Alcatraz Island accommodates the only functioning zoo within the survivor colony known as 'The Island of Last Things,' as depicted by Emma Sloley.
In the near-future dystopia of Emma Sloley's novel, 'The Island of Last Things', environmental collapse and disease have led to the extinction of most animal species. The story is set on Alcatraz Island, home to the last zoo on Earth.
The narrative is largely narrated by Camille, a zookeeper who prefers animals to people and has worked at the Alcatraz zoo for most of her adulthood. A new zookeeper named Sailor arrives on the island, forming a bond with Camille based on their shared love for the animals.
Sailor's presence shakes things up on the island, thrilling and terrifying Camille in equal measure. Sailor is driven by a desperate hope to find a fabled animal sanctuary, a dream that challenges Camille's beliefs and pushes her to reexamine ethics, loyalty, and survival in a crumbling world.
As the novel progresses, the friendship between Camille and Sailor becomes increasingly meaningful, particularly the casual use of "we" by Sailor. However, the existence of the sanctuary remains unconfirmed, adding an air of mystery to the story.
'The Island of Last Things' explores themes of conservation, desperation, and connection in the face of extinction and environmental decay. It emphasizes the sensory details of the animals’ lives and the emotional impact of their potential loss on humans. The story builds to a dramatic and hopeful conclusion about the fate of the zoo and the last animals on Earth.
Meanwhile, Susan Orlean's new book, 'On Animals', collects decades of the author's pieces on the human-animal bond. Orlean's book does not sugarcoat the bad state of the future world in 'The Island of Last Things', but instead highlights small moments of beauty, joy, and care.
It is important to note that climate change is projected to make the situation worse. The World Wildlife Fund reports that hundreds to thousands of animal species go extinct every year. The last remaining zoo on Alcatraz Island is not just a passion for its workers but also a practical choice due to limited alternatives and the bleakness of the role.
Sailor, a character in 'The Island of Last Things', is intent on trying to smuggle animals out of the zoo to a rumored sanctuary in China. However, the novel does not provide a completely satisfactory answer about the existence of the sanctuary.
In conclusion, 'The Island of Last Things' is a contemplative dystopian tale about two women at the world’s last zoo navigating friendship, ideology, and the struggle to preserve dwindling wildlife. The novel is a poignant reminder of the importance of conservation and the emotional impact of the loss of animal species due to environmental decay.
- The island of Alcatraz, home to the last zoo on Earth, is the setting for 'The Island of Last Things', a story that delves into the themes of conservation and connection.
- The narrative in Emma Sloley's novel primarily follows the perspective of Camille, a zookeeper who has worked at the Alcatraz zoo for most of her life.
- A new zookeeper named Sailor joins Camille, forming a bond based on their shared love for the animals and causing a stir with her desire to find a fabled animal sanctuary.
- Orlean's book, 'On Animals', is another exploration of the human-animal bond, emphasizing small moments of beauty and care amidst a world's bleak future.
- Climate change, as reported by the World Wildlife Fund, continues to impact the already dire situation, causing hundreds to thousands of animal species to go extinct every year.
- As Sailor tries to smuggle animals out of the zoo in 'The Island of Last Things', questions about the existence of the sanctuary remain unanswered, adding layers of mystery to the story.
