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Old Australia #1
Albert of Adelaide
At once an old-fashioned-buddy-novel-shoot-'em-up and a work of deliciously imagined fantasy, Howard L. Anderson's dazzling debut presents the haunting story of a world where something has gone horribly awry . . .
Having escaped from Australia's Adelaide Zoo, an orphaned platypus named Albert embarks on a journey through the outback in search of "Old Australia," a rumored land of liberty, promise, and peace. What he will find there, however, away from the safe confinement of his enclosure for the first time since his earliest memories, proves to be a good deal more than he anticipated.
Alone in the outback, with an empty soft drink bottle as his sole possession, Albert stumbles upon pyromaniacal wombat Jack, and together they spend a night drinking and gambling in Ponsby Station, a rough-and-tumble mining town. Accused of burning down the local mercantile, the duo flees into menacing dingo territory and quickly go their separate ways-Albert to pursue his destiny in the wastelands, Jack to reconcile his past.
Encountering a motley assortment of characters along the way-a pair of invariably drunk bandicoots, a militia of kangaroos, hordes of the mercurial dingoes, and a former prize-fighting Tasmanian devil-our unlikely hero will discover a strength and skill for survival he never suspected he possessed.
Told with equal parts wit and compassion, Albert of Adelaide shows how it is often the unexpected route, and the most improbable companions, that lead us on the path to who we really are. Who you journey with, after all, is far more important than wherever it is you are going.
Having escaped from Australia's Adelaide Zoo, an orphaned platypus named Albert embarks on a journey through the outback in search of "Old Australia," a rumored land of liberty, promise, and peace. What he will find there, however, away from the safe confinement of his enclosure for the first time since his earliest memories, proves to be a good deal more than he anticipated.
Alone in the outback, with an empty soft drink bottle as his sole possession, Albert stumbles upon pyromaniacal wombat Jack, and together they spend a night drinking and gambling in Ponsby Station, a rough-and-tumble mining town. Accused of burning down the local mercantile, the duo flees into menacing dingo territory and quickly go their separate ways-Albert to pursue his destiny in the wastelands, Jack to reconcile his past.
Encountering a motley assortment of characters along the way-a pair of invariably drunk bandicoots, a militia of kangaroos, hordes of the mercurial dingoes, and a former prize-fighting Tasmanian devil-our unlikely hero will discover a strength and skill for survival he never suspected he possessed.
Told with equal parts wit and compassion, Albert of Adelaide shows how it is often the unexpected route, and the most improbable companions, that lead us on the path to who we really are. Who you journey with, after all, is far more important than wherever it is you are going.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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April 24, 2012Just makes you want to break into song, don't it?
"Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
Don't let him go running amuck, Bill,
Just mind me platypus duck."
"Mind me platypus duck, Bill,
Mind me platypus duck.
Don't let him go running amuck, Bill,
Just mind me platypus duck."
April 7, 2017
Holy crap, this book was AWESOME. I never thought, at age 39, that I would utter the words " The duck-billed platypus is adorable." I now have..thanks to this book. It's hard to put it into a genre, because I truly haven't read anything like it. It reminded me- a lot- of Watership Down by Richard Adams. The dialogue and relationships forged by the animals- reminded me a lot of Animal Farm, minus the ominous underlying messages. This is just a book about a duck-billed platypus and his desire for the happier land- the Promised Land- that his parents told him about when he was young.
March 1, 2013
Maybe my expectations were too high for this one. It is a book about a duck billed platypus looking for old world Australia written by a lawyer from New Mexico. The only thing remotely Australian about the book is that most of the animals mentioned in the book are indigenous to Australia. It reads like an odd western - the first half of the book has glimpses of the television show Firefly, but that disappears in the second half of the book and we are left with a weak western.
I did learn that the duck billed platypus has spurs on the back of its hind legs and can poison other animals that threaten it.
If you want to read a western and having animals as characters is not the main requirement, read Sisters Brothers instead. I did not care for it, but compared to this one it is great!
I did learn that the duck billed platypus has spurs on the back of its hind legs and can poison other animals that threaten it.
If you want to read a western and having animals as characters is not the main requirement, read Sisters Brothers instead. I did not care for it, but compared to this one it is great!
November 21, 2012
A wonderful book. Simply written, and yet filled with great truths about life. The 2nd half of the book really picks up speed, and by the end you are left satisfied as a reader. Want more? Maybe, but no more is needed for this book to be a stand alone classic. Filled with characters/animals and obvious references to our own Wild West, Albert of Adelaide is a delight, and is a book that can easily be read in 1-2 days.
January 29, 2013
This is a western, set in the bush of Australia, featuring some very unusual characters, among them a Tasmanian devil, a platypus, a wombat, some wallabies, dingoes, bandicoots, and memorably, a raccoon from California. Strange though it may seem, this is not a book for children, nor is it a story written by an Australian. Together, all these facts weave a wonderfully strange allegory of life’s circuitous journey to happiness and fulfillment and some measure of wisdom.
When a book appears outside of the usual genres, it must be difficult to market. But my favorite reader/writers have been raving about this book since its arrival on the scene in the summer of 2012. And so it goes by word of mouth, and I add my own to the paeans of praise.
