Rating: 
Summary: A Crichton-esque Eco Thriller with Far More Brains
Review: Let's face it, not every novel can be considered 'literature'. Sometimes, no matter how much steak you can find, you just want a hamburger. But there are hamburgers, and then there are hamburgers. And Charles Pellegrino's eco-thriller DUST fits the bill nicely, in an intriguing and exciting mix of science and conjecture that, if not exactly high art, at least puts the novels of Michael Crichton to shame.DUST surrounds the ecological nightmare that may develop were the earth's insect population to die out practically overnight. As scientist Richard Sinclair and his team desperately endeavour to find a solution, the ecological impacts begin to be felt around the globe, and the true importance of the insect world's relationship to humanity becomes apparent. Animals begins to wreak havoc, forests begin to die out, and the worst instincts of man rise to the forefront. While DUST may not win awards for its writing, it does manage to create tension, as well as reward the reader with an interesting take on an unusual situation. As Pellegrino combines scientific theory and facts within his fictional scenario, he creates an often unsettling portrait of environmental disaster that lingers in the mind well after the last page. This may not be a likely or probable scenario, but when one considers the actual declining state of the environment, the implications of the novel take on a new level of frightening possibility. Some may cling to the idea that humanity will rise above its petty problems to combat environmental destruction, but the scapegoating and terror that result in DUST are far more probable outcomes. Even if the reader does not care for a thought-provoking hypothesis into the eventual end of existence, DUST is still an exciting read. It has characters more interesting than Crichton's usual fare of one-dimensional cartoons, and it has scenes of real horror, and hope. It deserves mention alongside Frank Herberts's THE GREEN BRAIN, his oft-neglected masterpiece of insect revolt. But DUST deserves mention as taking a more realistic approach to the theme, unlike Herbert's more fanciful novel.
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