Ron S. Nolan, Ph.D.
© 2008
Synopsis
In GRANT’S PET SHOP a
brilliant parapsychologist
discovers that two of
her experimental subjects, bottle-nosed dolphins, possess telepathic
powers. The dolphin's clairvoyance ultimately draws Dr. Sandra Grant
into the high-tech world of computer espionage. There she discovers a
secret, government plot to annihilate Iran. The story fuses paranormal
processes and computer viruses into a fast paced adventure that may be
of interest to both readers of contemporary fiction and enthusiasts of
science fiction. Although Grant's Pet Shop ventures into the
supernatural, the events are not so extreme as to seem implausible. The
novel is about a young Berkeley professor, Sandra Grant, who was raised
by a grandmother endowed with keen psychic powers. Grandma Grant
manifested a remarkable rapport with animals in the pet shop, had
prescient visions, and was telepathic. During a life-long search to
scientifically document paranormal phenomena, Sandra discovers that
dolphins offer ideal research subjects.
Through a chain of fortuitous
events, a pair of twin dolphins are made available to Grant by a
paranoid general intent upon the ultimate destruction of Iran. General
Pratt Houston's intelligence sources indicate that Iran has finally
acquired nuclear ICBM's. Houston wants to initiate a preemptive strike
against Iran but is overuled by the President. Driven mad by the
government's reluctance to use full military force in Viet Nam, and
with the long-drawn out war in Iraq still unsettled, Houston forces a
computer programmer to create a virus designed to wreak havoc in the
Iran defense network. When Iran panics and launches their missiles out
of desperation, the subsequent U.S. counter attack will permanently
solve the Mid-East problem--at least according to the general's twisted
thinking.
The computer virus is such an extremely virulent strain that
it must be assembled in secret on an isolated atoll in the Pacific--a
location only a few miles from where Professor Grant is conducting her
research. As Grant suspects, the dolphins do have well developed
telepathic abilities and one of the twins becomes infected with the
computer virus. After the dolphin spreads the viral code to the lab
computer, Grant and her assistant piece together the general's
plan...and their lives become endangered. After a tense chase across
the Pacific, the dolphins and Grant escape to the boarded up pet shop
in Key West. They hastily conceive a plan to warn the President about
the pending disaster. Using their powers, the dolphins are able to
convince the President that Grant's wild accusations are true. The
story is exciting and takes place in colorful locations. The characters
are realistic and the events reasonable. GRANT’S PET SHOP is a thriller
that takes place in a setting of espionage and high technology.
