The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz
In a not-so-distant future when lions are extinct Jachin-Boaz, a middle-aged mapmaker, leaves home with the wonderful map that was to tell his son where to find everything. In the ruins of a palace at Nineveh, his son Boaz-Jachin finds the wall-carving of a great lion dying on the spear of an ancient king. In a series of rituals, he evokes the long-dead lion and sends him out to stalk his father. Then he follows on the lion's track.
Russell Hoban
Russell Conwell Hoban (1925–2011) was an American expatriate writer. His works span many genres, including fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magical realism, poetry, and children's books. He lived in London from 1969 until his death.