Animal Town
Animal Town
by A.D. Ultman
Release Date: January 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-942549-79-6
"Things have never been better in Animal Town. All animals are free, and animal does not kill animal." In an anthropomorphic world reminiscent of George Orwell's Animal Farm, predator and prey species of the American prairie have built a democratic, capitalist society where animals live together in harmony. Then, for the first time in memory, a predator kills a prey. The tragedy triggers a resurgence of species-based politics that threatens the very existence of Animal Town. With direct, accessible prose, dry wit, and penetrating satire, Animal Town is a prescient cautionary tale, exposing the danger of far-right and far-left political tribalism. Its nuanced and sophisticated treatment of contemporary politics, grounded in the words and actions of American political and cultural leaders, is related through the compelling story of a young jackrabbit's struggle to understand the nature of freedom, a weasel's quest for wealth and power, and the conflicting dogmas preached by a zealous fox and a radical gopher. Animal Town is a book made for the political moment but rooted in perennial wisdom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.D. Ultman grew up on a farm on the Great American Plains, surrounded by the species that populate Animal Town. He was educated at leading public universities on the East and West Coasts, studying cognitive science and political theory. He began his career as a U.S. Senate staffer and then spent eight years building and leading a successful corporate market research and consulting practice in Washington, DC. He resigned his position and traveled around the world in 2017. Since then, he has been an independent writer and teacher. He holds a B.S. in psychology and political science and a M.A. in political science.
