Bernard Werber

151
Bernard Werber bigraphy, stories - French writer

Bernard Werber : biography

18 September 1961 –

Bernard Werber (born 18 September 1961 in Toulouse) is a French science fiction writer active since the 1990s. He is today the second most read contemporary French writer worldwide after Marc Levy.

Extraordinary experiences

Bernard Werber is a member of INREES, Institute for Research on Extraordinary Experiences, an association which exists to promote the acknowledgement of extraordinary or unusual experiences.

This is reflected in some of Werber’s novels that use science, the paranormal, and spirituality as prominent subjects. Examples include Thanatonautes (The Thanatonauts), which proposes a spiritualist version of near death experiences and afterlife; L’Empire des Anges (The Empire of the Angels) and Le Mystère des Dieux (The Mystery of the Gods), which describe a kind of connection between souls, angels and gods; and Nos Amis Les Terriens (Our Earthmen Friends), which describes alien abductions.

Literary themes

In Werber’s books, animals such as the dolphins, rats and ants, are presented as intelligent creatures.

He also uses various figures symbolically to reflect "the stage of the evolution of the soul".

Werber defends in many of his books the vision of a collectivist global government that acts as a "world police" and imposes strict birth control.

October 3rd book launches

Several years ago, Werber decided to launch a book each year on October 3rd. His aim was to give the public something other than the prix Goncourt when it comes to new writing—a perhaps tongue-in-cheek reference to the prestigious literary award given by Société littéraire des Goncourt in France.Interview in the La Croix of 25 August 2003

Stage and screen

In addition to the film Nos amis les Terriens (Our Earthmen Friends), released in 2007, Werber has also produced a short film, La Reine De Nacre (The Mother-of-pearl Queen), and written a play, Nos Amis Les Humains (Our Friends, the Humans).

Works

Les Fourmis trilogy

  • Les Fourmis, Prix des lecteurs de Science et Avenir, 1991, ISBN 2-226-05257-7. (lit. The Ants, translated into English as Empire of the Ants). This book sold more than two million copies and has been translated into more than 30 languages.
  • Le Jour des Fourmis, 1992, ISBN 2-226-06118-5 (lit. The Day of the Ants)
  • La Révolution des Fourmis, 1996, ISBN 2-226-08636-6 (lit. The Revolution of the Ants)

Les Thanatonautes trilogy

  • Les Thanatonautes, 1994, ISBN 2-226-06758-2 (lit. The Thanatonauts)
  • L’Empire des Anges, 2000, ISBN 2-226-11526-9 (lit. The Empire of the Angels)
  • Nous, les Dieux, 2004, ISBN 2-226-15498-1 (lit. Us, Gods)
    • Le Souffle des Dieux, 2005, ISBN 2-226-16807-9 (lit. The Breath of the Gods)
    • Le Mystère des Dieux 2007, ISBN 2-226-17979-8 (lit. The Mystery of the Gods)

Le Père De Nos Pères trilogy

  • Le père de nos pères, 1998, ISBN 2-226-10562-X (lit. The Father of our Fathers)
  • L’ultime secret, 2001, ISBN 2-226-12740-2 (lit. The Ultimate Secret)
  • Le rire du Cyclope, 2010, ISBN 2-226-21529-8 (lit. The Laughter of the Cyclops)

Other novels

  • Le papillon des étoiles, 2006, ISBN 2-226-17349-8 (lit. The Butterfly of the Stars)
  • Le miroir de Cassandre, 2009, ISBN 2-226-19402-9 (lit. The Mirror of Cassandra)
  • Troisième Humanité, 2012, (lit. Third Humanity)

Experimental books

  • L’Encyclopédie du savoir relatif et absolu, 1993, ISBN 2-226-06583-0 (lit. The Encyclopedia of Relative and Absolute Knowledge)
  • Le Livre du Voyage, 1997, ISBN 2-226-09445-8 (lit. The Book of Travel)
  • Le Livre secret des Fourmis, 2002 (lit. The Secret Book of the Ants)
  • Nos amis, les humains, 2003 (lit. Our Friends, the Humans)