Review: Uncaged animals in a futuristic zoo
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2011
The Cageless Zoo by Thomas E. Carpenter is a very good story about an insecure widow who is left with two bright and active children to raise on her own. Melandre takes the children to a zoo in their futuristic world in which the animals are not caged and some of them are very viscious.  A few of the animals are like we know on Earth, such as the lions and Great White sharks, but others are strange, exotic and deadly without being provoked.While there, Melandre and the children, Andrake and his sister, Natalye, have the occasion to speak to a business associate of Phillippe's, the deceased husband and father. Melandre is very upset by the way her husband's research files have been handled after his death. By the time this story comes to its very exciting ending, Melandre will have found her own voice and courage and will be able to face just about any situation with confidence. They just have to watch out for those Hywalkalars and the Chthulubeasts.  After all, it is a cageless zoo.This is a very captivating story because there is a lot of action and frightful scenes in it.  The character of Melandre is so likeable as she gets stronger and the children are, too, especially when they show how very intelligent they really are.  This family loves each other very much and their concern for others, sometimes at the risk of their own lives, is a good thing to see.  I found this very entertaining and very well-written, and the author is a new one for me. There isn't a dull moment, because the excitement mounts from the very beginning and doesn't let up until the final sentence.There is also an excerpt from the author's Book One of the GAMERS Trilogy and that proved to be quite captivating and creative, too.  I wouldn't mind reading the books.  Just about anyone should enjoy The Cageless Zoo.  Thomas K. Carpenter is an author to keep your eye on.