EMPIRE OF THE ANTS

NOW, THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING NOVEL, LADIES.

The story is the first installment of a three-volume series penned by Bernard Werber, translated from le francais by Margaret Rocques, and published in the U.S. of A. by Bantam Books. AS FAR AS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE, the others (Le jour des fourmis and La revolution des fourmis) have not yet been translated. STAY TUNED.

Well, IT'S A DELIGHTFUL READ, and rarely have I been so grateful to find a book available in a waterproof format. In this installment, the Ants are minding their usual business, farming mushrooms, milking Aphids, taking war captives, and EXPANDING THEIR OPERATIONS. But they do not realize that they have been under careful study by a Naked Ape named Edmond. In fact, they have no idea that there is such a thing as a Naked Ape. (Ah, sweet innocence!) BUT ALL THAT CHANGES IN DUE TIME.

Of course, this book was written by a Shaved Monkey, and A MAJOR THRUST in the story is about proving whether Ants have ANY REAL INTELLIGENCE. Good old Edmond figures that if he can learn to have a conversation with an Ant, they must be worth bothering with. Sigh! There is even a statement in here the the effect that God created two intelligent species on our planet to see which would progress better. You know, like a contest. Because NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE SHAVED MONKEYS THAN COMPETITION. YEAH, SKIPPY; IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR EGO.

LEAVE IT TO A SHAVED MONKEY TO COME UP WITH THAT ONE.

Never mind -- this is a fun and fabulous exploration of how A VERY DIFFERENT CONSPIRACY OPERATES. Most -- not all -- of the story is based on methodical observation of Ant lives and, while much of the interpretation of same is MONKEY SPINACH, a lot of is is also correct. I highly recommend it.