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Doppelgangers are monsters, hardwired for murder.
They are not supposed to have doubts, but this one does. He wishes he could be different. More human, maybe. But even that can't stop him from killing people so he can take their places and live their lives. He has to do it; it's who he is.
But when the doppelganger murders a small-town teenager, assumes his shape, and takes over his life, he's shocked by the world he steps into. Engulfed in a whirlwind of peer pressure, messy family dynamics, and a provocative relationship with a beautiful girl, he quickly learns that there's more than one way to be human, and many ways to be a monster.
Told in the tortured voice of a most extraordinary teen, this contemporary gothic romance brews a captivating combination of violence, desire, and atonement. Here is the story of a monster yearning for a human life.
I met Amber two days after I throttled her boyfriend, Chris Parker. A week later we were in love. Or rather, I was in love with her. It took a while on her part. After all, she thought I was him.
Let me explain -- I am a doppelganger.
Not many people have heard of us before. We're a pretty secretive race. So secretive, in fact, that I don't even know that much about us myself. Most of what I know about my kind I learned from my mother, and she wasn't all that informative. I can't even tell people my name. I don't have one. Not one I was born with, anyway. My mother always said names are worthless to a doppelganger. So the whole time I was growing up, she was she, and I was me, and that's as far as it ever got.
The problem is that doppelgangers are loners. We don't keep in touch. We don't call each other or send postcards. We would never e-mail. There's no annual doppelganger convention or home base or family reunion. When you're a doppelganger, you're on your own.
Maybe there just isn't much to know about us. We're pretty simple, actually -- primitive, one might say -- which is how we've managed to survive for so long.
But there are a few things to know. The most important is that we're shape-shifters. We can change the way we look,the sound of our voice; we can even change our sex, though we usually prefer not to. We're like chameleons, but taken to a higher level.
And it's a good thing we are shape-shifters, because in our natural state we're ugly as sin. Really hideous, to the point where we can barely stand to look at ourselves, let alone others of our kind. A doppelganger mother will even turn from her own child in disgust. I'm sure it's hard to imagine such a thing -- after all, a human mother will love even her ugliest child -- but with us it's true. It must be an evolutionary thing or something. If so, it works pretty well -- a doppelganger can rarely be found in its natural form. I can count on one hand the number of times I saw my mother in her own skin. Who knows, maybe I've just blocked the other times out of my head. Between the mottled, almost transparent flesh, the bulging eyes, and a face with no nose or mouth other than a few slimy slits, you've got the makings of a real freak. Actually, all those drawings of aliens recreated from people's so-called abductions -- those things with the egg heads and spindly arms -- they're not aliens, they're doppelgangers. And those people who think they were abducted didn't go anywhere -- they were just lucky enough to have survived. That's my theory, anyway.
Which brings me to another important doppelganger fact: We're killers. Of people, that is. We prey on your race -- stalking you, watching your moves, the places you go, learning the patterns of your life. Then, when we think we've got it down, we find a nice quiet little corner to strangle you in and take over. At least that's how it's supposed to work. Sometimes things get a little messy.
But if we're really good, no one can tell it's not you. We look like you, sound like you, even act like you. We take your life and live it in your place. And then, when we get bored or someone seems to be getting too close to the truth, we move on. Though, to be honest, we can only hold a form so long before we start to lose it. It takes a lot of strength to hang on to somebody's life. After a while it even starts to hurt.
Of course, the letting go can be just as bad. Trust me, I know.
Does this sound awful? Are we evil creatures? Monsters? I've been asking myself the question since I was old enough to wonder, and I still haven't figured it out. My mother would say no. In her view, our people have nothing to do with the concepts of good or evil. "Foolish human conventions," she once called them. In her mind, we do what we do because that's who we are.
"Are we bad?" I remember asking one afternoon as I watched her break the neck of a rooster for our supper. I was eight, I think, and had recently learned the truth about doppelganger ways. "Are we bad for killing?"
She looked at me in disgust. "You've been watching too much TV," she said, tossing me the limp bird to pluck. "That's a foolish question. The kind a human would ask."
