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A review by davidr
Anthill by Edward O. Wilson
4.0
So, how can a novel also be a book about science, biology, and environmentalism? Edward O. Wilson, eminent biologist, researcher, environmentalist, and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author has managed. This is a coming-of-age story about a boy named Raff, who grows up in southern Alabama, at the edge of a piece of wilderness known as the Nokobee tract. He grows up loving this wilderness area, and visits frequently, studying the plants and wildlife that thrive there. His relatives don't quite understand the fascination he feels for the region, but tolerate his interests and activities.
The middle section of the book is unlike any novel I've ever read. It is titled "The Anthill Chronicles", and gives a detailed history of the ant colonies in the region, totally from the ants' point of view. Wilson is an expert on ants, and this section is supposed to be a summary of Raff's first-hand research. It is a memorable history, that shows how ant society is eerily reminiscent of human society; workers, soldiers, celebrities, scouts, carrying on the business of the anthill; gathering food, competitions for status, and fighting wars. The parallels with humans are not explicitly pointed out, but they are remarkable.
It's interesting that many of the characters' actions in the story are explained from a naturalist's point of view. They are "pre-ordained" by their genetic programming, and free will is not really an option. The writing style is just a tad stilted, and the story is a bit pollyanish up until the last few chapters. But I enjoyed the book, not only for the descriptions of nature, but also for the insights into the Southern characters and their class-conscious lives. In a vivid monologue, Raff's father tells his son all about his philosophy and code of ethics, and how he expects his son to act. His code is that of a Southern gentleman, and he sums it up:
The middle section of the book is unlike any novel I've ever read. It is titled "The Anthill Chronicles", and gives a detailed history of the ant colonies in the region, totally from the ants' point of view. Wilson is an expert on ants, and this section is supposed to be a summary of Raff's first-hand research. It is a memorable history, that shows how ant society is eerily reminiscent of human society; workers, soldiers, celebrities, scouts, carrying on the business of the anthill; gathering food, competitions for status, and fighting wars. The parallels with humans are not explicitly pointed out, but they are remarkable.
Spoiler
In the third section of the book, Raff does something totally inexplicable to those who know him well. He becomes a lawyer, and gets hired as a legal counsel to a development company that wants to buy up the Nokobee tract, and replace the wilderness with condos and strip malls. Raff has a secret plan, but keeps it secret from everyone.It's interesting that many of the characters' actions in the story are explained from a naturalist's point of view. They are "pre-ordained" by their genetic programming, and free will is not really an option. The writing style is just a tad stilted, and the story is a bit pollyanish up until the last few chapters. But I enjoyed the book, not only for the descriptions of nature, but also for the insights into the Southern characters and their class-conscious lives. In a vivid monologue, Raff's father tells his son all about his philosophy and code of ethics, and how he expects his son to act. His code is that of a Southern gentleman, and he sums it up:
Never lie or cheat. Never ever hit a woman. Never hit a smaller man, if you can keep from doing it, Raff. Never hit anyone first, but never back down when you know you're in the right.