The Monkey Wrench Gang is a novel written by Edward Abbey, first published in 1975. The story follows a group of four friends in the Southwest United States who come together to form the titular "monkey wrench gang." These friends, George Hayduke, Seldom Seen Smith, Doc Sarvis, and Bonnie Abbzug, are all rebels at heart and are fed up with the destruction of the natural environment at the hands of capitalist development and the government.
George Hayduke is a Vietnam War veteran and former Green Beret who has a deep love for the Southwest desert and a hatred for those who would destroy it. Seldom Seen Smith is a loner and a self-proclaimed philosopher who has a vast knowledge of the desert and its history. Doc Sarvis is a former doctor turned environmental activist who is fed up with the destruction of the natural world by modern society. Bonnie Abbzug is a feminist and environmental activist who joins the group to fight against the patriarchy and the destruction of the environment.
The Monkey Wrench Gang becomes infamous for their acts of sabotage against the development of the Southwest desert, including blowing up bridges and destroying construction equipment. As they carry out their mission, they are pursued by a variety of enemies, including the government, developers, and even a group of rednecks who call themselves the "Sons of the Pioneers."
Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, the Monkey Wrench Gang remains determined to protect the Southwest desert and the natural world. They are inspired by the idea of "monkeywrenching," which involves sabotaging or disrupting the operations of those who seek to destroy the environment.
Throughout the novel, the Monkey Wrench Gang grapples with their own moral dilemmas and debates the value of their actions. They recognize that their methods may be extreme, but they feel that they are justified in their efforts to protect the natural world from destruction.
In the end, the Monkey Wrench Gang achieves a partial victory when they are able to stop the construction of a dam that would have flooded a large portion of the desert. However, their story does not have a happy ending, as several members of the group are killed in the process and the battle to protect the environment is far from over.
Overall, The Monkey Wrench Gang is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that highlights the importance of preserving the natural world and the lengths that some people will go to in order to protect it. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of capitalist development and the need to balance progress with the preservation of the environment.
