A Beautiful Creation

[JamesSavik]

As a writer and reader of sci-fi, I enjoy exploring new worlds and meeting new species. One of the most brilliant creations I've met is the Spinxian Treecat in David Weber's Honor-verse.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorverse ).

 

 

The treecat is, of course, a fictional creation. Since we write fiction, I believe that it is noteworthy when it is done well.

 

Weber's treecats are plausible. They occupy an important ecological niche and are consistent with the rest of the planets fauna. They are interesting and have an intelligence of a sort.

 

Weber's creation has grown and has become the star of other books.

 

 

Stephanie Harrington and her tree cat Lionheart

 

Treecats are NOT pets. Occasionally, for reasons of their own, a treecat will bond with a human. They will stay with that human for the duration of that humans life. This is a sacrifice for the cats which usually live much longer than humans but die when their bonded human dies. They are also mysteriously telepathic.

 

More on the Treecat http://honorverse.wikia.com/wiki/Treecat

 

 

 

Two books from Weber and Lindskold Treecat Trilogy.

 

 

Questions to consider:

 

What can we learn from Weber's TreeCat?

 

Can we as writers ever hope to create something which gains a life of its own?

 

Consider other fictional races and creatures like Wookies, Ewoks. What can we learn from these creations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[joann414]

Love the cat, but she's hot!  

[Cia]

Always reminded me of a hybrid monkey and Cheshire cat, you know?

[Palantir]

My favorite alien cat is Telzey Amberdon's Tick Tock. - a crest cat in the Hub universe of James H Schmitz.

[The Pecman]

My favorite creature like this was Stephen King's "Oy," the billy-bumbler from The Dark Tower series. It was kind of a combination of a badger, a raccoon, and a dog, but highly intelligent and with a limited ability to speak a few words. Terrific creature, very loyal, brave, and willing to sacrifice itself even in impossible odds. I hope they get this right if and when they ever make a film of the books. 

 

I gotta admit: the Treecat looks dynamite, a very beautiful animal. I could live without the six arms -- what is it, from John Carter? 

Edited November 10, 2013 by The Pecman

[JamesSavik]

I gotta admit: the Treecat looks dynamite, a very beautiful animal. I could live without the six arms -- what is it, from John Carter? 

 

David Weber's Honor-verse.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorverse