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The Antlands #1
Antlands
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.
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.
- GenresScience Fiction
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2020
144 people are currently reading
1673 people want to read
About the author
Genevieve Morrissey
7 books115 followersGenevieve Morrissey is an avid student of British and American social history, who, through one of those strange little quirks of fate, spends most of her days talking with scientists. THEA, her most recent novel, is a coming-of-age story set in 1920s Oklahoma City. MARRIAGE AND HANGING is a historical mystery set in early 19th-century New England. Her post-apocalyptic ANTLANDS series explores a future history of societies coping with the loss of civilization, and their attempts to rebuild it.
In addition to writing, Genevieve enjoys reading obscure books, travel, and solitude.
In addition to writing, Genevieve enjoys reading obscure books, travel, and solitude.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 13, 2020
I am a huge fan of post-apocalyptic stuff (I know, I say it every review of PA). I've read tons and you have to be good to impress me. This was good.
Characters were mostly done well, but what was exceptionally done was the differences between the Ants, the Foresters, and the Men. I could actually see each one of the group, based on just a bit of description.
Some of the Forester names started to grate on me because they were pretty similar and I usually have issue with character names being actual things, but other than that, this was a really fun read.
Looking forward to the next.
I received this via Goodreads for nothing more than an honest review.
Characters were mostly done well, but what was exceptionally done was the differences between the Ants, the Foresters, and the Men. I could actually see each one of the group, based on just a bit of description.
Some of the Forester names started to grate on me because they were pretty similar and I usually have issue with character names being actual things, but other than that, this was a really fun read.
Looking forward to the next.
I received this via Goodreads for nothing more than an honest review.
August 4, 2021
Antlands is set in the future, in the world that resulted after human biology was merged with ant intelligence to create an inexpensive and highly efficient alternative labor source. The scheme went horribly wrong, of course. In the story’s present, humanity has largely returned to a pre-modern condition, and one in which surviving Ant raids is the primary focus of day-to-day life and study.
Ants are marauding, meat-seeking creatures—but with the advantages conferred by opposable thumbs and weaponry, and by a social organization in which decisions are collective and individual life is expendable. The Ants are indeed as hardworking and efficient as their inventors intended them to be, but now those qualities are directed against the remaining humans.
The humans have organized themselves into two groups: Foresters and Men.
Foresters are peaceful, communitarian, and scholarly, and the forestlands serve as the story’s primary setting.
But we also learn about Men. They, too, value knowledge, but they are ambitious and covetous, and their scholarship emphasizes the applied sciences. Consulting salvaged books, they reinvent the telegraph and begin devising plans for human modification and cloning experiments. (So much for learning from history). They also carry forward many of ancient humankind’s vices, such as drinking and eating to excess, accepting social inequality as a given, and regarding each other—and, of course, Foresters—with a vigilant suspicion.
This suspicion notwithstanding, bilateral communication and information sharing arrangements between Men and Foresters are deemed necessary for human survival against Ant invasions. Emissaries from the Forestlands travel to the settlements of Men. (Scenes from these encounters will for many readers raise irresolvable questions similar to those posed in Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1974 The Dispossessed.)
We learn early in the story of the brutality of invading Ants. An entire community slaughtered. Only one person, 9-year old Anna, is spared. Why?
Antlands is a sprawling, ambitious thought experiment. Intermittent references to the Ancients (us!) offer disorienting pleasures similar to those of classics such as Horace Miner’s “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” and David Macaulay’s Motel of the Mysteries.
The ending leaves the reader in a state of suspension that is itself satisfying and thought-provoking. But most readers won’t hang there for long and will instead quickly follow the story into Book 2.
Ants are marauding, meat-seeking creatures—but with the advantages conferred by opposable thumbs and weaponry, and by a social organization in which decisions are collective and individual life is expendable. The Ants are indeed as hardworking and efficient as their inventors intended them to be, but now those qualities are directed against the remaining humans.
The humans have organized themselves into two groups: Foresters and Men.
Foresters are peaceful, communitarian, and scholarly, and the forestlands serve as the story’s primary setting.
But we also learn about Men. They, too, value knowledge, but they are ambitious and covetous, and their scholarship emphasizes the applied sciences. Consulting salvaged books, they reinvent the telegraph and begin devising plans for human modification and cloning experiments. (So much for learning from history). They also carry forward many of ancient humankind’s vices, such as drinking and eating to excess, accepting social inequality as a given, and regarding each other—and, of course, Foresters—with a vigilant suspicion.
