The Search for Snout
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Bruce Coville |
| Products | Novels, audiobooks |
The Search For Snout, released in 1995, represents the third installment in the Rod Albright Alien Adventures collection authored by American writer Bruce Coville. In the United Kingdom, it was published under the title Aliens Stole My Dad, reflecting that 'snout' is a British colloquial term for tobacco.
The audiobook version is voiced by American actor Vincent Marzello.
Plot summary
The Search For Snout picks up directly from the events of the preceding novel. Introducing Rod's Earth-based mother to the Galactic Patrol crew aboard the vessel Ferkel and explaining the mission to locate his partly extraterrestrial father proves challenging. The situation escalates when BKR, a menacing alien villain, breaks free by commandeering the Merkel, the sister ship of the Ferkel, while being transported to incarceration. The crew of the Ferkel is assigned to apprehend him once more.
After seeking counsel from Smorkus Flinders, a muscular alien native to Dimension X, and uncovering details about BKR’s intentions, Rod receives communication from his friend Snout, an expert in mental disciplines. Motivated by this contact, Grakker—the commander of the ship—chooses to defy Galactic Patrol directives and sets course for the Mentat, a vast botanical educational institution where Snout was trained, hoping to gather information about their lost companion. During their voyage, Grakker recounts his past connections with both Snout and BKR. Smorkus Flinders awakens from suspended animation and captures all crew members except Elspeth (Rod’s human cousin), who manages their rescue. During the confrontation, Rod’s chibling sustains injuries.
Rod discovers that his chibling has progressed into its third developmental phase: dividing into two separate entities named Seymour—a conscious, blue, multi-limbed creature containing their shared brain—and Edgar, who maintains their original form but with diminished sentience.
At Mentat, the governing 'Head' Council is unable to offer direct assistance but reveals that Rod’s telepathic bond with Snout originates from prior brain-to-brain training sessions. They interrogate Smorkus Flinders and establish contact with BKR but are unable to provide help concerning the Ferkada mentioned by Snout. They commit to attempting a cure to restore Smorkus Flinders to his Normal state.
Subsequently, Mentat security forces detain Rod, Elspeth, and their crew under orders from Galactic Patrol. They are liberated by Selima Khan, another of Snout’s colleagues from Mentat. In subterranean caves beneath Mentat, Rod uncovers an ancient carving depicting his father. Selima discloses that BKR and Smorkus Flinders intend to exploit a black hole to trigger a bomb capable of disrupting space-time and halting time itself—an act requiring Rod’s brain for reasons yet unknown. Acting on a solitary message alongside Seymour and Edgar, Rod ventures inside a colossal stone creature where he finds Snout fading away beside his father.
Rod’s father—Ah-Rit Alber Ite (Arthur "Art" Albright)—reveals his origins dating back 35,000 years on Atlantis and recounts his history with BKR. He confesses that he concealed vital information linked to BKR’s scheme within Rod's brain. BKR arrives accompanied by Smorkus Flinders demanding this intelligence. The Ferkel intervenes; a standoff ensues with BKR holding Ah-Rit hostage and threatening harm unless Rod and the data are surrendered.
A resolution unfolds: Ah-Rit is released onto the Ferkel, Rod is handed over to BKR, and Snout transfers Rod’s mental contents—including essential data—into Seymour, effectively creating two minds within one body. BKR departs with possession of Rod’s physical form. Afterwards, Snout explains his disappearance resulted from exploring Dimension X and confronting an extremely hostile entity, possibly Smorkus Flinders himself.