Eco-novel sets quite a pace

Helen Dunk

21 April 2011

Is it possible — or even desirable — to preserve nature in a perfect state? Is this nothing more than a dangerous fantasy? Does being a true friend of the earth mean sometimes being unfriendly to certain species?

These questions, and many more, are chewed over in the action-packed pages of TC Boyle's latest novel, 'When The Killing's Done'. But far from a dry essay on worthy issues, this is a big, blustering novel full of shipwrecks, sex and slaughter.

The novel is set on the Northern Channel Islands off the coast of California - home to 2,000 different types of animals and plants and a number of predatory species introduced (either by accident or design) by humans.

Conflict is at the heart of the book. On one side is Dr Alma Boyd Takesue of the National Park Service, an uptight ecologist attempting to wipe out the rats and pigs threatening the plants and animals the islands were originally home to. Her nemesis is Dave LaJoy, an animal rights extremist with anger management issues who will go to any lengths to defend the rats and pigs from destruction. In the drama that ensues, nobody comes out smelling of roses.

Some readers may end up feeling irritated by the extreme views of the central characters - and the author's refusal to take sides. But then again, giving the reader an easy ride doesn't make for a particularly interesting book. 'When The Killing's Done' does sometimes tip into melodrama but it's easy to forgive when the story moves along with such passion and pace. Plus any novel that forces the reader to question - or even just think about -- their assumptions has got to be doing something right.

This is an urgent and driven book about the environment and humanity's place in it, that deserves to be read. I loved it.

You can buy 'When The Killing's Done' and donate to Friends of the Earth at the same time here.

Helen Dunk, Communications & Media Team