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9th out of 115 books
—
79 voters
Catspaw (Cat #2)
CAT: Street Punk, Psion, Telepath, Survivor. . .
Kidnapped by an interstellar corporation and dragged to Earth, Cat is forced to use his skills to protect those he most hates, those who most hate him . . . .
The taMings. A cyber-augmented, DNA-incestuous clan of such wealth and power that their family arguments change the destiny of worlds. Now one taMing is a killer's targ...more
Kidnapped by an interstellar corporation and dragged to Earth, Cat is forced to use his skills to protect those he most hates, those who most hate him . . . .
The taMings. A cyber-augmented, DNA-incestuous clan of such wealth and power that their family arguments change the destiny of worlds. Now one taMing is a killer's targ...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
November 23rd 2002
by Tor Books
(first published September 1st 1988)
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Cat is half Psion and half human, an outcast who used to have telepathic powers until he lost them in a battle to the death. Now he's been dragged into a dangerous game of high level corporate intrigue when he is kidnapped by the powerful taMing clan, given drugs that bring back his ability, and set as a bodyguard against assassins.[return][return]Cat doesn't want the job, but he is asked to help by a friend. Before long, he's pulled deep into the web of lies, love and deceit that reaches beyond...more
Maybe now I would read it with a more critical eye as I'm 16 years older than I was when I first took it home from my public library, I don't know. This book started for me what became a lifelong love affair with the science fiction genre. I also think that Cat, the main character, also counts as my first literary crush.
After that first encounter, I reread it, and the book prior to and the two books that came after it, far more times than I can remember. I perhaps shouldn't be reviewing it at al...more
After that first encounter, I reread it, and the book prior to and the two books that came after it, far more times than I can remember. I perhaps shouldn't be reviewing it at al...more
There is nothing wrong with being a three-star book. In fact, a lot of times, I'd rather read a really solid three-star book than anything deserving four, or heaven forbid, five stars. Extra stars add extra quality, of course, but they also require me to really think, and pay attention to what I'm reading. They don't necessarily make great bus books, or lunch break books. I get out my sandwich, look over at the four-star book I'm in the middle of, with its beautiful but elaborate prose, its deep...more
I picked this book up before realizing it was book #2 of a series, stopped midway to read "Psion," then finished this last night--at 5am. In this addictive series, Vinge shows deep character growth for Cat. "Catspaw" offers a Cat who is less angry and more focused on carving out a life for himself. But his awareness that the world is willing to grind him under a boot heel is never far from his thoughts.
There is more political intrigue in this novel--plots within plots, and Cat has to learn to n...more
There is more political intrigue in this novel--plots within plots, and Cat has to learn to n...more
I am extremely picky about the rating of the content in a book and I am morally bias, both of which reflect the rating. You have been warned.
First of all, let me begin with the things I do like about Catspaw.
I liked the way the author wrote. The flow of words and switch between speaking and describing was sometimes a bit awkward to read, but it never felt forced. The author also was pretty good at explaining the surrounding without overloading you. Too often I'm left with wanting to know more ab...more
First of all, let me begin with the things I do like about Catspaw.
I liked the way the author wrote. The flow of words and switch between speaking and describing was sometimes a bit awkward to read, but it never felt forced. The author also was pretty good at explaining the surrounding without overloading you. Too often I'm left with wanting to know more ab...more
Wow, do I love this book. I'm prejudiced, I admit. The cover drew me in immediately; the picture and the main character remind me so much of the (lost) love of my life it just kills me.
One of my favorite themes, telepathy; jam packed with interesting, complicated characters, an imaginative setting, and lots of action, make this a very enjoyable read. There's nothing sweet or pretty about this book. It's gritty and tough, with lots of side-of-the-mouth dialog. Plenty of kinky telepathic sex, too,...more
One of my favorite themes, telepathy; jam packed with interesting, complicated characters, an imaginative setting, and lots of action, make this a very enjoyable read. There's nothing sweet or pretty about this book. It's gritty and tough, with lots of side-of-the-mouth dialog. Plenty of kinky telepathic sex, too,...more
This is the second book in the author's Cat series, and just as good as the first. Cat is very human - although technically he's only half human, and he acts/reacts accordingly. I was on the edge of my seat several times; this story has a few twists and turns in it and once I started reading it was difficult to put down. The characters are human and flawed which means they make mistakes which I always like in a story. She world builds very well, this deals with politics and addiction, and religi...more
Truthfully I had the biggest crush on the main character for years. He's so well written. He's not too good looking, has flaws aplenty, and is fighting to improve himself without being pretentious and snotty about it. He is cornered and thrown into situations way over his head, but he keeps doggedly struggling towards a solution. And if the solution is a bit dirty? He doesn't spend chapter after chapter sulking or whining about how difficult it is.
Also, for a sci-fi book, it wasn't too....space...more
Also, for a sci-fi book, it wasn't too....space...more
Mar 29, 2012
Violetta
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Violetta by:
Jenna
A lot more mature than the first book in the series (Psion). Here we find Cat as a more emotionally evolved individual, and a lot more complex, which made the events he was embroiled in seem that much more plausible (for that reality). There was some good techno-babble mixed in, and the author recognized back in 1988 how much computers would matter to people and boldly intertwined that fact with the plot (read: Internet-type networks, firewalls, access ports). I particularly liked the lesson fro...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I'm re-reading some older science fiction lately & couldn't pass this by. Joan D. Vinge is a wonderful, feminist cyberpunk author - also an anthropologist. There are 3 books in this series - Psion (Cat), Catspaw, & Dreamfall (Cat). All worth the read (& frequently found in the Young Adults section of the library).
