Needle

A thrilling and unique science fiction novel, Hal Clement's 'Needle' plunges Earth into an interstellar manhunt. Two sentient, non-corporeal alien beings crash-land in the Pacific Ocean after a cosmic chase. One is an interstellar hunter, tasked with apprehending a dangerous criminal from his own kind. The other is the quarry himself—a ruthless extraterrestrial fugitive. Both entities are unable to exist independently and must inhabit a host body to survive. The hunter inadvertently possesses a human boy, Bob Kinnaird, who quickly realizes the alien presence within him. Forced into an unlikely partnership, Bob and the alien hunter, whom Bob dubs 'The Hunter,' must learn to communicate and cooperate. Their mission: to track down the insidious alien criminal before it can inflict damage upon humanity, all while navigating the complexities of their symbiotic existence and keeping their secret from the rest of the world. It's a masterclass in scientific deduction and an inventive take on first contact.