Archimedes and the Seagle

The protagonist of this first-person narrative is Archimedes, also called ""Happy,'' an Irish setter who has taught himself to read and write. Archimedes guides the reader through the streets of Sydney, Australia, and expounds on human and dog life. Happy's world includes a Sydney waterfront where humans act like seagulls and seagulls take on human characteristics: there are seagull tourists, seagull art critics and seagull gay-rights activists. The eponymous seagle is different from the other seagulls, spending most of its time soaring like an eagle, and Archimedes admires it from a distance. Archimedes's wonderful character and engaging philosophical spirit enable this tale to soar above other works in the sentimental vein of animal literature such as Beautiful Joe. At times thoughtful, at times hilarious, this is the work of a truly gifted writer. (February)