As the sun rises over the Wild Lands, some life-forms stir awake while others hunker down to sleep after a night of hunting and foraging. This is a world rich in flora and fauna. And yet it is not natural.
Each of the animals roaming these forests a...
Summer Solstice is a couple of weeks away and we have the animals come out to play. In the days of warmth, let's rustle up some charm. With BBQ's and flowers and showers. And lots of furry cuddles to look forward to(don't we always 😉 ) .
This month's sub-genre is a topic where reams and reams of paper would be insufficient to extoll their cuteness and adorableness and everything they are and what they mean to us. As always, what are pets if not natural-born punksters. Not to be quoted, but I think an ape was punked somewhere at the Ooorah and evolved into TheOrangutan in due course. So, with these virtues, we jump into the quantum space of the Animal Punk issue.
We all love animals. And as writers, we love them more. Regardless of the characters they portray, animals play a key role in assisting humans and their handlers to understand themselves and connecting with the world in general. They complement their people, often acting as a mirror to highlight the qualities needed to understand their flaws and change. Their natural compatibility is a basic component to humans, in helping them to grow as a person and into better, more compassionate human beings. They are the propelling force in many-a-novel in the science fiction universes.
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From a young healer named Snake in "Dreamsnake" by Vonda N. McIntyre, to the beast folk at "The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells (1896), to the cat warriors of "Ringworld" by Larry Niven (1970), to the super-intelligent rats from the "Mrs, Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien (1971), to the dolphins on "Dolphin Island" by Arthur C. Clarke, animals with otherworldly powers have spurred some of the most unforgettable character plots and novels.
The animal-punk moves away from the normal tropes to feature animals who have evolved or engineered in ways to increase their intelligence. These punk-rock animals range from basilisks, bio-engineered dogs, flying snakes, monkeys with mohawks and genetically-modified cats. Punks have taken over everywhere.
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I admit, the prospect of looking at human characteristics through the lens of animal characters is absolutely thrilling and intriguing. We are aware that animals augment the quirkiness factor, adding some sense of silliness to a convoluted adventure plot. They help in allowing their readers to be vulnerable and lower their guard as they read through complex plot filled with crazy tantrums, which in turn connects them better to the story.
