Empire of the Ants

Rating:
Summary: Great Ants, Cardboard People
Review: Ants were developed quite well. I actually enjoyed their story. The people on the other hand, were boring and quite predictable.

Rating:
Summary: Finaly the Ants get Recognized!
Review: I really enjoyed this book because it is so off-beat. I've read Watership Down and the the Rats of NIMH and also liked this book. I really liked how it made the lives of ants, which up till now I didn't really think about much, come to life. Through these interesting creatures, the author challenges the reader to think a little differently about the world they take for granted. This is one of those books that has a story that could be seen simply as an entertaining and very unique story, but also as a parable with deeper meaning. I recomend this book and hope the author will consider writting a book II. It leaves you wondering at the end what will happen next!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent stuff!!!!
Review: Being French, I have read the french version of "Empire of the Ants" a few years ago, in France. I was completely absorbed by the incredible detail and gripping storyline!!! I read the whole book in one night, going to sleep at about 4 am. Later, I read the next two books of the trilogy (I don't think they're out in English yet) and those are smashing too!!!! Definitely THE best book I have ecver read in my life (although I am only 16)

Rating:
Summary: Overrated and Unsatisfying
Review: I was completely disapointed with this highly praised (and marketed) book. Although the insight into the world of Ants was interesting, the human tie-in was boring and incredibly unrealistic to the point of being just stupid. (Like the police giving up their search because some of their men disappeared...ya, that happens). If you liked Watership Down, which this book is constantly being compared to, don't bother, because you will be hugely disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Quirky, Fun, Exciting, and Engaging Story
Review: I picked up the book after reading the cover, saying it reminds readers of Watership Down. How true! What a marvelous and ingenious book! The author is fully knowledgable about ants and their ways of life, etc. And the dimension of suspense and mystery, and you've got a wonderful book for all ages. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for his next.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable epic on a tiny scale...
Review: I was surprised to hear the comments on this page. The book, while a bit drawn out at times, seemed right on the money to me--if I was an ant, that's how I would view the world.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, mysterious, and completely engaging!
Review: I am a regular reader of murder mystery novels, and the mystery element of this story sucked me right in. The clever melding of the human and ant storylines kept me guessing as to how they would finally converge, and what the outcome would be. If I have any criticism, it is that the human characters were not written as strongly as the ant characters. I could not wait for lunch hour to come every day so I could see what dangers and adventures lie ahead for 357 and the other ant characters. I wanted so much for them to survive and to succeed at uncovering the mysteries they were investigating. I never thought I'd be shedding tears for ants, but this book made me care deeply for these noble characters and feel sad when one of them succumbed to life's ever-present dangers. Don't waste energy comparing this book to "Watership Down." Just enjoy it for what it is.

Rating:
Summary: Mildly diverting, but disappointing overall.
Review: Perhaps it was the big build up, or the comparisons to "Watership Down" that set up impossible expectations for me, but this book was a let-down. I found the translation (from the French) to be rigid, and I found the ants, and perhaps I am missing the big point here, to be largely unsympathetic characters.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe a decent early teen book
Review: If one had no knowledge of ants, this book might be interesting. I did not find it in anyway comparable to "Watership Down". Even "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" was far superior. The lack of character development and the methodical way that the Facts About Ants! was presented caused me to give this one to the used book store when I'd made it 4/5 through...sorry, couldn't finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I ordered this book mainly because of the great reviews that I read on the amazon.com page. After reading it, I must say I was disappointed. While the premise is intriguing, the author fails to engage the reader in that great thrall of adventure where one roots for characters one has grown to admire. Instead I found myself wishing that I were nearing the last page simply to get the read over with. As for comparing the book to Watership Down, I don't see the comparison, unless this book has lost something in the translation.