This suspicion notwithstanding, bilateral communication and information sharing arrangements between Men and Foresters are deemed necessary for human survival against Ant invasions. Emissaries from the Forestlands travel to the settlements of Men. (Scenes from these encounters will for many readers raise irresolvable questions similar to those posed in Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1974 The Dispossessed.)
We learn early in the story of the brutality of invading Ants. An entire community slaughtered. Only one person, 9-year old Anna, is spared. Why?
Antlands is a sprawling, ambitious thought experiment. Intermittent references to the Ancients (us!) offer disorienting pleasures similar to those of classics such as Horace Miner’s “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” and David Macaulay’s Motel of the Mysteries.
The ending leaves the reader in a state of suspension that is itself satisfying and thought-provoking. But most readers won’t hang there for long and will instead quickly follow the story into Book 2.
September 12, 2021
A thought-provoking novel with unforgettable characters
In this immersive, intensely character-driven novel, the author uses a post-apocalyptic setting to explore how people attempt to live normal lives amid constant warfare and loss of civilization. The novel begins hundreds of years after genetically engineered human workers (whom everyone calls Ants) had rebelled and annihilated huge numbers of people. The result was to fracture the “psyche” of society into three separate factions: Ants, men and Foresters, with Ants as the common enemy but with men and Foresters highly dubious of each other. To carry the “psyche” allegory further, the Ants represent the “id” of society (motivated purely by survival instincts), the men represent the “ego” (more thoughtful than the Ants, but fraught with all the usual human shortcomings) and the Foresters represent the “superego” (constantly striving to sustain a utopian community, quite apart from men). In Antlands and its sequel, Annasland, we see fascinating attempts of the characters to reunite the fractured psyche of society in order to forge a better future.
As Antlands unfolds, we first meet Anne, a 9-year-old girl who is mysteriously the only survivor of an Ant-raid on a settlement of men. Deer, a badly injured Forester soldier suffering from PTSD, rescues Anne and takes her to his forest, breaking several Forester rules in the process. The novel follows Anne and Deer as they mutually try to heal their psychic wounds, and we also encounter John Seaborn, a similarly damaged former soldier of men who plays an important role in the story. In the end, representatives of all three factions find they must put aside their prejudices and wounds to work together if they are to survive.
Antlands is well written but what really stands out is the use of dialog and character development to create characters who are intensely real and alive. On more than one occasion, I laughed and I cried. Long after putting this book down, I keep thinking about the characters and wondering how their lives are going. If you are looking for a traditional, action-driven sci-fi novel, Antlands is probably not for you. But if you enjoy immersing yourself in intelligent, character-driven fiction in an expansive, lush setting, you’ll love Antlands.
August 10, 2021
In Genevieve Morrissey’s “Antlands”,society has seen a great reset to darker ages after man's creation of ‘ants’ (worker drones created to do manual labor) revolted and killed off a large amount of the population. As a result, society has been split into three classes: Ants, Man and Forester. Foresters, who live in communities deep within the trees have opted for a life free of vice and based on community living. However, when a young woman, Anne, is rescued by the forester known as Deer the lives of the secluded community transforms as they learn about Anne’s gifts and connections with both ant and man.
The first book in a series, "Antlands" proves Morrissey to be a profound talent in navigating the realm of science fiction with universal appeal. Building off of the admirable and virtuous Anna, the title seems perfect for the YA market with a strong female at the center of conflict. Conversely, when the focus is on Deer the tone takes a more mature approach with a narrative and prose that reflects a deep wisdom born of loss of family and the horrors of war. Furthermore, the world only being slightly removed from our own reality makes the science fiction elements digestible for those outside of the fandom - the book can be enjoyed by anyone at any age.
The narrative switches between Anna and Deer, as the two begin to take on important roles within the Forester community and must part ways. While the book begins by building the strong relationship between the two, by the end both become entangled in key roles to keep the community safe from an incoming threat. Consequently, the reader is given great insight into the world driven by these two charismatic personas. Words of wisdom from each making for touching moments of insight into the turbulent situation they all face. Overall, the back and forth flow between the two deeply engaging personas makes for an ideal page turner.
