

I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X

The Search For Snout

ee also

Bruce Coville