Through the Ant Farm

Grip McCormack has never stepped on an ant. But at seventeen he shoots his abusive father Amos off the roof of their Kentucky home. Go figure. The murder trial dominates the news for months and brings a torrent of notoriety to the agoraphobic young man along with a string of female admirers. One of them is Millie-unhinged tenacious and eighteen years his senior. Grip has a parole hearing coming up in three days. Lucky for him. If only life on the outside werent waiting to get him-Uncle Edgar (Dads brother) wants to kill him and Millie wants to marry him and shes already picked out their house-across the street from Uncle Edgar. Grips anorexic sister Beanie still refuses to forgive him and flees to Illinois to escape the family shame (where she becomes a model for Simplicity Patterns). Mom quits her job and stows away with shades drawn in the crumbling Kentucky home (where she is now sole occupant). And Dad? Still dead and still something of a klutz. He has a difficult time mastering the ways of the afterlife getting stuck in prison walls and crashing into metal doors while trying to pass through them. But that doesnt stop him from attempting a reconciliation with his son. Without it both know that true freedom will never come. Praise for THROUGH THE ANT FARM: Robert Leland Taylor is endlessly inventive in his observations of the human condition. He populates his universe with characters who are both world-weary and naive at the same time. Hilarious and heartbreaking. Every word rings true. More please. -Gatlin Reed author of Shelter in Place. A unique voice propels the narrative of Taylors Through the Ant Farm. Grip is an abused kid with a high IQ knows hes weird but doesnt know why. This novel is filled with great one-liners dry observations and sets the stage for a hilarious and memorable tale. -Richard Hine author of Russell Wiley is out to Lunch. Heart-breakingly funny. This is one of those novels where I find myself sorry for the agents and publishers and ultimately the readers-who are missing out on stories and characters such as Robert Leland Taylor can write. -Gae Polisner author of The Summer of Letting Go.