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The Preposterous Adventures of Swimmer
A talking river otter escapes from captivity, experiences perilous adventures with some cruel humans, and resolves the problems of various troubled people and animals.
- GenresFantasy
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Alexander Key
73 books99 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
An American science fiction writer, most of whose books were aimed at a juvenile audience. He became a nationally known illustrator before he became an author. After he began writing novels for young people, he moved his family to the North Carolina mountains, and most of his books include that wild and rugged landscape.
His novel Escape to Witch Mountain was made into a popular film in 1975 and again in 1995. His novel The Incredible Tide became a popular anime series, Future Boy Conan.
He is known for his portrayals of alien but human-like people who have psychic powers and a close communion with nature, and who can speak with animals. In The Strange White Doves, he professed his belief that animals are conscious and aware, and have subtle ways of communicating, perhaps via telepathy.
The protagonists of Key's books are often ostracized, feared, or persecuted due to their abilities or alien origin, and Key uses this as a clear metaphor for racism and other prejudice. In several of the books (most notably The Case of the Vanishing Boy,) Key portrays some sort of communal withdrawing from society with a group of like-minded individuals. - Wikipedia -
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
An American science fiction writer, most of whose books were aimed at a juvenile audience. He became a nationally known illustrator before he became an author. After he began writing novels for young people, he moved his family to the North Carolina mountains, and most of his books include that wild and rugged landscape.
His novel Escape to Witch Mountain was made into a popular film in 1975 and again in 1995. His novel The Incredible Tide became a popular anime series, Future Boy Conan.
He is known for his portrayals of alien but human-like people who have psychic powers and a close communion with nature, and who can speak with animals. In The Strange White Doves, he professed his belief that animals are conscious and aware, and have subtle ways of communicating, perhaps via telepathy.
The protagonists of Key's books are often ostracized, feared, or persecuted due to their abilities or alien origin, and Key uses this as a clear metaphor for racism and other prejudice. In several of the books (most notably The Case of the Vanishing Boy,) Key portrays some sort of communal withdrawing from society with a group of like-minded individuals. - Wikipedia -
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 11, 2021
A delightful story of friendship featuring a talking, telepathic otter and his flight to freedom.
The vintage country folk language is quite entertaining, like The Forgotten Door, this Preposterous Adventure features lots of "yonder" talk.
I'm a big fan of Alexander Key and his appreciation of animals showcased in The Strange White Doves: True Mysteries of Nature, The Golden Enemy and Jagger, the Dog from Elsewhere.
Favorite Passages:
Dedication
To a certain knowing otter I met on a stream one day.
May his tribe increase.
He Opens A Cage
How did you find the world outside?
It stinks, Swimmer told him.
________
I remember the great forest where I was born. But I can only dream.
________
H-E-S N-O B-E-N-N-Y F-A-C-T-O-R. H-E-S A-N O-L-D F-R-A-W-D.
He Follows A Trail
He was at rock bottom now and could sink no deeper. So, having enjoyed for a moment the very depths of despair, he wanted no more of it. It was time to climb out.
The vintage country folk language is quite entertaining, like The Forgotten Door, this Preposterous Adventure features lots of "yonder" talk.
I'm a big fan of Alexander Key and his appreciation of animals showcased in The Strange White Doves: True Mysteries of Nature, The Golden Enemy and Jagger, the Dog from Elsewhere.
Favorite Passages:
Dedication
To a certain knowing otter I met on a stream one day.
May his tribe increase.
He Opens A Cage
How did you find the world outside?
It stinks, Swimmer told him.
________
I remember the great forest where I was born. But I can only dream.
________
H-E-S N-O B-E-N-N-Y F-A-C-T-O-R. H-E-S A-N O-L-D F-R-A-W-D.
He Follows A Trail
He was at rock bottom now and could sink no deeper. So, having enjoyed for a moment the very depths of despair, he wanted no more of it. It was time to climb out.
January 12, 2020
Key's views of animals are shown multiple times in his works. This is perhaps the most blatant of his fiction pieces in that regard. So, too, his reservations about humanity, in general, while he grants that there are a few good folks out there. This book shows a stereotypical view of some minority populations that are not always evident in his other writing, even if the stereotypes are of the positive ilk.
Overall a quick and pleasant read, despite that.
Overall a quick and pleasant read, despite that.
August 20, 2024
Another delightful animal adventure from the author of Escape to Witch Mountain that both children and adults can enjoy.
November 9, 2025
Read this too long ago to rate: I have vague memories of a few points, so maybe I should label it WTR.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews