#ani 28

[emeraldmew]

Cows are not highly intelligent animals. An intelligent animal, smelling the blood, catching this brief glimpse of the future, would have bolted, kicked, fought. But no, maybe that is not true, either. Maybe an intelligent animal would understand that it was doomed and attempt to face the inevitable calmly.

Magnus Archives meat episode jokes aside, this book has some bangers in there hiding among the burgers and boogers.

[imperfectskeleton]

So the last few chapters of #28, when the animorphs are finding out about the anti free will serum and arguing the value of human life with the Yeerk scientist probably got back to Visser One, right? One very strong piece of evidence that doesn't seem like something an Andalite-run group would do.

[emeraldmew]

Honestly 28's better than I recall it being. Maybe it having a poor reputation lowered my expectations going into the reread, but it's not bad. Funny moments, intense moments, Tobias being very ticked off when Rachel only barely saves Ax in time. Not a big plot mover to be sure but enjoyable.

I do want to ruminate on Ax thinking about how Andalite wildlife is so peaceful by comparison to the "tough neighborhood" of Earth, as he does a few times this book: We know Andalites used to be prey animals (via Aldrea's narration in The Hork-Bajir Chronicles) but all Ax knows is the modern Andalite homeworld where their predators have been long-since eliminated. Sort of an interesting, if probably unintended, parallel to the idea of eating a burger vs. knowing where it comes from.

Love the commentary of how "leaders" like Visser Three get the output they want - whether it actually works or not.

<How exactly do you program a computer to kiss butt like that?>

Easily enough, Tobias. Easily enough.

(I wish Cassie had pointed out the Visser-ass-kissing as part of her logic as to why the free-will-destroying burgers wouldn't work as it would go well with her ability to read people - noticing when flattery is being used to fake results - instead of just insisting that removing free will is just impossible on it's face, but there's only like two chapters left at this point.)

[emeraldmew]

trying to find that fanart of the scene from 28 where Marco's telling Ax to put on a shirt while he insists that the men in the Young and the Restless don't wear shirts and he is young and sometimes restless

couldn't find it but did find some other Axs to reblog.

[emeraldmew]

Probably also the best book to insert a "Cows watch the sunset" joke into as well but I couldn't find the right place for it.

[emeraldmew]

The man reached forward with sudden speed. He snapped a collar around my neck and grabbed one of my enormous hands. No doubt the chimpanzee would have been afraid. But it was enjoying the cookie. So was the Andalite. "Okay, Pumpkin," the bearded man said. "Here we go." As he swung with the arm that held mine, I found myself responding without thought. My legs pushed against the floor. My free hand clutched at the top of the cage door and pushed, too, as I vaulted toward the cage opposite me. Then I was in. Another lock clicked into place as I swallowed the last cookie crumb and sat down. "Good girl, Pumpkin," the man said. He handed me another cookie while the other men pushed my former cage out of the way. "Okay, let's go for the others."

Just a little thing... most, if not all, of the employees at this facility are Controllers. The ones working with the chimps definitely are since they scram to get out of Visser Three's way for his inspection.

But this one at least is gentle with Ax when he thinks he's just a chimpanzee.

Like, on the one hand, it could be pragmatic. A calm chimp is easier to work with than an angry one. But it's sort of interesting to see a yeerk being gentle with an Earth animal (even if it's one for experimentation).

[emeraldmew]

Gotta appreciate that time Marco's terrible driving caused the yeerks to dismiss the possibility that the mysteriously vanishing driver is an andalite.

[emeraldmew]

Animorphs book 28: Hey it's that episode of The Magnus Archives!

and that other episode of The Magnus Archives, and that other episode...