Albert is a platypus. Naked and alone in his cage in the Adelaide zoo, he dreams of escape—to a life without incessant examination by “faces smeared with cotton candy and jaws that dribbled popcorn.” He has heard tell of “old Australia” which he conflates with “the Promised Land.” He jumps a freight train, heading north carrying a soft drink bottle filled with water…
Many bad things happen, but there are good things, too. “Old Australia” isn’t quite what Albert imagined, but he’s made some friends and sometimes he still dreams of finding a shady riverbank populated by friendly platypussies. Life is a journey, and in this, we travel along with a thoughtful, civilized life form, slow to anger but fierce in vengeance, who can tell a story that makes us see what we might have done better when we ourselves came upon a band of marauding wallaby, terrorizing dingoes, or facing down the brown snake in a cave or in our office.
We come to admire Albert, and wish him well. We’d like to know him, and sit about the campfire trading stories. What more can we ask of fiction?
A word about the author: he is American who has lived as a general roustabout, a perfect background for a writer. He is currently working in New Mexico as a public defender, where he represents people from Mexico charged with crimes north of the border. He is one of the living writers I’d most like to meet.
When an author tries something completely unusual, and succeeds, we need to take notice and support them in their endeavor. Buy this book. You can pass it on after you’ve had a chance to ramble the Outback.
When a book appears outside of the usual genres, it must be difficult to market. But my favorite reader/writers have been raving about this book since its arrival on the scene in the summer of 2012. And so it goes by word of mouth, and I add my own to the paeans of praise.
Albert is a platypus. Naked and alone in his cage in the Adelaide zoo, he dreams of escape—to a life without incessant examination by “faces smeared with cotton candy and jaws that dribbled popcorn.” He has heard tell of “old Australia” which he conflates with “the Promised Land.” He jumps a freight train, heading north carrying a soft drink bottle filled with water…
Many bad things happen, but there are good things, too. “Old Australia” isn’t quite what Albert imagined, but he’s made some friends and sometimes he still dreams of finding a shady riverbank populated by friendly platypussies. Life is a journey, and in this, we travel along with a thoughtful, civilized life form, slow to anger but fierce in vengeance, who can tell a story that makes us see what we might have done better when we ourselves came upon a band of marauding wallaby, terrorizing dingoes, or facing down the brown snake in a cave or in our office.
We come to admire Albert, and wish him well. We’d like to know him, and sit about the campfire trading stories. What more can we ask of fiction?
A word about the author: he is American who has lived as a general roustabout, a perfect background for a writer. He is currently working in New Mexico as a public defender, where he represents people from Mexico charged with crimes north of the border. He is one of the living writers I’d most like to meet.
When an author tries something completely unusual, and succeeds, we need to take notice and support them in their endeavor. Buy this book. You can pass it on after you’ve had a chance to ramble the Outback.
June 4, 2012
From an uncorrected proof:
Albert of Adelaide is the first novel by Howard L. Anderson. Albert is a platypus who, sick of his imprisonment there, has escaped from the zoo at Adelaide, and has taken the train to Tennant Creek in search of the “old Australia”, a land of liberty, promise and peace that the other animals in the zoo kept whispering about. Albert is hoping to find a world like that of his childhood in the muddy banks of the river Murray, or at least, something that’s better than Adelaide: what he finds is a very long way from those expectations. Albert seems innocent and a bit naïve, but he turns out to be not entirely helpless, especially when someone makes him angry. Whilst he chances upon some generous friends, Albert also encounters ignorance and prejudice (he’s not a marsupial!), and soon finds he is a platypus with a price on his head, wanted for arson and cheating at two-up. Anderson gives the reader a rich cast of characters: an insane possum, a wallaby with megalomaniacal tendencies, a pair of alcoholic bandicoots, an ex-champion wrestling Tasmanian Devil, a singing pyromaniac wombat, marsupials playing two-up, one kangaroo working as a bartender and another as (fittingly) a bouncer, a surprising snake, several dingoes with deceptive qualities and a gun-happy foreigner in red long-johns with a black eye mask. And it seems they are all armed: pistols, rifles, an Enfield carbine, knives, rockets, a cannon, shotguns, muskets, and swords all feature. Anderson’s very original plot includes fires, highway robbery, bribery, betrayal, ambush and more than one battle. He gives his characters some wise words that will have the reader thinking about loyalty, mateship, justifying one’s actions and just how far one would go for a friend. I loved Albert’s thoughts on being lost. I was interested to see how Anderson, a resident of New Mexico, USA, would acquit himself with a story filled with Australian native animals: I was very impressed with the result. I laughed a lot, I cried, and I heaved a sigh of satisfaction at the end of the book (although I would love to read more of Albert’s adventures). A captivating tale.
