Review by Frank Plowright
Charles Darwin’s considerations changed the world, yet he was so concerned about challenging contemporary 19th century religious orthodoxy with his ideas about the evolution of humanity that he sat on his theory for decades.
As with Jay Hosler’s other projects, his approach to passing on Darwin’s importance and influence is quite the offbeat idea. Miniscule mites living in Darwin’s eyebrow have constructed a mythology, passed down from generation to generation, concerning Darwin’s life, but based on misinterpreted events from it. One of the mites discovers Darwin, now an old man, can hear her. Darwin believes her a hallucination, but agrees to regular conversations restricted to his solitary walks on a sandy path. This is all an elaborate set-up for relating Darwin’s world changing theories in a user-friendly fashion.
The mites are as curious about their origins as Darwin, and as he formulates his theories through discussions with them he also learns of their constructed mythology and that he’s their god. Darwin has doubts about challenging entrenched religious beliefs, yet views his challenge through the misinformation about his own life. As the mites learn more of their true origins they also hold discussions among themselves and face their own challenges.
Hosler’s thoughtful methods include exaggerated cartooning of comedic moments, the slapstick forming a counterpoint to absorbing relatively complex thoughts, and his art throughout is charming and accessible. Following the story, Hosler supplies thirty pages of his own notes, revealing his thinking and historical sources in a chatty and accessible manner.
The Sandwalk Adventures is a remarkable work, part mythology and enough story to suck in anyone without a particular interest in the educational aspects.
