For my book, I chose The Beyonders (1977) by Manly Wade Wellman, an American author born in Portuguese West Africa, who spent most of his adult life in North Carolina. The novel describes the attempted invasion/arrival of an alien race known as the “Beyonders” and the humans that fight against them. The Beyonders have a clan of allies on Earth, the Kimber family, who reminded me of the Cullen family in Twilight because of their reclusive habits and their comfort with the esoteric. At its heart, this novel is an alien invasion story, but there is the added layer of “invasion” by a slick out-of-towner (also an ally of the Beyonders) who wants to transform the poor, sleepy town of Sky Notch, North Carolina, into a wealthy hub for science and technology.
Wellman did a good job subtly discussing class in the apt dual invasion by both true aliens and the city-slicker who tries to turn the townspeople against each other for his own selfish gain. The author’s faith in humanity was an unexpected treat. On the other hand, he does glorify a stereotypical, tough, stoic masculinity that defends itself with guns; if you’re looking for a feminist story, this is not it. There is a female character with an important role, but they continually call her kind of a nickname that stems from not wanting to say her real name (“Slowly” instead of “Celola” because it’s “easier” to say); I’m not sure what to make of this.
I chose this story because I wanted to read a piece that had strong ties to its setting. Southern Gothic is one of my favorite genres of literature, and from the synopsis, The Beyonders appeared to borrow from that tradition. Michelle also helped me solidify my choice by recognizing him primarily as a horror writer—another indication that this might inherit from the genre. In general, the text matches those expectations. I would recommend this book, then, if you’re looking for a quick, fun read about defeating some aliens who want to exterminate an Appalachian town.
Wellman, Manly Wade. The Beyonders. Warner Books, 1977.
