Bewildering Stories Editorial

The Least Likely Places

by Jerry Wright

As those of you who've been paying attention know, I read a lot. In a lot of different genres, both fiction and non. However, when I desperately need a change of pace from Science Fiction or Fantasy, I turn to that old favorite, the Mystery Story. I have my favorite authors too. Sue Grafton, J.A. Jance, Robert Parker, Lillian Jackson Braun. Hmm. Braun. "The Cat Who..." books are very popular. She's at, what, number 26 or 27? The stories detail the life of one James Qwilleran, known as "Qwill" to his friends, and his two cats Kao Ko Kung (aka Koko) and Yum Yum. Koko is the mystery solving cat, who seems to psychically know things about murders and people, and does weird although very cat-like things to bring this information to the attention of his "owner". "Owner" in quotes because we're not sure who owns who. This book just tips into the very fringes of fantasy, but does carry some slightly fantastical elements.

But then, and I don't have a clue why except that cats are mysterious mystical creatures, we have two more cat series, and perhaps there are more... Carole Nelson Douglas, who also writes fantasy and SF, details the adventures of Midnight Louie and his (again) "owner" publicist Temple Barr. The books are written from both Temple's and Louie's point of view which makes for some strange reading. Louie is just too dang smart for a cat.

The second series is about a cat named Joe Grey, with his two companion-cats, Dulcie, and Kit. These really jump into the realm of fantasy, as in these mysteries, Joe, Dulcie, and Kit not only think human-type thoughts, they can talk, and do, but only to a very few who keep their secrets. There is a certain amount of questioning by both human and feline as to why these cats are different from your typical cat, but it doesn't get in the way of some really rich writing. Shirley Rousseau Murphy has hit a real goldmine here, as these cats, and their relations with humans, their propensity for crime solving, their love of cellphones, and in Dulcie's case, shopping, strikes a spark with a discerning reader.

I ran across the "Joe Grey" books purely by accident, but now am actively seeking them out. Fantasy, mystery, good writing... You can find it in the least likely places.