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| From Affinity for Absurdity |
Tailchaser's Song by Tad
Williams:Author Introduction, Introduction, and Chapter 1
Tailchaser's Journey was bought for two
reasons: the cover art and the fact that it was in the fantasy and
sci-fi section of Powell's City of Books. Steph Walker inspired me to
buy it, read it, and summarize what can only be an amazing literary
journey. So here we go:
Tailchaser's Song was written by Tad
Williams in 1985 with a new edition published in 2000. The book
begins with an Author's Introduction which pretty much cemented for
me that this book will be 80's fantasy as hell. Tad talks about what
he was doing in 1985 and how he came to write the book because he was
living with two cats for the first time and decided to “make up
their myths and legends” because that is the kind of thing he would
do. Tailchaser's Journey was also his first novel he ever wrote. I'm
super excited by this. He also wrote a screenplay (A waiter in
California writing a screenplay? Shocking!) called “The Sad
Machines” which can only be about emo robots. I would watch that
movie. He comes across as kind of pretentious since he couldn't
believe publishers passed on his epic fantasy story about cats but it
ended up being a bestseller so I don't know what to think about that.
The novel is dedicated to Tad's two
grandmothers which is really sweet and also one of the cats he lived
with while writing the book, Fever the tabby. Oh, I'll also be
keeping count of awesome cat names, so that begins now with 1.
The
novel begins in earnest! We start with a map because 80's
Fantasy since readers required
a map to meticulously follow the path the protagonist takes. We also
get a weird poem about cats which is mostly the 10 steps cats take
before beginning their day, including cleaning themselves. So that's
something. Then we get a world creation myth!
The
world began when Meerclar Allmother (Odin Allfather's grandmother
maybe?!?) who brought forth the Two and is also apparently the sky.
The Two are Harar Goldeneye (2)
and Fela Skydancer who had many offspring like Climbfast, Wolffriend
(traitor cat!), Treesinger, and Brightnail. They also had The
Firstborn aka Baldur, Loki, and Not Stupid Thor. I mean Viror
Whitewind (3),
Grizraz (matazz) Hearteater, and Tangaloor Firefoot (4).
I'm beginning to suspect that serious cats have two names while one
name cats are cannon fodder, we'll see if this theory holds up.
So in good Viking
style, Whitewind is the best, Firefoot is smart and relaxed, and
Hearteater is jealous. Hearteater lets loose a monster Demon Hound on
the owl people called the Ruhue (which for some reason I really love) and Whitewind kills it only to suffer grievous wounds and die.
Firefoot wants nothing to do with being King of the Cats and
renounces it to go wandering. Harar Goldeneye loses his mind in
grief, rips up forests while looking for Hearteater, then goes into
the sky to “chase the bright mouse of the sun across the heavens”
which I guess makes him the moon since he is in the “bosom of the
Allmother” and can look for Whitewind. Hearteater escapes
underground where he pulls a Gollum only to be captured years later
when Firefoot falls a tree on top of him. Awesome plan, Firefoot! The
sun burns him after years of living underground and escapes by
digging back underground where HE REMAINS UNTIL THIS DAY or
something. FAST FORWARD TO STORY TIME.
Chapter 1
Did I
mention I love 80's fantasy? The first paragraph contains “The Hour
of the Unfolding Dark” because saying “it was getting dark”
isn't fantastic enough for fantasy talking cats. We are introduced to
Fritti Tailchaser (5),
hunterchild of the Folk, who is awakened by an unusual tingling of
his whiskers. He gets up, grooms himself (JUST LIKE MY CAT, I imagine
most readers saying to themselves), then hops down from his roof to
go find some breakfast. At this point, I had a realization: these
aren't just fantasy cats that have their own world and culture, THESE
ARE HOUSECATS that live with people and are going to have an epic
fantasy adventure! I'm doubly excited now! Tailchaser goes to find
something to eat before he plans on going to the Meeting Wall. His
“luck was not dancing” because we suddenly get into my favorite
Fantasy Trope of giving common things ridiculous names in a fake
language AND calling common things by completely new names! FOR THE
SAME THING. Tailchaser spots a Squeaker or a mre'az (Hahahahaha that
is totally a cat noise I love it) and his pounce is short letting the
mouse since it's a mouse escape. He responds by “biting his paw in
embarrassment.”
We then jump
forward to Tailchaser licking up the scraps from a bowl on the porch
when up comes Thinbone. Only one name which makes me assume he's not
important. He greets Tailchaser with “Nre'fa-o” which I guess is
Catspeak for “good evening.” My housecat suspicion is confirmed
since Thinbone lives in a culvert down the street from Tailchaser and
mocks him for eating from the bowl the Big Ones set out for him and
asking him if he does tricks like “The Growlers.” Tailchaser
responds in cat fashion by attacking him and then both cats clean
themselves. I totally see how this book was written by an author who
was actively watching two cats interact.
The two cats go to
the Meeting since Meerclaw's Eye is shining full and it is time for
solitary cats to come together and tell stories. Tailchaser looks for
a “fela” named Hushpad and even forgoes a game of
“Jump-in-the-air” with some other cats to look for her. He and
Hushpad had begun the Dance of Acceptance but they were interrupted
the night before! He asks Thinbone for help but before they can start
looking it is story time and hot damn do cats love stories, even more
than they do trying to find cat ladies!
Bristlejaw, the 11
year old Oel-cir'va or Master Old-singer, tells the tale of
Ninebirds, a mighty cat who dared attempt to take up the crown of
King of All Cats which had remained unfilled since Firefoot refusing
to take up the mantle following Whitewind's death. At the coronation,
an elderly cat comes and challenges Ninebirds, reminding him that no
cat except Firefoot is the rightful king. Ninebirds challenges the
old cat to battle, during which the old cat strips off his fur.
During the battle, lo and behold, the old cat has dust coming off of
it and reveals that he is Firefoot! He pins the now fur less
Ninebirds under a tree root and as punishment for his pride he
stretches Ninebirds until his a naked long cat! And all his
descendants are naked tall cats as well that walk on two-legs! THAT
IS HOW HUMANS CAME INTO EXISTENCE. Cool story, Bristlejaw.
Next up, Chapter 2!
