July SFFFCAT: Critters and Creatures

Welcome to the July SFFFCAT: Critters and Creatures aka Non-Humans from Aliens to Dragons

Ladies and Gentlemen, this month brand of critters and creatures will not include ‘human monsters’ but fear not, fun will be had! We’ll have, well, aliens and dragons, all kind of animals (which are not dragons duh) and why not, goblins, orcs and what else...

Keep in mind that for the following months, we’ll have:
In August - Other Worlds‬ (Space Opera, First Contact, Dropping into Oz‬)
In October - What Was That? -- Supernatural, Paranormal, Just Plain Inexplicable (Urban Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy and Gothic)
‪In November‬ - Off on a Quest -- Heroes, Superheroes, Puzzles and Epic Journeys‬
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So on to some books then:

Aliens
Starship Troopers by ‪Robert A. Heinlein (sf, space war, critters)
Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boule (sf, space travel, time travel, dystopia, apes)

Two well-known universes for Aliens are:
Star Wars
Star Trek

Dragons
Series: Dragonriders of Pern by ‪Anne McCaffrey (fantasy, THE CLASSIC in the Dragons genre)
Series: Temeraire by Naomi Novik (fantasy, Napoleonian Wars)
Series: The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini (high fantasy, young adult, magic)
Series: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (high fantasy, young adult, music, romance)

Animals
Series: Jurassik Park by Michael Crichton (genetic engineering, dinosaurs)
Tintin in Tibet (mystery, Yeti)

Other ideas for animals: Bigfoot, Chupacabra, Loch Ness monster, King Kong etc…

And last but not least the Lovecratian mythos (Cthullu)

Have fun and don’t forget to complete the wiki!

I'm likely to reread some of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. The Companions have to count for this, and I'll probably jump in at Owlflight so there are also the Hawkbrothers' birds.

Will The Passage by Justin Cronin work for this? I've heard there are non-human creatures in the book but don't really know too much about it. I've read a few pages so far and everybody seems quite human so thought I'd check.

>3 LittleTaiko: Stacy, I read The Passage a year or so ago and as far as I remember the villans were originally human but have been changed into vampire-like creatures by a virus that was originally carried by an unnamed type of bat. As this is very much the same way that creatures like vampires and werewolves are made, I think The Passage would fit perfectly for this month's theme unless I am wrong and vampires and werewolves etc. are not included in the "Critters" definition.

I am planning on reading A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, and, if werewolves fit, Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy.

I plan on reading Gold Unicorn and Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee--both are relatively short, and though I can't remember which comes first and which comes second, they've been hanging about on my shelf for quite a while now. She passed away recently, and reading some of the notes about her reminded me how much I love her writing, so it's far past time that I get to these two.

Continuing my trend of using Doctor Who novels I already own for the SFFFCAT, this month I'll read Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen, by Terrance Dicks.

>4 DeltaQueen50: - Thanks for the info! I've started the book two times before and kept getting derailed. Really hoping the third time is the charm.

Some options for me:

- One Good Knight / Mercedes Lackey
- The Battle of the Labyrinth / Rick Riordan
- The Cabinet of Curiosities / Preston and Child

I think I've decided to try Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. I think I can get the ebook from the library.

A Madness of Angels is on my July list. Not sure what else I have, but I might also read Preston/Child Brimstone which I think will fit too.

I just finished Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, which certainly features non-humans. It's science fiction, set in space and on other planets. It was utterly outside of my usual reading, but I really enjoyed it. Leckie does interesting things with our ideas of gender and gender in language, as well as writing a gripping book about interplanetary conflict.

>12 RidgewayGirl: I just finished Ancillary Sword. It's very different in terms of scope and plot, but I wish I had read it closer to when I read the first book in the series, because I forgot a lot of details and I found that frustrating. That's why I usually avoid series.

