The Colony: A Political Tale (Paperback)

~ Reggie Rivers (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reggie Rivers has penned todays Animal Farm. His biting satire finds one enjoying a seemingly simple tale while reflecting on the irony of today s global political structure. --Wellington Webb, former Mayor of Denver

Reggie Rivers has skillfully satirized the complex world of foreign affairs through the poignant tale of warring ant colonies. From this microscopic vantage point, readers are given a whole new perspective on our global community, its flaws and how we might improve our relationships. --John Hickenlooper, Mayor of Denver

The Colony is a smart allegory of the global struggle for dominance and resources told through the microcosm of the ant world that will be of interest to anyone who has ever been curious about the mechanics of geo-politics and empire in the struggles for resources. Writing in the tradition of Greg Costikyan s First Contract and other political satirists, Rivers offers biting commentary on the darker side of global economics, military power and the politics of resources. Rivers displays a good grasp of the politics of globalization as he crafts his theme of great power interference in and the manipulation of the domestic politics of small countries. He also deftly plots a compelling story around his charismatic ant characters. --Alex Jurek, INDenvertimes.com

Product Description

The Colony: A Political Tale is an allegory about foreign policy told through two colonies of ants. The story describes the political, economic and military manipulations that the army ants of the Alpha Zee tribe use to gain control over a mushroom-type fungus grown in Antistan. Synopsis: Antistan is a peaceful ant colony that grows a highly nutritious fungus in its underground farms. When the nomadic army ants of the Alpha Zee Colony discover the fungus, they realize they will no longer have to migrate constantly to find food a single meal of fungus will allow their soldiers to fight three times as long, their workers to work faster and longer, and the Queen to lay eggs almost endlessly. What, if anything, can the docile workers of Antistan do to protect their fungus and their way of life? The Colony is a story of political intrigue and military domination that is as old as recorded history and as current as today s headlines.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 243 pages
• Publisher: SCA Publishing; 1st edition (August 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970454236
• ISBN-13: 978-0970454232
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,757 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shocking and Revolutionary, November 1, 2009

By	Sean P. Kearney (Castle Rock, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was totally unprepared for the depth of this amazing book!

A fan of his radio show, I always enjoy Reggie's pleasant demeanor and his direct, insightful point of view. My wife loved his most recent novel My Wife's Boyfriend so when I saw him again at a Borders in Parker, I picked up The Colony and began reading it later that night.

The story of two opposing yet intertwined colonies of ants starts out as an intriguing political allegory but takes a variety of turns that parallel current events in a way that caught me off guard. Many times during the second half of the book I found myself saying, "No way!" to descriptions of events that hit close to home in such direct language I couldn't believe my eyes! At one point, the escaped General Walters tells the heroine, "Technically, a terrorist is someone who deliberately kills or injures innocent civilians in order to bring about political change. But in practical terms, a terrorist could be anyone who thwarts the will of the powerful."

That heroine is Ashanti, a worker ant who challenges the previously unchecked power of Antistan's President Gamba and his collusion with Alpha Zee [the colony who helped install him after inciting a civil war]. I can imagine every thoughtful reader cheering Ashanti even though the revolution is ultimately aimed at the colony which most closely resembles... Well, I don't want to spoil the story or unfairly project my own interpretations!

A thrilling, fast-paced and thought-provoking read, I highly recommend The Colony for anyone willing to peek behind the curtain of international relations, propaganda and the War on Terror.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 26, 2009

By	Deborah K. Davis - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this book on Sunday afternoon and finished it early Monday night. Fortunately I had the day off because I found it difficult to put the book down. The story line fascinated me and I found myself thinking of several events in history that included European colonial powers in Africa, Adolph Hitler and his influence on the German people, and most recently, the events following the attacks of 9/11. I am an avid reader and I rarely read allegories or fiction. However, in this instance I highly recommend Reggie Rivers book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way better then expected, October 3, 2009

By	Josh Moffatt "Denverite" (Denver, co) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was much better then I expected. I used to read Reggie River's opinion column every week when he wrote for the Denver Post. I usually only read the most popular books because I like to know that they will be "Page Turners" and I really only got this book because Reggie has done a lot in my city. However, I couldn't put the book down. I think he not only produced a really well written book, but incorporates some interesting and sometimes all too true political comparisons to the real world.