So far, our reading adventures have kept us close to reality with Blue Machine by Helen Czerski and Below the Edge of Darkness by Edith Widder. Now, we are turning to a work of fiction. The author did plenty of research and spoke with scientists, who even appear as characters in the book, resulting in the science-fiction eco-thriller The Swarm.
For centuries, humans have treated the ocean as a resource to exploit. From whale hunting and overfishing to noise pollution, oil spills, plastic pollution and increasing CO₂ emissions, humankind has endangered whole species and ecosystems. But what if the ocean could fight back? What if the deep sea hid an intelligence capable of retaliation? The Swarm, a science-fiction eco-thriller by German author Frank Schätzing, explores this scenario. First published in 2004, the novel tells the story of an unknown intelligent life form in the deep sea that strikes back against humanity’s exploitation of marine resources.
There’s plenty of life down there. The trouble is, it sees us coming and steps aside.
The first half of the book follows several scientists as they investigate unusual behaviors and anomalies in the world’s oceans. These include a new species of deep-sea worm with symbiotic bacteria colonizing the North Sea floor, destabilization of the Norwegian continental shelf, changes in whale behavior, and poisonous jellyfish. These strange phenomena observed worldwide accumulate into vividly described catastrophic natural events similar to the disaster scenes in movies like 2012 or The Day After Tomorrow.
The second half focuses on the formation of an international scientific task force, bringing together experts from multiple fields to identify the threat and attempt communication with the unknown deep-sea intelligence. This team includes biologists, behavioral scientists, geologists, sonar experts, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) scientists, all working together under the lead of the US Navy and CIA. They identify the origin and purpose of the alien life form in the deep sea: a swarm-intelligence, which is aggressively fighting back and threatening all of humankind.
They want us to know that we’re in the here and now, whereas they’re everywhere and forever.
In the following chapters, scientists use newly developed technologies and risk their lives to counter the attacks and mitigate their effects. Others focus on understanding the swarm intelligence while trying to establish communication. At the same time, conflicts emerge between the scientists and the military leading the mission, creating tension and complicating their efforts.
The Swarm is a thought-provoking and thrilling novel that explores environmental and ethical questions. It is both an entertaining read and a striking reminder of the importance of respecting and preserving our natural world.
Read more:
- Interview with Gerhard Borhmann: https://up2date.uni-bremen.de/en/article/the-swarm-bremen-marine-geologist-gerhard-bohrmann-as-fictional-characte
