"strong frightening police procedural"
The NYC Parks Commissioner reported that squirrels seem to
have vanished from popular locales like Central Park,
Prospect Park, and Van Cortlandt Park. Deputy Mayor for
Public Safety Jack Dugan, not willing to ignore anything
since 9/11, assigns NYPD forensic detective Phil D'Amato to
investigate. Phil interviews park workers who insist there
is a dramatic drop in population without a rise in
corpses. The cop also visits a few parks, but sees nothing
out of the ordinary. He wonders if perhaps it is like the
1980s restaurant case involving cats as chicken. However, Phil soon learns that serendipitous research into
using squirrels and hamsters as recording devices is
underway at labs across the country. He becomes concerned
that if rodents can be used as recorders, can they also be
used as terrorist bombs? Perhaps it is part of the post
WTC syndrome, but a panicky Phil begins a search of the
eastern seaboard in an attempt to insure squirrel-carrying
bombardiers don't lead to WTC II. THE PIXEL EYE is a frightening scenario as Paul Levinson
makes a strong case that nothing is safe in a world in
which personal values push a cause as more important than
people are. The story line may sound satirical and inane,
but is far from it as the audience will quickly become as
convinced as the hero that this squirrely technology can
happen. Though the characters except for Phil are never
fully developed, readers will be extra careful before
feeding the birds and other creatures as that animal might
prove to be the one that bites the hand that feeds it. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted August 1, 2003
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