Cat Scratch Fever
The Cat Scratch series, Book 1
Tara K. Harper
Del Rey
Fiction, Sci-Fi
Themes: Bonded Companions, Felines, Girl Power
**+
Description
It is the far future, on one of many worlds which humans have colonized. Through a virus-induced mutation, certain humans can become guides, bonded telepathically to
a specific species of animal. After years of hard work, Tsi finally earned the virus, but nobody can control what animal one will be bonded to. In her case, the worst
happens. She bonds with the wild cats of the world. The cats were used to scout the planet, in exchange for living free of human interference thereafter. A bond to
cats is worse than no bond at all.
After being kidnapped and sold to a sadistic artist, Tsia escapes, and finds herself involved in a dangerous journey and political struggles. In the meantime, the
call of the cats is haunting her. Can she resist the forbidden bond?
Review
This is one of those sci-fi stories that is essentially a fantasy, but wants so badly to be science fiction that it repeatedly bashes the reader over the head with
long, involved explanations of technological advancements. Personally, I think Harper would've done better just to make it a fantasy story. After picking through the slow,
boring technobabble, there is actually an okay tale here, but by the end the "see, it's not a fantasy!" additives made me lose track of the storyline. The final battle
involved characters I hardly could keep straight in planetary politics I didn't give a day-old hairball about. Evidently, the fight was quite important and dramatic for
the characters, but it was skimmed by this weary reader. In the end, the introduction of a baby who will be shielded from its birthright by those with selfish motivations
ensures that there will be a sequel.
I liked most of the feline-bonding parts, and there were some neat ideas hidden in there, but it was right on the line with a solid "Bad." Considering the time elapsed
since I'd read it, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt... that, plus the fact that I wasn't feeling particularly nasty when I wrote this review.
By the way, I skimmed the back of Cataract, the sequel. Apparently, Tsia finds an abandoned panther cub, and hems and haws over the whole forbidden-cat-bond
subject again amid yet more politics and such. Personally, I thought the issue was dealt with rather decisively in the first book, but I suppose that's another reason
why I'm just a humble reader... or not, in the case of Cataract. I left it on the shelf where I found it, and can't say I regret it.