Brother Termite [Import] [Paperback]

Patricia Anthony (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: New English Library Hodder and Stoughton; First Edition edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340618434
• ISBN-13: 978-0340618431
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliantly subversive science fiction novel..., February 9, 1999

By 

Scott C. Carr, [e-mail] (The Flying Saucer Gazette) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brother Termite (Paperback)

Brother Termite, by Patricia Anthony...

Are politics, culture, and humanity mutually exclusive ideals? Is genocide a necessary evil? Is love a self-defeating genetic side effect? These are a few of the questions that Patricia Anthony poses in her brilliantly subversive novel, Brother Termite.

With breathtaking precision, and awesome subtlety, Patricia Anthony achieves the almost unthinkable; set fifty years in the future in a world where aliens walk freely among us, and seen through the eyes of an extraterrestrial Chief-of-Staff working in the White House, she tells a story of global proportions, and yet manages to keep intact all of the mystery, eeriness, and uncertainty that surrounds the modern UFO phenomenon. And at the same time, her story holds true to virtually all of the folklore and mythology of the contemporary UFO culture. Anthony has done much more than just passionately researched her topic, she has extrapolated upon it, philosophized it, and weaved it into a fascinating and provoking narrative.

A novel of alien menace, flying saucers and underground bases, abductions and political intrigue, Brother Termite introduces us to a future that is both abysmally bleak, and at the same time full of hope. We are taken on a futile, yet somehow inspirational journey, and given a first hand look at the tremendous gears turning in Washington, out of sight, far beyond Middle American perception, beyond the common man's control. It is this particular theme, which we find the most innovative, the most horrific, and the most appealing. The fact that the common man is so far removed from the plot, so unaware of the political, Earth-changing, apocalyptic events that surround him and determine his very future. Anthony cleverly turns the tried and true "Everyman" theme on its ear; instead of imbuing a "common man" with heroic qualities, and thrusting him into the thick of predicament, she does the reverse. Anthony's characters are all larger than life, all heroes in their own rights; U.S. President Jeff Womack, alien Chief-of Staff Reen, FBI Director William Hopkins, and even the spirit of JFK. But as the story progresses, we begin to see their humanity, their commonality, exposed. One by one, Anthony's characters fall victim to their own humanistic natures, their own souls. One by one, we see each of these larger than life heroes transformed into Everyman.

I highly recommend Brother Termite, not only for those involved in the UFO community, or even the science fiction community, but for anyone with a passion for the dramatic; anyone who seeks the answers to philosophical questions of the heart; or harbors a love of political espionage, or seeks to know what goes on behind the closed doors of the White House; anyone who loves a good mystery, a good thriller, or a good romance. Brother Termite weaves all of these various sub-genres and ideals flawlessly, seamlessly into an imaginative and engaging satire of a world we thought we knew, a world that some of us may have even suspected.

I also recommend the novel for those who are interested in the UFO culture and phenomenon. Remarkably Brother Termite holds true to practically all of the mysteries, beliefs, theories, eccentricities, sensationalism and popular history of the UFO enigma. And perhaps even more remarkably, Brother Termite approaches the field with more intelligence and thoughtfulness than much of the non-fiction which has been published, of late. While we are certainly not espousing any hidden truth, or predictive qualities to the work, we do feel that Anthony has approached her topic, in a creative, literary sense, with more level-headed common sense, and comprehension, than many of the scholars, investigators and researchers currently working in the field. She has brought to the phenomenon a much needed breath of fresh air and introspection. Isn't that what art is all about?

Masterfully, Anthony combines questions of metaphoric, philosophical, and hypothetical natures in a way that leaves us questioning not her story, but ourselves, and our world. Are we alone here on earth? If not, then what? In creating a world where we are not the only sentient, intelligent race on the planet, Anthony shows us all the more what it means to be human. Is it possible to both love and hate at the same time? Is it possible to commit an act that is at once both good and evil? Patricia Anthony shows us inarguably that the answer is yes, as she not only defines, but portrays, true ambivalence.

-Scott C. Carr
Editor "The Flying Saucer Gazette"

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A grandiose, breath-taking, bleak novel, September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brother Termite (Paperback)

Great. It's 20 years I read Sf, maybe even more, but this was really something. Out of alien abduction/Roswell/etc. trash Anthony made a wonderful novel, a good read (once you start you simply cannot stop, not matter what you should do instead of reading) halfway between inspired Sf and well-crafted detective story. And what is really brilliant is the idea that yes, there is a conspiracy, but it's humans who are plotting against aliens--maybe.

Do not miss this one. You won't regret the bucks you're going to spend. Wonderful dialogues, great plot, and a lot of action in a rather small space--the White House. You'll learn things about Eisenhower, JFK and Edgar J. Hoover you never suspected...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, October 13, 1998

By 

dsrussell "greyhater" (Corona, CA. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Brother Termite (Paperback)

This is the first Patricia Anthony novel I have read, but certainly won't be my last. Whether you are a UFO buff or not, it is likely that you are familiar with the `Greys' (little alien creatures purportedly from Zeta 2 Reticuli). Certainly, Whitley Strieber has gained much attention in his novels delving into alien abductions (Communion was made into a movie).

In `Brother Termite', Anthony explores a fictional account of an extraterrestrial alien society (`Greys') who have infiltrated to the highest levels of government, and indeed, are the power behind the government (believe me, many people `out there' believe this has already happened to a certain degree;-). What follows is more of a political thriller than science fiction, but it works nicely on both accounts.

Anthony goes inside the alien mind and culture, and presents a fascinating look into the `hive', their strengths and weaknesses. At stake is not only our government as we know it, but the human race as well. Quickly paced and well thought out, I hope it finds a place on your book shelf. Between 1 and 10, `Brother Termite' gets a 7.