First published 2010
Chester the Barque Cat has learned to share thoughts with his human companion Jubal. This new telepathic ability spreads to other cats through the influence of Pshaw-Ra, a mysterious feline with advanced technology. When a plague quarantine threatens all animals, Pshaw-Ra opens a portal to his home planet Mau, where cats rule as gods over human slaves. But Pshaw-Ra has hidden motives. He wants to breed the Barque Cats with his own species to create superior hybrids that will dominate the universe. His schemes crumble when his spoiled daughter Nefure seizes power and exiles the rightful queen Renpet to the underground catacombs. Chester and Jubal find themselves caught in this royal conflict while exploring the forgotten tunnels beneath the Mauan desert. Deep in these ancient passages, they awaken something primordial and malevolent. This cosmic entity feeds on light and life itself, and it harbors a special hatred for all cats.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, cats
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, portal-fantasy, royal-conflict
Setting: Mau, Catacombs
Period: Futuristic
236 pages · Hardcover · Del Rey
Content warnings: violence