Vinge creates interesting worlds people with interesting people who do interesting things & what more can you want, eh?
Vinge creates interesting worlds people with interesting people who do interesting things & what more can you want, eh?
While this book is obviously sci-fi, it has enough reality in it to make this world real, something that not all sci-fi books are able to pull off. Joan D Vinge has a talent for making these worlds and characters real, and she does a superb job in this sequel to Psion. The story and characters are fantastic, and the settings and story are richly varied and fun to read. A real page-turner.
This book takes you on the journey filled with drama, science and coming of age. The plot is wonderful, and you come to love (or hate) all of the characters. A lot of what's going on can be related to current times, even though all of this is happening in the future with more technology than we currently have. I've read this book several times - I'll never get tired of it!
ABSOLUTE. FAVORITE BOOK. EVER. The character development is amazing (as usual with Vinge). Cat is very real; he's the hero but he's got his flaws, and he's smart enough to accept himself for what he is. You don't need to read Psion first, but it's almost as good.
When I was in high school, this seemed to be the most amazing book ever. Now...it's okay. The storyline is actually completely different than I remember it (perhaps because last time I didn't read the prequel and had no clue what was going on?) Still interesting, but not amazing.
This was a great read and an even better follow up to Psion! Cat's new personality change took a bit of getting use to (holy moley does this boy like his sex), but there's a lot of charm in his character that replaces the naiveness from his former self. Unlike the first book which is clearly labelled as YA, this one is not, and should not be interpreted as such. I know there's one more book to this series written years later, but I'm hesitant to read it considering how good this book was. We sha...more
"A 'catspaw' is someone used by someone else to do a job that is unpleasant or dangerous."
"Yeah," I nodded. "That fits. It worked, too." -p.212
Cat has a gift for knowing the truth. He just has to learn to deal with the pain. And trust that this time it won't be for nothing.
"Yeah," I nodded. "That fits. It worked, too." -p.212
Cat has a gift for knowing the truth. He just has to learn to deal with the pain. And trust that this time it won't be for nothing.
This is my desert island book, in that if I were stuck on a desert island and could only have one book for the rest of my life, this would be it. Dark, violent, and dystopian, yet somehow hopeful. And Joan D. Vinge is one of the best sci-fi writers of our time.
It's a book about a young person coming to terms with the costs of using the full extent of his talents in the pursuit of a higher goal. I was gripped by the delicacy of the protagonist's position, and the emotional toll that took on him as he wound his way through.
Okay, yes. I have re-read Joan Vinge's Catspaw....again. What can I say? For me it's a guaranteed good time. I first picked it up in my undergrad days when, as an ardent young feminist, I would go to the local used book store (Logos on Pacific Avenue) and scan the shelves in SF (speculative fiction, science fantasy, whatever) for female authors.
Vinge writes a good story with a concern for ethics, technology, relationship and what it means to be a good human without making it a grind. Give me a y...more
Vinge writes a good story with a concern for ethics, technology, relationship and what it means to be a good human without making it a grind. Give me a y...more
After reading her Hugo/Nebula winner, The Winter Queen a few years ago, I was very interested in reading more of Vinge's work. This one I found at a Friends of the Cedar Park Library book sale for a quarter. It was worth far more. I really enjoyed the tale of Cat, the half-human, half-Hydran telepath who gets in way over his head when he takes a job to track an assassin. It was part sci-fi, part mystery, and the pace was great. Cat was a flawed and fascinating hero. Vinge did an excellent job of...more
after reading joan d. vinge's snow queen, i was so blown away that i wanted to read more. imagine my delight when i found this at the book rummage sale - for FREE.
Jul 03, 2010
Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
cover-missing
I can remember being fairly well sucked in by the cover of this one, because it's by Michael Whelan. However, I didn't like it as much as I remembered liking it. At the time I first read it, I was young enough to confuse people brought together by loneliness with romance. Or something.
Anyway, this contains some interesting ideas, and is a decent bridge between Psion and Dreamfall, but it's not that pleasant to read.
Anyway, this contains some interesting ideas, and is a decent bridge between Psion and Dreamfall, but it's not that pleasant to read.
I read this a LONG time ago but would love to revisit it, I remember it was a huge favorite of mine at the time.
3 likes · like · see review
Scot recommended this to me after we found a copy in the used bookstore. It's a little more sci-fi than I normally cotton to, but I still enjoyed it a lot.
The world was well constructed, had interesting rules, and an interesting idea about what the future of humanity will look like. This book is very political with predominant themes of racism, religious fundamentalism, and ethics.
My only real problem with the book was the repetition. The protagonist is part of a race of creatures that are d...more
The world was well constructed, had interesting rules, and an interesting idea about what the future of humanity will look like. This book is very political with predominant themes of racism, religious fundamentalism, and ethics.
My only real problem with the book was the repetition. The protagonist is part of a race of creatures that are d...more
Good, but extremely dark and disturbing. The main character gets tortured over and over by multiple sadists.
A lot shorter and less complicated than some of Vinge's books, but still a lot of fun.
Great story! Politics, telepaths, computers - what more could you want?
Full of excitement, a boy' s journey of discovery!
This book is definitely my favorite of the Cat books by Joan
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Joan D. Vinge (born Joan Carol Dennison) is an American science fiction author. She is known for such works as her Hugo Award-winning novel The Snow Queen and its sequels, her series about the telepath named Cat, and her Heaven's Chronicles books.
More about Joan D. Vinge...
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Mar 04, 2012 08:44am