Aabi Character Analysis in The Word for World is Forest

Aabi is one of the humans working at New Java Camp, and after Don Davidson goes rogue and takes over New Java, Aabi assists him by building landmines to keep the native Athsheans out. Although Aabi is loyal to Davidson and presumably dislikes the Athsheans, he also questions Davidson’s rasher decisions, such as his decision to steal Centralville’s helicopters. Aabi seems to want to return to the men at Central, and the novella implies that Davidson isn’t sharing his full intentions with Aabi and his other loyal men, including Post. After the Athsheans attack New Java, Aabi attempts to fly Davidson and Post back to Central in a helicopter, but Davidson threatens him with a gun and forces him to circle around New Java instead. Davidson also wants Aabi to bomb New Java as they fly, but Aabi refuses, as some of their own men could be prisoners. Davidson then switches off the hopper’s lights and Aabi loses control of the helicopter, causing it to plunge into the trees. Aabi dies, likely due to falling out of the hopper (or in an unseen confrontation with an Athshean).

Aabi Character Timeline in The Word for World is Forest

The timeline below shows where the character Aabi appears in The Word for World is Forest. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Violence, War, and Colonization Theme Icon

...created a defense system in his camp, which includes landmines built by a kid named Aabi. Now, he takes the hopper and drops a bomb on a creechie camp. (full context)

Communication and Translation Theme Icon

...hoppers so he can do more damage, but he hasn’t mentioned this to anyone, even Aabi or his other right-hand man, Temba. An attack on HQ might be too much for... (full context)

Two weeks later, the men start to get antsy. Davidson tells Aabi, Temba, and another guy, Post, about his plan to liberate the hoppers. Aabi wonders how... (full context)

...maybe that was a dream. Davidson makes it to the hopper, along with Post and Aabi. (full context)

Davidson asks where Temba is, and Post says that he’s dead. Aabi wants to pilot the hopper, so Davidson lets him, but when Davidson asks where he’d... (full context)

Aabi turns around but can’t find the camp in the dark. Davidson thinks about how he’s... (full context)

When Davidson comes to, he’s groggy. He can’t find Aabi, and he barely knows where he is. He then figures out that he’s still in... (full context)