"Well, are we?" I pressed.
"Is the tiger evil when it kills the zebra? Is the shark malicious for biting the swimmer? Does the bee sting out of wickedness?" she said.
I took her meaning. She felt it was our nature to kill -- nothing more, nothing less. And it's true, it's not like we doppelgangers want to take over the world or enslave the human race or anything like that. Far from it -- we prefer to live quietly, below the radar. Still, it troubled me. Not because I didn't believe her, but because I did. Because I believed a doppelganger was supposed to obey its nature. That's what bothered me. For even back then, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to live by killing. Not like her. Anyway, that's about it. There's only one other important thing to know about doppelgangers that I can think of. Since we keep to ourselves, we don't run into each other very often, but when we do, we know it. Even in human form, we can tell. It's like we can sniff each other out. If two doppelgangers of the same sex happen to meet, they'll more than likely ignore each other and move on. But if a heganger and sheganger come together, they're going to mate. It's practically unavoidable -- nature's way of ensuring the continuation of the species, I guess. My mother told me all about it not long before she kicked me out.
Continues...
Excerpted from Doppelganger by David Stahler Jr. Copyright © 2006 by David Stahler Jr.. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Overall a good book. The plot would somethimes get tangled with the romantic attempts--which were often and vaguely annoying--but it was there nonetheless. You really got a feel for the characters, and the author didn't skimp on emotion. But that may have been the problem. You could tell the book was written to get a point across. But it was less horror and more romance. When i picked the book up at a yardsale and read the back, i was expecting something scary, not cutsey. In any case, you feel for the characters, and th plot is at least moving. I,d take it or leave it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged."He" doesn't have a name. "He" isn't one of us. "His" species lives among ours without us even knowing. "He" is a monster. "He" is a doppelganger. A doppelganger is a shape shifter, but before a person can be copied, they must be dead.
Growing up, he lived in an isolated cabin in the woods with only his mother and television for company. He spent much of his time alone reading because his mother went out to change skins often. He never knew what she was going to look like when she came home. Finally, at the age of sixteen, his mother kicked him out. She didn't want to be tied down to him any more and felt he was old enough to take care of himself.
At first when he leaves the cabin he is frightened. He'd never killed before, but knew he couldn't survive looking like his true self. He hears a train in the distance and approaches it, not knowing what he'd find. A hobo, who isn't well, happens to be riding the rails. He puts his hands around the hobo's neck and kills him, then assumes his form, leaving the dead man on the train to be discovered later. He spends several weeks in the hobo's form, traveling from town to town, but when he stops in Bakersville his life takes a turn he's not prepared for.
While sitting by a fire on the edge of town as the hobo, he is approached by three high school boys who start to poke fun and be cruel to him. Two of the boys lose interest and leave because one boy in particular, Chris, starts to go over the line and looks like he is going to harm the hobo. Once the other two leave, "he" kills Chris, wraps his body in plastic, stuffs him in a storm drain, and assumes his shape. Once in Chris' skin, he heads back to meet the other two boys and goes home.
As Chris, he falls in love, feels some family attachment, and learns that humans can be monsters, too. Once you get into this story, you won't be able to put it down. David Stahler has written a fantastic young adult fantasy that will have you questioning the definition of good and evil.
