Catseye

~ 1st Novel in the Dipple Series by Andre Norton

catseye 1961 

Synopsis ~

Write up from the front flap of 1961 HC ~

Deported from his own planet in a galactic war, Troy Horan was permitted to hire out only as a daily laborer on Korwar, where he had been relocated. Temporary work in a pet shop that imported all sorts of expensive animals from other planets led Troy to a realization that with certain animals, he could hold wordless communication. Why were these animals being brought to Korwar? Who or what was the controlling agent that they seemed to fear and hate? The night on which the pet-shop owner was killed, a few of the pieces in the puzzle fell into place - but only a few. The plot in which the death of Kyger involved Troy, his escape to an underground "city" in the remote wilderness, and his eventual bid for freedom for himself and his animal friends make absorbing, top-flight science-fiction.
Andre Norton, recognized as one of today's leading authors in this field, has written another exciting adventure that will quickly take its place beside such earlier successes as Star Guard, The Beast Master, and Star Rangers.

 

Write-up from the back of the Fawcett paperback edition ~

The big cat cried, "Danger!" Troy Horan heard it with his mind, just as he had heard the fox's warning, and the Kinkajou's. He didn't understand how he could communicate with the animals or why they were contacting him. But from the moment he began work at Kyger's pet emporium on Korwar he was enmeshed in a perilous intrigue... an intrigue that would leave more than one man dead, an entire government in jeopardy, and Horan himself both master and captive of the most extraordinary band of warriors his world had ever known...

 

Write-up from the front flap of the 1980 Gregg Press edition ~

Troy Horan, deported from his own planet and relocated on the planet Korwar, gets a job in an interplanetary pet shop and discovers — to his great surprise — that he can communicate with some of the animals. Troy learns that several of these animals are being used as secret weapons in a plot against the rulers of Korwar. Then Troy becomes a suspect in the murder of his boss, and only close cooperation between him and the animals enables him to escape and survive. Plot and counterplot ensue, as Troy and the animals with which he has established mental rapport are embroiled in mystery and peril.
This exciting tale is skillfully told, with complex plotting, mystery, and adventure. The sympathetic portrayal of Troy's telepathic relationship with the animals, the mystery of the lost civilization of Korwar, the feudal brotherhood of the Hunters who guard the Wild — all add up to a marvelous narrative of space adventure in which the author brilliantly creates a whole, finely detailed future civilization.

Write-up from the back of Ballantine Del Rey paperback edition ~

Even the harsh life of the slums of the planet Korwar had not prepared young Troy Horan for the strange goings on at Kyger's exotic pet shop. Somehow, he could hear the minds of Terran animals - and their warnings of danger saved his life more than once.
Then the pet shop owner was brutally murdered, and Troy found himself in the middle of a frightening and far-reaching intrigue. With nowhere to go and no on to turn to, he ran for the wilderness in a perilous quest to save the animals and himself.

 

Write-ups from fans ~

Interplanetary war years ago has created thousands of Displaced Persons evacuated from their home planets.  Many such people now live in the Dipple on the pleasure planet Korwar.  Troy Horan is one of those people, displaced from his original home on Norden, where his father had been Range Master and Brand Owner, i.e., he'd had a small ranch. With his parents dead, Troy survives by taking day labor, when he can find it.  One such job takes him to Kyger's, a pet shop catering to the elite of other worlds who come to Korwar to enjoy the beauty of an unspoiled planet.  While there, he makes telepathic contact with a group of Earth animals (2 cats, 2 foxes and a kinkajou) that Kyger had imported, supposedly as pets for the rulers of other worlds who spend most of their time on Korwar.  Actually, they are his tools in a spy ring gathering intelligence to bring Earth back to prominence among the many planets.  Kyger gets killed in a separate "knife feud", and his assistant tries to kill the animals, foiled in this by Troy, who escapes to the Wild accompanied by the animals. ~ SL

 

Troy Horan dwells in the Dipple (a slum for people displaced by the war or other misfortune) in the city of Tikil on the pleasure planet Korwar. Three ways to better one's lot in the Dipple -- join the Thieves' Guild, sign up for risky off-planet labor or find a job in the upper city. Luck rides with Troy and he is hired to help take care of animals in an exotic pet shop. Things are looking up. Then, he gets embroiled in a scheme using Mutated telepathic Terran animals as spies. The criminals involved need a machine to communicate with the animals, but Troy has the ability to hear them with no aid. When the whole nefarious enterprise is about to be exposed, Troy is ordered to kill the animals. Instead, he rescues them, and they take off for the wilderness areas to hide. Of course, he is being tracked and hunted by three different groups, each with its own agenda. Not only is day-to-day survival a priority, Troy and the animal team must figure out just whom can they trust. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

Kirkus Reviews ~ Issue: Sept. 1st, 1961
Once more Andre Norton whirls his reader far into space worlds of the future and adventures in inter-planetary intrigue. Young Troy Horan's home planet was razed during the recent War of the Two Sectors. Now a refugee on Korwar, his position is little more than a slave laborer until he becomes unwittingly involved in an espionage plot and is driven to a desperate escape attempt for freedom. He is aided by a bevy of humane if not human felines who communicate with him via thought transference. Matter-of-fact details and a fast-moving if somewhat murky plot is sure to absorb young science fiction fans. 

