Under The Skin

Sonia is a girl down on her luck. After her father died and left her no resources, Sonia goes out in search of a job. However, through many correspondences, Sonia finds a job illustrating insects with the reclusive Dr. Halder. However, the more Sonia finds out about the local lore and rumors in her new surroundings, especially with Dr. Halder, the more she wonders if her new job is more of a curse than a blessing. 

Have you ever been in a movie theater where a person is screaming at the character for exploring something dangerous? I have never been that person until I read this book. I understand having a healthy curiosity of the unknown. That is a part of Sonia’s hardwiring since she is used to doing scientific illustrations for a variety of scientists, now including Dr. Halder. But it is something to be said of the phrase “Curiosity killed the cat.” Curiosity is fine and dandy until you pursue it to the point that it could get you harmed or killed. It was frustrating reading Sonia stay in this town with an employer she knows is horrible, especially since his behavior is rotten, and knowing the circumstances behind her predecessor’s disappearance.

I wanted to be mad at her for exploring Dr. Halder’s machinations. However, I sat and thought about it for a while. Realistically, where else did Sonia have to go? It took her this long to find a job with Dr. Halder. Even though Sonia’s father was well respected in the scientific community, none of her father’s science friends wanted to help her out. Considering it was 1899, there were not a lot of places open for women to just use their illustration skills. She had given up her teaching job in illustration because the job with Dr. Halder was more lucrative. She thought about going back to the school, but already knew that her position had been filled. I felt that it was kind of hypocritical of me to want her to run when she has nowhere else to go.

We can’t end the review without talking about the book’s namesake, the wolf worm. So if you thought it was a wolf-like creature as I did, you would be sorely mistaken. Wolf worms are flying maggots that live as parasites under the skin of mammals and form a small lump on their bodies. Dr. Halder is obsessed with the parasitic creatures and requires Sonia to sketch each one he has in detail. Sonia didn’t care much for the creatures until she came across some in action. An animal tried to get into Sonia’s room that was taken over by a wolf worm. The creature kept thrashing into the glass doors of Sonia’s room until it died. Sonia had to keep a big chest in front of the doors to prevent the creature from getting in. 

It is scary for Sonia and the readers to witness a creature possessed and to do things not of its own volition. It is even scarier to know that Dr. Halder was trying to figure out how the wolf worm’s parasitic nature worked. These insects only attach themselves to animals. However, you had to wonder what would happen if Dr. Halder was able to apply the wolf worm’s technique to humans. What would happen if a person’s agency was controlled not only by an insect, but also by one governing body? It is chilling to think how people could be weaponized if something like that came to fruition. 

Overall, the story leans toward one of the creepiest things I have ever read. Bugs scare the crap out of me, and I run the opposite direction when faced with one. I admire people like Sonia who can look at insects in a scientific way instead of the uneasy feeling they bring. I also liked how the novel never veers from how harsh the animal kingdom can be. The wolf worm is powerful. It can take control of animals vastly bigger than it, which is terrifying when you think about it. Having no agency is one of the worst things that can happen to a being. Which brings me to my last question: What would you do if parasitic insects were able to take control of the human body?