Anonymous
Posted August 17, 2007
This is a truly magnificent book. I was torn by the main character's oddly human-like sentiments, and his over-powering instincts. The main character seems to be warring inside. The ending caught me off guard, which was interesting, since normally endings are easy to predict. All in all, an excellent book. I would highly recommend it to anyone of any age.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 21, 2007
¿He¿ doesn¿t have a name. ¿He¿ isn¿t one of us. ¿His¿ species lives among ours without us even knowing. ¿He¿ is a monster. ¿He¿ is a doppelganger. A doppelganger is a shape shifter, but before a person can be copied, they must be dead. Growing up, he lived in an isolated cabin in the woods with only his mother and television for company. He spent much of his time alone reading because his mother went out to change skins often. He never knew what she was going to look like when she came home. Finally, at the age of sixteen, his mother kicked him out. She didn¿t want to be tied down to him any more and felt he was old enough to take care of himself. At first when he leaves the cabin he is frightened. He¿d never killed before, but knew he couldn¿t survive looking like his true self. He hears a train in the distance and approaches it, not knowing what he¿d find. A hobo, who isn¿t well, happens to be riding the rails. He puts his hands around the hobo¿s neck and kills him, then assumes his form, leaving the dead man on the train to be discovered later. He spends several weeks in the hobo¿s form, traveling from town to town, but when he stops in Bakersville his life takes a turn he¿s not prepared for. While sitting by a fire on the edge of town as the hobo, he is approached by three high school boys who start to poke fun and be cruel to him. Two of the boys lose interest and leave because one boy in particular, Chris, starts to go over the line and looks like he is going to harm the hobo. Once the other two leave, ¿he¿ kills Chris, wraps his body in plastic, stuffs him in a storm drain, and assumes his shape. Once in Chris¿ skin, he heads back to meet the other two boys and goes home. As Chris, he falls in love, feels some family attachment, and learns that humans can be monsters, too. Once you get into this story, you won¿t be able to put it down. David Stahler has written a fantastic young adult fantasy that will have you questioning the definition of good and evil. **Reviewed by: Karin Perry
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 19, 2007
There doesnt seem to be many reviews. Unpopular book you think? Mabey... BUT ITS GREAT! Great book for anyone. Kept me up reading this till 4 AM. GET IT! its great.
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Posted August 31, 2006
Do not take the title the wrong way- I read this because I was looking for a good albeit scary horror/fantasy read. I didn't find it scary, but it was undoubtedly good. Instead of comparing it to other horror novels I have read, I would compare it to the realistic teen fiction genre (although the story is about a monster who murders people and invades their bodies)- books like Kevin Brooks' Candy and Looking for Alaska by John Green. The unique thing about this book is that the titular monster, described above, is the main character of the novel. His mental struggle between good and evil, and the ties to Shakespeare's Macbeth, are some of the most intelligent and interesting plot points, and although it might be excessively 'weird' for those who are not used to it, I found it extremely thought-provoking and touching. Not to mention that it is just a general good story, with enough romance and a little bit of gore to make it a worthwhile read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In their natural form they are hideous monsters who are shapeshifters taking the form of the person they kill. They have no conscience and they live among us without us being aware of it. They can¿t hold their assumed shape indefinitely so when they revert to their natural form they leave behind people who never know what happened to those who disappeared. One doppelganger (they have no names) has just been kicked out of his home by his mother and the first person he kills is a wino who wants to die. --- In that form he reaches Bakersville where a high school football star Chris Parker beats on him until he kills him and takes the teen¿s form. He takes over Chris¿ life and notices that ¿his¿ father verbally abuses and physically hits ¿his¿ younger sister Echo. He wonders who the real monster is as he tries to protect Echo and maintain a relationship with Amber who he has come to love. He makes a place for himself but he knows that it can¿t be permanent because he will shift back into his natural form soon. --- DOPPELGANGER is a fantastic young adult urban fantasy in which the one who calls himself a monster regrets what he has to do while his human ¿father¿ is the real fiend who abuses those he should cherish. The doppelganger is an interesting creature who is unlike the rest of his race because he doesn¿t like to kill, wants to know love and other good human emotions, and genuinely cares about the Parker females. Amber is his biggest regret because he knows that in the near future he will lose her but he also realizes ¿you¿ve got to accept the best of a bad situation¿, which in his case is his entire life. --- Harriet Klausner
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Overview
Doppelgangers are monsters, hardwired for murder.
They are not supposed to have doubts, but this one does. He wishes he could be different. More human, maybe. But even that can't stop him from killing people so he can take their places and live their lives. He has to do it; it's who he is.
But when the doppelganger murders a small-town teenager, assumes his shape, and takes over his life, he's shocked by the world he steps into. Engulfed in a whirlwind of peer pressure, messy family dynamics, and a provocative relationship with a beautiful girl, he quickly learns that there's ...