A Constellation of Cats

This is an enjoyable book that should entertain cat lovers and non cat lovers alike. The stories are well written and fast moving and I did not want to put it down once I had started reading.

Who could resist a book with thirteen short stories all featuring cats? I know I couldn't, and I'm glad. This anthology of short stories has a little something for everyone, from urban fantasy, to pure fantasy, and science fiction. I loved how each story gave the cats within it a unique personality, as those of us with cats know that no two cats are exactly alike. I'll be honest, and some of the stories I would have liked a bit more fantasy content to the story. A few of them felt rather modern-dayish without the element of urban fantasy (ala Charles DeLint) or any fantasy at all, but more a story about a cat without any real fantasy trappings at all. And, I would have liked a more uniform presentation to the stories. The title implies astrology or stars, and several of the stories tried to hold true to this theme by using stars or constellations in the cat's names or behavior. But, for a book to while away the hours, I found this collection more than adequate, and some of the stories are real gems.

Cats and fantasy have a long-recognized relationship, and this themed anthology continues the tradition well. Most of the stories are fantasy, set in environments from Ancient Egypt (10,000 temple cats summon the goddess Bastet to help beat off the Persian invaders) to modern times (an inept witch and her two children settle into their new neighborhood with the help of a stray cat), but there's also a science fiction story that takes place on a traders' starship, and a touching, quiet tale that could have been lifted from today's headlines. This book would make an excellent no-occasion gift for a cat-loving friend as well as an addition to your own collection. (And if you like it, I very strongly recommend the five volumes of "Catfantastic," edited by Andre Norton and Martin H. Greenberg.)