 

Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles Over the Years

1962 by P. Schuyler Miller in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, February, reprinted in: (UK) Analog Science Fact & Science Fiction, June
1962 by Alfred Bester in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July
1962 by Leslie Flood in New Worlds #125, December
1963 by Margery Fisher in Growing Point #1, January
1963 by Sheila R. Pinnington in Vector #20
1980 by Spider Robinson in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, December
1981 by Roger C. Schlobin in Science Fiction Studies, July
2015 by James Nicoll
2018 by Patrick Reardon
2018 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1961) Published by Harcourt Brace, HC, LCCN 61011750, $3.25, 192pg ~ cover Richard Powers {Green Cloth Boards & Spine}
  • (1962) Published by ACE, PB, # F-167, $0.40, 176pg - # G-654 1967 $0.50 2nd print ~ illustrated by Jack Gaughan ~ cover by Ed Emshwiller ~ #09266 1971 $0.75 189pg, #09267 1973 $0.95 189pg, #09268 1975 $1.25 189pg - cover by John Schoenherr
  • (1962) Published by Gollancz, HC, 0-575-00525-4, 978-0-575-00525-9, £ 12s6d (150p), 192pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Alan Breese {Blue Paper Boards & Spine} - 4th printing 1974 £1.40
  • (1967) Published by Puffin, PB, 0-140-30315-4, PS315 L, £ 4s (48p), 205pg ~ UK printing - reprinted in 1972 £0.50 and again in 1975 £0.50 - cover by Ian E. Staunton ~ Reprinted in 1987 - £1.95 - cover by Peter Andre Jones
  • (1980) Published by Fawcett, PB, 0-449-24285-4, 978-0-449-24285-8, $1.95, 224pg ~ cover by Ken Barr
  • (1980) Published by Gregg Press, HC, 0-839-82637-0, LCCN 79024271, $9.95, 192pg ~ Gregg Press Science Fiction Series of Andre Norton ~ Dust Jacket by Fred Knecht Jr, Frontmatter by Barbara Anderson {Binding: 5.625 x 8.25 - Black Cloth Boards (Publisher states the color is Dark Green) & Spine with Silver Lettering, Blue End Papers} Photographic reprint of the 1961 Harcourt edition.
  • (1984) Published by Ballantine Del Rey, PB, 0-345-31849-8, 978-0-345-31849-7, $2.25, 222pg ~ cover by Laurence Schwinger
  • (2015) Published by Open Road Media, DM, eISBN 978-1-504025-45-4, $7.99, 166pg ~ cover by Barbara Brown ~ re-released in 2017 with new cover-art by Ian Koviak
  • (2018) Created by Tantor Audio, Audible, length 6hrs & 20mins, $14.95 ~ narrated by Eric Michael Summerer
  • (2019) Published by Open Road Media, TB, 978-1-504-05820-9, $15.99, 166pg ~ cover by Ian Koviak

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1983) Published in Amsterdam; by Meulenhoff, PB, 90-290-1784-8, 181pg ~ translation by David Storm ~ cover by Don Maitz ~ Dutch Title Katteoog [Cat's eye]
  • (1973) Published in Toyko, Japan; by Tokyo Sogensha, 44-886-0201-0, Series: Sōgen suiri bunko, 602-1, 247pg ~ translation by Inoue Kazuo ~ cover by Kaneko ~ Japanese title 猫と狐と洗い熊 [Cat, fox and wash bear]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1991)-1 Published in Moscow, by Fiction, 5-280-02474-3, HC, 334pg ~ cover by N. Zubkov ~ Russian title Убить бога [Kill God] ~ released with 2 different color boards

Contains:

    • "Night of Light" by F. Farmer as "Kill God" ~ translation by I. Nikolaev, pp. 3-98
    • "Catseye" as "The Horseman from Vorden" ~ translation by P. Dymov, pp. 99-226
    • "Secret of the Lost Race" as "Treasure of the mysterious race" ~ translation by P. Dymov, pp. 227-331

 

  • (1991)-2 Published in Riga, Latvia by Rasma, no ISBN, PB, 175pg ~ Russian title Полет в навсегда. Кошачьим взглядом. [Flying in foever. Cat's eye]

Contains:

    • "Flight to Forever" by P. Anderson ~ translation by A. Novikov
    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by N. Bogdanova

 

  • (1992)-1 Published in Novosobirsk, by Vico, 5-860-59006-7, HC, 481pg ~ Design by artist V. Bochkova ~ Russian title Рифы космоса [Space Reefs]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 3-131
    • "The Starcombers" by Edmond Hamilton as "Star wanderers" ~ pp. 132-174
    • "Tarnsman of Gor" by John Norman as "Tarnesman Horus" ~ pp. 175-313
    • "The Reefs of Space" by Jack Williamson & Frederick Paul as "Space Reefs" ~ pp. 314-480

 

  • (1992)-2 Published in Irkutsk, Siberia by Lisna, no ISBN, HC, 352pg ~ Russian title Брат Берсеркер. Кошачьим взглядом [Brother Berserkerand Cat's eye] ~ This book is published extremely casually and unprofessionally. Neither translators, nor artists, nor circulation are indicated. Saberhagen's novel begins immediately after the flyleaf, on the first page. The line spacing in the novels is different: the novel "Brother Berserker" has more. A block of text on pages is often at a slight angle. On the front and rear bookends - the same picture-collage. The font on the title in the names of authors and titles of works is clearly handwritten. On pages 344-351 - advertising. ISBN is not specified.

Contains:

    • "Brother Assasin" by Fred Saberhagen as "Brother Berserker" ~ pp. 1-212
    • "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 213-343

 

  • (1992)-3 Published in Moscow, by Cyrillic, 5-878-80016-0, PB, 272pg ~ cover of Y. Maksimov ~ Russian title Взглядом кошки [Cat eyes]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 3-175
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "The Witching Planet" ~ pp. 176-272

 

  •  (1992)-4 Published in Tashkent, Uzbekistan by The Truth of the East, no ISBN, HC, 352pg ~ Russian title Да здравствует Лорд Кор! Кошачьим взглядом. Предтечи. [Long live Lord Cor! Cat's gaze. Forerunners.] ~ Also sold with pirated dust jacket

Contains:

    • "Long Live Lord Kor!" as "Long live Lord Cor!" ~ pp. 3-67
    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 67-194
    • "Forerunner" as "The Forerunners" ~ pp. 195-351

 

  • (1992)-5 Published in Angarsk, by Amber and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14007-0, HC, 528pg ~ Russian title Звездная стража [Star Guard]

Contains:

    • "The Last Planet" ~ pp. 3-154
    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 155-274
    • "Star Hunter" ~ pp. 275-367
    • "Star Guard" ~ pp. 368-519

 

  •  (1992)-6 Published in Kaliningrad by Russia's West, 5-829-4-30109-6, HC, 500pg ~ cover by B. Trubin ~ Russian title Камень предтеч [Forerunner Stone] ~ The book also sold with 2 pirated dust jackets

Contains:

    • Leonid Tkachuk. There are miracles ... (article), p. 3-7
    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arseniev , illustrations by I. Shaganov, pp. 8-140
    • "Star Guard" ~ translation by L. Tkachuk , illustrations by I. Shaganov, pp. 141-301
    • "The Zero Stone" as "The Baptist Stone" ~ translation by A. Prokofieva , illustrations by I. Shaganov, pp. 302-502

 

  •  (1992)-8 Published in Chisinau, Moldova by ADA, 5-862-14010-7, HC, 446pg ~ Russian title Научно-фантастические романы [Science Fiction Novels] ~ Released with 4 different cover colors and a dust-jacket - Also sold with pirated dust jacket

Contains:

    • "Operation Time Search" ~ pp. 3-168
    • "Dark Piper" as "The Dark Trumpeter" ~ pp. 169-318
    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 319-443

 

  • (1992)-9 Published in Irkutsk, Siberia by Lisna, HC, 367pg ~ Cover and illustrations by V. Plyaskin ~ Russian title Эндрю Нортон. Избранное. Том 3 [Andrew Norton. Favorites. Volume 3]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 3-108
    • "Star Guard" ~ pp. 109-237
    • "The Last Planet" ~ pp. 238-366

 

  • (1993)-1 Published in Niahny Novgorod, by Phlox, 5-871-98046-5, HC, 480pg ~ cover by A. Tarasov ~ Russian title Долгая ночь ожидания [Long night of waiting]

Contains:

    • "Operation Time Search" as "Operation `Search in Time" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 3-164
    • "Garan the Eternal" as "Eternal Garan" ~ translation by N. Khokhlova, pp. 165-270
    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 271-382
    • "Long Live Lord Kor!" as "Long live Lord Cor!" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 383-440
    • Fantastic stories
      • "Mousetrap" as "The Mousetrap" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 442-449
      • "All Cats are Gray" as "The Secret of The `Empress of Mars” ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 449-456
      • "The Long Night of Waiting" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 456-467
      • "Gifts of Asti" ~ translation by N. