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Albert of Adelaide: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.02) - 418 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
At once an old-fashioned-buddy-novel-shoot-'em-up and a work of deliciously imagined fantasy, Howard L. Anderson's dazzling debut presents the haunting story of a world where something has gone horribly awry . . .
Having escaped from Australia's Adelaide Zoo, an orphaned platypus named Albert embarks on a journey through the outback in search of "Old Australia," a rumored land of liberty, promise, and peace. What he will find there, however, away from the safe confinement of his enclosure for the first time since his earliest memories, proves to be a good deal more than he anticipated.
Alone in the outback, with an empty soft drink bottle as his sole possession, Albert stumbles upon pyromaniacal wombat Jack, and together they spend a night drinking and gambling in Ponsby Station, a rough-and-tumble mining town. Accused of burning down the local mercantile, the duo flees into menacing dingo territory and quickly go their separate ways-Albert to pursue his destiny in the wastelands, Jack to reconcile his past.
Encountering a motley assortment of characters along the way-a pair of invariably drunk bandicoots, a militia of kangaroos, hordes of the mercurial dingoes, and a former prize-fighting Tasmanian devil-our unlikely hero will discover a strength and skill for survival he never suspected he possessed.
Told with equal parts wit and compassion, Albert of Adelaide shows how it is often the unexpected route, and the most improbable companions, that lead us on the path to who we really are. Who you journey with, after all, is far more important than wherever it is you are going.
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"Albert of Adelaide is everything "Rango" could've been if Rango wasn't "Chinatown" for kids, or rather if the "Wind in the Willows" took place in Australia. Though the time frame is not entirely clear, which I interpreted as a tribute to the Aboriginal concept of Dream Time, there is an implication that it is within a twenty year time frame of modern times. Albert is a zoo escapee on a quest to find the real Old Australia, a paradise, but with no real idea of what paradise is, just what it is not. The plot is relatively little of him on his quest, mostly it is incidents and accidents. Albert is a very Bilbo-esque character, but with a lot more back-bone and poisonous spurs. The characters memorable, from the Famous Muldoon to TJ, and a host of others. Its both an adult animal story, but also a bromance. I very much enjoyed reading this debut novel and hope this isn't the last we've seen of Albert."
— Vanessa (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“If Larry McMurtry had written Wind in the Willows, he might have come up with something almost as wonderful and moving as Howard Anderson’s Albert of Adelaide. This is a novel that defies analysis and summaries.”
— Mary Doria Russell, New York Times bestselling author of The Sparrow and Doc -
“A rivetingly odd novel…You will not soon forget the platypus with a bush hat, his backpack filled with cans of sardines and a water bottle, shuffling through sand and saltbush toward the mountains.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“An absorbing tale of adventure…The novel is like an old Western but with native Australian animals. The dingoes are the Indians, beer is the drink of choice, and shoot-outs with a kangaroo are just around the corner.”
— Courier Mail (Brisbane) -
“An uproarious introduction to the menagerie of characters living just outside our enclosures.”
— Barnes & Noble, editorial review -
“Anderson’s tale is…quick to satisfy with old-fashioned pleasures: action, adventure, fast friends, and unlikely heroes.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Astonishing…a combination of Animal Farm and a moving coming-of-age fable…Narrator David Franklyn inhabits Albert as he seeks his utopia, evolving in the process…Each wonderful critter—wombat, bandicoot, kangaroo, and more—is aptly depicted by Frankly, further enlivening Albert’s journey…The audio format is perfect for this gem!”
— AudioFile -
“Rich in commentary on weighty themes…Albert is a charming and compelling hero…Readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with shades of social/political commentary will appreciate this.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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Selected for the July 2012 Indie Next List
Albert of Adelaide Listener Reviews
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" Ein wirklich niedliches unterhaltsames knuddeliges Buch - man wird Albert einfach lieben :-) "
— Natalia, 2/16/2014 -
" Strong characters and imaginative, plot-driven story. An engaging read. Hope there will be a sequel. "
— Christina, 2/14/2014 -
" Like "Wind in the Willows" meets "Wake in Fright", with lashings of "The Proposition", "Albert of Adelaide" is a brisk adventure set in a mythical Old Australia, ruled by opportunistic marsupials. Buoyed by Anderson's wit and wry style, Albert, an escaped platypus, marches out across Australia's arid heart, navigating his new life amid criminals, drunkards and failed dreams. "
— Joel, 2/10/2014 -
" This story was just not my cup of tea. Albert is a platypus who escapes the zoo in search of freedom in "Old Australia". On his journey he makes friends and enemies with other animals. You might like this if you likes Watership Down "
— Kathleen, 1/15/2014 -
" This book is far better than I could have imagined from the description. It has a gritty, western feel to it and I recommend it to anyone. "
— Benjamin, 1/13/2014 -
" Thoroughly charming and wistful. A book i totally did not expect to enjoy, and did. "
— Adam, 1/11/2014 -
" I heard about it from the paper. Cute story, didn't learn a lot about Australia like I wanted to. "
— Lisa4piano, 12/31/2013 -
" A fun little book. Along the line of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. About the travels of a platypus seeking the old Australia. "
— Bob, 12/15/2013 -
" A little like Watership Down, but not enough like it to thrill me. I kept thinking it was a combination of animal characters sort of like Wind in the Willows and other books with animal characters. It is certainly allegorical, because Albert is looking for that which he already has. "
— Nancy, 11/28/2013 -
" This book was utterly beautiful in its simplicity. The adventure was there, the emotions were there and the depth of character(s) was there. I would love for more people to enjoy this book as I did. "
— Leah, 10/30/2013 -
" Like Rango, but set in Australia for grown-ups with no sense of humor. "
— Angela, 10/24/2013 -
" A strange book which is enjoyable and has a certain charm - if you can go along with gun-toting wombats, kangaroo bar-tenders, fighting bandicoots, posses of dingoes and the like! Albert is a great character. "
— Neil, 9/5/2013 -
" A modern animal fable taking place in a Wild West Scene of Australias Outback. The story is very entertaining and of course educational (moral lesson) with lovely animal characters. After I got used to the human qualities of the animals, I quite enjoyed the read! "
— Taddie, 8/29/2013 -
" A nice first effort, this book was a little predictable in spots and trite in others. Despite that, it was enjoyable overall. 3/5 I liked it. "
— Charles, 5/21/2013 -
" Last week someone told me that most books written for adults are written at the sixth grade reading level. I feel like this book holds true to that statement. It actually felt like it should've been a kids book. "
— Vicki, 4/7/2013 -
" Awesome book. Loved every moment of it. "
— Trevor, 1/24/2013
About the Authors
Howard Anderson has had a varied life. He flew with a helicopter battalion in Vietnam; worked on fishing boats in Alaska, in the steel mills of Pittsburgh, as a truck driver in Houston, and a scriptwriter in Hollywood; and, after gaining a law degree, became legal counsel for the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission. He is currently a defense attorney in New Mexico, where he defends Mexican nationals charged with crimes north of the border.
About David Franklin
David Franklin is an Australian actor. He is best known for his role as Meeklo Braca in the television series Farscape and as Brutus in Xena: Warrior Princesss. Other fim appearances include Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles and The Matrix Reloaded.