About the book
Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2015Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for New Fiction 2015Enter a whole new world, in this thrilling debut novel set entirely within a beehive.Born into the lowest class of her society, Flora 717 is a sanitation bee, only fit to clean her orchard hive. Living to accept, obey and serve, she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her beloved holy mother, the Queen.Yet Flora has talents that are not typical of her kin. And while mutant bees are usually instantly destroyed, Flora is reassigned to feed the newborns, before becoming a forager, collecting pollen on the wing. Then she finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers secrets both sublime and ominous.Enemies roam everywhere, from the fearsome fertility police to the high priestesses who jealously guard the Hive Mind. But Flora cannot help but break the most sacred law of all, meaning her instinct to serve is overshadowed by a desire, as overwhelming as it is forbidden…Laline Paull’s chilling yet ultimately triumphant novel creates a luminous world both alien and uncannily familiar. Thrilling and imaginative, ‘The Bees’ is the story of a heroine who changes her destiny and her world.
Editions of Bees
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780007557721
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780007557745
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780008706135
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780007598892
- EBook
- ISBN 9780007557738
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780007578351
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780007584451
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780007584475
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780007598236
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780007584604
- AudioOther
- ISBN 9780007584598
Read an Excerpt
Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2015Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for New Fiction 2015Enter a whole new world, in this thrilling debut novel set entirely within a beehive.Born into the lowest class of her society, Flora 717 is a sanitation bee, only fit to clean her orchard hive. Living to accept, obey and serve, she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her beloved holy mother, the Queen.Yet Flora has talents that are not typical of her kin. And while mutant bees are usually instantly destroyed, Flora is reassigned to feed the newborns, before becoming a forager, collecting pollen on the wing. Then she finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers secrets both sublime and ominous.Enemies roam everywhere, from the fearsome fertility police to the high priestesses who jealously guard the Hive Mind. But Flora cannot help but break the most sacred law of all, meaning her instinct to serve is overshadowed by a desire, as overwhelming as it is forbidden…Laline Paull’s chilling yet ultimately triumphant novel creates a luminous world both alien and uncannily familiar. Thrilling and imaginative, ‘The Bees’ is the story of a heroine who changes her destiny and her world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bees about?
Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2015Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for New Fiction 2015Enter a whole new world, in this thrilling debut novel set entirely within a beehive.Born into the lowest class of her society, Flora 717 is a sanitation bee, only fit to clean her orchard hive. Living to accept, obey and serve, she is prepared to sacrifice everything for her beloved holy mother, the Queen.Yet Flora has talents that are not typical of her kin. And while mutant bees are usually instantly destroyed, Flora is reassigned to feed the newborns, before becoming a forager, collecting pollen on the wing. Then she finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers secrets both sublime and ominous.Enemies roam everywhere, from the fearsome fertility police to the high priestesses who jealously guard the Hive Mind. But Flora cannot help but break the most sacred law of all, meaning her instinct to serve is overshadowed by a desire, as overwhelming as it is forbidden…Laline Paull’s chilling yet ultimately triumphant novel creates a luminous world both alien and uncannily familiar. Thrilling and imaginative, ‘The Bees’ is the story of a heroine who changes her destiny and her world.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Bees?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of Bees?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780007557721
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Bees?
Laline Paull
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Bees is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780007557721) and paperback(ISBN 9780007557745) and paperback(ISBN 9780008706135) and paperback(ISBN 9780007598892) and ebook(ISBN 9780007557738) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780007578351) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780007584451) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780007584475) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780007598236) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780007584604) and audioother(ISBN 9780007584598)
Where can I buy Bees online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Bees from below