Albert of Adelaide is the first novel by Howard L. Anderson. Albert is a platypus who, sick of his imprisonment there, has escaped from the zoo at Adelaide, and has taken the train to Tennant Creek in search of the “old Australia”, a land of liberty, promise and peace that the other animals in the zoo kept whispering about. Albert is hoping to find a world like that of his childhood in the muddy banks of the river Murray, or at least, something that’s better than Adelaide: what he finds is a very long way from those expectations. Albert seems innocent and a bit naïve, but he turns out to be not entirely helpless, especially when someone makes him angry. Whilst he chances upon some generous friends, Albert also encounters ignorance and prejudice (he’s not a marsupial!), and soon finds he is a platypus with a price on his head, wanted for arson and cheating at two-up. Anderson gives the reader a rich cast of characters: an insane possum, a wallaby with megalomaniacal tendencies, a pair of alcoholic bandicoots, an ex-champion wrestling Tasmanian Devil, a singing pyromaniac wombat, marsupials playing two-up, one kangaroo working as a bartender and another as (fittingly) a bouncer, a surprising snake, several dingoes with deceptive qualities and a gun-happy foreigner in red long-johns with a black eye mask. And it seems they are all armed: pistols, rifles, an Enfield carbine, knives, rockets, a cannon, shotguns, muskets, and swords all feature. Anderson’s very original plot includes fires, highway robbery, bribery, betrayal, ambush and more than one battle. He gives his characters some wise words that will have the reader thinking about loyalty, mateship, justifying one’s actions and just how far one would go for a friend. I loved Albert’s thoughts on being lost. I was interested to see how Anderson, a resident of New Mexico, USA, would acquit himself with a story filled with Australian native animals: I was very impressed with the result. I laughed a lot, I cried, and I heaved a sigh of satisfaction at the end of the book (although I would love to read more of Albert’s adventures). A captivating tale.
April 18, 2017
Who'da thunk a meandering tale of an escaped platypus would be so touching? It was refreshing to see an adventure story that wasn't hopped up on speed, bombarding you with explosions and evildoers thwarting the hero at every turn. Quite a lot of Albert's story was spent wandering the Outback contemplating life and doing what desert animals do, which is not a lot. There are some fantastic dark imagery and action scenes, and considering how little I know about Australian beasties, I had no idea which way they'd go. If the characters were human, a person the size of a platypus (3 feet-ish) wouldn't have much chance against one the size of a kangaroo (6-ish), regardless of what firearm he carried. But when the little guy has poisonous spurs...well, that makes a bit of difference.
However, AoA is less an adventure than it is a heartwarming tale of friendship, loss, and what it means to constantly search for something that may or may not exist. Although I could guess how the end was going to go, I was hoping I was wrong; when I wasn't, it didn't make it any easier to accept.
However, AoA is less an adventure than it is a heartwarming tale of friendship, loss, and what it means to constantly search for something that may or may not exist. Although I could guess how the end was going to go, I was hoping I was wrong; when I wasn't, it didn't make it any easier to accept.
July 24, 2012
I don't think I'm giving too much away by telling you that Albert is a platypus, and one I predict you will come to care enormously about. The author Howard Anderson is not from Australia, but describes the desert wilderness of Northern Australia as if he were as familiar as a native with the desert, the cliffs, brush and grasses of that terrain.
Albert himself is not a native of Australia. He has in fact just recently escaped from a dreary existence in the Adelaide zoo. Other animals have told him vague stories of the Old Australia, where life is better, and the experience of living richer, than any he has experienced to date. When we first meet Albert he is following the railroad line in a northerly direction. He has finished the food he had brought with him from the zoo and is still carrying the pop bottle, now empty, which he had filled with water before he left. He knows he must find water but does not intend to turn back. If he is going to die anyway, he'd just as soon be a little further away from Adelaide. He is caught in a sandstorm, completely loses his sense of direction, but begins to hear a disembodied off-key voice singing an unfamiliar ballad that mentions the exploits of someone named Muldoon. He follows the sound to the campsite of Jack, a wombat, fully clothed and making tea over the open flames.
They strike up a friendship of sorts as Jack assumes kind of a protective bond with a creature who is not wise to the ways of this wild, out West-type of atmosphere. He points out to Albert that he has no clothes on, and then finds him a coat to wear. Thus begins a sort of buddies-traveling together novel, but it is so much more. This is a story of friendship, trust, double crosses, and a quest for a better life. As in so many cases, life is lived, and life lessons are learned on the journey toward that elusive goal of a land where platypuses are plentiful and the river is flowing near by. Albert's life is changed and his character is strengthened by interactions with kangaroos, wallabies, a raccoon, a possum and lots of unsavory-smelling dingoes, not to mention his eventual encounter with the famous Muldoon of Jack's ballad. He turns out to be a Tasmanian Devil, who was without peer in a wrestling match in his day.
I suggest that you find a copy and get to reading so we can discuss these rich characters to our hearts' content.
Albert himself is not a native of Australia. He has in fact just recently escaped from a dreary existence in the Adelaide zoo. Other animals have told him vague stories of the Old Australia, where life is better, and the experience of living richer, than any he has experienced to date. When we first meet Albert he is following the railroad line in a northerly direction. He has finished the food he had brought with him from the zoo and is still carrying the pop bottle, now empty, which he had filled with water before he left. He knows he must find water but does not intend to turn back. If he is going to die anyway, he'd just as soon be a little further away from Adelaide. He is caught in a sandstorm, completely loses his sense of direction, but begins to hear a disembodied off-key voice singing an unfamiliar ballad that mentions the exploits of someone named Muldoon. He follows the sound to the campsite of Jack, a wombat, fully clothed and making tea over the open flames.
