∎ Libro Gratis The Zoo An Allegorical Adventure Stephen Black 9781500361754 Books

The Zoo An Allegorical Adventure Stephen Black 9781500361754 Books

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The Zoo An Allegorical Adventure Stephen Black 9781500361754 Books

What would it take to bring a vibrant and bustling Metropolis to its very knees?  The simple answer to this question is…not very much!  Any type of civilization takes a great deal of time and industry to create, but precious little effort to destroy.  Poor choices or a series of unfortunate events can lead to catastrophic consequences.  When you throw in the inherent fragility of the human psyche, it seems as though we have all the ingredients for the perfect storm.  If such concepts intrigue you, then The Zoo:  An Allegorical Adventure by author Stephen Black, may be a tale which will garner your attention.  Indeed, readers who enjoy dystopian themes which are peppered with satire may very well find what they are seeking in this unique novella.

The actual story begins with a boy and his grandfather visiting a once booming city which now lies in ruins.  How did this possibly come to be?  As readers, we soon find out the answer to this question through a story told by the grandfather.  It is not your typical tale however.  It is told by looking back at the lives of the various zoo inhabitants.  It is through the description of these animals, and examination of their individual motivations and desires, that the answer to the mystery of the ruined city is eventually revealed.  Could the various animals really have caused such a devastating event?  Or is there more to this story than meets the eye?

There are a variety of intriguing themes which are explored throughout this novella.  Perhaps the most pressing one however is that of cause and effect.  In short, how our choices can have a dramatic impact upon our own future, and inevitably the lives of others as well.  Does the term “Butterfly Effect” ring a bell?  It is essentially a moralistic satire which examines the cause and effect of human behavior by using animals to portray the former.  I found it to be a fresh and imaginative concept which brings to mind other works such as Animal Farm by George Orwell.  Be that as it may, the plot of the tale does drag on in parts.  It seems as though more effort is spent on presenting the moralistic message than is on letting the story unfold naturally.  This pedantic nature tends to stifle what is otherwise a wonderful storyline.

As for the characters, I felt the author did a very good job at developing them.  The reader is able to easily visualize the various zoo creatures and then associate them with actual humans they have encountered.  It is exceptionally easy to make such connections with our current society and politicians in mind.  The ego driven Larry the Monkey, high strung Nadine the Parrot and attention seeking Karl the Donkey to name a few.  Larry was certainly developed in the most detail, and his portrayal was very similar to the rise and fall which occurs with many celebrities and politicians.  In my personal opinion, the animal characters in this book are its strongest trait.

Overall, The Zoo is a story which has many positive aspects.  Intriguing themes, interesting characters, and a dystopian setting which is quite easily visualized in the mind.  Nevertheless, it has some drawbacks as well.  For instance, the plot development does not have a very smooth flow as it gets sidetracked with depicting the moralistic message.  The reader wants the story to reveal the message through actual events rather than pontification.  Also, there is a need for a proofreader with this novella.  Typically, I ignore the mechanics when I am reviewing a book, unless it ultimately distracts from the story.  In this particular case it does.


Tags : The Zoo: An Allegorical Adventure [Stephen Black] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Have you ever thought about stepping into the past of a dynamic and vibrant metropolitan city right before it came to a state of mass destruction and annihilation? How could such a thing happen and who were the characters that precipitated its decline? What were their motivations and how did they behave? The Zoo</i> is an adventure that takes you on this treacherous journey. Filled with suspense,Stephen Black,The Zoo: An Allegorical Adventure,CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,1500361755,FICTION Satire,FICTION Science Fiction Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic,Fiction,Fiction - General,FictionPolitical,FictionScience Fiction - Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic,General Adult,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),PRINT ON DEMAND,Political,Satire,Science Fiction - Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic

The Zoo An Allegorical Adventure Stephen Black 9781500361754 Books Reviews

I feel like the story just ended too abruptly and as if there was more of a point but was left hanging.
A step into the future where the sins of complicity reverberate through a couple of generations. Don't we all need a kick to get involved with the running of this great country. jim
The storyline was okay, but the entire book was a man telling the story to his grandson. I would have preferred to have the action in real time; it would have been more interesting.
Well written, fast read. I enjoyed The Zoo right up to the end. If I had a negative thing to say is that I feel it ended a little abruptly. I was hoping for maybe the Grandfather to go a little deeper into his explanation of the events, and I also wonder how he survived?
Couldn't put book down. Loved it. Well written. Took you imagination from the very beginning to the last word. Wonderful
This book told a story about fear and how fear makes man do things that would otherwise be shocking. The read for me was slow going. The book is not really appropriate for young children because of the "fear factor" they would think about what could happen if people get sick.

It just took too long for an obvious ending without really answering questions that left me hanging. I don't recommend this read but I am sure others may.
When I read a story, the first thing I want to know is, is the book enjoyable. 2ndly I may be a little concerned as to the point involved. I found the book very enjoyable. Each type of animal, had a personality had their own desires and their own way of doing things, that was the fun of the story. Later on the animals caused all sorts of problems, won't say anymore as that will spoil things. The book was about the right length. The spelling and grammar was very good, one or two minor issues.

The only real drawback, is that on my version of the book, it seems to show political people, and nowhere does it state a single name of a politician. That's the only real drawback.
What would it take to bring a vibrant and bustling Metropolis to its very knees?  The simple answer to this question is…not very much!  Any type of civilization takes a great deal of time and industry to create, but precious little effort to destroy.  Poor choices or a series of unfortunate events can lead to catastrophic consequences.  When you throw in the inherent fragility of the human psyche, it seems as though we have all the ingredients for the perfect storm.  If such concepts intrigue you, then The Zoo  An Allegorical Adventure by author Stephen Black, may be a tale which will garner your attention.  Indeed, readers who enjoy dystopian themes which are peppered with satire may very well find what they are seeking in this unique novella.

The actual story begins with a boy and his grandfather visiting a once booming city which now lies in ruins.  How did this possibly come to be?  As readers, we soon find out the answer to this question through a story told by the grandfather.  It is not your typical tale however.  It is told by looking back at the lives of the various zoo inhabitants.  It is through the description of these animals, and examination of their individual motivations and desires, that the answer to the mystery of the ruined city is eventually revealed.  Could the various animals really have caused such a devastating event?  Or is there more to this story than meets the eye?

There are a variety of intriguing themes which are explored throughout this novella.  Perhaps the most pressing one however is that of cause and effect.  In short, how our choices can have a dramatic impact upon our own future, and inevitably the lives of others as well.  Does the term “Butterfly Effect” ring a bell?  It is essentially a moralistic satire which examines the cause and effect of human behavior by using animals to portray the former.  I found it to be a fresh and imaginative concept which brings to mind other works such as Animal Farm by George Orwell.  Be that as it may, the plot of the tale does drag on in parts.  It seems as though more effort is spent on presenting the moralistic message than is on letting the story unfold naturally.  This pedantic nature tends to stifle what is otherwise a wonderful storyline.

As for the characters, I felt the author did a very good job at developing them.  The reader is able to easily visualize the various zoo creatures and then associate them with actual humans they have encountered.  It is exceptionally easy to make such connections with our current society and politicians in mind.  The ego driven Larry the Monkey, high strung Nadine the Parrot and attention seeking Karl the Donkey to name a few.  Larry was certainly developed in the most detail, and his portrayal was very similar to the rise and fall which occurs with many celebrities and politicians.  In my personal opinion, the animal characters in this book are its strongest trait.

Overall, The Zoo is a story which has many positive aspects.  Intriguing themes, interesting characters, and a dystopian setting which is quite easily visualized in the mind.  Nevertheless, it has some drawbacks as well.  For instance, the plot development does not have a very smooth flow as it gets sidetracked with depicting the moralistic message.  The reader wants the story to reveal the message through actual events rather than pontification.  Also, there is a need for a proofreader with this novella.  Typically, I ignore the mechanics when I am reviewing a book, unless it ultimately distracts from the story.  In this particular case it does.