1. I like the gull, but in regards to diet, I find some birds just don't like fruit. The Animorphs as seagull never went for fruit, but that should have been mentioned. Before 43 I figured this was the closest we had to Taxxon hunger-but really not the case. This was supposed to be the inconspicuous bird morph, but there are some places a gull is really out of place, so putting it to proper use takes more skill than they let on, or considered. Mourning doves though, they are everywhere. Surprisingly hard to notice to, but gull,good part of the arsenal.
2. Solid proof that this is a vital book. It's sad that the kids who always resisted "whatever we have to do to win" who knew the cost of that have come to this point, where winning is most important. I agree, but it's a mark of the times that they have to make peace with that.
3. We finally get another ranking Yeerk, and this one is nuts. How he got to be number 2 is beyond me if all he does is ride Esplin's jock. There is a glimmer of the calculated Yeerk ruthlessness beneath it, but all the posturing and gesturing makes it hard not to just think of him as the freak Visser. I'm fine with him being loyal to Visser One, not being another rival, but he should be a consultant, a respectable supporter, as near an equal as possible. Not a fan boy.
4. This is the kind of alien invasion plan of action I've been waiting for. The first serious, dangerous, possibly make Earth ripe for conquest, not zany scheme in ages. I'll hold my tongue about present wars, but in the current day I'm ready and willing to believe a total war is possible, and I think that's not uncommon. I was a paranoid child, so believed that even before the shift, and while I don't think most people before 9/11 expected a war, they wouldn't call it impossible.
5. I don't know if it's something more, but I really enjoyed this scene. Familiarity, common enemy, the fact that they weren't attacking sailors. Whatever it was, this is the first time the Animorphs have serious help from Earth's own, and while it didn't amount to a whole lot, I still found it meaningful.
6. I like Ax because I think he shows the most growth, not all of it good. He cares about the planet, his friends, his honor, his life, but he's both more and still willing to make some brutal sacrifices to win. He has a better outlook on humans, but I think he still finds most of them beneath his race. Stopping the Yeerk was bold and terrifying, and I'd say taking down Jake was heart breaking, but he justified it well. The reason was as merciful as it was brutal. Hell of a moment. Really hard to know if he would have done it, but I think he was learning toward yes. Rough.
7. Though. Hard to argue greater good, but I guess my response is that greater good doesn't mean good. This is not a good place to be in, but for now I'll say that I would. Loathsome answer, but the alternative is even more so. Though there are a few places that are meaningful to me, I wouldn't be any less likely to spare them than someone else's home town. Shouldn't be willing to form martyrs, but at that level, there's not enough of a personal bond.
8.
9. I remember the first time I read this-coming back from my break in the series, having skipped a dozen books. I saw the "the new V1" closed the book, and didn't touch it again till I'd gone through the prior books.
