World history told anew. “About ants and dinosaurs” – book review

From dentist to cosmonaut

This type of book was created by Cixin Liu, a science fiction writer from China, already known all over the world. In its latest position, it presents interspecies cooperation between ants and dinosaurs. These completely dissimilar creatures begin to complement each other, starting with the most ordinary… dental services! Then inventions, science, writing, computers, cars, even space travel appear in the history of both species. However, as we know, development is also associated with the exploitation of the natural environment, which will also be seen by dinosaurs …

The absurd and the grotesque are the strength of the novel

I must admit that at the very beginning of my reading, I had a feeling in my head that I was reading something absolutely absurd. At the start it seemed quite normal – dinosaurs ate other dinosaurs, ants built their anthill, everything was as we know it. Suddenly, however, the great reptiles began to create societies, the ants invented their writing, the two species began to form diplomatic alliances together, and the entire book turned upside down. However, despite the huge dose of absurdity, after reading it for a while, I started to get used to this type of narrative, and I saw the whole story as an apt metaphor directed at our own society, an interesting look at the formation of civilization and an indication of how destructive it can be for the natural environment.

Ant explorers

The world created by Cixin Liu is a huge force About ants and dinosaurs . He masterfully described the formation of religion, interspecies relations and the development of new, completely unrealistic technologies, thanks to which his imagination speaks directly to his readers. However, I am aware that not everyone will get, let’s be honest, hard science fiction . The reader of this position must also show an open mind, so that the plot would not be meaningless gibberish for him about ants exploring the nostrils of dinosaurs.

Second bottom?

As I have already mentioned, it may very often seem that the author directly refers to the situation that prevails in our world. Destruction of the environment, religious conflicts, examples could be multiplied. The mindless actions of one of the species described in the book lead to an end that I definitely did not expect. I do not want to reveal too much, I will just say that the book can be a decent warning for ourselves. With his science fiction novel, Cixin Liu forces you to reflect on the completely real world.

Unusual sci-fi hit the spot!

It’s really hard for me to find any cons. About ants and dinosaurs , it’s hard to find even one side here that would be boring. I myself swallowed the novel Cixin Liu almost during one sitting on the plane. The chronicle of the formation of civilization by ants and dinosaurs is as abstract as it is attractive and interesting. The formation of societies, cooperation between species, diplomacy, and ultimately a sad end captured in the masterful narrative of an Asian author. Certainly not the last time I picked up this writer’s book. However, you should be aware that this type of approach to the subject of civilization will not appeal to everyone, especially people who keep their feet on the ground. However, it is worth giving this novel a chance! Even absolute realists will find something for themselves in this neat parable of the human world.