Ending on a tense note, the first book perfectly sets up the follow up in “Annasland” - which I am excited to dive into. Ultimately, Morrissey proves herself to be a strong voice in science-fiction whose prose and characters have the potential to appeal to a broad audience. A deeply engaging read I won’t soon forget!
The first book in a series, "Antlands" proves Morrissey to be a profound talent in navigating the realm of science fiction with universal appeal. Building off of the admirable and virtuous Anna, the title seems perfect for the YA market with a strong female at the center of conflict. Conversely, when the focus is on Deer the tone takes a more mature approach with a narrative and prose that reflects a deep wisdom born of loss of family and the horrors of war. Furthermore, the world only being slightly removed from our own reality makes the science fiction elements digestible for those outside of the fandom - the book can be enjoyed by anyone at any age.
The narrative switches between Anna and Deer, as the two begin to take on important roles within the Forester community and must part ways. While the book begins by building the strong relationship between the two, by the end both become entangled in key roles to keep the community safe from an incoming threat. Consequently, the reader is given great insight into the world driven by these two charismatic personas. Words of wisdom from each making for touching moments of insight into the turbulent situation they all face. Overall, the back and forth flow between the two deeply engaging personas makes for an ideal page turner.
Ending on a tense note, the first book perfectly sets up the follow up in “Annasland” - which I am excited to dive into. Ultimately, Morrissey proves herself to be a strong voice in science-fiction whose prose and characters have the potential to appeal to a broad audience. A deeply engaging read I won’t soon forget!
November 9, 2020
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this dystopian, post-apocalyptic story. Morrissey did an excellent job of describing the different lands various characters journeyed to.
The characters were well-developed, interesting, and evolved throughout the novel. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but, in my mind, the Foresters evoked Native American cultures and appearances, which was in stark contrast to the Men, who I imagined as white men in the old West during the late 1800s.
It did take a couple of chapters to become invested, but then I got sucked in to the story and couldn’t put it down. I’m really looking forward to the sequel.
The characters were well-developed, interesting, and evolved throughout the novel. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but, in my mind, the Foresters evoked Native American cultures and appearances, which was in stark contrast to the Men, who I imagined as white men in the old West during the late 1800s.
It did take a couple of chapters to become invested, but then I got sucked in to the story and couldn’t put it down. I’m really looking forward to the sequel.
December 8, 2020
Well worth a read
Loved the whole book and looking forward to more, kept me up all night, can't wait to start Annasland now
Loved the whole book and looking forward to more, kept me up all night, can't wait to start Annasland now
January 27, 2021
A thoughtful book
A thoroughly good read, with loveable characters. A sincere look at human society, and thought provoking analysis of the human condition. Loved every moment
A thoroughly good read, with loveable characters. A sincere look at human society, and thought provoking analysis of the human condition. Loved every moment
March 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Quite different to the books I've been reading recently, but very enjoyable!
April 26, 2022
I found this book very hard to put down, it was very captivating and the story was very interesting. I highly recommend.
March 24, 2024
I was honored to win this book through GoodReads Giveways. Thank you GoodReads!
If I am honest, I went into this book not sure if I was even going to like it. Where as I love post-apocalyptic kind of reads (mainly the zombie kind), I am not big on war stories. At certain points, I did feel my mind kind of fog over while reading the war story sections, I did still enjoy the read nonetheless. I like the story so much, that I do in fact plan on purchasing and reading the next two books in the story. I cannot wait to see how the ant-war goes on and how the rest of the story continues!
If I am honest, I went into this book not sure if I was even going to like it. Where as I love post-apocalyptic kind of reads (mainly the zombie kind), I am not big on war stories. At certain points, I did feel my mind kind of fog over while reading the war story sections, I did still enjoy the read nonetheless. I like the story so much, that I do in fact plan on purchasing and reading the next two books in the story. I cannot wait to see how the ant-war goes on and how the rest of the story continues!
August 16, 2021
While it does have some originality and many character plots, this novel seems to follow the story path most zombie apocalypse novels and the 100 series follow. No, there are no zombies, and the antagonists are new idea, but the story still feels like an apocalypse novel. The characters are well developed and the author follows a strict plotline that helps readers follow her outline.
June 11, 2021
Good writing but the story moves slowly.
Read
February 24, 2025DNF
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews