The Breath of the Gods
"The Breath of the Gods" is a novel written by Bernard Werber. His style of writing mixes different literary genres, notably the saga, the science fiction of the inter-war years, and tracts of philosophy. In most of his novels, Werber uses the same form of construction, alternating informative articles in the style of an encyclopaedia and normal prose. The articles define or enlarge upon the ideas in the main text. Also there are connections between his novels, and recurrent themes like l'Arbre des Possibles (The Tree of Possibilities), of Isidore Katzenberg, or even the novel Nous les dieux, which treats the ideas first presented in the short story L’École des jeunes dieux (The School of the Young Gods). In the eight novels, Werber describes various authors. We are presented with an author who, at the end of his life, writes a last book which makes sense of his previous work...
Bernard Werber
Bernard Werber was born in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) in September 1961. From the age of 14, he wrote stories for a fanzine. After he finished school, he became a scientific journalist for some ten years. During that period his affinity for science appeared, which he blends with his favourite topics: from ants in death up to the origins of the humanity. The writings of Bernard Werber are translated into thirty-five languages and with 15 million copies sold in the world today, Bernard Werber is one of the most read French contemporary authors in the world (along with Mark Levy).
Every year, on the 3rd October the world is given something of a treat, besides the annual prix Goncourt – a new novel by the praised Bernard Weber. Known for his extensive scientific research, elaborate philosophical reflections and omnipresent symbolism, the French author is now synonymous with a very intelligent and intense prose. “The Ants” trilogy, as well as “Les Thanatonautes” trilogy, presents a large, coherent, auto-functioning idea of the world, supported by multiple theories and scientific data, developed in separate encyclopedic paragraphs. Weber mixes together information and fantasy to reinvent and reinvigorate the possibilities of other worlds, to stimulate the creation of other perceptive dimensions and broaden immensely our imagination.
