What do you think?
Rate this book
A Rustle In The Grass
Above ground the countryside stretches quietly, majestically beneath the changing skies. Peaceful and untroubled, far from the wars and woes of man, nature moves through her timeless cycles.
But look closer. For in the secret world beneath the grasses lies an empire in turmoil. A revered leader had died and, as the enemy prepares its armies for war, rebellion is whispered through the undergrowth. There in the kingdom of the ants the old order crumbles and the new prepares for its explosive birth. No single insect, from magnificent war leader to defiant rebel, from wise elder statesman to upstart contender, from beloved Queen to emerging young champion, is impervious to the revolutionary changes within the hierarchy, or the gathering threat from a terrible foe.
Man may be ignorant of the cataclysmic battles unfolding beneath his vision, but he should take note. His struggles are not so very different....
But look closer. For in the secret world beneath the grasses lies an empire in turmoil. A revered leader had died and, as the enemy prepares its armies for war, rebellion is whispered through the undergrowth. There in the kingdom of the ants the old order crumbles and the new prepares for its explosive birth. No single insect, from magnificent war leader to defiant rebel, from wise elder statesman to upstart contender, from beloved Queen to emerging young champion, is impervious to the revolutionary changes within the hierarchy, or the gathering threat from a terrible foe.
Man may be ignorant of the cataclysmic battles unfolding beneath his vision, but he should take note. His struggles are not so very different....
324 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2014
About the author
Robin Hawdon
28 books24 followersRobin Hawdon’s varied career has spanned numerous aspects of the arts. Actor, playwright, novelist and theatre director. Now one of Britain’s most prolific novelists and playwrights, with productions in at least forty countries and twenty languages. (see www.robinhawdon.com).
THE LAND, THE LAND, is his newest and perhaps most topical book - a psychological thriller involving a family's battle to preserve one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes.
NUMBER TEN is quite different. A fast action political thriller in the Lee Child genre, soon hopefully to be seen on Netflix.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST is Robin’s third novel and encompasses three of his deepest concerns – the extraordinary impact of science on mankind’s progress, the distorting effect of so much religious and superstitious prejudice on that progress, and the telling of real human stories (in this case three stories, all fundamentally inter-connected).
A RUSTLE IN THE GRASS, his first novel, has now been republished after it was discovered that, with the advent of the digital age, it has attracted an extraordinary list of 5 star reviews on Amazon.
Robin has been married for over forty years, has two daughters and four grand children, and lives between Bath, the South of France and Australia.
THE LAND, THE LAND, is his newest and perhaps most topical book - a psychological thriller involving a family's battle to preserve one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes.
NUMBER TEN is quite different. A fast action political thriller in the Lee Child genre, soon hopefully to be seen on Netflix.
SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST is Robin’s third novel and encompasses three of his deepest concerns – the extraordinary impact of science on mankind’s progress, the distorting effect of so much religious and superstitious prejudice on that progress, and the telling of real human stories (in this case three stories, all fundamentally inter-connected).
A RUSTLE IN THE GRASS, his first novel, has now been republished after it was discovered that, with the advent of the digital age, it has attracted an extraordinary list of 5 star reviews on Amazon.
Robin has been married for over forty years, has two daughters and four grand children, and lives between Bath, the South of France and Australia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 10, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I could start to read it all over again. It is all about a community of ants and I found it fascinating!
August 21, 2018
Loved this book so simple and easy to follow have re read it several times over the years. Dreamer and Sting and Joker 3 ants who are sent out on a dangerous expedition to scout out red slaver ants moving into their world. Filled with vicious fights with spiders and battle with the fearsome slaver ants. Loved this book great book. It has a special place on my book shelf.
August 30, 2017
A Rustle in the Grass is being republished thirty years after it was originally released. I had never heard of the book, but was immediately drawn into the story. We focus on one ant colony and Dreamer, one pretty regular ant who lived there. A sudden external threat of red ants and internal dissatisfaction of the workers are central to the story. We follow the exception bravery of Dreamer as he tries to determine what is worth dying for. It's a beautiful story.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the story from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the story from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2015
The Micro Universe of Ants
An epic anthropomorphic tale of peaceful brown ants against warlike red ants, how their communities clash, and what comes after.
An epic anthropomorphic tale of peaceful brown ants against warlike red ants, how their communities clash, and what comes after.
April 17, 2026
I didn’t expect a story about ants to feel this… human.
