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Speculative Fiction
Title: Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life Author: Charles W. Belser Rating:  Excellent!
Publisher: Misaki Books, a Division of Midnite Oil Corporation Web Page: www.larrythepenguin.com Reviewed by: Rod Clark | View Bio |
 
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LARRY THE PENGUIN SEARCHES FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE By Charles W. Belser Reviewer: Rod Clark In 1908, French author Anatole France wrote a fascinating social and religious satire called Penguin Island. In it a wandering Christian monk lands on a (fictitious) island populated by penguins on Europe’s northern coast. The monk is a little near sighted, and, imagining that the penguins are people, promptly baptizes them—much to the distress of god on high—inadvertently supplying the birds with immortal souls. The events that followed on Penguin Island were a parody of European history and western religion that was controversial in its day. Today, a wonderful new social and religious satire featuring penguins raises its noble flipper in the brand new novel: Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life. The story is an odd mixture of intriguing elements: part fable, part on going Socratic dialog, part slapstick comedy, and part deadly serious satire all woven into a bizarre tale about Larry the Penguin’s quest in search for the meaning of life. The story starts out in Antarctica—but soon travels far afield. In his penguin peregrinations, Larry is joined by unlikely companions, including an arctic polar bear named Marsha who is “seeking her destiny,” and a human scientist/zoologist, Scott, who is agonizing over the fact that his strict brand of Christianity will not permit him to allow stem cell therapy for his son—who is dying of leukemia. (Little wonder that the animals call human beings “bonkers.”) The time setting is roughly contemporary, and the world in which the story is set is real—but with talking animals who view themselves as the intelligent life forms on the planet engaging in perpetual Socratic dialogs on deep philosophical and religious matters, and a plot that unfolds like a Marx Brothers’ movie—lunacy may be presumed. Belser is clearly a religious skeptic, but that doesn’t prevent him from allowing lively debate among his many human and non-human characters on many complex issues, and giving many different arguments and points of view full play as the story unfolds. The result is an adventure that is by turns bizarre, intellectually stimulating, hilarious, and deadly serious. Somehow the author manages to spoof the search for universal meaning without duly denigrating it. In fact, Belser seems to celebrate the dopey optimism of the quest—finding a quirky nobility as well as rich humor in it. Those who have deeply entrenched religious and philosophic beliefs that they do not want disturbed, should avoid this book. Larry’s wonderful journey might lead such readers to believe that the world is more marvelous and mysterious than they had hitherto presumed. However, those who choose to join Larry’s quest in the spirit of adventure and enquiry, and see in it echoes of their own searches for truth, are sure to enjoy this book whether they fully agree with the author or not. Thoughtful readers everywhere are sure to find this book a delight. Go Back read another review, or choose a different category. | ||||