For this month, I am reading another sequel, Authority. If it is anything like its predecessor, Annihilation, it will have at least one strange critter in it. Fortunately, I just finished Annihilation last month, so the details are still clear in my mind.

I may also read Tea With the Black Dragon if I have time.

>12 RidgewayGirl: >13 sturlington: It's funny - I just finished a reread of Ancillary Justice. I read it when it first came out and I told myself that I'd need to reread it before picking up the next one because I was worried I wouldn't remember all the details. I'll probably get in Ancillary Sword by the end of the month, and I'm really looking forward to the third book, Ancillary Mercy when it comes out in October. Hopefully that's a short enough time frame that I'll be able to remember what I need to!

Ancillary Justice is fabulous - I highly recommend it.

I may give Annihilation a try and it I can find my copy of Tea With the Black Dragon, I'll join in on that one as well.

There are so many great choices for this challenge!

ETA: I read The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo this month and enjoyed it. It's not initially obvious, but it definitely works for this challenge - and that's all I'm going to say about it!

Has anyone read Acorna: The Unicorn Girl by Anne McCaffrey? It's a possible read for a shelfari group I'm in and I wondered if I could fit it here, as well? If not, I might pick a different book for the other group, but if I can combine them, that would be great. I thought the unicorn part of the book might work, but since we're not including "human monsters" this month, maybe it doesn't fit - unless it has other non-human monsters, does anyone know? Thanks so much!

Another option for that group is Catalyst: A Tale of the Barque Cats by McCaffrey. Hmm, maybe that's better. Technically the theme is "critters and creatures", they don't necessarily need to be "monsters", do they? Just critters. Or maybe that cats in Catalyst are monsters!? Thoughts? Thanks again! I guess this would fit for space opera later, too.

#16 by @LibraryCin> definitely no limitation that the creatures or critters need be the bad guys. They could easily be the heroes of the tale.

>17 majkia: Thank you for your input!

I will be listening to the audio version of His Majesty's Dragon. Since July is Ursula Le Guin month in the 75 Book Group's American Author's challenge, I'll also be reading her Catwings series. Since they're children's books and there are only four in the series I figured I might as well read them all!

Just picked up a copy of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Should make a good beach read that fits in well with the theme for this month.

I have absolutely no idea what to read. I may have to go looking for a list somewhere with the best creature and critter books.

ETA
Would The Buried Giant or A Game of Thrones work?

I'll keep looking......

>21 Roro8: Not sure about Buried Giant, but Game of Thrones has dragons and wolves.

Another one considering Ancillary Justice. I also have some omnibus volumes which might include critter stories. I'll have to check.

Do witches' familiars count?

>24 Dejah_Thoris: I would think so...

24> As long as the book is science fiction/fantasy, I'd say so. And thanks for the suggestion. I recently finished a book with a witch's familiar - a talking cat.

Day Shift takes place in the same world as Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books.

>25 LibraryCin: >26 BookLizard: Hmm. It Takes a Witch by Heather Blake is a paranormal mystery that had definite fantasy elements - assorted witches and familiars. It is not, however, a straight SF or F novel. I was leaning toward adding it to the wiki, but now I'm not so sure.

I have read others:
Catwings and Catwings Return by Ursula K. Le Guin (thanks, Carrie, for suggesting these) and
Between Planets and The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein, which both definitely count.

>27 Dejah_Thoris: "Paranormal" and "fantasy elements" I think would be fine. Paranormal is a subset of fantasy, isn't it?

In that case, what about Beowulf, which is nearing the top of my TBR pile?

Catalyst / Anne McCaffrey
4 stars

This book encompasses all of: universal domination, catnapping, telepathy, space travel, disease... When Janina's valuable pregnant kitty Chessie, trained in helping out on space ships... as will be all of her progeny, is kidnapped, Janina must find her! While Chessie is away from Janina, she is sheltered in a barn with another pregnant cat, and the kittens get to know the kidnapper's young son, Jubal, and one of the kittens (Chester) ends up with an amazing bond (seemingly telepathic) with Jubal. Unfortunately, they later become separated, as well and while the government worries about and works to eliminate a disease amongst animals that could threaten everyone, Jubal insists he must find Chester.

I really enjoyed this. I waffled between 4 and 4.5 stars, but am going with 4. Science fiction is not always my “thing”, but the cats did it for me in this one. I do suspect, though, that this one is not going to be all that appealing to someone who isn't a cat person. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, and there's no question I'll be reading the next book.

I just remembered a book I read a couple of years ago called Promise of the Wolves where all the characters are wolves. Perfect for this month. It was the first book in a trilogy so I guess I will check if my library still has the second book Secrets of the Wolves.

27> My library lists "paranormal fiction" as one of the subjects. It's a genre bender, but that's common these days. I'd totally count it.

#29 by @Robertgreaves> Sure, I'd count Beowulf.

Speaking of Anne McCaffrey, I am finally reading The Ship Who Sang, but it's not going to be a favorite. I will probably finish it, and mark it off the TBR list. And re-home the book.

>30 LibraryCin: glad you liked Catalyst. I was very disappointed in it, and do not plan to read the sequel. And I love cats!

I picked up Fish Tails at the library today -- I am assuming there will be animals or other non-human creatures.

>34 fuzzi: Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you didn't like it. :-(

>34 fuzzi: I adored The Ship Who Sang when I read it as a teenager.

I finished the last book in the Southern Reach trilogy: Acceptance. Definitely critters, although difficult to say exactly what they were. I enjoyed the dreamlike atmosphere of these novels, but they certainly were ambiguous.

>36 LibraryCin: >37 RidgewayGirl: I think I've OD'd on Anne McCaffrey. I read almost all her books in the Pern genre, I think stopping at All the Weyrs of Pern. I love her first two trilogies (the Dragonriders and Harper Hall books), the Crystal Singer series, Nerilka, and the first three of the Rowan series, but her newer stuff just doesn't grab me. I was so disappointed in Catalyst, and I'd really wanted to love it.

I'm still reading The Ship Who Sang, and will probably finish it. Maybe if I'd read it as a teen it would be a favorite.

>39 fuzzi: I think you have the wrong touchstone for Catalyst.

>40 MarthaJeanne: thanks! Fixed. :)

Currently reading Otherwise by John Crowley. This is a collection of three stand-alone novels.

The first, The Deep, has as its main character some sort of android (not sure if that counts) on a mission, but after a head injury he has forgotten what the mission is.

The second, Beasts, is definitely relevant to this month's theme. In the 2070s, the only successful mammalian cross-species genetic engineering has produced the leos - hybrids of lion and human. How do they fit into human society?

From the blurb, it doesn't look like the third novel, Engine Summer is going to be relevant.

I finished Odd and the Frost Giants a couple of days ago. The characters include Norse gods in the form of a bear, a fox, and an eagle. The story is good, but the best part of the book is "about the author". It left me smiling. :)

COMPLETED Otherwise by John Crowley.

My review of the two novels in this collection relevant to our theme:
The Deep
The world of the Protectors is divided into Black and Red factions with the seemingly never-ending struggle between them sometimes turning into war. Protectors are potential targets for a group of assassins calling themselves the Just. A strange, sexless, not quite human, being lands in the midst of one battle and is wounded in the head. He knows he came with a mission, but must learn what it was.

I did lose the thread of this sometimes, forgetting who was who and how they fitted into the various factions and sub-factions. But my curiosity kept me going, to learn what the Visitor's mission was.

Beasts
In the 2070s the United States has split up into different regions and free cities, owing nominal allegiance to Washington, if that. The leos are a genetically engineered hybrid between humans and lions, the only mammalian hybrid that is not sterile. But can they find a place in human society other than as the tool of politicians scapegoating or supporting the leos to win themselves popularity?

