November 15, 2016
In Mor(t)e, the first book in the trilogy, the queen of the ants, bent on a world without humans, transformed the earth's surface animals into two-legged sentient beings who waged war against their oppressive human masters. This second volume focuses on a bobcat named Culdesac, who heads an elite unit of feline assassins, the Red Sphinx. When the Red Sphinx takes control of the town of Milton, the surviving humans resist his edicts and plot to take back their town. But Culdesac learns that this village holds a secret that could shift the balance of the war. His discovery also upends everything he believes. Is it enough to change his mind about using violence? VERDICT The ideas of instinct, intellect, and belief come into play in a postapocalyptic world where bestowing "humanity" on those lacking it may result in extinction for all. This mix of George Orwell's Animal Farm and dystopian sf creates an unusual and unforgettable read.--KC
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