Animal Future

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