Elementary Particles (French: "Les Particules élémentaires") is a novel by Michel Houellebecq, first published in 1998. This book serves as a critique of contemporary society and describes the lives of two half-brothers, Michel and Bruno. Michel is a geneticist who tries to find the meaning of life through science, while Bruno is a teacher who seeks love and sexual satisfaction. The novel addresses human isolation, the sexual revolution, and technological progress.