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I have just finished The Bees by Laline Paull
The Bees
By
Laline Paull
This enchanting tale concerns the life and times of Flora 717, a worker bee in a hive. The forty-three chapters are set in the world of the Hive. They are bookended by a prologue and epilogue set in the world external to the hive—both are brief but quite significant for the overall plot.
The world of the hive is is one that most of us would recognize; there is a Queen Bee, workers,and drones. The class system is carefully defined with the Sages—a priest class— followed by the workers within the hive, themselves being carefully differentiated. Foragers are the bees who leave the hive to search for nectar. They are unique in that they perform the dance that reveals the sources of the nectar. Finally we have the drones who exist only for reproductive purposes.
What makes this novel so marvellously fascinating is that the insects are given self-awareness and personalities. These characteristics are put within a theocratic, doctrinaire, matriarchal system informed by three prime values—Accept, Obey, and Serve. Questions are not permitted. Only the Queen may breed and she gives forth an aura which creates a total love for her and the hive.
The situation of the drones is especially intriguing. They are characterised rather as spoiled aristocrats coddled and worshiped by the sister workers. But few have a realistic concept about their ultimate destiny.
Other insects make their appearance. Wasps play an important part. Ants share a language with the bees. The arachnid spiders are strange and sinister.
The main focus is Flora 717. She moves through a series of classes and must face a problem when she feels that the greatest rule of all is one she must violate.
After reading this book, you won’t ever think of bees the same way again.
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