Review of The Boiling Toad

[Rishaunda Lynnette Britton]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Boiling Toad" by Phillip Leighton-Daly.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Boiling Toad by Phillip Leighton-Daly is a literary contribution to the ongoing discussions on environmental degradation and its disastrous consequences. This short story is set on the planet Fossil and informs us of the happenings in Soot. In this region, the people are blessed with safer energy sources, but somehow most of them have sole interest in coal, and this comes with heavy environmental implications. A disbanded party, the Fellowship of Carers and Sharers, was concerned about the impending danger and tried to effect some changes, but their effort was nothing compared to the negligence of the multitude of the population obsessed with wealth, fame, and power, and it was in fact soon subdued by the dominant political party, the Fellowship for Growth and Wealth.

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope as Lucidia, a blind lady blessed with the incredible gift of telepathy, shows up and begins to advocate a switch to renewables. She is so passionate about this and goes to the extent of making an analogy with a boiling toad. Will anyone listen to this lone messenger? Can she put up with the fierce opposition from the people and even from the president, Buff?

I am impressed by the allusive elements in this story, ranging from the political leadership to the selfish drives, the misguided population, and the environmentalists. They are all a replay of our realities in another clime and are so creatively pieced together and comprehensively explored using satirical devices. Two instances of these satirical devices are seen in the criteria for the conferment of awards and in the naming of the characters.

The Boiling Toad also covers themes of economic inequality, poor working conditions, and poor welfare. Concerning economic inequality, I couldn't help wondering about a psychological explanation for the tendency of the poor to support their oppressors and oppose advocates of fairness. Under the theme of poor working conditions, the story exposes the wickedness of the departments that oversee coal mining. The theme of poor welfare introduces us to the victims of government and institutional failures, specifically those who became orphans due to their parents being entombed during coal mining operations.

An impressive effort was made to tie the story together and set it at a captivating pace. The language is okay and evokes the required feeling in a given instance. I appreciated the suspense created at the beginning of the story, and this really got me more curious to understand the situation that led to that scene. There is absolutely no complaint to report about this book. I rate it five out of five stars for the in-depth exploration of the issues covered here and the redemptive actions to be taken. The Boiling Toad is recommended for readers aged twelve and above. This book was thoroughly proofread.

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The Boiling Toad
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[Enkay Favour]

The allegorical and satirical approach to environmental and social issues in this story sounds thought-provoking. I’m particularly interested in how the author uses the character of Lucidia and the boiling toad analogy to explore the tension between progress and environmental responsibility. The themes of economic inequality and government failure add another layer of depth that seems worth exploring.

[Emmanuel Chima 3]

*The Boiling Toad* by Phillip Leighton-Daly sounds like a compelling and thought-provoking story. Its use of satire to explore serious themes such as environmental degradation, economic inequality, and political corruption seems particularly impactful. The character of Lucidia and her struggle against a misguided society adds an intriguing element of hope and resistance. This book seems to offer a profound commentary on real-world issues, making it a significant read for anyone interested in environmental and social justice.