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The molecule Men

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The Molecule Men" by Sir Fred Hoyle and Mr. Geoffrey Hoyle is a most entertaining read. The main characteristic of the novels written by the Hoyles is that their science fiction generally has tremendous credibility in that they display clear linkages to science fact. However, when we see the villain of the piece, R. A. Adcock turn into a swarm of bees, then, at other parts in the story, into a white Pyrenean dog and afterwards, a white elephant, the reader could well be forgiven for a reaction which entailed the utterance "aw come on!" This expression of disbelief is soon abated when the main character in the story, Dr. John West, explains to Inspector Harrison that chemically a human being can be represented by a bag of coal, half a dozen cylinders of liquid air, a sack full of garden soil and a tank of water. Nature makes the oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and various other minerals into a human being by arranging these elements in the appropriate order. The plan for all living creatures is the genetic code. The materials remain the same, only they are used and arranged in different ways. Adcock represents a creature which has the ability to change its set of genetic instructions and so transform itself into any living creature. After this explanation, we soon ditch our initial "aw come on".

The Hoyles never fail to take a swipe at government and officialdom in their novels, and in this regard, "The Molecule Men" is no exception. The white elephant stomping around London and making its way to Westminster is an obvious metaphor representing the Hoyles' attitude towards the political establishment.

John West eventually discovers that the extraterrestrials have invaded the minds and bodies of the world's main political leaders - the British Prime Minister, The President of the USSR, the President of the USA and Chairman Mau. West explained to Adcock that he and his cohorts' fastening of themselves on to a few key political leaders would not give them the power which they so desired as the real decisions and real momentum for change came much further down the rungs of society. It was this explanation that eventually proved to be John West's undoing for when Adcock realised that West represented the level at which real power lay, West was singled out for invasion and would himself become a molecule man.

When we look at the four political leaders' strange and bizarre behaviour caused by Adcock's invasion of their minds, and then compare this with the conduct of present day politicians, we can be forgiven for wondering if there are not many R. A. Adcocks wandering around the world today!

There are in fact two novels contained in the book's overall title "The Molecule Men". The second one is entitled "The Monster of Loch Ness". In this story, the authors give us a taste of true Scottish culture as they write about such things as freak weather conditions, a ceilidh and a kelpie. The main character, Tom Cochrane is a retired Edinburgh University geography lecturer. Through Cochrane, the Hoyles articulate their displeasure at the way the education industry has developed since the 1960s. They talk about long-haired bedraggled students who have no individuality and who have no real interest in the subjects they are studying, their main reason for undertaking degree courses being merely to obtain the inevitable "piece of paper" in order to increase their chances of gaining employment. In his book "Man in the Universe" ( 1966 ) Sir Fred Hoyle referred to this as "meal ticket" education.

The most surprising thing about this story is that the Hoyles have a completely different take on what the legendary Loch Ness Monster actually is. No doubt most readers' anticipation of the Loch Ness phenomenon is of some gigantic, pre-historic, dinosaur type creature emerging terrifyingly from the depths of Loch Ness and frightening the wits out of all and sundry in its vicinity. However, the Hoyles present the mystery of Loch Ness as a form of extraterrestrial life which wanted the loch's waters to re-charge itself.

The extraterrestrial dimension to the Loch Ness Monster may, like the molecule men, seem somewhat fantastical until we consider the traditional idea of "Nessie" from the point of view of the biological constraints nature imposes on ecosystems. There would have to be many "Nessies". Over the centuries there would be an exponential growth in the family of monsters inhabiting the loch. The resources of the loch's ecosystem would plainly and simply be insufficient to sustain creatures of such physical proportions. Although the mystery surrounding Loch Ness is unlikely to be connected to extraterrestrial activity, an explanation of the Loch Ness phenomenon will have to be sought in areas which exclude the traditional idea of exotic pre-historic monsters.

From the flyleaf: "Dr. John West, Cambridge don and private investigator, was present at the trial of an odd duck, R. A. Adcock, who was being most uncooperative in answering questions about a bank robbery. At length, Adcock had made a dash for it from the courtroom -- through a glass window, and what should have been a three-story drop to the street. But suddenly Adcock just wasn't there, and at once a swarm of bees came into the courtroom. Thus begins THE MOLECULE MEN, which takes many fascinating and terrifying turns to it's chilling conclusion. In the second story, THE MONSTER OF LOCH NESS, Tom Cochrane, an independent scientist, determines to find out why the waters of Loch Ness are inexplicably warming up. What was it taht cuased the waters of the loch to pour up into the air like the worst rainstorm any one of the observers had ever seen. What was at the bottom of the loch? These two short novels by a celebrated father-and-son team will hold the interest of the science fiction fan from page one on."