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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Solid Norton scifi novel with, essentially, uplifted animals . And a hero who has to decide what he wants from life very very quickly.
There are these books that have a great idea but a lousy execution, and this happens to be the case with Catseye. Before you move on and skip this book, saying okay, this is not for me then, wait. While the narration is clunky and confusing, giving too little information about the surroundings and the history, the emotional connection between Troy Horan and his animal friends are beautiful. They together teach a lesson about freedom, respect, and don't judge a book by the cover philosophy. So, I think that itself makes the book worthy of giving it a chance to speak to you. Okay, the narration is a big part of an enjoyable reading experience, and this wasn't one of those. Only at the end, when Andre Norton makes her last appeal to the reader's nature, for the message, everything comes together and makes better sense. But I guess that is like life for you. Things seem to make sense only when we have been told the whole story, and then with some, it is too late.
But back to the topic of freedom, control, and animal intelligence. The book plays well with layers, reminding the reader that losing freedom affects not only the animals and their suppressed talents but also humans; the poor and the neglected. And the reader can take both of those things away from the book, with the understanding of how controlling information is a way to keep others in their place. That an open society, which cares about its inhabitants (human and animal), wants everyone to be as educated as to the next fellow. That when we share and respect others, we create something more than a dominance system where we exploit strangers and friends for personal gain. One can dream of such openness for both the crows, the rats, the koalas, the cows and chickens, and for humans. Such things are not a fool's dream, I think. They are possible if enough books, movies, poetry, music, other forms of art show what life can be and is.
So, I'm wishing that I read this as a teenager as now the message is preaching to the choir. Then again, it is always reaffirming to learn that others show the same compassion to those at the mercy of others. (So pretty much everyone. Those who have money and power don't understand that we are in the same (sinking) boat.) Anyway, this is a beautiful book about friendship, love for animals, and praise for their intelligence, but also about freedom and respect.
Thank you for reading! Have a great day and hug a cat/rat/bat/human/whoever you wish.
But back to the topic of freedom, control, and animal intelligence. The book plays well with layers, reminding the reader that losing freedom affects not only the animals and their suppressed talents but also humans; the poor and the neglected. And the reader can take both of those things away from the book, with the understanding of how controlling information is a way to keep others in their place. That an open society, which cares about its inhabitants (human and animal), wants everyone to be as educated as to the next fellow. That when we share and respect others, we create something more than a dominance system where we exploit strangers and friends for personal gain. One can dream of such openness for both the crows, the rats, the koalas, the cows and chickens, and for humans. Such things are not a fool's dream, I think. They are possible if enough books, movies, poetry, music, other forms of art show what life can be and is.
So, I'm wishing that I read this as a teenager as now the message is preaching to the choir. Then again, it is always reaffirming to learn that others show the same compassion to those at the mercy of others. (So pretty much everyone. Those who have money and power don't understand that we are in the same (sinking) boat.) Anyway, this is a beautiful book about friendship, love for animals, and praise for their intelligence, but also about freedom and respect.
Thank you for reading! Have a great day and hug a cat/rat/bat/human/whoever you wish.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I first read this probably 40 years ago and didn't remember anything. Pleasant read, but then I'm a total sucker for man/animal telepathic bonds.
Interesting world, interesting characters, enjoyable plot... Something in the pacing or actual storytelling kept me from really connecting with this story, though. 3.5 stars
I hate to say I have a new Norton favorite, because Year of the Unicorn will always be my first love, but this one has definitely hit my top five best Nortons and is one of my favorite books already. There's a reason Norton is my go-to author and she never disappoints. Catseye had me spellbound from page one until I'd devoured every last word.
Like Iron Cage, this one also deals with themes of captivity and inter species understanding, and just like Iron Cage, I couldn't get enough of Catseye.
The animals in the spacer-run pet shop where Troy finally finds employment are not what they seem, through his innate abilities and his deeply seated compassion, he alone is able to see them as more than a pet, a tool or a servant. Unfortunately the rest of the galaxy isn't ready to deal with animal equals, and Troy finds himself quickly in more trouble than he ever bargained for.
This is an oldie, but if you can find it, all I can say is read it, read it read it.
Like Iron Cage, this one also deals with themes of captivity and inter species understanding, and just like Iron Cage, I couldn't get enough of Catseye.
The animals in the spacer-run pet shop where Troy finally finds employment are not what they seem, through his innate abilities and his deeply seated compassion, he alone is able to see them as more than a pet, a tool or a servant. Unfortunately the rest of the galaxy isn't ready to deal with animal equals, and Troy finds himself quickly in more trouble than he ever bargained for.
This is an oldie, but if you can find it, all I can say is read it, read it read it.
This book was quite delightful, though there is one triggering use of "yellow" to describe a villainous character. I mean ... I assumed the first two times that he was an alien and not a human color, then they reveal that while most people are from a mix of terran races, Zul was a pure-blood Earth tribesman ... eeeeew, Norton, I expected better from you.
He's kinda written like Peter Lorre too.
Fortunately the majority of the novel deals with psychic cats in outer space (plus two foxes and a marsupial). The main character is a day laborer, Troy, and you really feel the constraints of his social position and poverty. He befriends the psychic animals and treats them as equals, asking their opinions rather than ordering them about. I really liked that about him.
In the town that Troy lives the default honorifics are Gentle Fem and Gentle Homo - which made me build up an alternate reading in my mind where everyone in the town is gay and genderqueer. I'm not sure what the terminology was like when this was published in 1961, buuuut our hero DOES give off some very powerful simp vibes when he meets Manly Hunter Man Reren, and there is more than one touching each other's face and they go from gruff mutual respect to enemies to saving each other .. yeah. This is clearly a romance.
The ending is maybe a little open, this is the first book in a series and Norton clearly knew that, but over all, my favorite recent read of an older pulp novel.
He's kinda written like Peter Lorre too.
Fortunately the majority of the novel deals with psychic cats in outer space (plus two foxes and a marsupial). The main character is a day laborer, Troy, and you really feel the constraints of his social position and poverty. He befriends the psychic animals and treats them as equals, asking their opinions rather than ordering them about. I really liked that about him.
In the town that Troy lives the default honorifics are Gentle Fem and Gentle Homo - which made me build up an alternate reading in my mind where everyone in the town is gay and genderqueer. I'm not sure what the terminology was like when this was published in 1961, buuuut our hero DOES give off some very powerful simp vibes when he meets Manly Hunter Man Reren, and there is more than one touching each other's face and they go from gruff mutual respect to enemies to saving each other .. yeah. This is clearly a romance.
The ending is maybe a little open, this is the first book in a series and Norton clearly knew that, but over all, my favorite recent read of an older pulp novel.
I appreciated this, but I just don't think that it has aged particularly well. It was definitely an entertaining, old-school boy adventure sci-fi novel, though.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced