Animal Future
In a near-future Southern California full of
mentally-enhanced animals, three unlikely companions— a Vietnamese-American
policewoman, a well-dressed chimpanzee, and a fast-talking spy— find they have
no choice but to combine their talents in order to stay alive. While being
hunted by fanged assassins, corrupt officers, and some chillingly methodical
robot snakes, the trio investigates what turns out to be a terrorist plot
masterminded by unknown foreign interests.
This exciting, irresistibly quirky novel of
action, comedy, and ideas features a remarkable cast of supporting characters,
including a motel desk clerk with a prehensile tail, a poker-playing bison, an
Aztec riflewoman, the irrepressible ferrets Larry and Leroy, and a large number
of pandas in Bermuda shorts.
Since the mysterious Elevation began, San Diego
has become the main port of entry for a flood of newly-intelligent animal
species hoping for a better life in the United States. Interacting with these
Provisional Citizens is just part of the job for Tactical Assault Officer
Autumn Winn, of the White Knights police/security agency. Her more pressing
problems usually involve dealing with her obnoxious supervisor and struggling
to convince her Americanized family that their Vietnamese cultural heritage is
worth preserving.
Autumn's life takes a bizarre turn, however, when
she and her partner enter a tailor shop in search of an elusive animal rights
activist. Instead, they meet a team of black-clad intruders armed with machine
guns. After a furious gunfight, the intruders kidnap the wife of Mr. Brian, the
immigrant chimpanzee owner of the tailor shop, arousing his determination to do
whatever it takes to rescue her— even if it means taking off his cufflinks.
However, Autumn has a harder time getting along
with handsome secret agent Mack Davis, a customer at the tailor shop who
realizes the kidnappers have accidentally scooped up something he can't live
without. To get it back, he is suddenly forced to rely on his new-found friends
and his quick wit. At the same time, he must draw on his underworld contacts to
learn the truth about the peculiar jade figurine he was smuggling in from
Singapore for his old girlfriend, so that he can have a candlelight dinner with
her without being ambushed by foxes with machetes.
Together Autumn, Brian, and Mack hide out in the
San Diego Zoo; get into a Western-style gunfight in Old Town; visit the secret
lair of a deranged intelligence broker whose fur could use a little brushing;
and join a daring raid on the former UCSD Geisel Library building at the
University of California, San Diego. Along the way they learn from each other
new perspectives on life, culture, true love, tolerance, respect, and the
importance of keeping your 9mm automatic pistol well oiled.
Depending on your species,
you'll laugh, growl, purr, and/or think deep thoughts when you read this
captivating adventure thriller for readers from YA to adult.
Animal Future (Futuristic YA/Adult SF)
By Robert & Darrin McGraw
Mondrian Books
ASIN #BOOPZL4OWS
300 Pages
Price $4.99
Rating 5-Stars
“Tongue-In-Cheek Thrills Every Page!”
When
Officer Autumn Winn and her partner, Sergeant Carter enters a local
chimpanzee-owned tailor shop after stopping for donuts near by, things go
suddenly awry. While they’re checking IDs, baboons drop through the skylight
and a gun battle ensues. The young wife of the tailor is abducted, and Sergeant
Carter killed. Autumn doesn’t trust the customer, Mack Davis, but wants to help
Brian, the chimpanzee tailor find his wife. Mack thinks it was a White Knight
PoliSec operation in the first place, and since Officer Winn is a White Knight,
well maybe they were trying to get rid of her and Carter. Winn sends a signal
that she and her companions are crossing to another building, and then a
missile destroys the building they were heading for, so now they are on the
run.
This
was a fun and unique adventure with all the packaging of a thriller aimed at YA
and adult readers, but with a bit of tongue-in-cheek to keep the story from
being too serious. It loosely shows our prejudice against those different from
ourselves. Since animals suddenly became intelligent, the world has experienced
a new flood of immigration – by sentient animals. In fact, the boss of the
underworld is a genius cat in need of his fur brushed. The story flows easily,
and the action is fierce. Readers of SF, mystery, or thrillers, will enjoy this
yarn, and no matter what your age, it will leave you with a smile. Highly
recommended.
Tom Johnson
Detective Mystery Stories
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