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Zootopia
Mother Nature walks out on humanity…
A stoned crow has a bizarre religious experience…
Two white lab rats carry out an outrageous experiment on a research scientist…
Britain goes to the dogs. And to the cats. But, mostly, to the dogs...
These are some of the wonderful tales told by the world-famous “monkey with a typewriter”, the macaque Jaxy Mono, in Zootopia - his follow-up to his smash hit of “monkey lit”, The Book Of Dubious Beasts.
Beautifully illustrated with drawings by renowned artist Dmitry Pousirev, Zootopia is suitable for children and adults from 11 to 111. It contains such classic once-read-never-forgotten stories as Mother Nature, The Arctic Penguin, The Crow, and The Eletiger.
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ABOUT ZOOTOPIA:
“The book of life is written with an alphabet of only four letters – A, T, G and C. Yet these four letters, repeated in endless variations, are enough to spell out the recipes for life forms as diverse as bacteria, fungae, plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and even a singularly pompous, pretentious, and self-important species of old world monkey called Homo sapiens.
So, just imagine what weird and wonderful creatures could be invented using all twenty-six letters of the alphabet; from doggypotamuses and rat-toothed catypusses, to winged cargo mammoths and elephanzees. The possibilities are mind-boggling!
Of course, the cynics amongst you will object that it is almost infinitely unlikely that a macaque tapping away at the screen of an iPad could hit upon a sequence of letters that resulted in even a fictitious life-form. That would require a God-like author with conscious intent.
But isn’t Mother Nature herself really no more than a monkey with a typewriter; blindly tapping out A, T, G and C over and over, until she hits upon the code of a valid life-form?
And, surely, what’s good enough for Mother Nature should be good enough for us, her children…”
A stoned crow has a bizarre religious experience…
Two white lab rats carry out an outrageous experiment on a research scientist…
Britain goes to the dogs. And to the cats. But, mostly, to the dogs...
These are some of the wonderful tales told by the world-famous “monkey with a typewriter”, the macaque Jaxy Mono, in Zootopia - his follow-up to his smash hit of “monkey lit”, The Book Of Dubious Beasts.
Beautifully illustrated with drawings by renowned artist Dmitry Pousirev, Zootopia is suitable for children and adults from 11 to 111. It contains such classic once-read-never-forgotten stories as Mother Nature, The Arctic Penguin, The Crow, and The Eletiger.
*
ABOUT ZOOTOPIA:
“The book of life is written with an alphabet of only four letters – A, T, G and C. Yet these four letters, repeated in endless variations, are enough to spell out the recipes for life forms as diverse as bacteria, fungae, plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals, and even a singularly pompous, pretentious, and self-important species of old world monkey called Homo sapiens.
So, just imagine what weird and wonderful creatures could be invented using all twenty-six letters of the alphabet; from doggypotamuses and rat-toothed catypusses, to winged cargo mammoths and elephanzees. The possibilities are mind-boggling!
Of course, the cynics amongst you will object that it is almost infinitely unlikely that a macaque tapping away at the screen of an iPad could hit upon a sequence of letters that resulted in even a fictitious life-form. That would require a God-like author with conscious intent.
But isn’t Mother Nature herself really no more than a monkey with a typewriter; blindly tapping out A, T, G and C over and over, until she hits upon the code of a valid life-form?
And, surely, what’s good enough for Mother Nature should be good enough for us, her children…”
252 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2016
1 person is currently reading
963 people want to read
About the author
Jaxy Mono
7 books79 followersJaxy Mono - the world famous “monkey with a typewriter” and the creator of “monkey lit” - is a highly intelligent tail-less Barbary Ape (Macaca sylvanus) from Europe’s only population of wild monkeys in Gibraltar.
As a young member of Gunnery Battery Troop, Jaxy (pronounced JAKH-see) had many opportunities to observe human behaviour and language close-up at the Apes’ Den. Jaxy then completed his education by stowing away in a tourist’s rucksack and traveling the world.
Jaxy creates his works by tapping, apparently at random, on the screen of a “borrowed” (i.e. stolen) iPad. Jaxy also thieves cameras, and he is a keen film-maker. His six hour documentary study of his left foot has won major prizes at several international film festivals.
Outside his artistic endeavours, Jaxy likes beer, bananas and his babies; and he dislikes fleas, being paid in peanuts, and zoos. His hobbies include foraging, grooming, rooting through trash-cans, and playing tag with his offspring.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, Jaxy doesn’t believe in evolution, as he simply can’t accept that he is descended from creatures as primitive as human beings; especially Creationists.