They strike up a friendship of sorts as Jack assumes kind of a protective bond with a creature who is not wise to the ways of this wild, out West-type of atmosphere. He points out to Albert that he has no clothes on, and then finds him a coat to wear. Thus begins a sort of buddies-traveling together novel, but it is so much more. This is a story of friendship, trust, double crosses, and a quest for a better life. As in so many cases, life is lived, and life lessons are learned on the journey toward that elusive goal of a land where platypuses are plentiful and the river is flowing near by. Albert's life is changed and his character is strengthened by interactions with kangaroos, wallabies, a raccoon, a possum and lots of unsavory-smelling dingoes, not to mention his eventual encounter with the famous Muldoon of Jack's ballad. He turns out to be a Tasmanian Devil, who was without peer in a wrestling match in his day.
I suggest that you find a copy and get to reading so we can discuss these rich characters to our hearts' content.
April 3, 2012
Albert of Adelaide is everything "Rango" could've been if Rango wasn't "Chinatown" for kids, or rather if the "Wind in the Willows" took place in Australia. Though the time frame is not entirely clear, which I interpreted as a tribute to the Aboriginal concept of Dream Time, there is an implication that it is within a twenty year time frame of modern times. Albert is a zoo escapee on a quest to find the real Old Australia, a paradise, but with no real idea of what paradise is, just what it is not. The plot is relatively little of him on his quest, mostly it is incidents and accidents. Albert is a very Bilbo-esque character, but with a lot more back-bone and poisonous spurs. The characters memorable, from the Famous Muldoon to TJ, and a host of others. Its both an adult animal story, but also a bromance. I very much enjoyed reading this debut novel and hope this isn't the last we've seen of Albert.
November 9, 2012
A unique book, unexpectedly full of social commentary and observations on the volatile nature of the human condition. Yet, there are no humans in this book, which augments both its enjoyability as well as the statements Anderson attempts to make.
In a nutshell, Albert is a platypus seeking Old Australia—a romanticized place where the past still exists as a paradise for all individuals. On his own, he cannot seem to find this utopia, but by joining forces with other creatures he hopes to fight his way to this place he has risked so much for. These other animals he meets (none are platypuses) help him discover the dark nature that lurks within everyone, capable of surfacing at a moment's notice, but not necessarily ultimately evil. Albert makes friends, he makes enemies, he loses and destroys them, but fundamentally the story is about losing and finding oneself. Full of action, this parable reads like a western, full of adventure, booze, and campfires.
In a nutshell, Albert is a platypus seeking Old Australia—a romanticized place where the past still exists as a paradise for all individuals. On his own, he cannot seem to find this utopia, but by joining forces with other creatures he hopes to fight his way to this place he has risked so much for. These other animals he meets (none are platypuses) help him discover the dark nature that lurks within everyone, capable of surfacing at a moment's notice, but not necessarily ultimately evil. Albert makes friends, he makes enemies, he loses and destroys them, but fundamentally the story is about losing and finding oneself. Full of action, this parable reads like a western, full of adventure, booze, and campfires.
October 2, 2012
I've read books that have had talking animals that were for kids (i.e. the Redwall, & Narnia series, and books like "Watership Down"), but this is the first book that I have read where the story had talking animals while at the same time targeted to adults. At least, I don't recall animals drinking Gin and getting hung over in the Narnia books.
Albert of Adelaide is quite a likable platypus that has escaped from and an Australian zoo and is looking for a sort of a promised land where other platypus like him supposedly dwell. On his journey, he meets other Australian animals who help him along the way.
Yet, his journey is fraught with dangers. Because he is so strange looking, he gets accused of crimes he didn't commit and fines himself on the run from other, not so nice, animals who would want to see him dead. This is the story of that journey.
Very enjoyable and unique read.
Albert of Adelaide is quite a likable platypus that has escaped from and an Australian zoo and is looking for a sort of a promised land where other platypus like him supposedly dwell. On his journey, he meets other Australian animals who help him along the way.
Yet, his journey is fraught with dangers. Because he is so strange looking, he gets accused of crimes he didn't commit and fines himself on the run from other, not so nice, animals who would want to see him dead. This is the story of that journey.
Very enjoyable and unique read.
March 4, 2012
I was so excited to read this book. I was looking forward to the class/race differences between the different animals and the attributes (I was expecting a little humor) each of them possessed. Turned out to be a pretty simple story with little plot development and the animal characters might as well have been normal human characters. I thought there was a lot that could have been done with the novel, and am disappointed with it overall. I would give it a 2.5 if possible because it was still an entertaining western style story.
April 24, 2013
I think this book comes across better if you know the poetry of Banjo Patterson.
In many ways the story in the second half is weak, though the first part of the book was enjoyable enough. It is part travel, part western, and part something else that I am sure I don't know what. Some type of reference to Aussie lit, maybe. Comment on immigration? I don't know.
Not upset that I read it, will keep my copy, but wanted more from it.
In many ways the story in the second half is weak, though the first part of the book was enjoyable enough. It is part travel, part western, and part something else that I am sure I don't know what. Some type of reference to Aussie lit, maybe. Comment on immigration? I don't know.
Not upset that I read it, will keep my copy, but wanted more from it.
July 17, 2012
3.5 stars.
A highly original story, and my favorite book with a talking duck-billed platypus as the main character.
Albert, the Platypus has escaped from an Adelaide zoo and travels by train to Tennant Creek. From there he starts on a quest to find the rumored Old Australia, where animals live in peace and he can swim all day.
Carrying only an empty soda bottle, Albert finds himself in the outback desert, a most inhospitable place for a platypus.He soon meets up with other animals,and becomes friends with an elderly wombat who likes to start fires.