At first glance, A Rustle in the Grass sounds like one of those quiet, nature-inspired tales you dip into for something gentle and symbolic. And yes, it is beautifully written and deeply rooted in the natural world but beneath that calm surface is something far more intense. This isn’t just a story about insects. It’s about power, loyalty, sacrifice, and the kind of conflict that feels uncomfortably familiar.
The book pulls you into a hidden empire beneath the grass, an entire civilization of ants with its own politics, leaders, rebels, and looming war. What struck me most is how seriously the world is treated. There’s no gimmick here. Hawdon doesn’t make it cute or overly simplified. Instead, he builds a layered society that mirrors human structures in a way that feels both clever and slightly unsettling.
At the center of it all is Dreamer, a character I didn’t expect to connect with as much as I did. His journey is less about physical action and more about internal struggle trying to understand what truly matters when everything around him is shifting. There’s a quiet bravery to him that grows over time, and by the end, I found myself genuinely invested in his choices.
The pacing is interesting. It’s not fast in the traditional sense, there aren’t constant bursts of action but there’s a steady tension running underneath everything. You can feel that something is coming, that the balance of this world is about to break. And when conflict does surface, it carries weight because you’ve spent time understanding what’s at stake.
What really stayed with me, though, is the parallel to human society. The idea that beneath our notice, these tiny creatures are dealing with war, leadership struggles, and survival—it becomes a kind of mirror. The book subtly suggests that our own conflicts aren’t so different, just bigger in scale. That theme is never forced, but it lingers in the background, giving the story a deeper edge.
The writing itself is elegant without being heavy. There’s a calm, almost poetic quality to the descriptions of the natural world, which contrasts nicely with the tension building below the surface. It creates this strange dual feeling, peace above, chaos below, that works really well throughout the book.
If I had one criticism, it’s that the style might not be for everyone. Readers looking for fast-paced action or a very straightforward plot might find it a bit slow or overly reflective at times. But if you’re willing to settle into it, the payoff is worth it.
Overall, A Rustle in the Grass is one of those rare books that surprises you not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it quietly draws you in and leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished.
At first glance, A Rustle in the Grass sounds like one of those quiet, nature-inspired tales you dip into for something gentle and symbolic. And yes, it is beautifully written and deeply rooted in the natural world but beneath that calm surface is something far more intense. This isn’t just a story about insects. It’s about power, loyalty, sacrifice, and the kind of conflict that feels uncomfortably familiar.
The book pulls you into a hidden empire beneath the grass, an entire civilization of ants with its own politics, leaders, rebels, and looming war. What struck me most is how seriously the world is treated. There’s no gimmick here. Hawdon doesn’t make it cute or overly simplified. Instead, he builds a layered society that mirrors human structures in a way that feels both clever and slightly unsettling.
At the center of it all is Dreamer, a character I didn’t expect to connect with as much as I did. His journey is less about physical action and more about internal struggle trying to understand what truly matters when everything around him is shifting. There’s a quiet bravery to him that grows over time, and by the end, I found myself genuinely invested in his choices.
The pacing is interesting. It’s not fast in the traditional sense, there aren’t constant bursts of action but there’s a steady tension running underneath everything. You can feel that something is coming, that the balance of this world is about to break. And when conflict does surface, it carries weight because you’ve spent time understanding what’s at stake.
What really stayed with me, though, is the parallel to human society. The idea that beneath our notice, these tiny creatures are dealing with war, leadership struggles, and survival—it becomes a kind of mirror. The book subtly suggests that our own conflicts aren’t so different, just bigger in scale. That theme is never forced, but it lingers in the background, giving the story a deeper edge.
The writing itself is elegant without being heavy. There’s a calm, almost poetic quality to the descriptions of the natural world, which contrasts nicely with the tension building below the surface. It creates this strange dual feeling, peace above, chaos below, that works really well throughout the book.
If I had one criticism, it’s that the style might not be for everyone. Readers looking for fast-paced action or a very straightforward plot might find it a bit slow or overly reflective at times. But if you’re willing to settle into it, the payoff is worth it.
Overall, A Rustle in the Grass is one of those rare books that surprises you not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it quietly draws you in and leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished.
March 1, 2024
Good story, though I fell asleep a lot of the time when reading before bed
August 17, 2021
Just as entertaining as when I was a kid
Something triggered me looking this book up and I am glad I did. It reads much faster now which is going to make for a great bedtime story for the kids
Something triggered me looking this book up and I am glad I did. It reads much faster now which is going to make for a great bedtime story for the kids
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews