It is high summer in the picturesque fishing village of Barlmouth and the beach and streets are thronged with tourists. Suddenly they are attacked by flocks of seagulls, acting in a structured and coordinated way. Why? Terrorism!
Rork is a young seagull who discovers that local businessmen are secretly culling the birds in his colony. He finds himself thrust unwillingly into leadership of the gulls and organises a dramatic protest. Factions within the gull colony resort to more vicious methods to avenge their kinfolk and Rork struggles on two fronts to contain the inevitable escalation.
Anne Rigby is a feisty young reporter for the local paper who realises that the birds have a message to convey and searches for the reason. The local population takes sides in the conflict that follows, which is followed avidly on national television. This culminates in a pitched battle between gulls and gunmen, centred on and around the elegant launching party of a superyacht belonging to a local dignitary. The conclusion is as sudden and surprising as it is unexpected.
The Dirty Bombers is a humorous work of young adult fiction that will also appeal to older readers. It can be seen as an analogy for conflict between groups such as the Palestinians and Israelis, with peacemakers and hardliners on both sides, making the topic accessible to teen readers. Author Ed has been inspired by Richard Adams and John Wyndham.
- ISBN10 178306899X
- ISBN13 9781783068999
- Publish Date 16 February 2017 (first published 1 September 2013)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 26 May 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Troubador Publishing
- Imprint Matador
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 200
- Language English