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Summary: An Eye-Opening Shocker Filled With Cold Realism
Review: Dr. Rat is an expose' on mankind's cruelty to other forms of life around him, most specifically the animal kingdom. This book is an indictment of animal experimental laboratories, slaughter houses, poaching and hunting. Kotzwinkle uses a fast talking insane rodent to portray a macabre view of the inside of an animal experimentation laboratory grotesquely similar to a Nazi concentration camp. In the words of Dr. Rat himself "...having been driven insane, I hold the necessary degree in psychology." With this pointed statement, this bizarre story unfolds. Kotzwinkle paints a dark and frightening tale that is a reflection of our times. This book cuts right into the artificial and bloody foundation of Psychiatric 'research' and experimentation, and the reader will be appalled at the harsh spotlight that it shines on the inhumane practices so common place in our society, yet hidden behind a paper-shuffling bureaucracy. This is a very clever book, and very timely. It will open anyone's eyes with its startling viewpoint. A real shocker filled with cold realism. This book is absolutely disgusting at times, but very poignant. It will open your eyes.
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Summary: Enlighting tale of animals used for medical research
Review: Entertaining tale of the humans use of animals for medical research.This book allows you to look at a different point of view in animal research. from the animals side. What do they think? Do they feel? Do they care? Should we, as humans, care about these things? This book is not for kids. Dr. Rat is an exploration of the use of animals in human research. You are given the view of a lab rat that has been in the research lab just a little too long. He is missing various parts and is quite mad. He talks in poems that make a lot of sense when you stop to listen to them. He is as smart as he is savey in the 'way' of the lab and leads the animals in a revolution to take over the world. Very entertaining, much more of a social statement than other books of his,and makes you think about the use of animals in medical research and if it is the 'right' thing to do. A must read for those of used who think we are liberal and open minded. And even for those who believe strongly in animal reseach.
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Summary: At last, the Truth!
Review: Hello, all! Doctor Rat here, back from my self-imposed exile down a deserted gopher hole. While my sojourn has provided a delightful respite from the civilized society of man, I felt I must emerge from my sabbatical to impart a few words of wisdom in re Mr. William Kotzwinkle's most delightful offering, Doctor Rat. Mind you, my return to the public eye has not been easy. There are plenty of humaniacs out there who would gladly see me strung out on a rack (see my article, The Tensile Strength of Rat Ligaments, Journal of Modern Medicine). I have procured the use of the above alias from a devoted reader to ensure my continued safety. So, to those who would see me as some sort of monstrosity, I say, take that, rebel scum! I shall not be silenced! The insane Doctor Rat must be heard! The Learned Mr. Kotzwinkle has provided my disgust for these rebels with a reprieve. His fluid, almost lyrical quality of writing has soothed my troubled brow, to some extent. It certainly comes as a relief that my efforts in the laboratory have not gone unnoticed. After all, when you have devoted the bulk of your post-insanity life toward the advancement of science through animal vivisection, you do expect some rewards. How many members of the animal kingdom had to be peeled, boiled, castrated, blinded, and used in other such important experiments, in order that I receive my due? Quite a few, I would imagine. Quite a few. The factual elements of those few fateful days in the laboratory must be examined. I, the Learned and Insane Doctor Rat, was making my usual rounds among the test subjects, trying (in vain, as it turned out) to quell the rumours of rebellion that had begun to circulate. I firmly believe that if it weren't for a few unpleasant individuals prodding their opinions onto the masses, my slogan of Death is Freedom! would have saved the day. Alas, it was not to be. I tell you, some animals simply cannot see the value of scientific experimentation at all (see my article, The Innate Stubbornness of the Common Canine, American Medicine Today). To ensure my lasting immortality among those bright enough amongst you to see the accuracy of my beliefs, I must point out that I was only one rat against many. I did my best. Read the novel, you'll see! I took down many rebel rat in my adventure! But, as was patently obvious, the entire world was against me! I tried, I tell you! It must be said, that Mr. Kotzwinkle is a humaniac of the highest order. His continuing attempts to include other creatures in the narrative are distressing, to say the least. So a few whales were harpooned! So a few dogs were incinerated! So all of humanity laid waste to every single animal on the planet! Does that alter the rightness of man's continued superiority over all? Not in the slightest! He's earned it! Might makes right! So man has made a few mistakes in the name of scientific curiosity. What of it? As Mr. Kotzwinkle makes abundantly clear, scientific testing on animals is a good thing. What would we do without it? Life would be so much more complex if man were to actually contemplate the nature of his actions. As a clearly insane rat, I can tell you with all honesty, Man comes before all. And I, the frightfully mad Doctor Rat, am finally vindicated. Read the book. You'll see. Death is freedom!
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Summary: What Beethoven would write had he been an author.
Review: I actually read the book a number of years ago, and too this day I still haven't found anyone who's heard of the Mr. Kotzwinkle. He, and the book, stand with writers such as Steve Weiner's Laboratory of love and Jamerson Darke's Love is when the Soil Falls as being amongst the most greatly underestimated writers of all.
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Summary: Amazing-Insightful-Quite Brillaint
Review: I am tempted to put Dr. Rat in my top ten all time books. Gruesome, witty, with one of literatures most memorable characters in my opinion. I am amazed how the author has such unusual anthromorphic insights into the mind of animals. Really, this book makes you cringe, laugh, and most of all think. Highly recommended. "Rat shocked, shocked, shocked...still comes back for more" please see "Animal Lab Routines"...vol4pp45-47
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Summary: the horror of Dr Rat
Review: I first found this book when I was 13, living in a small French town. The only English bookshop was my escape route...then I bought Dr Rat. Even the first few pages made me feel ill...I distinctly remember a passage about kittens' vaginas and microwaves. In our home, books were treasured, and my dad was bemused when, in tears, I ripped up the book and burned it. It gave me nightmares for a long time. If you love animals, avoid this book.
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Summary: more than a story of animal experimentation!
Review: I have read these other reviews. Yes, it is laughably funny; yes, it is frequently greusome. What I have failed to read about this book, at least so far, is what can be taken from it. On a basic level, it will make you think about animal conciousness and experimentation, animal cruelty, and blind procedure. True, this makes the story excellent by many standards. However, at the heart of the novel is a message of social and political awareness, and the comentary makes a profound statement on the ailing status of the world today. Kotzwinkle has created an AWESOME METAPHOR which stretches far beyond "a sad story about lab rats", and I am shocked other reviewers couldn't see that!
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Summary: Animals Uprise, Fail and get CRUSHED
Review: I read it first when I was eleven, never knew a SINGLE person who KNEW about this book. It was a modern ANIMAL FARM in the LABS of SCIENTIFIC experiments on animals. You may think what happens to the animals in this book is extreme, but that's just because you haven't met your FRIENDLY neighbourhood CRACKPOT, one of those scientists who makes money off torturing animals. These people are the MENGELS of today, and they are secretly torturing animals as we speak. Any University Laboratory, any Hospital you look at has these awful experiments going on. And we call ourselves CIVILIZED ?
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Summary: REQUIRED READING FOR SCIENTISTS
Review: I'm 14 and just read it. It's unimaginable that people could do such things to an animal. Even if its only a rat, they have feelings too. At least pain. Well, in it the specimens revolt, and a collective conscience occurs (like the Borg in Star Trek), and they try to get even with thier human predators. Not a good read for small children, although the message is good for everyone.
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Summary: Who's the savage?
Review: Kotzwinkle's hilarious, savage indictment of humanity's solipsistic view of the value of life. All the more terrifying for its plainspokenness. Dr. Rat is second as entertainment to the author's FATA MORGANA, but a more meaningful novel. As another reader notes, if you are an animal lover you will never forget Dr. Rat -- and that is a knife that cuts more than one way. Remember: the deepest comedy comes from the deepest pain.
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