They spend the night drinking and gambling at an old mining town where the bar tender and bouncer are kangaroos. They do not like Albert because he is not a marsupial. Since Albert was drunk he remembers little about the night. Albert is now wanted dead or alive. Posters everywhere offer a reward as he is blamed for burning down the building and cheating at cards.
At this point the story turns into an old-fashioned shoot-em-up Western adventure. There are drunken bandicoots, dingoes, a kangaroo militia, a visitor from America whom I believe is a raccoon,an opossum and a broken down former prize fighting Tasmanian devil.
Some of my favorite books have had talking animals as the subjects (Watership Down, The Plague Dogs) or as narrators (Art of Racing in the Rain)where the animals still behaved like animals. By giving Albert and the others many human characteristics took away most of the charm of the story for me.The animals fought with guns, spears and every other type of weapon. The had clothing and sat around a fire brewing tea, which for me detracted from their animal characteristics and weakened the story. Albert carries a gun but was glad to see him resort to his poisonous spurs which platypuses have in order to fight.I think the book would make an enjoyable animated movie.
There are themes of friendship, loyalty, bravery and prejudice against ones who are different, and the quest for a better life.
A highly original story, and my favorite book with a talking duck-billed platypus as the main character.
Albert, the Platypus has escaped from an Adelaide zoo and travels by train to Tennant Creek. From there he starts on a quest to find the rumored Old Australia, where animals live in peace and he can swim all day.
Carrying only an empty soda bottle, Albert finds himself in the outback desert, a most inhospitable place for a platypus.He soon meets up with other animals,and becomes friends with an elderly wombat who likes to start fires.
They spend the night drinking and gambling at an old mining town where the bar tender and bouncer are kangaroos. They do not like Albert because he is not a marsupial. Since Albert was drunk he remembers little about the night. Albert is now wanted dead or alive. Posters everywhere offer a reward as he is blamed for burning down the building and cheating at cards.
At this point the story turns into an old-fashioned shoot-em-up Western adventure. There are drunken bandicoots, dingoes, a kangaroo militia, a visitor from America whom I believe is a raccoon,an opossum and a broken down former prize fighting Tasmanian devil.
Some of my favorite books have had talking animals as the subjects (Watership Down, The Plague Dogs) or as narrators (Art of Racing in the Rain)where the animals still behaved like animals. By giving Albert and the others many human characteristics took away most of the charm of the story for me.The animals fought with guns, spears and every other type of weapon. The had clothing and sat around a fire brewing tea, which for me detracted from their animal characteristics and weakened the story. Albert carries a gun but was glad to see him resort to his poisonous spurs which platypuses have in order to fight.I think the book would make an enjoyable animated movie.
There are themes of friendship, loyalty, bravery and prejudice against ones who are different, and the quest for a better life.
November 8, 2012
this is an interesting story told from albert's, a platypus, point of view. albert has fled the adelaide zoo where he has lived most of his life. he embarks on a journey in the outback of australia to find what is mythically known as "old australia." this is a utopia for animals where they are free to roam without fear of being hunted or caged.
as albert makes his journey across the land, he also makes a journey into his awareness of what it means to be a platypus. he encounters all sorts of friends and foes along the way and his experience is one that is a pleasure to share with him.
the story unfolds naturally and is quite interesting. i found the lessons at hand thoughtful and not heavy-handed.
a whimsical, yet serious look at how we treat outsiders and the commonalities that combine all creatures.
as albert makes his journey across the land, he also makes a journey into his awareness of what it means to be a platypus. he encounters all sorts of friends and foes along the way and his experience is one that is a pleasure to share with him.
the story unfolds naturally and is quite interesting. i found the lessons at hand thoughtful and not heavy-handed.
a whimsical, yet serious look at how we treat outsiders and the commonalities that combine all creatures.
November 5, 2012
A nice read. And then, near the end, it sort of came out of nowhere and touched my heart. Highly recommend, whether you're 10 or 110.
July 29, 2023
Albert of Adelaide is an excellent book. If you picked it up thinking it's a children's story, or something you should read to a child, you should probably look elsewhere, as it doesn't feel that niche. Its setting is kind of a cross between Redwall, a walkabout, the Wild West, and the revolutionary war. It involves finding yourself and looking back on who you are and looking toward the future and seeing that your journey along the way has led to who you are now, even though you might not have appreciated all the events you went through at the time. It's really quite good, and gives you a nostalgic, melancholy feeling as you take the journey with the main character. The fact that you're traveling with animals is a useful fantasy element that helps soften some of the blows the character goes through along his journey, and doesn't detract at all from what he experiences, as the author uses it in good taste without leaning towards stupid humor or childhood tropes. Its certainly not the book I expected to read, but it's a book I'm thankful I read.
January 4, 2018
Now here's a fascinating oddity — a book I brought home from work five years ago, stuck on my shelves, and didn't look at again until today, when I read it in one breathless sitting. It's much like a Cormac McCarthy Western, a bleak adventure among reluctant outlaws, savage con-men, alcoholic turncoats and other victims of life, set in a forbidding desert outback. It's just that the protagonist is a platypus, the forbidding outback is in Australia, and the adventurers are wombats, bandicoots, kangaroos, and dingos. You could call it a sort of Australian Old West Redwall, but to me it feels a lot more like something McCarthy or Daniel Woodrell would write, full of grim and colorful characters, and centered on a protagonist who's naive, desperate, and utterly unaware of how cruel the world can be. Aside from the focus on smells (more important to animals than to people) and the occasional case of one desperado eating another, the fantasy element of all the characters being animals doesn't much affect the story here. The focus is on the harsh setting, and on the Western coming-of-age journey from helpless dependence to rugged independence. The author reports that he's written two more books in this world, but that he can't find a publisher for them. Here's hoping they someday see the light of day, because this is a strikingly unique and well-executed novel.
July 27, 2012
Clark’s Eye on Books
By Clark Isaacs
©CIsaacs 2012
Albert of Adelaide
By Howard L. Anderson
ISBN: 978-1-455-50962-0, Hardcover, Pages 240, $24.99, Publication Date: July 10, 2012, Fiction, Published by Twelve Books a division of HBGUSA.
“Albert of Adelaide” by Howard L. Anderson is very reminiscent of “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, which was published in 1945. The main characters are animals that live their parts on center stage though the travails of lives are vastly different.
Albert is a platypus who escapes from a zoo in Adelaide searching for “Old Australia.” He is a delightful character who discovers he can be more than an object stared upon in a caged atmosphere. Carefully he travels along railroad tracks, crosses deserts, and always is in quest of his dream like a Don Quixote.
The first thought about this book was whether it was another children’s book. The answer is a resounding no! This novel has messages embedded throughout which are definitely adult in nature, but because the characters are animals does not diminish the platitudes which are thematic throughout.
Differences in animals demonstrate individuality as well as people. There are bandicoots, kangaroos, and various other species throughout, but there is only one platypus. A duck billed platypus who is a male with poisonous spurs who can take down an enemy. Albert learns that he has the ability to fight and win. He obtains self-confidence so that he can become a leader rather than a follower.
Conflict is what normally keeps interest in many books and “Albert of Adelaide” has plenty. A posse goes into the desert in search of Albert for crimes he allegedly has committed. Efforts in his capture lead to poisoning of water holes by the posse as they use methods that are against society, but at the same time use the theory that the result justifies the means.
Humanizing of animals is accomplished by descriptions of their clothing, and how some of the animals are so persnickety about their appearance. They continually need to have their outfits laundered. Quite amusing is the concept of Albert carrying a backpack in which he has tins of sardines given him by one of his acquaintances. Albert does not like sardines, but takes them anyway to give to others.
An effect of alcohol on a few of the animals shows how they become ineffectual when they are drunk. Their attitudes and relationships with some become negative, but Albert is able to treat them with understanding and compassion.
“Animal Farm” is a classic recognized as one of the top 100 books of all time. “Albert of Adelaide” may not be in that category, but reading it is worthwhile. Using animals to convey messages is a great way to explore change necessary in society. We all search for Utopia; some never find it, but those who do realize that acceptance of life as you live it will enrich your relationship with others. This is a five star book that is highly recommended.
By Clark Isaacs
©CIsaacs 2012
Albert of Adelaide
By Howard L. Anderson
ISBN: 978-1-455-50962-0, Hardcover, Pages 240, $24.99, Publication Date: July 10, 2012, Fiction, Published by Twelve Books a division of HBGUSA.
“Albert of Adelaide” by Howard L. Anderson is very reminiscent of “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, which was published in 1945. The main characters are animals that live their parts on center stage though the travails of lives are vastly different.
Albert is a platypus who escapes from a zoo in Adelaide searching for “Old Australia.” He is a delightful character who discovers he can be more than an object stared upon in a caged atmosphere. Carefully he travels along railroad tracks, crosses deserts, and always is in quest of his dream like a Don Quixote.
The first thought about this book was whether it was another children’s book. The answer is a resounding no! This novel has messages embedded throughout which are definitely adult in nature, but because the characters are animals does not diminish the platitudes which are thematic throughout.
Differences in animals demonstrate individuality as well as people. There are bandicoots, kangaroos, and various other species throughout, but there is only one platypus. A duck billed platypus who is a male with poisonous spurs who can take down an enemy. Albert learns that he has the ability to fight and win. He obtains self-confidence so that he can become a leader rather than a follower.
Conflict is what normally keeps interest in many books and “Albert of Adelaide” has plenty. A posse goes into the desert in search of Albert for crimes he allegedly has committed. Efforts in his capture lead to poisoning of water holes by the posse as they use methods that are against society, but at the same time use the theory that the result justifies the means.
Humanizing of animals is accomplished by descriptions of their clothing, and how some of the animals are so persnickety about their appearance. They continually need to have their outfits laundered. Quite amusing is the concept of Albert carrying a backpack in which he has tins of sardines given him by one of his acquaintances. Albert does not like sardines, but takes them anyway to give to others.
An effect of alcohol on a few of the animals shows how they become ineffectual when they are drunk. Their attitudes and relationships with some become negative, but Albert is able to treat them with understanding and compassion.
“Animal Farm” is a classic recognized as one of the top 100 books of all time. “Albert of Adelaide” may not be in that category, but reading it is worthwhile. Using animals to convey messages is a great way to explore change necessary in society. We all search for Utopia; some never find it, but those who do realize that acceptance of life as you live it will enrich your relationship with others. This is a five star book that is highly recommended.
September 12, 2016
Albert of Adelaide...