Jaxy Mono has asserted his inalienable moral right to be identified as the author of his works; and anybody who asserts otherwise will be nipped on the butt.
Hard.
As a young member of Gunnery Battery Troop, Jaxy (pronounced JAKH-see) had many opportunities to observe human behaviour and language close-up at the Apes’ Den. Jaxy then completed his education by stowing away in a tourist’s rucksack and traveling the world.
Jaxy creates his works by tapping, apparently at random, on the screen of a “borrowed” (i.e. stolen) iPad. Jaxy also thieves cameras, and he is a keen film-maker. His six hour documentary study of his left foot has won major prizes at several international film festivals.
Outside his artistic endeavours, Jaxy likes beer, bananas and his babies; and he dislikes fleas, being paid in peanuts, and zoos. His hobbies include foraging, grooming, rooting through trash-cans, and playing tag with his offspring.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary, Jaxy doesn’t believe in evolution, as he simply can’t accept that he is descended from creatures as primitive as human beings; especially Creationists.
Jaxy Mono has asserted his inalienable moral right to be identified as the author of his works; and anybody who asserts otherwise will be nipped on the butt.
Hard.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 5, 2017
“The wild parrot didn’t know what to tell its tame cousin. So it just did what the tame parrot couldn’t, and flapped its wings, and flew away.” A Tale of Two Parrots, Zootopia
Zootopia is a set of fable-ic animal short stories varying in length and written in a style not dissimilar from a smoothie blend of Adams and Pratchett. At points beautifully detailed and bewildering in its majestic scope of imagination it is a nicely wrapped package which consists of plot, message, title and brand and it blends seamlessly together. Sometimes I found the message or crude commentary, was too blatant and too critical, a dismissive gesture to wrongful human behaviour. However on the other hand in my favourite tales, ‘Zootopia’ and ‘A Tale of Two Parrots’ the message was layered, it made you think. It was metaphorical and had places where you could identify with the ideas and characters as a person and see resemblance of them in our society. Generally, ‘A Tale of Two Parrots’ was short and sweet and ‘Zootopia’ linked the whole collection together at the very end which made me put it down satisfied. Most endings to the short stories were crude, pessimistic or even predictable but looking over it, the stories took you on a downward spiral to finally, at the end show this little optimistic hope to interpret at your leisure. That was clever and surprisingly subtle. Jaxy Mono’s interpretation of animal relationships with human society- present tense, past tense and future tense is understandable , sometimes one sided and definitely one view of it all but generally very likable.
Would I recommend it? I already have and I will to you now. The short stories are perfect for busy people needing to unwind or trying to find time to read and its witty style and content will hit home for many a reader. However overall, if you’re a lover of animal stories, not afraid of the gruesome and enjoy the borderline ridiculous with a high dose of fantastical then you will find this book well and truly recommended.
Zootopia is a set of fable-ic animal short stories varying in length and written in a style not dissimilar from a smoothie blend of Adams and Pratchett. At points beautifully detailed and bewildering in its majestic scope of imagination it is a nicely wrapped package which consists of plot, message, title and brand and it blends seamlessly together. Sometimes I found the message or crude commentary, was too blatant and too critical, a dismissive gesture to wrongful human behaviour. However on the other hand in my favourite tales, ‘Zootopia’ and ‘A Tale of Two Parrots’ the message was layered, it made you think. It was metaphorical and had places where you could identify with the ideas and characters as a person and see resemblance of them in our society. Generally, ‘A Tale of Two Parrots’ was short and sweet and ‘Zootopia’ linked the whole collection together at the very end which made me put it down satisfied. Most endings to the short stories were crude, pessimistic or even predictable but looking over it, the stories took you on a downward spiral to finally, at the end show this little optimistic hope to interpret at your leisure. That was clever and surprisingly subtle. Jaxy Mono’s interpretation of animal relationships with human society- present tense, past tense and future tense is understandable , sometimes one sided and definitely one view of it all but generally very likable.
Would I recommend it? I already have and I will to you now. The short stories are perfect for busy people needing to unwind or trying to find time to read and its witty style and content will hit home for many a reader. However overall, if you’re a lover of animal stories, not afraid of the gruesome and enjoy the borderline ridiculous with a high dose of fantastical then you will find this book well and truly recommended.
July 20, 2016
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
While I did enjoy this book, as the stories were very entertaining, I would not buy another book by this author, as I did have some issues.
The morals of the stories hit you over the head, and were none too subtle, whichI found made them come across as rather patronizing and preachy.
Also I felt the author didn't like the English very much, as there were quite a few snide references scattered throughout, and as an English person I did find it slightly irritating for each story to have a dig at the English.
If all his books are in this vein, then I don't think I could put up with another one.
While I did enjoy this book, as the stories were very entertaining, I would not buy another book by this author, as I did have some issues.
The morals of the stories hit you over the head, and were none too subtle, whichI found made them come across as rather patronizing and preachy.
Also I felt the author didn't like the English very much, as there were quite a few snide references scattered throughout, and as an English person I did find it slightly irritating for each story to have a dig at the English.
If all his books are in this vein, then I don't think I could put up with another one.
June 20, 2016
*I won this in a GoodReads Giveaway!*
I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up, But I'm so glad that I've read it. This book is full of short stories about animals. Although the stories were a bit of fun, Many of them like Mother Nature and The Golden Bug also had morals behind them, Which made this book even more interesting! I really loved the drawings too. Overall, I loved this book!
I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up, But I'm so glad that I've read it. This book is full of short stories about animals. Although the stories were a bit of fun, Many of them like Mother Nature and The Golden Bug also had morals behind them, Which made this book even more interesting! I really loved the drawings too. Overall, I loved this book!
June 21, 2016
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway.
I enjoyed the stories in this book, even though this is not a book that I would normally read. It does make a change to read something different from my preferred genres and I would like to read more by this author one day.
I enjoyed the stories in this book, even though this is not a book that I would normally read. It does make a change to read something different from my preferred genres and I would like to read more by this author one day.
October 8, 2016
I read half of this book before I gave up on it. I was not sure what the author was trying to say. At first I thought it was a environmental view but his story the crow was weird and the next story was gross and was not to my taste at all.
January 7, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I have to say it's one of the best things I've ever won.
A fab book with some amazing stories. Jaxy has a wicked imagination, if only some of it were real.
A fab book with some amazing stories. Jaxy has a wicked imagination, if only some of it were real.
August 11, 2019
Great👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2016
Suspend belief. Shut reality firmly in a cold, dark place and enter the strange, enthralling worlds of the infamous Jaxy Mono, literate-ape extraordinaire. Whether he is writing about his fellow animals or about the lesser human species he will draw you in. Once the spell is cast there is no escape until the final tale reaches its grand finale.
You might think that the Arctic Penguin is something that a naturalist would deal with in a couple of paragraphs, but not Jaxy. By the time you have explored 'The Eletiger' and 'The Five-Toed Sloth', you are more than ready to believe that Britain is run by the House of Animals where the ruling party is comprised of dogs, while the opposition party is cats. The closing tale is 'Zootopia', where, strangely, the one who gets things moving is the one and only Jaxy Mono! He will certainly be embossed on your memory.
You might think that the Arctic Penguin is something that a naturalist would deal with in a couple of paragraphs, but not Jaxy. By the time you have explored 'The Eletiger' and 'The Five-Toed Sloth', you are more than ready to believe that Britain is run by the House of Animals where the ruling party is comprised of dogs, while the opposition party is cats. The closing tale is 'Zootopia', where, strangely, the one who gets things moving is the one and only Jaxy Mono! He will certainly be embossed on your memory.
November 5, 2016
Short stories with the potential to be modern day fables.
Clever, very clever, but funny too and thought provoking to such an extent that those without an open mind could consider some controversial but those more open minded will see familiar concepts in a new light
A book I shall return to from time to time partly to reflect upon those provoked thoughts but mainly as the stories made me smile.
Clever, very clever, but funny too and thought provoking to such an extent that those without an open mind could consider some controversial but those more open minded will see familiar concepts in a new light
A book I shall return to from time to time partly to reflect upon those provoked thoughts but mainly as the stories made me smile.
July 16, 2016
I utterly loved this book. Suitable for all ages, it throws a delightful, amusing look on certain creation theories, whilst making a gentle moral point throughout about Mankind's treatment of nature and his surroundings. Highly recommended, and I was sorry to reach the last page!
Want to read
October 30, 2016I enjoyed reading this book very much. It has taken it's place on my bookshelf as a modern book of Fables to be read over and over again.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews