Scan barcode
deimosremus's review
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warning: Animal abuse, violence.
As I've said in other recent reviews, I've been slowly working through all the World Fantasy Wards Winners for best novel, starting with the 70s and 80s. This is my Sixth WFA read.
Doctor Rat is an incredibly bleak and disheartening satirical novel narrated by various wild and laboratory animals, the most vocal of which is the sardonic and intelligent, yet crass and horrible Doctor Rat, who believes that all animals should be willing to give their bodies to science, to benefit mankind... no matter how cruel or pointless the experiments may be-- that death is the only path to freedom. Conversely, a revolution in and outside of the lab is brewing, much to the human-idolizing Doctor Rat's chagrin, as the rest of the animal kingdom has had enough with man's treatment of their kind.
A stunning novel about animal cruelty, but also one that functions as an allegory for the Holocaust. Devastating in its message, yet offset by Kotzwinkle's brilliantly dark sense of humor. One of the absolute best things I've read this year so far.
As I've said in other recent reviews, I've been slowly working through all the World Fantasy Wards Winners for best novel, starting with the 70s and 80s. This is my Sixth WFA read.
Doctor Rat is an incredibly bleak and disheartening satirical novel narrated by various wild and laboratory animals, the most vocal of which is the sardonic and intelligent, yet crass and horrible Doctor Rat, who believes that all animals should be willing to give their bodies to science, to benefit mankind... no matter how cruel or pointless the experiments may be-- that death is the only path to freedom. Conversely, a revolution in and outside of the lab is brewing, much to the human-idolizing Doctor Rat's chagrin, as the rest of the animal kingdom has had enough with man's treatment of their kind.
A stunning novel about animal cruelty, but also one that functions as an allegory for the Holocaust. Devastating in its message, yet offset by Kotzwinkle's brilliantly dark sense of humor. One of the absolute best things I've read this year so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Genocide, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
More...