King Of The Ants

by Charlie Higson

It seemed straightforward enough. Sean had now consumed so much alcohol that everything seemed perfectly reasonable. He'd started planning the job already. The first problem was how to do it. Thirteen thousand pounds in an envelope seems a fair price for a man's life. Particularly if you don't know the man, he seems a nonentity, and you quite fancy his wife. And there's no chance of being caught. Sean is a drifter, working as a building labourer and waiting for something to happen. When Sean is offered easy money to tail someone and even more easy money to dispose of him, it's all more tempting than you might think. Except when you realize that you've been led up the garden path the whole way... KING OF THE ANTS is dark, disturbing and violently comic. In the tradition of both Joe Orton and Iain Banks, Charlie Higson pinpoints the casual vagaries of evil and its attendant powers. Unnerving, horribly accurate and wickedly enjoyable, it remains Higson's finest book.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Crime

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Higson was educated at Sevenoaks School and at the University of East Anglia (where his brother has taught since 1986 and is now a professor of film studies) where he met Paul Whitehouse, David Cummings and Terry Edwards. Higson, Cummings and Edwards formed the band The Higsons of which Higson was the lead singer from 1980 to 1986. They released two singles on the Specials' 2-Tone label. Higson then became a plasterer before he turned to writing for Harry Enfield with Paul Whitehouse and performing comedy. He came to public attention as one of the main writers and performers of the BBC Two sketch show The Fast Show (1994-2000). He worked with Whitehouse on the radio comedy Down the Line and is to work with him again on a television project, designed to be a spoof of celebrity travel programmes.[1:]

He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.

He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]

In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]

Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very dark comedy by Higson. On the dole, odd-jobbing, and his girlfriend's recently left him, Sean Crawley dreams of being a James Bond like character. When he gets his chance to be a private investigator, things soon get out of hand, really really way out of hand! Not laugh out loud funny, but on the other hand incredulously funny at times - another interesting read from Higson. 7 out of 12.

2011 read

[Andy Theyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harsh and funny thriller that is perfectly rooted in the time it was written. I was genuinely surprised when I read this, given he was from the Fast Show and all. Now he's famous for his Young Bond books people overlook his three adult novels, but they're all very good. In fact, Getting Rid of Mr Kitchen is one of my all time favourites.

[Andrew Grundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual read, but a quality book never the less. I found the book filled with desperation, not a cheery story by any stretch of the imagination, but also filled with hope - I think the desire for Sean to get out of the hole he's gotten himself into makes the book a page turner

[Cathal Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well fuck me sideways that was intense. I can see why it's R-rated now, for sure. But it was so good. Gory like The Enemy series and interesting like the Young Bond series. Though do not make the mistake of thinking this is a kids book. It may scar you.

[lee ridout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fab read

Dark, sinister and exciting from start to finish
Easy to read.
Numerous plot twists, extremely violent. Strange to cheer on the anti hero.

[Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darkly hilarious crime story about a gang of dodgy builders who get a lot more than they bargained on when they hire a young layabout to intimidate someone. Extremely violent and amoral.

[Busra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow in parts, but with a great payoff.

[Chris Pruden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real, light, heavy and gruesome too.

Enjoyed this early novel by Charlie Higson. Difficult to put down or get out of your head until it's all over.

[Glyn Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

King of the ants was the first and best Higson novel I read, in a long fuzzy often embarrassing period of my life called the 90s, or as I call them my lost years there were 4 things that helped me overcome my late mothers passing, friends,music,drugs n books. I remember a drug dealing friend lending me this book(by the then fast show comedian) along with sabersonic the first sabers of paradise album, I devoured both of them together with enough soap bar and valium to nestle my twenty something soul into some sort of cocoon, the reason I bring this up is because all I can remember about that decade were the music and books I collected.
All those friends were lost to time passed and there own downward spirals, the album and the book are 90s classics which have dated beautifully. Now in my forties with 4 awesome kids and a straight lifestyle this 90s gem still glistens and transports me to the late 90s, a rather grotty time of hazy memories and books which I've got to reread to even remember there greatness. (don't do drugs kids you may have the time of your life but what's the point if you don't remember them) ☺️

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not the book I had expected based on the cover and the blurb. I felt this went beyond black comedy into horror. I don't enjoy violence in any shape or form and I did have to skim read some sections just to finish it. I did want to finish it because I was curious to know if the amoral central character got his come uppance. No spoilers here you too will have to read it to the end to find out.

[Adam Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pacey, , darkly funny, gripping and with an interesting and distintive protagonist, King Of The Ants is a storming debut novel, with plenty of twists and turns. It's basically everything you'd want in a thriller. Some of it is dated obviously, being over 30 years old, but not nearly as much as you'd think, and the lack of modern technology just kind of gives it a timeless feel, whereas thrillers set in the present day can feel very dated very quickly.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Charlie Hobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I inherited this and others from my cousins book shelf. Not sure if he'd read it but I know he would have enjoyed it as much as me.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Charlie Higson crafts a gripping read with decent suspenseful and action scenes. The characters are believable, but heavy on stereotypes - the burly builders get their comeuppance and make racist and sexist comments, not sure if there's a rough justice subtext to that. The book isn't as funny as it should as the situation is a bit grim to say the least. I look forward to reading more from this authour.

[Simon Parsons]

Charlie Higson did the sketch "...black black black...." - explains a lot