What do you think?
Based on the television series The X Files created by Chris Carter. Based on the teleplay written by Marilyn Osborn.
A Killer Takes Shape
When rancher Jim Parker sees a snarling beast with blood-red eyes charging toward his son, he shoots it dead. But to his horror, the lifeless body is no wild animal. It's Joseph Goodensnake, a Trego Indian from the neighboring reservation.
It's a case that FBI Agent Fox Mulder can't resist. But when he and his partner Dana Scully begin to investigate, they're forced to a single conclusion: the Trego man and the wild beast are one and the same. Is there a more logical explanation - or have Mulder and Scully uncovered a terrifying tribal secret?
Cover photo by Michael Grecco
A Killer Takes Shape
When rancher Jim Parker sees a snarling beast with blood-red eyes charging toward his son, he shoots it dead. But to his horror, the lifeless body is no wild animal. It's Joseph Goodensnake, a Trego Indian from the neighboring reservation.
It's a case that FBI Agent Fox Mulder can't resist. But when he and his partner Dana Scully begin to investigate, they're forced to a single conclusion: the Trego man and the wild beast are one and the same. Is there a more logical explanation - or have Mulder and Scully uncovered a terrifying tribal secret?
Cover photo by Michael Grecco
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Ellen Steiber
45 books16 followersELLEN STEIBER is a horror and fantasy writer for both adults and children. Her books for young readers include SQUEEZE, SHADOW OF THE FOX, and TALES OF THE GROSS AND GRUESOME. She lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 9, 2026
Another of my favorite early episodes and a quick to the point novelization
January 21, 2015
FBI Agents Mulder and Scully travel to rural Montana to investigate a fatal shooting on a ranch bordering a Native American reservation. The shooting victim, a young Indian boy who was mistaken for a wild animal, may have possessed the ability to shape-shift into a lycanthropic beast—that's right, a werewolf—a phenomenon that was documented back in 1946, in the very first X-File.
Shapes is, more or less, a garden-variety werewolf tale blended with a heaping saltspoon of Native American folklore. The story is hardly original by today’s standards, and feels like an obligatory attempt at paying homage to one of the definitive stock monsters. No new ground is covered and, with the exception of silver bullets, most of the familiar werewolf tropes are safely accounted for. What's more, the story never bothers to subvert expectations. As soon as readers are made aware of Lyle Parker's wounds, the end-result of a werewolf attack, the realization is painfully obvious to anyone (except for the protagonists, of course) that Lyle is the new werewolf on the block.
The Native Americans’ suspicion and deep-seated acrimony toward Mulder and Scully proved more compelling than the unintentionally campy werewolf plot. Given the U.S. Government’s history of misconduct with respect to Native Americans, it’s no surprise that the locals are quick to mistrust our well-intentioned agents. Mulder is not oblivious to historical injustice, either, and proves successful in breaching the gap left from past bloodshed between our meddling Guv'ment and Native Americans. Mulder's repeated overtures to Tskany and Ish in the course of the investigation, his willingness to dispense with scientific rationale and westernized beliefs in favor of magic and mysticism, serves as an olive branch that is reservedly accepted.
One frustrating aspect of this story is the uncharacteristic depiction of Scully. Her dialogue near the beginning suggests that she’s out of touch with the common man as she apparently doesn't recognize such a commonplace term as “the creeps”. Additionally, her bullheaded insistence that the savage culprit was the caged mountain lion rather than the legendary Manitou is exasperating. Sure, one can attribute this to the darkness of the house and her disorientation from the attack, but let’s not forget how she disregards all of the obvious evidence throughout the story—the shed skin, the inexplicable tracks in the mud, and the animal fangs in Joe Goodensnake’s mouth that she laughably attributes to calcium deposits. Although fans are accustomed to Scully's token resistance to Mulder's outrageous theories, but here it seems entirely forced and unbelievable.
While Shapes is rather stale around the edges and lacking in bite, this moody werewolf tale is still a roadworthy venture for any young readers of monster fiction.
Shapes is, more or less, a garden-variety werewolf tale blended with a heaping saltspoon of Native American folklore. The story is hardly original by today’s standards, and feels like an obligatory attempt at paying homage to one of the definitive stock monsters. No new ground is covered and, with the exception of silver bullets, most of the familiar werewolf tropes are safely accounted for. What's more, the story never bothers to subvert expectations. As soon as readers are made aware of Lyle Parker's wounds, the end-result of a werewolf attack, the realization is painfully obvious to anyone (except for the protagonists, of course) that Lyle is the new werewolf on the block.
The Native Americans’ suspicion and deep-seated acrimony toward Mulder and Scully proved more compelling than the unintentionally campy werewolf plot. Given the U.S. Government’s history of misconduct with respect to Native Americans, it’s no surprise that the locals are quick to mistrust our well-intentioned agents. Mulder is not oblivious to historical injustice, either, and proves successful in breaching the gap left from past bloodshed between our meddling Guv'ment and Native Americans. Mulder's repeated overtures to Tskany and Ish in the course of the investigation, his willingness to dispense with scientific rationale and westernized beliefs in favor of magic and mysticism, serves as an olive branch that is reservedly accepted.
One frustrating aspect of this story is the uncharacteristic depiction of Scully. Her dialogue near the beginning suggests that she’s out of touch with the common man as she apparently doesn't recognize such a commonplace term as “the creeps”. Additionally, her bullheaded insistence that the savage culprit was the caged mountain lion rather than the legendary Manitou is exasperating. Sure, one can attribute this to the darkness of the house and her disorientation from the attack, but let’s not forget how she disregards all of the obvious evidence throughout the story—the shed skin, the inexplicable tracks in the mud, and the animal fangs in Joe Goodensnake’s mouth that she laughably attributes to calcium deposits. Although fans are accustomed to Scully's token resistance to Mulder's outrageous theories, but here it seems entirely forced and unbelievable.
While Shapes is rather stale around the edges and lacking in bite, this moody werewolf tale is still a roadworthy venture for any young readers of monster fiction.
October 18, 2025
Sama fabuła to walka wilkołacza, także nic ciekawego, a właściwie suuuper nudy. Jednakże!
To dziadostwo popchnęło mnie do poczytania o rezerwatach Indian, ich historii z białasami roszczącymi sobie prawo do wszystkiego i o ich religii/wierzeniach. I za to popchnięcie książka dostaje plusa. A drugiego za taki cytat, który idealnie oddaje obieg życia:
"Kiedy się żyje na wsi, blisko natury, człowiek zaczyna rozumieć zasady. Narodziny. Śmierć. I wszystko, co jest pomiędzy nimi."
To dziadostwo popchnęło mnie do poczytania o rezerwatach Indian, ich historii z białasami roszczącymi sobie prawo do wszystkiego i o ich religii/wierzeniach. I za to popchnięcie książka dostaje plusa. A drugiego za taki cytat, który idealnie oddaje obieg życia:
"Kiedy się żyje na wsi, blisko natury, człowiek zaczyna rozumieć zasady. Narodziny. Śmierć. I wszystko, co jest pomiędzy nimi."
April 29, 2018
A nice short book to read during the 24hr read-a-thon.
October 29, 2019
A good, short read. Considering it’s such a short book, I got bored with the storyline way too much.
March 16, 2024
3 e mezzo.
Bel racconto!
Bel racconto!
March 28, 2024
I'm starting to believe (ha!) that they'll never have a moment of peace in these adventures.
September 23, 2025
Jestem fanką. Nie jakąś wielką, ale wciąż. To takie niezobowiązujące, a jednak wciągające.
March 16, 2026
Great episode well told here. The characterisation of Mulder and Scully was spot on and I’d love to see a real analysis of some of the native lore they drop but I had a good time with the mystery.
September 11, 2026
Good idea but the outcome was way too obvious
October 17, 2019
This is an ok adaptation of a classic early episode. It stuck very close to the episode so felt in places like reading audio description. It isn’t amazing literature but it is a good adaptation, its listed as a middle grade book and that seems about right.
December 29, 2016
This books is a literal write-up of the nineteenth episode of season 1. 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.
July 6, 2015
FBI Agents Mulder and Scully visit Montana to investigate a mysterious killing. The rancher who shot and killed a man, claims he was attacked by a red-eyed beast. However, the body is clearly a Trego Indian from a neighboring reservation. Might the Trego man and the wild beast be one and the same? Do shapeshifting manitous exist? Mulder and Scully try and find the truth. Fans of the show will enjoy.
August 1, 2015
Looks like marginal episodes make for great adaptations. I was really impressed with how enjoyable this version of the episode "Shapes" was. It felt a little more well-rounded than I remember its television counterpart to be. The author managed to give small insights into the characters and situations without walking all over the existing script which is commendable and made for a compelling retelling.
I have a craving to go watch the episode and read X-Files: Year Zero again.
I have a craving to go watch the episode and read X-Files: Year Zero again.
February 6, 2017
Un 2,5. La trama se desvela demasiado lentamente de manera que es bastante predecible. Tan solo te sorprende en el final, aunque tampoco sea nada del otro mundo. Un aprobado, sin más.
July 4, 2016
Sem perder a dinâmica dos outros livros da série, o livro aborda a lenda indígena do manitu, um ser meio homem meio animal, aterrorizando uma zona rural em montana.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews