It seemed like a good idea… Genetically engineer a species of humanoid workers—strong, tireless, minimally intelligent—to become laborers for humans. What could possibly go wrong?
For a thousand years, humans have had to fight for their survival against the mute, feral “Ants,” created as workers but now gone rogue, scavenging and slaughtering everything in their path.
The beleaguered humans, in the meantime, have evolved two distinct cultures. The disciplined, insular Foresters prioritize safety over personal freedom in their woodland strongholds, while the more individualistic Men embrace an urban lifestyle and are eager to reimplement the technology of past ages. Nominally allies against the Ants, the two groups deeply mistrust each other.
Deer, a despondent Forester soldier, is one of his people’s foremost authorities on Ants. He knows with perfect certainty that Ant-raiders never leave survivors. So how, amid the carnage of a raided Man-village, is one small girl still alive? She says her name is Anne; but who is she, and what is her secret?
Deer takes Anne to the forest to grow up, where years later, a horrifying revelation about her may provide a means for Men and Forester to finally defeat the Ants—but only if they can put aside their differences and work together.
Full of unforgettable characters, masterful dialog, and riveting scenes, Antlands is ultimately a story of hope, healing, and redemption.
During a recent attack on Men, the Ants unexpectedly left alive a wounded nine-year-old orphan girl named Anne. Deer, a Forester captain, finds her and reluctantly brings her home to heal. Eight years later, during an Ant attack, the Foresters capture one to study, and are shocked to find out that Anne can hear what the Ant is thinking, sparking their discovery that the Ants communicate telepathically. The Forester Master, Posthumous, gives Deer and Anne the mission of learning more about the Ants, discovering how to defeat them—and how to bring the volatile Men on board to finally deliver peace to the land.
Morrissey creates a gripping, character-driven story set in a lush world with some engaging fairy tale elements and emphasis on the rich culture, traditions, and languages of the peaceful Foresters’ way of life. When Deer confronts the irascible John Seaborn—the Men’s Scholar— to share what the Foresters know of the Ants, the culture shock threatens to derail an alliance. The story’s somewhat slow, with minimal action, but readers open to thoughtful fantasy will relish the emotional layers of the plot, the focus on family life, the tension created from the mystery of the Ants, and the message of hope and redemption.
Takeaway: Lovers of immersive fantasy will appreciate this novel’s lush world and intelligent characters working together to understand an adversary.
Great for fans of: Richard F. Weyand’s Arcadia, Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
