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The Singing Tree
The scent of prey is in the air...
Chalon, the dog-fox, is on the prowl in a dangerous world where survival is everything. A catastrophe has scorched the earth, and few liviing things are left... and those who remain are forced to become hunters, or be hunted.
It is a cold and bitter time, and Chalon is close to starvation when he picks up the trail of something that holds the promise of food.
Pangs of hunger shake him violently as he tenses, ready for the kill.
Then he sees his prey... a vision of light, a delicately beautiful white fox.
Thus begins a dramatic story of love and survival that celebrates the affinity between wildlife and humanity... and our future together.
Chalon, the dog-fox, is on the prowl in a dangerous world where survival is everything. A catastrophe has scorched the earth, and few liviing things are left... and those who remain are forced to become hunters, or be hunted.
It is a cold and bitter time, and Chalon is close to starvation when he picks up the trail of something that holds the promise of food.
Pangs of hunger shake him violently as he tenses, ready for the kill.
Then he sees his prey... a vision of light, a delicately beautiful white fox.
Thus begins a dramatic story of love and survival that celebrates the affinity between wildlife and humanity... and our future together.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 16, 2009
This was my favorite book that I chose to read in 4th/5th grade. I've always been fascinated with fiction and non-fiction books about animals, and this fictional tale really captivated me. I can still remember much of the story, and recall being unable to put the book down. Fabulously written and highly recommended! It seems to be a rare find now, but if you get your hands on it, you won't regret it. :)
December 7, 2012
This book is quite good. Although there aren't much real surprises as to events in the story, I still liked it.
September 1, 2022
Set in the future after an apocalyptic event, this book tells the story of Chalon the fox and his mate, who is never named in the text. She is a Whiteface, a type of white fox that has emerged in the wake of the Great Death, as the animals call it. Chalon and the white fox must travel across the ruined landscape in search of a new home in the south, where, it is said, they will find sanctuary.
There are a few factual errors, but at least some of these are explained by animals having to change their ways to survive in the wake of the Great Death. I found it somewhat annoying that, as in many animal stories, the animals use human terms of which they would have no knowledge (a fox would not measure distances in yards and miles, for example). The author also does not seem to understand the word “season” – he states that the Whitefaces appeared “three seasons” after the disaster. This would be nine months. Since foxes only breed once a year, this is essentially impossible. Additionally, it’s not clear exactly how long ago the cataclysm took place – at one point we’re told it was generations ago, yet at another we hear there are still animals who remember life before it.
Quibbles aside, this is an entertaining and well-written tale about foxes on a quest, and will likely be enjoyed by anyone who likes animal stories.
There are a few factual errors, but at least some of these are explained by animals having to change their ways to survive in the wake of the Great Death. I found it somewhat annoying that, as in many animal stories, the animals use human terms of which they would have no knowledge (a fox would not measure distances in yards and miles, for example). The author also does not seem to understand the word “season” – he states that the Whitefaces appeared “three seasons” after the disaster. This would be nine months. Since foxes only breed once a year, this is essentially impossible. Additionally, it’s not clear exactly how long ago the cataclysm took place – at one point we’re told it was generations ago, yet at another we hear there are still animals who remember life before it.
Quibbles aside, this is an entertaining and well-written tale about foxes on a quest, and will likely be enjoyed by anyone who likes animal stories.
April 21, 2019
So this is going to be a very small review and that's not cause I didn't like the book it was rather well written and thought out. It just wasn't anything it really blew me away about it. It was a nice even passed book that reminded me of a cartoon I used to watch has a child and really enjoyed. I did enjoy this book and believe others would to but there isn't really anything more I could say about it
November 3, 2023
A highly entertaining book about the adventures of a fox named Chalon and his mate, a white fox who for some reason is not given a name. It’s set in the aftermath of a global disaster, which destroyed much of the countryside. The two foxes are travelling towards a rumoured untouched land where they will be able to live safely, helped along the way by various other animals. The book has some excellent prose and makes a very enjoyable read. I recommend it to fans of animal fiction.
August 3, 2017
Chalon, the dog-fox encounters a beautiful pure white vixen and together they journey to find The Singing Tree. I enjoy animal stories especially ones about foxes, but the style of writing in this novel left me thinking it was ok but not loving it as I have with other fox stories.
October 7, 2022
Released as both The White Fox and The Singing Tree, Brian Parvin’s obscure work of post-apocalyptic xenofiction is set ages after a nuclear war brought about the end of human civilization, and follows a pair of foxes as they attempt to journey to a sort of mythical promised land to the south, where life is supposedly beginning anew. With beautiful prose and an endearing relationship between two fully realized characters at the heart of its narrative, this charming novel is well worth a read for fans of mythic xenofiction. [8/10]
August 26, 2018
This is a gorgeous read -- must have read it ten times across the decades. Can't help reaching for the Kleenex, though. I always loved foxes.
May 18, 2019
I fished this book from my bookshelf to reread after many years. It still brought tears to my eyes . Will this be the future world npost nuclear strike? emotive writing.
November 23, 2024
The White Fox is a tale that promises to evoke the spirit of classic animal stories such as Watership Down and The Incredible Journey, but ultimately reads more like a traditional magical quest narrative, akin to The Last Unicorn or The Hobbit. While these stories have their own merits, they fail to deliver the deeper connection to animal behavior and the natural world that one might expect from a book marketed as an animal adventure.
One of the key issues with The White Fox is the lack of attention to biological accuracy. The animals, while given some anthropomorphic qualities, often behave in ways that are too detached from their natural instincts. This can be forgiven to some extent in a story featuring talking animals, but the behavior of the characters often strays too far into human-like territory without acknowledgment. For instance, foxes are depicted fleeing from rats and weasels in a manner that feels unnatural, considering that these predators are part of the fox’s natural diet. The terror they experience when faced with an adder snake is even more baffling; while the snake isn’t a primary food source, foxes are known to hunt them, making this reaction particularly jarring.
Another example involves the otter Maychep, who behaves in a manner entirely inconsistent with what one might expect from a wild otter. Instead of acting with predatory instinct, Maychep directs other animals to The Singing Tree, an idyllic location that promises safety and sustenance. This is a plot device that diminishes the sense of realism one would expect from a book about animals, and this pattern continues throughout the narrative.
The character of Ghek, an eagle with a seemingly inexplicable interest in helping the white fox and Chalon reach The Singing Tree, further compounds the confusion. The eagle’s motivations are unclear; aside from an ancestral prophecy, there is no apparent reason why Ghek would care about the foxes’ journey. He also commands a group of weasels, a behavior that seems odd given that weasels are typically solitary creatures. The absence of an explanation for why Ghek leads this group of predators undermines the believability of the world Parvin is trying to create.
The timeline of The White Fox also raises significant questions. In this post-apocalyptic world, it is implied that the environment has been harsh for generations. Yet, elder foxes remember an age before the "Great Death," a timeline that doesn’t make sense given the short lifespan of a fox. Foxes typically live only a few years in the wild, and it’s hard to reconcile this biological reality with the suggestion that older foxes are living well beyond their natural lifespans in a resource-scarce world. The anthropomorphization of these animals reaches a point where they seem to have human-like lifespans, intelligence, and culture, which detracts from the story's impact as an animal tale.
The narrative structure of The White Fox is also problematic. The relationship between Walter and Ruby, which is introduced early in the book, feels unnecessary and does little to drive the plot forward. Their connection, while meant to add emotional depth, doesn’t resonate because their characters are underdeveloped, and the relationship feels forced. The story would have been far more engaging if it had started from the point where they arrive at Ruby's childhood home and the unsettling elements of the plot begin to unfold.
From that point onward, the plot becomes overly repetitive, relying heavily on a "go to this character to get directions to the next character" structure, which feels more reminiscent of a video game than a novel. This predictable formula weakens the narrative, making it feel more like a checklist of encounters rather than a cohesive journey. The characters' motivations, particularly in the case of the hare who knowingly walks into the territory of a predator, stretch believability even further.
Despite its fantastical elements, The White Fox fails as both a capital-F fantasy and a proper animal story. The pacing is slow, and the plot gets bogged down in unnecessary details. The world-building is inconsistent, and many of the animals' behaviors don't align with their natural instincts or the world that has been created. While there are moments of charm and the prose is solid, the book often takes a more whimsical approach than one might expect, which may disappoint readers hoping for a more authentic or scientifically grounded animal tale.
The White Fox is a book that may appeal to those who enjoy humanized animal stories, for readers like me, who seek a deeper connection to the natural world and animal behavior, it lacks the authenticity of books like Watership Down or A Black Fox Running.
One of the key issues with The White Fox is the lack of attention to biological accuracy. The animals, while given some anthropomorphic qualities, often behave in ways that are too detached from their natural instincts. This can be forgiven to some extent in a story featuring talking animals, but the behavior of the characters often strays too far into human-like territory without acknowledgment. For instance, foxes are depicted fleeing from rats and weasels in a manner that feels unnatural, considering that these predators are part of the fox’s natural diet. The terror they experience when faced with an adder snake is even more baffling; while the snake isn’t a primary food source, foxes are known to hunt them, making this reaction particularly jarring.
Another example involves the otter Maychep, who behaves in a manner entirely inconsistent with what one might expect from a wild otter. Instead of acting with predatory instinct, Maychep directs other animals to The Singing Tree, an idyllic location that promises safety and sustenance. This is a plot device that diminishes the sense of realism one would expect from a book about animals, and this pattern continues throughout the narrative.
The character of Ghek, an eagle with a seemingly inexplicable interest in helping the white fox and Chalon reach The Singing Tree, further compounds the confusion. The eagle’s motivations are unclear; aside from an ancestral prophecy, there is no apparent reason why Ghek would care about the foxes’ journey. He also commands a group of weasels, a behavior that seems odd given that weasels are typically solitary creatures. The absence of an explanation for why Ghek leads this group of predators undermines the believability of the world Parvin is trying to create.
The timeline of The White Fox also raises significant questions. In this post-apocalyptic world, it is implied that the environment has been harsh for generations. Yet, elder foxes remember an age before the "Great Death," a timeline that doesn’t make sense given the short lifespan of a fox. Foxes typically live only a few years in the wild, and it’s hard to reconcile this biological reality with the suggestion that older foxes are living well beyond their natural lifespans in a resource-scarce world. The anthropomorphization of these animals reaches a point where they seem to have human-like lifespans, intelligence, and culture, which detracts from the story's impact as an animal tale.
The narrative structure of The White Fox is also problematic. The relationship between Walter and Ruby, which is introduced early in the book, feels unnecessary and does little to drive the plot forward. Their connection, while meant to add emotional depth, doesn’t resonate because their characters are underdeveloped, and the relationship feels forced. The story would have been far more engaging if it had started from the point where they arrive at Ruby's childhood home and the unsettling elements of the plot begin to unfold.
From that point onward, the plot becomes overly repetitive, relying heavily on a "go to this character to get directions to the next character" structure, which feels more reminiscent of a video game than a novel. This predictable formula weakens the narrative, making it feel more like a checklist of encounters rather than a cohesive journey. The characters' motivations, particularly in the case of the hare who knowingly walks into the territory of a predator, stretch believability even further.
Despite its fantastical elements, The White Fox fails as both a capital-F fantasy and a proper animal story. The pacing is slow, and the plot gets bogged down in unnecessary details. The world-building is inconsistent, and many of the animals' behaviors don't align with their natural instincts or the world that has been created. While there are moments of charm and the prose is solid, the book often takes a more whimsical approach than one might expect, which may disappoint readers hoping for a more authentic or scientifically grounded animal tale.
The White Fox is a book that may appeal to those who enjoy humanized animal stories, for readers like me, who seek a deeper connection to the natural world and animal behavior, it lacks the authenticity of books like Watership Down or A Black Fox Running.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews