The other reason is William Kotzwinkle as the writer. I've read at least two of his other books many years ago. Considering the cover on this, you would have a hard time guessing what those might be. ET the Extra Terrestrial and ET, the Book of the Green Planet.
I don't particularly remember anything about those books - a timeframe of 3 and a half decades will do that, but I do remember that I enjoyed them.
This book is quite a different beast to the E.T. novels. That cover is quite a clear warning that this book is probably not going to be a pleasant read. I was still surprised at how visceral this book is though. The contents are easily more disturbing than that picture.
This is the single angriest book I think I've ever read. We're introduced in the first chapter to Dr Rat, an insane lab rat who provides the narration for nearly half the book as he faces down insurrection in the laboratory where he assists in the important research.
That research is described in vivid and gruesome detail. No paw nailed to a board to stop the animal moving is left undescribed. We're assured of the importance of knowing how a cat will react to its tail being shaved and moistened and ever increasing electrical currents fed through it, or clamps attached at increased pressures. The information gathered is invaluable. That's actually one of the nicer experiments described in the book.
Outside of the lab, we are treated to many more anthropomorphized creatures as the whole of animalkind starts to gather in enormous packs for reasons which become clear towards the end of the book. It is the call of the wild on a frequency all creatures can hear which is causing the uprising in the lab where Dr Rat must protect the research.
I have to assume that the experiments that Doctor Rat so gleefully describes are genuine research projects. That makes this book so much more disturbing. I can only hope that since this was written, that there is a more ethical approach to animal research.
I have never read a book quite like this. The searing sarcastic satire of the main narrative, the sheer vitriol towards mankind... the style of writing is varied, depending on what animal is talking at the time but always underpinned by a barely constrained anger. The denouement is rather devastating to say the least.
This is a book that requires a strong stomach. There is an awful lot of animal cruelty in this book. But it has its purpose. It's trying to shock people into action. It's not there just to be vile. It's a call to arms to end licensed animal torture. It's a hugely depressing analysis of man's relationship with nature.
I loved it. It's shocking, visceral and important.
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