The Cat's Pajamas and Other Stories

by James K. Morrow

Terminal baptism, erotic performance art, and voodoo economics with actual voodoo.

An integrity gene is harvested from the brain of an unwilling schoolteacher. Christopher Columbus lands in modern-day Manhattan. John Wayne seeks treatment from a cinematic oncologist. Sports fans save the universe every day.

The Cat’s Pajamas is a provocative collection of satiric short fiction from Nebula and World Fantasy award–winning author James Morrow. Included is “Auspicious Eggs,” in which ritual procreation and compulsory abortion are mandated by the Catholic Church. Two original pieces were written specifically for The Cat’s Pajamas: the play “Come Back, Dr. Sarcophagus,” and the short story “Fucking Justice.”

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Collections, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Ebooks

209 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Born in 1947, James Kenneth Morrow has been writing fiction ever since he, as a seven-year-old living in the Philadelphia suburbs, dictated “The Story of the Dog Family” to his mother, who dutifully typed it up and bound the pages with yarn. This three-page, six-chapter fantasy is still in the author’s private archives. Upon reaching adulthood, Jim produced nine novels of speculative fiction, including the critically acclaimed Godhead Trilogy. He has won the World Fantasy Award (for Only Begotten Daughter and Towing Jehovah), the Nebula Award (for “Bible Stories for Adults, No. 17: The Deluge” and the novella City of Truth), and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (for the novella Shambling Towards Hiroshima). A fulltime fiction writer, Jim makes his home in State College, Pennsylvania, with his wife, his son, an enigmatic sheepdog, and a loopy beagle. He is hard at work on a novel about Darwinism and its discontents.

Reviews

[Matt Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories contained in “The Cat’s Pajamas” certainly aren’t for everyone, but if you enjoy the absurd, the bizarre, the downright nonsensical you will enjoy this book. Part sci-fi, part political commentary, and all off-the-wall, Morrow’s style is unlike anything I’ve read before. Like Salvador Dali, Morrow paints his fantasies with realistic strokes, thereby enhancing their outrageousness.

[Adam Meek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hit and miss, really enjoyed Martyrs of The Upshot Knothole and Come Back, Dr. Sarcophagus! while the anti-Catholic Auspicious Eggs left me cold. Morrow isn't afraid to let his liberal politics show; sometimes, but definitely not always, to a story's detriment.

[Alexburchee · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever, clever, original and brilliantly written.

[Jeff Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun set of high-concept sci fi stories, usually with a philosophical twist.

[Brian Bohmueller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred Morrows' other collection of shorts. Reality by Other Means: The Best Short Fiction of James Morrow.

Stiill, there were a few shorts in this one I found worthy: Martyrs of the Upshot Knothole, Fucking Justice, and Isabella of Castile Answers Her Mail.

[Zan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, I couldn't make myself finish this one. Morrow's mighty towers of erudition defeated me.

[gabrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put this down after the first two stories; I just couldn't take any more.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/bo...

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this short-story collection. I didn't think it was as good as "Bible Stories For Adults." However, if you're looking for some fun, sci-fi stories, they're pretty good.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of short stories. Most have the usual Morrow bent, which I enjoy. That is also to say don't look for happy, clean endings...

[Ralph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uneven. I may just be more critical of collections these days.