Miles Bennell, the novel's hero, is a product of this small town environment. Fond of Mill Valley, he has returned to its quiet ways to practice medicine. Despite his advanced degree, he is a modest, simple, honest, humorous, and easy-going individual, a fitting Everyman. Although he has never been challenged to perform heroically, he resists the pods and combats his transformed neighbors resourcefully and daringly. Bennell is a believable, endearing character who becomes a reliable narrator and interpreter of events.

Becky Driscoll, Bennell's girlfriend, has the same qualities. She aids Miles throughout his fight against the pods.

At times she slips into the stock role of the helpless female who faints, loses her shoe, or otherwise impedes the hero during a crisis.

Jack and Theodora Belicec are a mirror-image of Miles and Becky, although their characters are not well developed. Their role is to intensify the plot's conflicts...