This odd mix of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” the film “28 Days Later” and Tolkien-esque fantasy is what comprises W.G. Palmer’s “Awaiting Whisperland: The Calling of Galahad Green.” Despite, or maybe because of its extensive traits, the novel is an entertaining journey through a world that feels realer than it should be.

There are two strengths to the novel, the first of which is the debate between different schools of thought. Even after the humans’ downfall, the animals are unable to reach common ground, torn between carnivorous instincts and the desire to be fairer than what came before. Palmer’s dialogue is well-written and easily followed, a clever illustration of issues are the same across species.

The book’s other major advantage comes when the debate turns into conflict. With almost every race of animals represented, the possibilities are endless and Palmer uses them all: chimpanzees wielding rifles, warthogs goring pumas and a condor commanding a swarm of wasps. Worth it for the novelty alone, Palmer writes them in a believably entertaining fashion.

In combat and discussion the writing works well, but in exposition it borders on sluggish. In the first page alone I saw Galahad’s young eyes turn old, his inner self torn into two parts and scenes falling in front of him like dominos. I was heavily distracted by these self-important analogies, and found myself skimming until the characters got back into conversation.

There are also a few minor hiccups in the book’s characters, which I found overwhelmingly traditional: blind cryptic prophet, hot-tempered rebel and bloodthirsty killer to name a few. Others, like human survivor General Ulysses S. Pappageorge (a carbon copy of “Dr. Strangelove’s” bomb rider) cross the line from archetype to stereotype and should be simply removed.