Good story with fascinating descriptions of the world as experienced differently by hawks, leos, a solitary fox-human hybrid, and an enhanced dog.

I read A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan which made me think of modern naturalists like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey.

I just realized that my last book, The Waters Rising, would work for this category as it had talking animals (including the Sea King -- a Kraken!). Now onto the next and final book of the trilogy, Fish Tails, which has (in addition to the previous talking animals) mythological beasts such as griffins and extraterrestials :-)

I finished The Body Snatchers, a quick read, very 50s. Not strictly necessary if you've seen any of the movies.

I also have just read A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan for this month's SFFFCat. I really enjoyed this one.

Finished Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.

I finished Secrets of the Wolves, the second book in The Wolf Chronicles. It ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I may just have to get to the third book at some point.

>49 Kristelh: that's one of my favorites. :)

Sigh, I ended up being disappointed with Fish Tails... so sad when a book by an author you like doesn't measure up.

Les lames du Cardinal has dragons. Disappointingly, they have assumed human form, and there are only tame vyverns and pet dragonnets. Still, there are two more books to come, and I hope to see more of the dragons. The rest is a fun romp with lots of swordfights.

Finished Tea with the Black Dragon, a bit of a different read than my other two books in this category. I have covered all kinds of critters this month, from dragons to aliens to monsters.

I finished A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan after reading a review by Judy (DeltaQueen50). I enjoyed it so much I'm going to read some others in this series.

>54 sturlington: did you like it? I couldn't get into the sequel, but I have reread Tea with the Black Dragon several times.

I decided to read Fuzzy Sapiens, the sequel to Little Fuzzy. It's dated, but I enjoyed it.

>56 fuzzi: I don't have any real criticisms of it, but I'm afraid it wasn't my cup of tea.

So to speak.

>57 sturlington: that's the beauty of a world of readers here on LT: we have such different tastes in books. I tried reading The Lightning Thief, and had to finally give up...but others love those books.

I finished Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi. It's the 4th book in the Old Man's War series and features a couple of aliens as prominent characters.

I finished Cold Magic which has some interesting non-human characters. Great book, btw.

Last day of the month. I'm reading Daughter of Regals which will count, but I'm not sure I will finish it today. We have over five hours of driving to catch an evening train that will take us (and the car) home. And I can't read in the car. Sadly many of the other hours will be filled with such boring things as packing, eating ...

I listened to the audio version of His Majesty's Dragon. I liked it but didn't love it. I'm not into battlefield scenes, even when they involve dragons.

I planned on reading His Majesty's Dragon, too, Carrie, but switched to A Wizard of Earthsea. Two reasons. Firstly, it checked off one of the author challenges at the same time. Secondly, the audio was 4 hours shorter. Isn't that sad? I'm trying to keep up with the Science Fiction CAT, but the more I read, the more it confirms that this genre is just not for me, so I've started choosing the shortest thing that looks like I might like it. I fully intend to keep plowing through to the end of the year, though.

>61 MarthaJeanne: Finished on the train last night. Yes, almost all of the stories had critters of some sort. The last two stories really turned me off. The others were OK.

In addition to the books I reported reading early in the month, I also read:

The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Starman Jones by Robert A. Heinlein
Tea With The Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy
The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

and the final two Catwings books by Ursula K. Le Guin:
Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings
Jane on Her Own

I obviously did not lack for books that worked for July!

Just finished one more book for this category: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Read aloud to my son--we both loved it.

>66 sturlington: that's a good one!

Sorry to be so late with this update. I finished 3 books for the challenge:
- The Goblin Emperor, which features elves, goblins and the mixed goblin/elf main character.
- Carousel Sun, which contains various creatures from the faerie world, some of which are imprisoned in carousel animals.
- The Lives of Tao, which has alien beings, who also happen to be martial arts experts, residing in human hosts.