An escapee from the zoo who is on a quest to find paradise, yet he's had little experience in the 'real'world. (Imagine Frodo going solo without aid from anyone else hunting for the mountain to destroy the one ring).
Albert of Adelaide...
A Clint Eastwood ("Man of No Name", from the spaghetti western "A Fistful of Dollars") sort of role crossed with Johnny Depp's "Rango", yet in a platypus body.
Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one at first.
It pleasantly morphed into a unique western full of the usual type characters, however, it's stars were various animals native to Australia, instead of humans.
Of course as in any good western you have the expected characters who drink, rob, drink, have gun fights, drink, even fire starting Pyromaniac Wombats and lots of drinking. The all star cast contains wallabies, alcoholic coward bandicoots, possum, back stabbing (literally) kangaroos, etc.
You get the picture.
Albert grew on me though, as we spent time together, he, regaling his tales over the campfire allowing (me) the reader to get some insight on him and his life. I grew quite fond of the little fellow before the novel was over.
This is a unique book, but worth the read for adults. It's not a child's book by any means.
I enjoyed this author's debut novel, and would definitely read more by him. Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Goodreads. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
An escapee from the zoo who is on a quest to find paradise, yet he's had little experience in the 'real'world. (Imagine Frodo going solo without aid from anyone else hunting for the mountain to destroy the one ring).
Albert of Adelaide...
A Clint Eastwood ("Man of No Name", from the spaghetti western "A Fistful of Dollars") sort of role crossed with Johnny Depp's "Rango", yet in a platypus body.
Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one at first.
It pleasantly morphed into a unique western full of the usual type characters, however, it's stars were various animals native to Australia, instead of humans.
Of course as in any good western you have the expected characters who drink, rob, drink, have gun fights, drink, even fire starting Pyromaniac Wombats and lots of drinking. The all star cast contains wallabies, alcoholic coward bandicoots, possum, back stabbing (literally) kangaroos, etc.
You get the picture.
Albert grew on me though, as we spent time together, he, regaling his tales over the campfire allowing (me) the reader to get some insight on him and his life. I grew quite fond of the little fellow before the novel was over.
This is a unique book, but worth the read for adults. It's not a child's book by any means.
I enjoyed this author's debut novel, and would definitely read more by him. Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Goodreads. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
October 15, 2012
Ok, I'm giving this book 4 stars even though the writing's nothing special because it takes place in Australia and there are all kinds of cool animals. There are wombats, bandicoots, wallabies, kangaroos, a platypus,a possum, a raccoon, dingoes, and a tasmanian devil! The hero of the story is Albert, a duck-billed platypus. After escaping from the zoo, he goes in search of his idea of Shangri La; Old Australia.
I was kind of confused by the book, because when it starts out Albert's in a zoo. Presumably, the zoo is managed by people. Once he escapes, he seems to enter a completely different world. There are no people but the animals have taken on the characteristics of people. There speak, wear clothes, and run businesses. They drink and gamble. The story plays out like somthing from the Australian version of the Wild Wild West. There are bar brawls and nights spent camping under the stars. It's a lot of fun.
Albert is a gentle soul who finds himself caught up in a world he didn't know existed. He encounters prejudice (being a platypus and all), learns that there are flawed but wonderful others out there. He learns about trust and loyalty and what it means to be a friend. No matter what happens, Albert holds onto his dream of finding the perfect place for him. "That place probably doesn't exist, Albert." There was a chance that Jack was right, but it didn't matter to Albert. He had come a long way on a faint hope and would continue on for the same reason. "It might, and that's enough for me"
I was kind of confused by the book, because when it starts out Albert's in a zoo. Presumably, the zoo is managed by people. Once he escapes, he seems to enter a completely different world. There are no people but the animals have taken on the characteristics of people. There speak, wear clothes, and run businesses. They drink and gamble. The story plays out like somthing from the Australian version of the Wild Wild West. There are bar brawls and nights spent camping under the stars. It's a lot of fun.
Albert is a gentle soul who finds himself caught up in a world he didn't know existed. He encounters prejudice (being a platypus and all), learns that there are flawed but wonderful others out there. He learns about trust and loyalty and what it means to be a friend. No matter what happens, Albert holds onto his dream of finding the perfect place for him. "That place probably doesn't exist, Albert." There was a chance that Jack was right, but it didn't matter to Albert. He had come a long way on a faint hope and would continue on for the same reason. "It might, and that's enough for me"
July 28, 2012
I will admit I picked up this book because I thought, "A talking platypus? That sounds hiLARious." Then a few pages into it I decided that maybe the story wasn't going to be for me after all. And now after finishing it I feel like I've learned something about the world, and not just the many types of marsupials in Australia.
On the animal front we've got wallabies and bandicoots and kangaroos. There's a wombat and a Tasmanian devil. Then there are the dingoes, which are not marsupials. Just like Albert, the wandering platypus.
I wonder if his name is an homage to Camus, because eventually the story becomes full of fatalism and philosophical pondering. It begins, however, with a platypus on an adventure in the big wide world.
Tired of the zoo, Albert travels in search of Old Australia where he believes he will find happiness. But Old Australia proves elusive. In the desert he finds towns full of hard-drinking animals scrabbling to survive in a harsh, dusty landscape. He quickly learns how to throw a punch, violence being a recurrent theme. He meets friends and enemies, becomes a much-vilified and feared stranger, and meets those who he fears in turn. Always he is searching for Old Australia, but he also discovers folks to whom he feels kinship and loyalty, and sometimes those have to come first.
