What you can learn from insects – review of the book “Hive of Hellstrom”

Mysterious mood

In fact, you can sense the mood of the mystery right from the start. It applies to both the farm Hellstrom works on and the government agency that is watching him. We will manage to penetrate some of the secrets, but not all of them. Even when we turn the last page, some important questions will remain unanswered. This is undoubtedly one of the book’s strengths. Of course, lack of knowledge can be frustrating, but in return we get a story that intrigues us from start to finish and keeps us in a pleasant tension.

It would be unfair to reveal too much about the plot of this Herbert novel. Since discovering secrets is one of the essential elements of the pleasure of reading, I will not reveal too much here. At the beginning of the book, we learn that representatives of a certain government agency are interested in the farm on which Nils Hellstrom works. He is a science promoter – ecologist and entomologist. Difficult to make documentaries about insects. However, from the very beginning it seems that this is not his only occupation.

Heroes who are easy to like

The heroes of Hellstrom’s Hive have something of their own. Although the leading characters are on the opposite sides of the conflict and, in fact, everyone has their ears behind them, and the ethics of their behavior seems questionable, we keep our fingers crossed for everyone. The author very skilfully juggles the perspective from which we observe the events. As a result, the reader easily sympathizes with the individual characters. The writer makes it easier for us to like them, and although their behavior can be repulsive at times, we find understanding for them.

The ethical nature of the actions of basically all heroes leaves something to be desired. We may take one side in a conflict, but even then we find it hard not to notice that much of what is happening remains somewhat morally questionable at best. Of course, the “greater good” may appear somewhere in the background, but isn’t that an empty word?

Reading from which it’s hard to break away

Hellstrom’s Swarm is a book that is hard to break away from. At the very beginning, we try to understand what’s going on, then we wonder how the whole story will end. Along the way, we cheer on various characters – often contradicting ourselves. Because how can you support a runaway just to keep your fingers crossed for the chase? However, the author in an extremely efficient way directs our feelings where he wishes.

 The ending looks a bit worse. The plot speeds up excessively and some threads get suspended. It could have been a deliberate act by the writer. This open form leaves the reader the opportunity to add the rest. I do not like this approach myself, but it undoubtedly pleases others. However, even despite the slightly disappointing ending, I rate the whole novel extremely positively. From the first to the last page, I read it with a flushed face. It’s a great science fiction book.