RAJAC

by Stanley Spain ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 2, 1982

Yet another tale-of-a-whale--and, like Robert Siegel's Whalesong (1981), it's a sentimental and preachy little fable that's thoroughly outclassed by Hank Searls' recent Sounding. Rajac is a fin whale, ""intelligent, aggressive, forceful, open-minded, tolerant, fair, thoughtful""--and this idealization continues throughout, as Rajac, whose family is murdered by the ""killer men,"" heeds his father's last words and goes searching for someone called ""Yatroo."" He swims north, befriends a jolly whale family, attends a whale ""fete,"" and is advised to seek out Pete the Wise. Rajac does so, surviving a brush with a killer orca. And, following Peto's guidance, Rajac must now swim into the treacherous south--leaving behind True Love Loona (""He stroked her fine skin gently with his flipper as he spoke""), meeting assorted whales along the way, getting wounded by the ""death barb"" of killer men, but finally meeting up with crusty, aloof Yatroo. Will Yatroo share his mystical wisdom with Rajac? Yes, at long last, he will: Yatroo warns that the whales must improve their survival techniques--and that ""we must gain insight into the mind of man and show him the way to harmony and peace, or we must perish."" Bland, anthropomorphic fantasy--for only the very dreamiest of whale devotees.

Pub Date: Nov. 2, 1982

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1982

Categories: FICTION