| It has become obvious to all but the | | | | cerebral charms, you may be tempted to |
| most unrelentingly stubborn apologists | | | | consume the whole thing while in the |
| for the oil industry that we now stand | | | | middle of a crowded book store. Try to |
| at a pivotal moment in the history of | | | | avoid this temptation, as you will find |
| our planet. As much fun as it would be | | | | Fables to be a veritable banquet of |
| to make fun of Al Gore's pretentious | | | | philosophical speculation and belly |
| drawl and expanding bald spot, none of | | | | laughs. How in God's name, you may be |
| us can afford to ignore his clarion call | | | | wondering, can one book offer such |
| for global change. With humankind's | | | | seemingly incongruous rewards? The |
| carbon footprint leaving a catastrophic | | | | answer to that question is the secret of |
| impact upon Mother Earth, it is the | | | | Quisling's triumph. He has crafted three |
| sacred responsibility of every citizen | | | | distinct but thematically connected |
| to make a change for the better. We can | | | | tales,focusing on some of the Earth's |
| all agree on that much, but the next | | | | least respected inhabitants: a clam, an |
| question is a lot thornier: How exactly | | | | ant, and an earthworm. Against all |
| do you start? As in so many vital areas | | | | expectation, Quisling turns these lowly |
| of life, when confronted by a monumental | | | | invertebrates into heroes of truly epic |
| task it is beneficial to start with | | | | scale. By infusing so much ambiguous |
| something small. In other words, begin | | | | life and recognizably human foibles into |
| by taking a "micro" view of your "macro" | | | | its three-pack of protagonists, Fables |
| problem. Numerous studies have indicated | | | | allows readers to understand these |
| that the more we are taught to respect | | | | creatures as reflections of ourselves. |
| and even love the tiniest creatures, the | | | | Laughable as the clam's frustration with |
| deeper connection we will feel to the | | | | the emptiness of his existence might |
| planet at large. So if you're looking to | | | | seem, is our own periodic despair any |
| address climate change in your own way, | | | | less ridiculous? It all comes down to a |
| you might want to start by picking up a | | | | matter of perspective, which seems to be |
| copy of Fables From the Mud by Erik | | | | one of Quisling's primary lessons. After |
| Quisling. This book, simple in structure | | | | reading this timeless book, you may find |
| yet profound in implication, illuminates | | | | yourself thinking twice before stepping |
| the plight of Earth's smallest | | | | on the next ant you see crossing the |
| inhabitants in a style that will make | | | | sidewalk. He's a guest on this ailing |
| you laugh even as your empathy expands. | | | | planet, just like you. And for all you |
| The first thing you are apt to notice | | | | know, he might be in the middle of an |
| about Fables is the fluid interchange | | | | heroic struggle worthy of mention in a |
| between illustrations and text. This | | | | book Fables From the Mud. |
| book has been designed with such a | | | | Erik Quisling is the author of the |
| graceful simplicity that you could | | | | critically acclaimed new book, Fables |
| easily read it cover to cover in a | | | | from the Mud (Borderlands Press, Nov. |
| single sitting. Indeed, once you've | | | | 2007). |
| gotten a sense of its sharp humor and | | | | |