Publisher's Synopsis
EMPERORS OF ANTARCTICA: A Penguin and Global Warming Allegory (563 pages 7 X 10 format) is my most recent published work. It's also the most topical and timely novel given the subject matter. I make this claim because the narrative is not just about what's happening to Antartica and its counterpart, the Arctic, but also the quandary the Emperor Penguins and all other creatures that call this icy continent home. Most may also be facing extinction in decades to come, both terrestrial and aquatic species. Hence, the increasing warming temperatures that have systematically downsized Antarctica's floating ice palaces--the massive ice shelves. Glaciers are also in jeopardy. To explain what's taking place in their homeland, and on a large scale, the Emperor Penguins will serve in the role of spokesmen, similar to Richard Adam's novel, Watership Down, only it's the penguins doing the talking, not rabbits. Coinciding with the plot and plight centered on these representative flightless penguins, who are the tallest of their species, there is something strange that's happening to the colony's rookery that's featured in this story. Thus, a mystery that has peaked the curiosity of one of the colony members, Auroral. Later in the story, he sets off on a harrowing adventure in the hopes of discovering what is causing the intermittent crunching and grinding noises heard from the far side of the rookery, as well as ensuing tremors that feel like the foundation is moving (i.e., wave-like pulses). Little does he know he is being tracked by his former partner, Corvus, and their stalwart offspring, Cetus. For this larger than life astute penguin, Auroral thinks the rookery is in danger of being destroyed. If this were to happen, then where would this large regional colony of penguins go when the next nine-month mating and rearing cycle returns? This perilous outcome, however, he keeps to himself, and for a good reason. A brief summary of Auroral's adventure entails he must make his way to the lofty crest overlooking the rookery, then make his way down the other side. Once there, he is confronted by a glacier, he manages to get on top of its heavily fluted surface, soon gets trapped in one of the fissures, and later is surprised when Corvus and Cetus show up and rescue him. When the trio get off the glacier and make their way back to the rookery, all the adults and fledglings have already departed for the summer feeding season (December - February); the adult clans returning to their respective territorial waters and the fledglings making their way to the open water where they will live for five years without any adult supervision. What the trio's arrival amounts to is no adult parent sees his or her offspring after the chicks are raised to fledgling status (4 months). Now that Cetus is with his former parents, the dilemma is obvious. She can't swim after her peers because predators are common and a lone penguin in the water is soon a dead penguin. Auroral and Corvus could follow their fellow clanners and risk predation yet problem remains: what to do with Cetus? Now that Emperor Penguin tradition has been broken the three penguins face a serious quandary. Happily, there is a surprise waiting for the trio when they return to the rookery and everything works out the way it should. Join me for the adventure of a lifetime; also, a seemingly impossible escapade as told through the eyes and experiences of the most delightful family of Emperor Penguins you will ever meet; at least in literary form. For those who would like to read a complete synopsis of both books, please visit my website www.richholtzin.com The synopsis is lengthy though I think necessary to inform the reader the story has many angles and requires many pages to tell the story as it should be told--thoroughly. Hope you buy the book and I think you will enjoy reading it!