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A review by chessakat
Catseye by Andre Norton
4.0
This is not a very long book - but nevertheless, it felt like a full story, without question.
Troy Horan is a man without a home - having been exiled from his home planet in the face of war, he is trapped in a ghetto for sub-citizens called The Dipple. When a job comes through for work in a very exotic pet shop in the retail section of the town - he jumps at the opportunity. Thus begins a strange journey which includes special animals, conspiracy, treachery, contact with mysterious (and creepy) ancient inhabitants of the planet, and strange companions.
I don't feel like I ever got a total grasp on this story - it's as if I read it through a cloudy glass and just have about 80% of it - but it was still very interesting and entertaining. Some slight quibbles - the author goes back and forth - sometimes in the same paragraph! - referring to the main character as both Troy *and* Horan - it often took reminding myself that they were, indeed, the same person. There are virtually no women in this story; since this book was written (by a woman under a pen name!) in 1961, I can make certain allowances for the time but still find it frustrating nevertheless.
This was my first introduction to Andre Norton - and I'm impressed. I would certainly read more by her in the future. An original story on a subject that I find fascinating - human-animal communication.
Troy Horan is a man without a home - having been exiled from his home planet in the face of war, he is trapped in a ghetto for sub-citizens called The Dipple. When a job comes through for work in a very exotic pet shop in the retail section of the town - he jumps at the opportunity. Thus begins a strange journey which includes special animals, conspiracy, treachery, contact with mysterious (and creepy) ancient inhabitants of the planet, and strange companions.
I don't feel like I ever got a total grasp on this story - it's as if I read it through a cloudy glass and just have about 80% of it - but it was still very interesting and entertaining. Some slight quibbles - the author goes back and forth - sometimes in the same paragraph! - referring to the main character as both Troy *and* Horan - it often took reminding myself that they were, indeed, the same person. There are virtually no women in this story; since this book was written (by a woman under a pen name!) in 1961, I can make certain allowances for the time but still find it frustrating nevertheless.
This was my first introduction to Andre Norton - and I'm impressed. I would certainly read more by her in the future. An original story on a subject that I find fascinating - human-animal communication.