Fowl Play - Tony Jaeger

'For too long, we have depended on humans for bread, but no more...Breadcrumbs for all!'

With these words, a revolution is born as a group of ducks, tired of suffering the indignation of being treated as a second class species, become masters of their own fate. However, when would-be revolutionaries find themselves , not in a democracy but in an oligarchy, and the upper echelon of the science program holds to its traditions rather than innovation, can their uprising do anything but self-destruct?

In a brilliant, unique, contemporary homage to the Orwellian tradition, Tony 'I can't believe it's not butter, margerine, or something bad for me' Jeager uses his meticulously imagined duck society to shine a light on scientific and military advancements paired with a cultural shift, that shows the devastation these things can bring. Unlike other allegoric tales in a similar vein, the anthropomorphosisation of these Fowl Play ducks is such that while humans can relate to them, they never completely take on the attributes of humans. They consistently dream, scheme, plan, plot, retreat, advance, and ruffle feathers not as would humans, but as would ducks in this powerful piece of literary fiction suitable for ages 16 and up.