| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Medium soft cover
Excellent condition
Set in the ecologically rich Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, When the Killing's Done by T.C. Boyle explores the moral and environmental complexities of human intervention in nature. The story centers on Alma Boyd Takesue, a National Park Service biologist determined to restore the islands' native ecosystems by eradicating invasive species like rats and feral pigs. Her efforts, grounded in scientific research and ecological necessity, aim to protect endangered native animals such as the island fox and reintroduce species like the Bald Eagle.
Opposing her is Dave LaJoy, a fervent animal rights activist and electronics store owner who believes all killing is wrong, regardless of ecological justification. His confrontational and often reckless tacticsincluding vandalism and sabotageset the stage for a bitter ideological battle. Boyle weaves in historical flashbacks and personal histories to deepen the narrative, examining how past human actions have shaped the present ecological crisis.
The novel challenges readers to consider the ethics of conservation, the consequences of human interference, and the tension between pragmatic science and passionate activism.
