Book Review: Watch Your Mandibles (Mr. Average and the 12th Stone)

Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker

An engaging dystopian adventure that makes you reflect on the real, current world

Ave is an average ant who lives in a dystopian society called Ant Nest. On his 12th hatchday, all he wishes for is to see the lady ant who’s visited him for the last eleven years. 

Upon seeing Ave for the 12th time, she tells him a riddle: “At the place that is you, when the 12 will hit the 12, you will save—.” But she is interrupted by a notification popping up on Ave’s mind-globe.

The notification is for a session scheduled by Isaac, a frenemy of sorts who seems to make life inconvenient for Ave frequently. But on this day, Ave has very little patience for him. Still, for as much frustration as Isaac causes, Ave is an optimizer who has to try to fulfill Isaac’s request for the benefit of all of Ant Nest. Ave is in a hurry to reconnect with his lady in white, but it’s continually threatened by someone else’s agenda.

All the ants in Ant Nest exist to serve Hari, an all-knowing god-like entity who can see everything that is cast across any ant’s mind-globe. Hari is even known for shaping ants’ lives to benefit Hari. While Hari is an unseen force, shepherds and specifically a Great Shepherd Zorax are seen orchestrating the lives of Ant Nest in order to benefit Hari (and themselves).

Although the Great Shepard has a self-serving agenda, the ants have been brainwashed to revere his every move. So when Shepard Elijah is sent on a quest to find the most average ant to place the 12th stone, they have no reason to expect the ant will refuse.

The term almosting comes up early on and is described as being put into a perpetual state of nearly fulfilling one’s desire. There is further elaboration within the first footnote of the story: “Ants should thank Hari for helping them not fulfill their desire, because the moment their desire is fulfilled, what reason would they have to keep desiring it?”

This world should feel foreign to us—ignite the fear of how a dystopian future could arise—but it’s eerily similar. There is enough space for the ants to feel different from real-life humans, like their grip strength, but by keeping enough similarities between man and ant, the reader is clear on the statement being made and the lessons to be learned. What an intriguing way to tell this story.

This adventure is a thought-provoking and unique twist on the futuristic dystopia. Ants are typically killed without a second thought by humans; by assigning ants autonomy and emotions, it opens up a fresh, engaging perspective on the world. Anyone looking for something eye-opening and unusual will enjoy Watch Your Mandibles.

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