Tiger, Tiger!

The X-Files: Middle Grade #3

by Les Martin

When an elephant runs amok in Idaho, Agent Fox Mulder picks up the scent of aliens at work and takes his partner Dana Scully with him on a trail that gets hotter at every turn. The trail leads them to a tiger that melts through iron bars to spread terror with tooth and claw

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Supernatural

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Les Martin has written dozens of books for young readers, including the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM movie storybooks, and many Young Indiana Jones middle-grade novels. He has also adapted many classic works of fiction for young readers, including THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, EDGAR ALLAN POE'S TALES OF TERROR, and THE VAMPIRE. Mr. Martin is a resident of New York City.

Reviews

[Stephen the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tiger, Tiger, a young-adult novelization of The X-Files episode titled “Fearful Symmetry,” is a poignant story that follows Agents Mulder and Scully as they investigate the trampling death of a federal construction worker by an escaped elephant—an invisible elephant, as witnesses claim. Further exploration reveals an impoverished Idaho zoo in danger of losing funding, a barbaric zookeeper, irreverent animal activists, a lowland gorilla capable of communicating in ASL, and strange animal disappearances that mayhaps be the machinations of alien conservationists.

Both the episode and book titles are a reference to the memorable poem by William Blake, published in his Songs of Experience collection (the 1790s). The poem, "Tyger, Tyger" functions as a contrasting companion to "The Lamb" (found in same collection), signifying the baleful intensity and ferociousness of the tiger beside the innocence and childlike wonder of the lamb, philosophically inquiring as to the creator(s) identity. These titles are interesting choices for a story that illustrates both the inherent dangers of certain animals—it's no mere happenstance that a Bengal tiger mauls an animal-rights activist—and their meeker side; namely, the hopeless efforts of Sophie the Gorilla to save her unborn child as well as her mercifulness toward Mulder when he becomes trapped in a container with the benevolent creature.

This book is one of author Les Martin's better adaptations, considering many of his X-Files novelizations fall flat as a result of uncharacteristic dialogue and unnecessarily dumbing-down the intellectual language to point of absurdity. In this case, however, Martin satisfactorily captures the evocative nature of the episode, of which can be a difficult read for bleeding-hearts like myself with a soft spot for animals. Much like the cattle mutilations, animal abduction phenomena is a largely unexplored facet of alien lore. Tiger, Tiger not only showcases man's inhumanity towards beast but also sees several majestic zoo animals killed after being spirited away in enigmatic bright light and returned miles from the zoo. It's suggested that the aliens are engineering their own version of Noah’s Ark by preserving those species endangered by mankind’s recklessness. The story’s obvious stance on human encroachment and the need to preserve such magnificent creatures from certain extinction reflects the moral intuition of many, I believe, which proves to be a saving grace for this under-cooked story and, ultimately, mediocre read.

Tiger, Tiger features a host of compelling ideas and issues regarding animal rights and planetary stewardship that are sadly undeveloped. The plight of the zoo animals will tug at readers' heartstrings, but the meandering plot and half-baked attempt at diegetic depth sadly amounts to little more than a clumsy, overambitious installment. Like such unrefined episodes as "Space" and "Genderbender", "Fearful Symmetry" trades on the series' alien mythos without directly linking itself to the over-arching conspiracy. To be fair, The X-Files was in the midst of its sophomore season and still endeavoring to hit its stride. Readers will likely appreciate the book’s unexplained, open-ended resolution. The motives of these apparent extraterrestrial conservationists is never revealed, leaving an appropriate degree of mystery and wonder that will linger in the minds of readers after the final page. In short, a fairly respectable adaptation of a B-movie premise.

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean who doesn't like invisible zoo animals and aliens?

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surpreendentemente melhor na releitura

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more convoluted than the previous two but still a solid adaptation. I’m finding this series such a quick bit of fun I’m excited to read the rest if I can find them.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA adaptation of an episode that I can't recall seeing, though you'd think an invisible elephant and a talking gorilla would stick in the mind. Brilliantly odd and kitsch.

[Cuppiesaur · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this is from an episode, but holy fuck - this shit is sad as hell. It's not a bad reading, I just expect the others are not from sad sad sad saaaad episodes.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at a thrift store and remember being young, watching the show and being scared; I don't remember seeing this episode, but was a fun read! Poor animals though and were the zoo employees named after authors?

[Brent C Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was OK. It started well, but the book ends with a big, unanswered question. I know the X-Files is supposed to have a lot of paranormal, unanswered questions, but in this case, the unanswered question bothered me to the point I could only give it 3 stars.

[LealooDallas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that these books are written for teens but they are just a joy to read through. Another great episode of the X files that I could visualise so clearly as I read it.
An enjoyable quick read which made me feel very sad

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed. Not enough substance. Had the x-factor.

[Dorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elephants, tigers, a Gorilla that uses sign language. ...will Mulder & Scully find an explanation for the terror going on at the Fairfield Idaho Zoo..?

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sad ending. A good easy read.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short book. Interesting storyline

[Nika ;) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo ciekawe, wciągające.

[Maria Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Questo è troppo anche per gli X files 😆

[Gloo The third · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those poor animals :/

[Sharknado Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not my fav from this series maybe bc I am very sensitive to animals suffering so if you also have this trigger don't read it!

[Regalia Lenzi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zabawa w berka z zooterrorystami, zwierzątkami i rozumem. Mało naszego duetu, duuużo o faunie, a sama zagadka Słonia i zawartości nudna. Baaardzo nudne.

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is a literal write-up of the eighteenth episode of season 2. It was easy to read and told the story accurately. I would say this is a 'bare bones' write-up in that there is little to no embellishment upon what was shown on screen. There may be a bit more clarity regarding what a character is thinking at any particular moment, but nothing that couldn't be inferred. The only advantages to reading the book rather than just watching the show is that the dialogue is easily readable and not muffled by mumbling actors and it can be read on and off anywhere. At barely over 100 pages it can even be read in the time taken to watch it.

[Halcyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shorter story, the written version of the episode Fearful Summetry, one of the episodes that stayed with me the most throughout the years.

It doesn't contribute much extra to the episode, though.

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Een korter verhaal, de uitgeschreven versie (123 pagina's, een zeer duidelijk lettertype) van de aflevering Fearful Symmetry van deze tv-serie.

Er is niet echt iets nieuws in dit boek dat niet in de aflevering was.

[Cupof Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"cyclical" was my best one word description of this book in junior high.

[Salome · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not everything one sees in a TV show can be seen in a written form too...

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mais uma vez, a ótima adaptação do roteiro em livro permite dizer o que somente a imagem não fala. Uma história intrigante, mas que falha um pouco em algumas amarras. Ainda assim, excelente diversão.