The Mutation (novel)

Last updated
The Mutation
Animorphs 36 The Mutation.jpg
Jake morphing into an orca
Author K. A. Applegate
Illustrator David B. Mattingly
Cover artistDavid B. Mattingly
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Series Animorphs #36
Genre Science fiction
Publisher Scholastic
Publication date
November 1999
Media typePrint
Pages142
ISBN 0-439-10675-3
OCLC 42877476
Preceded by Visser  
Followed by The Weakness  

The Mutation is the 36th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Erica Bobone. It is narrated by Jake.

Plot summary

While using their aquatic morphs to chase the Yeerks' new Sea Blade, which was after the Pemalite ship, the Animorphs and Ax find themselves beached inside an underwater cavern. The cavern seems to be littered, however, with several different types of air and sea craft, with what appears to be human statues inside. Further inspection by Cassie and Ax reveals that these people were real, and were killed and stuffed for preservation. While attempting to escape and locate Visser Three, whose ship was taken by a strange, humanoid aquatic species, Jake, Cassie, Ax, Rachel, and Marco, all in their natural forms, are captured by these life-forms, who reveal themselves as Nartec. Tobias was on lookout above, and therefore was not captured. The Nartec queen explains that they once were humans who lived above water, and when their city sunk, they began to adapt to underwater life. Ax realizes that radioactivity is what aided their ability to evolve so quickly. He also surmises that the Nartec have inbred for years, except for possible breeding with their captives prior to killing them, so their genetic code is breaking down. After the Nartec queen, Queen Soco, makes it clear that she intends to "preserve" the Animorphs, she permits them to do some sightseeing, but warns them not to try and escape.

Of course, the Animorphs have no interest in being killed, stuffed, and added to a collection, so they plan to locate Tobias, figure out where Visser Three is hiding, and capture the Sea Blade to escape. However, their plans are foiled by a Nartec ambush from the water, and the Animorphs are taken to an operating room of sorts to be "preserved." Given a mind-numbing agent, Jake begins to slip away, when he notices a Nartec suddenly attacking the other Nartecs in the room and wiping them out. The rogue Nartec demorphs into a red-tailed hawk, Tobias, and aids the others in escaping. The Animorphs climb on board the Sea Blade, only to be challenged by hordes of Nartec, wielding weapons ranging from spears and clubs to automatic rifles and machine guns. While the Animorphs, in their standard combat morphs, had no difficulty attacking the Nartec and holding them at bay for a while, they began to be worn down by sheer force of number. Finally, they struck a reluctant alliance with Visser Three, who had been hiding on the ship the whole time while his crew were killed and stuffed. The visser guides them in starting the Sea Blade and escaping. Under Jake's orders, Marco, whose gorilla morph was gutted by a sword, opened the hatch to the Sea Blade, and the Animorphs swam to the surface. Visser Three survived as well, though separated from the Animorphs.

New morphs

MorpherMorphs AcquiredMorphs Used
Jake Orca Peregrine falcon, orca, hammerhead shark, great horned owl, Siberian tiger
Rachel Orca Orca, sperm whale, hammerhead shark, great horned owl, grizzly bear
Tobias Orca, Nartec Orca, sperm whale, hammerhead shark, Nartec
Cassie Orca Orca, hammerhead shark, great horned owl, wolf
Marco Orca Osprey, orca, hammerhead shark, great horned owl, Silverback gorilla
Ax Orca Orca, hammerhead shark, great horned owl
Visser Three Luminar, Unnamed squid-like creature

Related Research Articles

<i>The Invasion</i> (novel) 1996 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Invasion, published in 1996 and written by K. A. Applegate, is the first book in the Animorphs series. It is narrated by Jake.

<i>The Beginning</i> (novel) 2001 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Beginning is the 54th and final book in the Animorphs series. Unlike other Animorphs books in the main series, but similar to the Megamorphs, all characters conduct narration instead of just one.

<i>The Answer</i> (novel) 2001 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Answer is the 53rd and penultimate book in the Animorphs series. It is the final book (fully) narrated by Jake and is the final book to fully be narrated by only one character.

<i>The Message</i> (novel) 1996 novel by K.A. Applegate

The Message, published in 1996 and written by K. A. Applegate, is the fourth book in the Animorphs series. It is narrated by Cassie.

<i>The Predator</i> (novel) 1996 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Predator, published in 1996 and written by K. A. Applegate, is the fifth book in the Animorphs series. It is narrated by Marco.

<i>The Stranger</i> (Applegate novel) 1997 novel by K.A. Applegate

The Stranger is the seventh book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Rachel.

<i>The Secret</i> (novel) 1997 novel by K.A. Applegate

The Secret is the ninth book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Cassie.

<i>The Andalites Gift</i> 1997 novel by K. A. Applegate

<Megamorphs #1> The Andalite's Gift is the first book in the <Megamorphs> series, a set of companion books to the Animorphs series. With respect to continuity, it takes place between Book #7: The Stranger and Book #8: The Alien. The Andalite's Gift was originally published as two parts and later put together as one book as #2 of Megamorphs came out.

<i>Back to Before</i> 2000 novel by K. A. Applegate

Megamorphs #4: Back to Before is the fourth and final book in the Megamorphs series, a spinoff of the Animorphs series. With respect to the continuity in the Animorphs books, it takes place between The Other (#40) and The Familiar (#41).

<i>The Forgotten</i> (Applegate novel) 1997 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Forgotten is the 11th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Jake.

<i>The Change</i> (novel) 1997 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Change is the 13th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Tobias.

<i>The Unknown</i> (novel) 1998 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Unknown is the fourteenth book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Cassie.

<i>The Decision</i> (novel) 1998 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Decision is the 18th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Ax.

<i>The Discovery</i> (novel)

The Discovery is the 20th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Marco. It is the first book in the David trilogy.

<i>The Threat</i> (novel) Book by K. A. Applegate

The Threat is the 21st book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Jake. It is the second book in the David trilogy.

<i>The Suspicion</i> (novel) 1998 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Suspicion is the 24th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is narrated by Cassie.

<i>The Sacrifice</i> (Applegate novel) Book by K. A. Applegate

The Sacrifice is the 52nd book in the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Kim Morris. It is the final book to be (fully) narrated by Ax.

<i>The Arrival</i> (novel) 2000 novel by K.A. Applegate

The Arrival is the 38th book in the Animorphs series, written by K. A. Applegate. It was ghostwritten by Kim Morris. It is narrated by Ax.

<i>The Diversion</i> 2001 novel by K. A. Applegate

The Diversion, published in 2001 and written by K. A. Applegate, is the 49th book in the Animorphs series. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Lisa Harkrader. It is the final book (fully) narrated by Tobias.

<i>The Weakness</i>

The Weakness is the 37th book in the Animorphs series, written by K.A. Applegate. It is known to have been ghostwritten by Elise Smith. It is narrated by Rachel.