CATS in MYSTERY/FANTASY FICTION
by Sir Wally



Many cat lovers are also fans of the genres of Mystery Fiction
and Fantasy Fiction and we find that, more and more, cats are
becoming central or strongly supporting characters in these
books. Many authors have featured cats prominently in their
works and we will discuss some of them in this class.

Authors have discovered what animal lovers always knew...cats
are mystical and fascinating creatures, alluring and mysterious
and they let us see only what they want us to see. They
make a fascinating character for a story and a picture of
a cat on the jacket increases the sales. In fact, some
books may have only a passing reference to a cat but there will
be one pictured on the jacket.


MYSTERY FICTION
In addition to the currently popular authors listed below,
here is more "cats in mystery"....

Sharon McCone, the private eye created by Marcia Muller, has had several cats during her career as a private investigator. In the book "Ask the Cards A Question", a white cat with both spots and stripes enters her life and in "Pennies on a Dead Woman's Eyes" a pair of kittens that Sharon has tried vainly to resist come home to stay.

Elizabeth Peters's most fascinating cat is Bastet, an Egyptian animal who belongs to Ramses, her son. He was introduced in "The Curse of the Pharoahs" in 1981. On several occasions, Bastet uncovers papers or, by running away, leads the principal characters to clues.


THE CAT WHO...SERIES

Lillian Jackson Braun's two Siamese cats, KoKo and YumYum, share their detective skills with ex-reporter Jim Qwilleran in several adventures spanning many years. KoKo was adopted by "Qwill" after his owner was murder in "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" published in 1966. YumYum did not appear until the third book, "The Cat Who Turned On and Off" in 1986. The books are well plotted and do not have offensive language or excessive violence.

These books have become so popular that there is now a "Cat's Who Companion" so that new readers may bring themselves up- to-date on the characters and storylines.
SERIES BY LYDIA ADAMSON

This series features an often out-of-work actress named Alice Nestleton who takes cat-sitting jobs for extra income between theater assignments. The main setting is New York City but Alice often goes to other locales on her cat-sitting assignments. Some titles in this series include:
A CAT IN A MANGER
A CAT IN A CHORUS LINE
A CAT OF ONE'S OWN

SERIES BY SHIRLEY
ROUSSEAU MURPHY

Definitely different, Ms. Murphy has created a unique character in Joe Grey, a cat who understands human speech, can talk and can read. Naturally, his owner Clyde was somewhat shocked! It is all explained in the first book, CAT ON THE EDGE. Joe Grey has a sassy lady friend named Dulcie, who shares in his adventures.
SERIES BY GARRISON ALLEN

Penelope (Penny) Warren owns a mystery bookstore in Empty Creek, Arizona and a 25 lb cat named Big Mike. The series is written by Garrison Allen, who lives in California with his own black cat named Oliver. The stories I have read in this series center around some "event" in Empty Creek that spawns a murder and an opportunity for Penny to play "sleuth"!

DINOSAUR CAT
Mystery bookstore owner Penelope Warren and her intrepid feline co-sleuth, Mycroft are on the case, after the discovery of a baby Seismosaurus Rex fossil in Empty Creek, Arizona, leads to the murder of a young scientist.

THE MIDNIGHT LOUIE SERIES

This series features two of the most lovable characters you would ever want to meet: public relations expert Temple Barr, a petite redhead with a fetish for high heel shoes; and the irrepressible Midnight Louie. These are fast-paced, exciting mysteries written by Carole Nelson Douglas, who also writes fantasy and romance.
SNEAKY PIE and Ms.Rita Mae Brown
Ms.Brown writes a popular series, with able assistance from her cat, SNEAKY PIE, featuring Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen and her cat, Mrs. Murphy. Mrs.Murphy has a doggie friend named Tucker, and the pair are fully rounded characters, playing a large part in the stories. Books in the series are REST IN PIECES, WISH YOU WERE HERE, MURDER AT MONTICELLO, PAY DIRT and MURDER ON THE PROWL.




FANTASY FICTION
In the grand story telling style of "Watership Down"
and "Tailchaser's Song" comes an epic tale of adventure
danger, heroism and love written by Gabriel King. The
series begins with "The Wild Road" about a kitten Tag, who
is secure and happy as a pampered house pet until dreams
begin to pour into his safe, snug world...dreams
that speak of a magical highway of the animals and of a huge
responsibility that will fall to young Tag. In "The Golden
Cat", the author continues the enchanting quest.

THE BOOK OF NIGHT WITH MOON

What if cats could cast spells and become invisible?
The cats in this book can. Written by Diane Duane, these
felines are wizards and sorcerers and the Guardians of the
World Gate beneath Grand Central Station in New York City.
When an ancient evil conquers the Gates, four champions--an
Upper East Side house pet, a neurotic tortoise-shell, a
fearless alley tom and a feral kitten--are called to defend
the Earth.



QUIZ




Some Graphics By Catstuff
Background by Sir Wally


Reference: The Fine Art of Murder, Edited by Gorman, Greenberg,
Segriff and Breen with exepts by Ellen Nehr.
Fan publication-No copyright infringement intended.

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