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Mort(e)

Book 1 in the series:War with No Name

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In "Mort(e)" by Robert Repino, readers are taken on a thrilling journey where animals, transformed into speaking creatures with opposable thumbs, engage in a war with humans in a conflict known as The War with No Name. The story follows Mort(e), a former house cat named Sebastian, who becomes a military hero fighting alongside other intelligent animals against humans and the giant ants who have orchestrated the uprising. The narrative delves into themes of morality, religion, and war, exploring the complexities of the characters' evolving identities and motivations in a vividly depicted post-apocalyptic world. Repino's writing style expertly weaves together elements of science fiction and fantasy, creating a compelling and thought-provoking tale that resonates with readers.

The book "Mort(e)" by Robert Repino is a unique blend of action, science fiction, and fantasy that captivates readers with its imaginative premise and engaging storytelling. Through the perspectives of various animal characters, including Mort(e) the warrior cat, the narrative unfolds with touches of sardonic humor, poignant moments, and thought-provoking themes. Repino masterfully crafts a world where animals rise up against their human oppressors, exploring complex ideas about love, religion, power, and identity in a gripping and original manner that keeps readers immersed in the unfolding drama.

Characters:

Characters vary in depth, with Mort(e) as the primary focus, but many others struggle with development, impacting reader connection.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by a dark and grim tone, exploring deep themes but often struggling with character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around animated animals engaging in a war against humans after gaining sentience, led by the protagonist Mort(e) who is on a quest to find his lost friend.

Setting:

The setting is a dark, post-apocalyptic world marked by conflict between sentient animals and humans, shaped by themes of war.

Pacing:

The pacing of the book is inconsistent, with some engaging moments overshadowed by slower, drawn-out narrative parts.
Before he took his new name, before the animals rose up and overthrew their oppressors, before there was talk of prophecies and saviors, the great warrior Mort(e) was just a house cat known to his hum...

Notes:

The book features anthropomorphized animals in a war against humans.
Mort(e) is originally a house cat named Sebastian who gains sentience.
The transformation of animals is initiated by a hormone released by a queen ant.
Mort(e) longs to find his dog friend Sheba, illustrating themes of loyalty and companionship.
The story examines moral and philosophical questions about sentience and the treatment of animals.
Critics noted that some characters, particularly Mort(e), lacked depth and development.
The narrative explores the tension between religion and morality, depicting faith as a potential virus.
The book is compared to classics like "Animal Farm" and combines sci-fi elements with dark themes.
The writing has been described as grim and cheerless, with little relief from the bleakness of the story.
Despite mixed reviews, the novel has garnered attention for its unique concept and world-building.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novel contains high content warnings for violence, war, and themes related to slavery, suffering, and possibly animal cruelty.

From The Publisher:

After the "war with no name" a cat assassin searches for his lost love in Repino's strange, moving sci-fi epic that channels both Homeward Bound and A Canticle for Lebowitz.

The "war with no name" has begun, with human extinction as its goal. The instigator of this war is the Colony, a race of intelligent ants who, for thousands of years, have been silently building an army that would forever eradicate the destructive, oppressive humans. Under the Colony's watchful eye, this utopia will be free of the humans' penchant for violence, exploitation and religious superstition. As a final step in the war effort, the Colony uses its strange technology to transform the surface animals into high-functioning two-legged beings who rise up to kill their masters.

Former housecat turned war hero, Mort(e) is famous for taking on the most dangerous missions and fighting the dreaded human bio-weapon EMSAH. But the true motivation behind his recklessness is his ongoing search for a pre-transformation friend-a dog named Sheba. When he receives a mysterious message from the dwindling human resistance claiming Sheba is alive, he begins a journey that will take him from the remaining human strongholds to the heart of the Colony, where he will discover the source of EMSAH and the ultimate fate of all of earth's creatures.

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About the Author:

Robert Repino grew up in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. After serving in the Peace Corps, he earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. His fiction has appeared in The Literary Review, Night Train, Hobart, The Coachella Review, and more. He lives in New York and works as an editor for Oxford University Press.

 
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