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The X-Files: Young Adult #9
Hungry Ghosts
It is Yu Lan in San Francisco's Chinatown, the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts -- a time of year when offerings are made to appease the ghosts roaming the earth. Only this time several murders have occurred, and the last victim left behind one the Chinese character meaning ghost. Locals fear that perhaps the Hungry Ghosts have not been appeased, and are seeking revenge. But when Special Agents Mulder and Scully are asked to investigate, they stumble upon a deadly lottery run by a secret society of Chinese immigrants. The winner receives a large sum of money -- but the cost of losing could mean death.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2017
“How many dishes do you have to break before your boss tosses you in an oven?” – Mulder on Johnny Lo’s death (p.21)
Hungry Ghosts, a young-adult novelization of The X-Files episode titled “Hell Money”, is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. FBI Agents Mulder and Scully, with the seemingly reluctant help of a young detective named Chao, investigate several macabre murders of recent Chinese immigrants, only to stumble upon a deadly lottery and the clandestine selling of body parts.
Unlike most other X-Files stories, Hungry Ghosts takes an especially mundane form. There are neither aliens nor otherworldly phenomena found in this story, and despite the book’s title the only ghosts that haunt the narrative are allegorical. In addition to the surprising lack of supernatural elements, readers may find themselves frustrated by the case’s lack of resolution, the inability of the police to bring the nefarious Doctor Yip to justice, and the ineffectual work by Mulder and Scully whose involvement had absolutely zero impact on the investigation. Here, the agents seem to exist as ineffective witnesses to the plot’s horrific goings-on rather than as active participants.
As an adaptation, the book is entirely faithful to the episode, the largely unremarkable dialogue unchanged, with only one added scene to help give readers adequate information about Chinese folklore. I would’ve preferred to see the author delve more into the conflicted Detective Glen Chao, the only interesting character found in this installment. I see a missed opportunity on the author’s part to reveal more of Chao’s internal thoughts and moral conflicts, Detective Chao is a compelling albeit corrupt character who finally gains the courage to stand up for something right and to make a moral decision—and ultimately winds up being burnt alive for his efforts.
Overall, this book is a fairly superficial adaptation of a thin and often overlooked episode. Although not a memorable excursion, readers should find the underlying plot and its themes of human desperation, exploitation, and Chinese folklore intriguing.
One final note about the book’s captivating front cover, which is arguably my favorite from the series. Cover artist Cliff Nielsen uses a cool, ethereal style in each of his eye-catching cover pieces that outstandingly conveys the episode's principle themes and motifs. A treat for the eyes!
Hungry Ghosts, a young-adult novelization of The X-Files episode titled “Hell Money”, is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. FBI Agents Mulder and Scully, with the seemingly reluctant help of a young detective named Chao, investigate several macabre murders of recent Chinese immigrants, only to stumble upon a deadly lottery and the clandestine selling of body parts.
Unlike most other X-Files stories, Hungry Ghosts takes an especially mundane form. There are neither aliens nor otherworldly phenomena found in this story, and despite the book’s title the only ghosts that haunt the narrative are allegorical. In addition to the surprising lack of supernatural elements, readers may find themselves frustrated by the case’s lack of resolution, the inability of the police to bring the nefarious Doctor Yip to justice, and the ineffectual work by Mulder and Scully whose involvement had absolutely zero impact on the investigation. Here, the agents seem to exist as ineffective witnesses to the plot’s horrific goings-on rather than as active participants.
As an adaptation, the book is entirely faithful to the episode, the largely unremarkable dialogue unchanged, with only one added scene to help give readers adequate information about Chinese folklore. I would’ve preferred to see the author delve more into the conflicted Detective Glen Chao, the only interesting character found in this installment. I see a missed opportunity on the author’s part to reveal more of Chao’s internal thoughts and moral conflicts, Detective Chao is a compelling albeit corrupt character who finally gains the courage to stand up for something right and to make a moral decision—and ultimately winds up being burnt alive for his efforts.
Overall, this book is a fairly superficial adaptation of a thin and often overlooked episode. Although not a memorable excursion, readers should find the underlying plot and its themes of human desperation, exploitation, and Chinese folklore intriguing.
One final note about the book’s captivating front cover, which is arguably my favorite from the series. Cover artist Cliff Nielsen uses a cool, ethereal style in each of his eye-catching cover pieces that outstandingly conveys the episode's principle themes and motifs. A treat for the eyes!
May 28, 2025
Фестивалът на Гладните духове в Китайският квартал на Сан Франциско е време, през което местните почитат своите мъртъвци, като им оставят различни дарове опитвайки се да ги омилостивят. Зачестилите смъртни случаи сред китайските емигранти привличат вниманието на агентите на ФБР Мълдър и Скъли, а последната жертва - млад китаец, изписва думата “ДУХ”, преди да изгори жив. С помощта на местният полицай Чао, Мълдър и Скъли ще трябва да разкрият нелегална лотария, организирана от китайски имигранти, както и да спрат търговията с човешки органи.
Гладни духове е новела, предназначена за юноши, дълга малко над стотина страници, която се чете на няколко сядания. В основата на сюжета са трудностите, които китайските емигранти срещат при пристигането си в Америка, бедността, отчаянието, манипулацията за лесни пари, които често се оказват кървави пари. Елън Стайбър е автор, който се придържа дословно към сценария на дадения епизод от поредицата, за който пише, така че липсва всякаква дълбочина на героите и детайлите около случаят. Сюжета се придържа дословно към адаптацията на епизода от Досиетата Х, който като цяло е по-скучен от други. В тази част не е засегната темата за извънземни, тайни правителствени организации или мистериозни серийни убийци, а свръхестествената нишка служи само за параван. Въпреки всичко разказът носи характерната призрачна атмосфера на култовият сериал, от който ме побиваха тръпки след всеки епизод.
Гладни духове е новела, предназначена за юноши, дълга малко над стотина страници, която се чете на няколко сядания. В основата на сюжета са трудностите, които китайските емигранти срещат при пристигането си в Америка, бедността, отчаянието, манипулацията за лесни пари, които често се оказват кървави пари. Елън Стайбър е автор, който се придържа дословно към сценария на дадения епизод от поредицата, за който пише, така че липсва всякаква дълбочина на героите и детайлите около случаят. Сюжета се придържа дословно към адаптацията на епизода от Досиетата Х, който като цяло е по-скучен от други. В тази част не е засегната темата за извънземни, тайни правителствени организации или мистериозни серийни убийци, а свръхестествената нишка служи само за параван. Въпреки всичко разказът носи характерната призрачна атмосфера на култовият сериал, от който ме побиваха тръпки след всеки епизод.
April 10, 2018
Hungry ghosts solidified my feelings for this series. I picked this book up expecting the same thing that the previous 8 had given me. A very lackluster read, following the same formula as every single other x-files book. Maybe for the first three it was intriguing but on my 9th go at this same formulaic book, I don't know if I can read any more of these.
The story takes place in Yu Lan Hui in San Francisco's Chinatown, during the time of year where offerings are made to please the ghosts roaming the earth, much like the Spanish Mardi Gras called "The Festival of Hungry Ghosts". This time, however, several murders have occurred and the last victim left behind a message, the Chinese character meaning ghost. Locals are afraid that maybe the Hungry Ghosts have not been pleased and want revenge.When Special Agents Mulder and Scully are asked to investigate, they find a deadly lottery run by a secret society of Chinese immigrants. In which the winner of the game receives a lot of money, but if you lose, you could lose your life.
I think that Ellen Steiber did a really good job creating the story and immersing the reader in the story.
However, I think that I've become bored of the X-Files formula of book. I think that the authors of these stories need to vary how the story is set up more. You can guess what is going to happen at almost every moment, because of this, reading as many as I have, and in the short amount of time that I have, I've kind of lost interest in the series as a whole because of how formulaic it is. I think it's time for me to pick up a new series and new style of book.
The story takes place in Yu Lan Hui in San Francisco's Chinatown, during the time of year where offerings are made to please the ghosts roaming the earth, much like the Spanish Mardi Gras called "The Festival of Hungry Ghosts". This time, however, several murders have occurred and the last victim left behind a message, the Chinese character meaning ghost. Locals are afraid that maybe the Hungry Ghosts have not been pleased and want revenge.When Special Agents Mulder and Scully are asked to investigate, they find a deadly lottery run by a secret society of Chinese immigrants. In which the winner of the game receives a lot of money, but if you lose, you could lose your life.
I think that Ellen Steiber did a really good job creating the story and immersing the reader in the story.
However, I think that I've become bored of the X-Files formula of book. I think that the authors of these stories need to vary how the story is set up more. You can guess what is going to happen at almost every moment, because of this, reading as many as I have, and in the short amount of time that I have, I've kind of lost interest in the series as a whole because of how formulaic it is. I think it's time for me to pick up a new series and new style of book.
March 27, 2018
Hungry Ghosts is a novelization of the "Hell Money" episode, where Chinese men play a deadly lottery in an attempt to win potential millions in cash to make a better life for themselves and their family, all from the luck of the draw.
If the draw reveals a tile that is not the game-winning piece, the tile calls for the donation of various organs to be sold taken from the "winner" and sold on the black market. Once a man enters the game, he can never get out until he wins or dies. To ensure that the "condemned" players stay in the game, an evil doctor and three Chinese ghosts make certain the players don't skip out, all with the help of an unexpected source to help protect their secret society.
Mulder and Scully must figure out who is behind the killings and why as they find bodies in a crematorium and a grave meant for someone else.
If the draw reveals a tile that is not the game-winning piece, the tile calls for the donation of various organs to be sold taken from the "winner" and sold on the black market. Once a man enters the game, he can never get out until he wins or dies. To ensure that the "condemned" players stay in the game, an evil doctor and three Chinese ghosts make certain the players don't skip out, all with the help of an unexpected source to help protect their secret society.
Mulder and Scully must figure out who is behind the killings and why as they find bodies in a crematorium and a grave meant for someone else.
April 4, 2024
Decent quick read
February 25, 2012
Festival of the Hungry Ghosts which is a time when people give stuff like food and hell money to please the ghosts roaming the earth.But several murders have happened,and the last victim left behind a clue. So that's when daddadad Special Agents Mulder and Scully investigate they find a life lottery run by chinese immigrants. And the one who wins, wins a large number of money. But if you lose it could mean losing your life.
It was fun quick read but I did not realize it was a child's book. Like youth. I thought it was adult , Xfiles. But still it was still good and on the edge of seat!!! Great. Lol
It was fun quick read but I did not realize it was a child's book. Like youth. I thought it was adult , Xfiles. But still it was still good and on the edge of seat!!! Great. Lol
March 31, 2011
I like my book because the story was slow read and then fast. It was challenging to find the clues of the crime. It is mystery book. The book is about an evil ghost and some humans that work with the evil ghost. My favorite part of the story was when a man opened the chest of cursed money in a bar and then the evil ghost killed him with the evil ghost's secret power weapon.
April 1, 2014
All these X Files books are taken from the series that was on TV in the 90's. Most of the tales I remember but not this one. I did enjoy the tale and it makes a change not to have any swearing or violence (they were billed as kids' books after all)
I believe I'm at the end of the run now with Hungry Ghosts. A shame as they were an enjoyable aside from a more in depth and longer novel.
I believe I'm at the end of the run now with Hungry Ghosts. A shame as they were an enjoyable aside from a more in depth and longer novel.
August 1, 2014
it as nice book
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews