JOHNS ISLAND, S.C., Oct. 21, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Paul Bryan's Mouse on the Mountain is a compelling work of political conspiracy, warring factions, kidnapping and murder. However, the novel's characters add a dimension of whimsy and charm; they are all mice living in Sunflower Country.
At first, Percy is a typical politician, lying and shaking paws just to get what he wants. However, when he decides to run for the presidency, his experiences bring about a transformation.
"The old days, where I could easily compromise my soul and disposition with a word here or a word there, a lie or a pawshake or a batting of my eyelashes were long over. I was a new mouse," says Percy.
Most Sunflower Country mice are Greens, who uphold democracy at every chance. As of late, however, a political party called the Blues has infiltrated the land, bringing with it a strange ideology of bummunism. Their presidential candidate, Zander, is no match for Percy in the election, but is determined to take center stage.
Percy wins in a landslide victory, and the vice president soon convinces Percy to marry and settle down. At his wedding, Percy is taken hostage by his political opponent, and Zander accidently leads them both into a human's trap. The man takes the mice to a laboratory and subjects them to a horrific experiment, where they must compete to the death. The winner will be released; the other will be sacrificed to science. Percy triumphs in the challenges and is set free.
He anxiously makes his way home, only to discover his vice president has taken over and his wife and best friend have been murdered. When he attempts to take back his title, he's thrown in "the pit," where he must make a difficult choice between political philosophies.
Inspired by Richard Adams's Watership Down and George Orwell's Animal Farm, Mouse on the Mountain is a remarkable story of politics, corruption and power that, in this case, plague one determined little mouse.
Bryan teaches Latin, English and physical education at a South Carolina middle school. Mouse on the Mountain is his second book, following Zeus, Zeus: A Parody of the Gods.
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