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49th out of 95 books
—
1 voter
Catacombs: A Tale of the Barque Cats (Tales of the Barque Cats #2)
In Catalyst, award-winning authors Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough introduced readers to the beguiling Barque Cats: spacefaring felines who serve aboard starships as full-fledged members of the crew. Highly evolved, the cats share an almost telepathic bond with their minders, or Cat Persons—until, suddenly, there is no “almost” about it, and a particular Barqu...more
Hardcover, 236 pages
Published
December 7th 2010
by Del Rey
(first published November 15th 2010)
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I am enjoying this new series by Ms McCaffrey and Ms Scarborough!
This is the continuing story of the Barque cats! After having escaped from corrupt human officials, Chester and his boy Jubal have brought as many Barque cats to save from extermination due to a 'supposed' plague from eating shiny beetles that were actually imported by a mysterious cat named Psha-ra. Psha-ra is from the planet Mau, where he has a master plan for the Barque cats and his own race of felines. He loves the 6th toe tha...more
This is the continuing story of the Barque cats! After having escaped from corrupt human officials, Chester and his boy Jubal have brought as many Barque cats to save from extermination due to a 'supposed' plague from eating shiny beetles that were actually imported by a mysterious cat named Psha-ra. Psha-ra is from the planet Mau, where he has a master plan for the Barque cats and his own race of felines. He loves the 6th toe tha...more
Catacombs: A Tale of the Barque Cats by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough
This is apparently a story that is part of a larger series. The protagonists are all cats with some sidebar humans. This story returns the Barque Cats to their normal environment.
This book needs more back story. I felt like I had started on page 150 and had no way to get caught up. The story really never caught my interest and I am truly fond of anthropomorphism.
The cats see humans as some what dull servants which a...more
This is apparently a story that is part of a larger series. The protagonists are all cats with some sidebar humans. This story returns the Barque Cats to their normal environment.
This book needs more back story. I felt like I had started on page 150 and had no way to get caught up. The story really never caught my interest and I am truly fond of anthropomorphism.
The cats see humans as some what dull servants which a...more
*** "Catacombs" under the Egypt-like planet Mau hide mummies and hi-tech left by earliest settlers, and imprison a supernatural giant serpent. A second time, Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarbourough entertain and amuse. The story concentrates on Chester, who grows from rebel kitten to leader dad, and his telepathic linked boy. The enigmatic elegant extremely old vizier teaches the new mixed breed generation how to manipulate spaceship controls and weapons with their inherited Barque dextr...more
Although I had read the first book in this series - Catalyst, it took a few chapters to get into this book. I enjoyed the interesting mythlike parts of the story - including mummies, cats, celtic knots, and pyramids.
One criticism I have is that the evil being fought seems to be rather mindless and reminiscent of Pern's thread, now being bugs and worms/snakes.
I'm sure that the always plotting Pshaw-Ra will figure in the next book, but honestly I missed several characters from Catalyst who seeme...more
One criticism I have is that the evil being fought seems to be rather mindless and reminiscent of Pern's thread, now being bugs and worms/snakes.
I'm sure that the always plotting Pshaw-Ra will figure in the next book, but honestly I missed several characters from Catalyst who seeme...more
I just had to read this one as it was the sequel to Catalyst. It's quite uneven going from desperate situation to a cat's nonchalance, but I guess that's the point. Chester and his human Jabal return to his parents and ships. But the evil Apep or snake follows them out and the kittens that they have brought with them have to save the day when the snake (or millions of mini snakes that the big snake has transformed into) surrounds a sun causing all kinds of havoc for the solar system (not ours)....more
In the second book of the A Tale of the Barque Cats series, Pshaw- Ra takes Chester, Chester’s Cat- Person Jubal and the rescued cats to his home world of Mau in order to escape their government ordered execution. On Mau, cats are venerated as gods and the sole purpose of the human inhabitants is to serve their cat masters. The newcomers are promised lives of luxury, indulgence and limitless fishy treats. But it is soon evident that Pshaw-Ra’s actions are not acts of benevolence, but a calculate...more
I think there's a book that comes before this one. I don't know right now; I just picked it off the shelf at the library. The book may have made a bit more sense if I'd read the series in the right order.
I was confused by the different points of view for the first third of the book. Once I got it all straightened out, I found the cat adventures enthralling. I really enjoyed the idea of cat spaceships. The book definitely lives up to the proverb, "dogs have people; cats have staff."
I was confused by the different points of view for the first third of the book. Once I got it all straightened out, I found the cat adventures enthralling. I really enjoyed the idea of cat spaceships. The book definitely lives up to the proverb, "dogs have people; cats have staff."
Yes, I am giving a McCaffrey/Scarborough book a two (and a half) star review. Something changed in the telling of the story for this book, many aspects, such as point of view from the cats, are awesome in theory, but fall flat in execution, something other reviewers have noted.
That acknowledged, it is a cute and fast read. I found it enjoyable as my Shadow has taken a renewed interest in both my keyboard and what's on the monitor. It's fun to pretend that perhaps he's paying attention and will s...more
That acknowledged, it is a cute and fast read. I found it enjoyable as my Shadow has taken a renewed interest in both my keyboard and what's on the monitor. It's fun to pretend that perhaps he's paying attention and will s...more
(Science fiction 2010) Sequel to Catalyst, Book 1 of the Barque Cats. After the barque cats are rescued from a plague that threatens to kill them, they end up on a planet where cats are supreme but not particularly socially evolved. The Barque Cats must figure out how to get themselves out of the situation... Good fun. written with typical Ann McCaffrey aplomb. I am really missing her already!
