The Overstory

Abstract

The novel glorifies the natural world and calls attention to how nature is being destroyed by humans. It follows several characters, all of whom experience some degree of connection with trees, and are brought together to oppose deforestation. Among these characters are Neelay Mehta, a boy who creates immersive video games inspired by the trees in his university campus, and who grows to fund his own company, becoming extremely successful in his exploration of nature in the digital world and interactive media; and Patricia Westerford, who studies botany and forestry and becomes a scientist, eventually discovering that trees are able to communicate with each other through chemical substances. Even though her scientific findings are initially denounced and unrecognised in the academic community, leading her to pursue a solitary life, she eventually comes into contact with two scientists who tell her that her findings are now fully recognised. Patricia eventually writes a book on the subject and builds a seed vault to preserve soon-to-be-extinct trees.