On the animal front we've got wallabies and bandicoots and kangaroos. There's a wombat and a Tasmanian devil. Then there are the dingoes, which are not marsupials. Just like Albert, the wandering platypus.
I wonder if his name is an homage to Camus, because eventually the story becomes full of fatalism and philosophical pondering. It begins, however, with a platypus on an adventure in the big wide world.
Tired of the zoo, Albert travels in search of Old Australia where he believes he will find happiness. But Old Australia proves elusive. In the desert he finds towns full of hard-drinking animals scrabbling to survive in a harsh, dusty landscape. He quickly learns how to throw a punch, violence being a recurrent theme. He meets friends and enemies, becomes a much-vilified and feared stranger, and meets those who he fears in turn. Always he is searching for Old Australia, but he also discovers folks to whom he feels kinship and loyalty, and sometimes those have to come first.
December 8, 2012
Alright, I couldn't decide whether to give the book a 4 or 5 star rating because I still haven't completely figured it out and probably won't be any further along if I do six months from now. Yeah, that didn't really make sense, or did it. That's how the book is too. However, it was extremely interesting. You see, every character is some kind of Australian animal. Albert, the main character, is a platypus who escaped from a zoo. That naturally reminded me of myself. He went into Australia to find the real Australia that is no longer there, if it was to begin with. That also reminded me of myself. I immediately bonded with Albert. It's sort of like going out west to see troubled cowboys get into a gunfight on Main Street but realize it's not going to happen and probably never did--except for a few instances (O K Corral). The thing is, I really liked the book and it was a joy to read. I highly recommend it.
January 15, 2013
I won't summarize the plot. That is already done for you by Goodreads. I gave it three stars, which in my rating system means it was an enjoyable read but a book I will not read again and would only recommend to someone else on a limited, qualified basis. To my my mind this book is one to be read aloud by a parent to a 10-year old as long as you prepared to talk about pyromania, drunkenness, murder, battle, slaughter, and failed dreams; but also friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and pursuit of a dream. If you would read Narnia, Redwall, Watership Down, The White Bone or other another story from an animal point of view or with animals with human qualities you will enjoy this book, although the others mentioned are written with richer prose and with deeper messages.
March 10, 2021
When I read the back of this book, I had thought "Oh wow this is going to be an exciting story!" The title drew me in, the cover art looked very interesting, and the thought of animals being in 'Old Australia' and acting a bit like humans made me very curious. When I started reading the book and met Albert, his character drew me in. Him running away from the zoo all alone and hoping onto a train in hopes of going to 'Old Australia'. Although, once he got there, the book for me started going down hill and started to get boring. Every once in a while there would be an interesting part, but then it would get boring again. Personally, I do not think I would recommend this book to anyone I know, but if someone was looking for a slow book I would recommend this to them.
December 11, 2012
At least one reviewer described this entertaining little book as what "The Wind in the Willows" might have been like if it had been written by Larry McMurtry. I'd say it's more like what Brian Jacques' "Redwall" books might have looked like had they been transplanted to the 19th century Australian outback. In any event, a fine achievement for a first-time novelist -- Anderson does a nice job of developing his anthropomorphic characters' personalities and keeps the story moving along quite briskly. It has a few relatively violent episodes, so be aware if you're letting your kids read it. Aside from that, a fun, light adventure story.
October 29, 2012
An engaging adventure of a platypus looking for a place to call home. The story makes you band together with the platypus and cheer him on through his trials as he makes his way through the outback. Being the only platypus around, an obvious outsider, trouble arises wherever he goes. However he makes friends with a pyromaniac wombat and thieving racoon and you want to follow his every move, hoping he finds what he’s looking for. Reminds me of other great literary characters, such as Dorothy and Frodo, as they all journey on a quest and gather friends and enemies along the way.
July 14, 2012
I loved it. This is an absolutely delightful book. The characters are wonderful. The story just picks you up and carries you along. Reminiscent of Wind in the Willows. But instead of Toad and friends, you get a platypus, a pyro wombat, a pair of drunken bandicoots, a tasmanian devil and a whole lot of dingoes, wallabies and some kangaroos thrown in for fun.
I'll be pushing this on all my family. What a wonderful way to spend my first free day in months.
I'll be pushing this on all my family. What a wonderful way to spend my first free day in months.
November 6, 2012
Book Review & Giveaway: Sometimes my attention is caught by a book cover out of sheer curiosity, and that was the case with Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson. I’d never seen a book cover featuring a platypus and wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I decided to check it out. After reading the publisher’s description, I still wasn’t sure but there was something about it that intrigued me. Read the rest of my review & enter to win a copy at http://popcornreads.com/?p=4898.
August 6, 2012
"'Never met a wallaby that wasn't a wanker', said Roger watching the wallaby being thrown through the front door." (p. 41)
A zen Western, set in the Outback, with talking marsupials. I kept flashing back to the '70s tv show with David Carradine called 'Kung Fu'. I loved the book, and finished it in an afternoon.
A zen Western, set in the Outback, with talking marsupials. I kept flashing back to the '70s tv show with David Carradine called 'Kung Fu'. I loved the book, and finished it in an afternoon.
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