Parasites Like Us

Dr. Hank Hannah, an anthropology professor in South Dakota, studies ancient civilizations while attempting to make sense of modern life. His research focuses on the Clovis people, prehistoric hunter-gatherers who vanished from North America 11,000 years ago. Together with his eccentric graduate students, Hannah discovers an important Clovis burial site that promises to reshape our understanding of early human settlements. The excavation leads to unexpected consequences that extend far beyond the academic realm. The narrative combines elements of archaeological adventure, apocalyptic fiction, and dark comedy as Hannah and his team confront both ancient mysteries and contemporary challenges. Their discoveries force them to question humanity's place in the world and our relationship with the past. Through its exploration of archaeology and human society, the novel examines how civilizations rise and fall, and the surprising ways ancient patterns repeat themselves in modern times.

Readers describe this book as unique but uneven, with a slow-building first half that transitions into an apocalyptic survival story. Many note the tonal shift feels abrupt. Readers appreciated: - Dark humor and absurdist elements - Archaeological details and academic satire - Complex character relationships - The originality of combining academic life with disaster fiction Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in first half - Characters make frustrating decisions - Ending feels rushed and unresolved - Narrative style can be meandering "The academic parts were spot-on but the apocalypse felt tacked on," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another wrote, "Started strong but lost its way." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (50+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (100+ ratings) The book receives stronger reviews from readers who enjoy experimental fiction and don't mind genre-blending narratives.

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🏺 The Clovis people, central to the novel's archaeological discovery, were one of the earliest known cultures in North America, dating back approximately 13,000 years. 🎓 Author Adam Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who teaches creative writing at Stanford University and won the 2013 prize for his later novel "The Orphan Master's Son." 🦬 South Dakota's archaeological significance includes the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, containing the largest concentration of Columbian and woolly mammoth remains in the world. 🔍 Modern archaeological practices featured in the book often use ground-penetrating radar and LiDAR technology to locate artifacts without disturbing the soil. 🌾 The novel's setting in South Dakota coincides with the region's historical importance in early human migration patterns, as evidenced by discoveries of Folsom and Clovis points throughout the Great Plains.