I liked this book better than the first one. It's always very interesting to read a book that's from the cat's perspective. I was glad I got both Catalyst and Catacombs at the same time. By the time I finished Catalyst, I wanted to know what was going to happen next and started right into Catacombs. It's a pretty easy science fiction read and good story line - didn't want to put Catacombs down.
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had to wait for this one an exciting story about the adventures and miss adventures of the great mankoon cats in space and how they find a similar raise of cats and interbreed for the austintatious advantages of both breeds, and the violent and mysterious attack of a new speices in space cause because of the cats distruction of an ancient fow.
Jun 03, 2011
A. Jarrell Hayes
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
cat lovers, light science fiction lovers
In this book, in the Barque Cats series, cats are space-travelers that are able to communicate telepathically with a bonded human. They also save planets from certain doom.
The book is written in a crisp, clear, and concise language fans of Anne McCaffrey have come to expect. The tone is light; I didn't expect otherwise from a book that stars a pre-teen boy and the cat he's able to talk with telepathically (or vice versa). If you're looking for hard and serious science fiction, look elsewhere.
I f...more
The book is written in a crisp, clear, and concise language fans of Anne McCaffrey have come to expect. The tone is light; I didn't expect otherwise from a book that stars a pre-teen boy and the cat he's able to talk with telepathically (or vice versa). If you're looking for hard and serious science fiction, look elsewhere.
I f...more
The first one was decent, and I liked it quite a bit, but this one...let's just say it wasn't the greatest book. (view spoiler)
Like the first book in the series it’s an okay, average read. If you are looking for hard science, logical consistency, and accurate portrayals of animals you should look elsewhere. If you are up for some science fantasy with smart cats, rats, snakes, and psychics then you might enjoy. I will probably listen to another sequel, just to see where the hell it leads – this one was all over the place.
Like the first book, this is the continuing adventures of Chester and his human Jubal. Still cute, but has fallen a bit flat in the execution of the idea. A bit too neatly wrapped up for my tastes, especially with the extreme danger she put them in in the latter half of the book. (view spoiler) I'm sure there will be more books about the pair, the last sentence of the bo...more
Not McCaffrey's best, some chapters were better written than others. Knowing she was not feeling well during the time these two books were written make me think she wasn't able to pin down exactly what she truly had in mind for the story line.
The sequel to "Catalyst," this book tells the story of the cats who flee the known galaxy and end up on a planet ruled by cats. Full of references to cat behavior that will be familiar to cat owners and relies heavily on Egyptian mythology.
I can honestly say it was better than the first book. The cats are definitely more interesting than the people. This is definitely a series you shouldn't try to put too much thought into reading.
I was also amused to see the acknowledgments to Cordwainer Smith.
I was also amused to see the acknowledgments to Cordwainer Smith.
I know this is not the most intellectual comment, but it's the most honest way of stating how I feel. This book was 'eh' ... normally I am swept away in McCaffrey's books and can't put them down, but this book just never really engaged me.
This is the second book in the series featuring the Barque cats. I quite enjoyed Catalyst, the first in the series. Cats, spaceships, what could go wrong? This book is hard work though. I'm taking ages to read it. Halfway through now and still nothing has happened. It's disappointing because I want to like it.
May 09, 2011
Laurie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
My daughter
Recommended to Laurie by:
Saw it at the library
Shelves:
fantasy
Different but interesting if sci-fi fantasy is your interest. I picked it up because of the cat on the cover (I'm a cat lover)and had read another book by the same author while my daughter was reading fantasy in high school.
As always, Elizabeth Scarborough and Anne McCaffrey make a great writing pair. Science fiction, fantasy, with a bit of ancient Egyptian mythology thrown in. This is a great addition to the Barque Cat series.
This is the sequel to "Catalyst", and should also be marketed as a Young Adult book. But if you like both Anne McCaffrey, cats and science fiction, you'll probably read it. ;-)
enjoyed the sequel of catalyst. loved the interactions between the different species. did wonder how one intelligent group could hunt another.
If you talk to your cat like a human, this is the book for you. Cats' personalities are perfectly portrayed in this wonderful sci-fi galatic adventure.
It seemed simple but I found the plot to.......pat and hard to really get into. In all, I am a bit unhappy with this book. I think it is more geared to the younger set.
Nothing more to say - see my review of Catalyst.
The sequel to Catalyst continues the fun, fluffy romp through the universe, with a respite during which the Barque cats are introduced to Mau, Pshaw-Ra's homeworld. Another quick, light-hearted read.
Basically entertaining and a fast read, but like other reviews said, it was all over the place. Interesting concept, but botched in execution.
I enjoyed the beginning of this book. I liked the idea of cats mind-linking with humans. However, I found the last 1/4 of the book lost its focus.
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Anne McCaffrey was born on April 1st, 1926, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 1:30 p.m., in the hour of the Sheep, year of the Fire Tiger, sun sign Aries with Taurus rising and Leo mid-heaven (which seems to suggest an early interest in the stars).
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
More about Anne McCaffrey...
Her parents were George Herbert McCaffrey, BA, MA PhD (Harvard), Colonel USA Army (retired), and Anne Dorothy McElroy McCaffrey, estate agent. She had two...more
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