Something Wicked This Way Comes

The Unadulterated Cat by Terry Pratchett

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars


"Real cats do eat quiche.
And giblets.
And butter.
And anything else left on the table.
They can hear a fridge door opening two rooms away."

Having had read Terry Pratchett’s Maurice and His Educated Rodents, I stupidly half-expected the book will tell somewhat a fantastic story of Maurice. It turns out the book tells the story about cats. Not just cats in general, but Real Cats.

As I recalled it was the year 2004 that I had my last attempt to keep a real cat and had since stuck to rodents’ cousin, the hamsters.

The book 126 pages delved into details of anthropologic details regarding the cats of the society. It’s almost like an encyclopedia about cats, but then again maybe not… What it does is giving you directions on how to obtain a cat (or cats), how to feed them cats, how to tell the difference of a Real Cat and unReal Cat, explanations on FAQs and the wonder of the world that are Real Cats, the history of Real Cats went as back as the pre-historic times, and prediction of how Real Cats might live in the future.

Reading the book reminded me what it was like to have a real cat as a pet (or rather the real cat had me as its blob minion whose only purpose was to present it with cat food twice a day).

This book provides further proof that Pratchett is really truly a cat person. His specific referent to cats can be found in the discworld series in the shape of Greebo, Nanny Ogg’s infamous ‘kitten’ who often saved the day without having the slightest heroic intentions. And, well, naturally, in the book Maurice and his Educated Rodents, which takes place in the discworld universe as well but is not specifically included in the series. Hmm, I wonder if Maurice chanced meeting Greebo… or to be exact, Greebo happened to Maurice. Seemed very least likely though. Although it is possible Maurice is actually a descendant of Greebo.

"Don't worry about him," said Magrat dreamily, as the elf flailed at the maddened cat. "He's just a big softy." -- Lords and Ladies, The discworld series, by Terry Pratchett.

Recommended to all cat people out there. You know you’re one if you found yourself saying hi to the big fat ugly tom you saw on your way to the office.




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