Thylacines by Deborah Sheldon
Thylacines by Deborah Sheldon is a science fiction horror novella with a focus on genetic engineering. Published January 8, 2018 by Severed Press, this action-packed story is another winner from Sheldon. This book sadly sat in my TBR pile for a while, and I am thrilled to have finally gotten a chance to read it.
The story begins in the Resurrection Lab in Australia on the campus of Fraser University. We start out meeting Professor Rosie Giuliani, the leader of a lab group of sixteen individuals whose jobs are hanging in the balance. They’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of a corporate accountant and his stooge assistant from an American energy drink company, a company that acquired their long and steady benefactor Dinkum Ales.
Dinkum Ales funded the Resurrection Lab for nine years. It was a perfect match, since the ale company was a strong proponent of Aussie animal conservation. The lab gave their sponsor enough information to keep the funds coming so they could continue working on a top secret project - cloning the extinct Tasmanian tiger, a doglike marsupial known as a thylacine. And they were successful. To a point.
We learn about the lab workers as well as the corporate goons that are coming to inspect the lab to determine if its funding will continue. There’s an underlying sense of dread that the lab will be closed and all of their specimens and work will be for naught. Not to mention, what will happen to the living clones? It doesn’t help that Bill De Vries, the company accountant sent to assess the lab, is an egotistical narcissist who’s already made up his mind that funding the lab isn’t worth the company’s time before hes’e even stepped foot into Resurrection Lab.
Unbeknownst to anyone in the lab that day, a group of animal activists was planning a break-in to release the thylacines. Little did they know, the cloned versions aren’t exactly the definition of what Australian history describes when it comes to Tasmanian tiger demeanor or behavior. An exciting scene unfolds when the humans square off to defend their stakes. The thylacines are more than happy to take advantage of the three opposing groups of humans fighting for the control they never had.
As is the best part of a story like this, in the blink of an eye, nature takes over and all Hell breaks loose. Once the action starts, it never lets up. I even jotted in my notes that I had to force myself go to bed when I was 86% through the book. It’s that exciting!
The characters in this story are given varied personalities and abilities. I love that it has female characters who are powerful in their own rights, both mentally and physically. I also love that Sheldon didn’t allow ageism to play a role in this action-packed thriller. What she does allow is a lot of intense action, palpable character fear, and deliciously gory violence that will grip readers and have them on the edges of their seats until the last page.
There are so many enjoyable and intense scenes as the tigers terrorize the lab before moving outside to the unsuspecting university campus. I found myself holding my breath at times, as if I were one of the characters trying to hide from the ravenous and vicious beasts stalking them.
The idea of what conservation means to people and the ethics of it are a huge theme in Thylacines. It was entertaining to watch characters who seek status and recognition get pummeled when going up against nature as well as follow the characters who are dead set on their own survival. This story is about the creatures, no doubt, but an underlying current of good versus evil and human nature flows throughout the book. The dichotomy between science and religion adds an ethical piece, as well.
Kudos to Sheldon for shedding light on an animal that isn’t as well-known throughout the world. She has a gift for bringing Australian creatures to life. I recently read her newest creature feature Cretaceous Canyon which focuses on extinct Aussie dinosaurs, and I even noted in my review that it might be my favorite book of hers I’ve read so far.
I urge you to grab a copy of Thylacines if you enjoy thrills, action, creature features, or a just plain enjoyable and entertaining read. You won’t be disappointed.
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Thylacines was nominated for the Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction in the Australian Shadows Awards 2018.
Other books you might enjoy by Deborah Sheldon:
From Deborah Sheldon’s Website:
I’M AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
I WRITE SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS AND NOVELS ACROSS THE DARKER SPECTRUM OF HORROR, CRIME AND NOIR.
MY CREDITS ALSO INCLUDE TV SCRIPTS, STAGE PLAYS, MAGAZINE ARTICLES, AND AWARD-WINNING ANTHOLOGY EDITING AND MEDICAL WRITING.
Severed Press
Established in 2008 Severed Press is a leading independent publisher of horror and science fiction. Publishing trade paperbacks and E-Books. Severed Press has earned a reputation for excellence, quality and commitment to new and established authors alike. We are proud of the diversity of our authors and aim in continuing to build strong relationships worldwide. Severed Press titles are a regular feature in the top 100 horror and Sci-Fi best seller lists and was voted This Is Horror Publisher Of The Year 2014.
***From the Severed Press website:
Check out my other reviews of Deborah Sheldon’s works:
