Waterfall Dance — Andrew Quinn

The maxim of the three wise monkeys who see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil too often describes matters of American justice; though in new author Andrew Quinn's debut novel, Waterfall Dance, one very special primate is poised to show and tell all.  Renowned English primatologist Emily Bennett has taught sign language to generations of chimpanzees, but only recently has her Simian Says project adopted sign language recognition and speech synthesis technology designed for communication-impaired humans.  Voice changes everything, so when Emily is arrested for the rescue of three experimental chimps from a Seattle lab, her prize pupil is thrust into the spotlight.  Emily's lawyer, ambivalent pretty boy Will Thomas, can't help but fall for his primate-passionate client, which will either help the case or interfere with her scheme.  In the twenty-first century's most sensational trial comes the most anticipated witness in courtroom history.

Time is running out on our closest relative in evolution.  To turn the tide, an animal must change what it means to be human.

The prospect of meaningful communication with a great ape is just around the corner--not the ambiguous interpretation of body language and gestures, but the plain English of American Sign Language synthesized into voice.  Much of the technology is already here; the rest will soon arrive.  What will they say?  What would you ask?  What does it change?