The Bees
When I first heard about The Bees, I was excited to read it.
It's the tale of a worker bee, Flora 717, who discovers secrets within
her hive and must save her sisters. It sounded like it would be
different, unlike anything else I was reading.
Unfortunately, despite the cast of bees, the book ended up being familiar and predictable. I shouldn't be that surprised. There are no new stories, after all. But bees have nothing to add to the story of a dystopian society that must be overhauled. In fact they rather detract from it, since I had a hard time viewing this working hive as a dystopian society.
I did learn some fun facts about bees (all cross checked on the internet.) Bees communicate by dance as well as scent, they kill any males who are still around when winter approaches, and they make a bread-like substance from pollen. It was also interesting that Flora managed to be the most obedient and dutiful rebel ever. She doesn't overthrown tradition so much as prevent some other bees from doing so. Ultimately nothing really changes, and it feels like a small story in the scheme of things.
Despite that, it was an enjoyable read. There were some lovely passages describing the world from a bee's perspective and the information contained in both dance and scent. The enemies were fun, for all that they reminded me rather strongly of Redwall. And maybe that's all there is to my disappointment. Rather than something original, this felt like a Redwall book with insects instead of rodents. And more sex in general (a feat with a cast of virgins).
Unfortunately, despite the cast of bees, the book ended up being familiar and predictable. I shouldn't be that surprised. There are no new stories, after all. But bees have nothing to add to the story of a dystopian society that must be overhauled. In fact they rather detract from it, since I had a hard time viewing this working hive as a dystopian society.
I did learn some fun facts about bees (all cross checked on the internet.) Bees communicate by dance as well as scent, they kill any males who are still around when winter approaches, and they make a bread-like substance from pollen. It was also interesting that Flora managed to be the most obedient and dutiful rebel ever. She doesn't overthrown tradition so much as prevent some other bees from doing so. Ultimately nothing really changes, and it feels like a small story in the scheme of things.
Despite that, it was an enjoyable read. There were some lovely passages describing the world from a bee's perspective and the information contained in both dance and scent. The enemies were fun, for all that they reminded me rather strongly of Redwall. And maybe that's all there is to my disappointment. Rather than something original, this felt like a Redwall book with insects instead of rodents. And more sex in general (a feat with a cast of virgins).
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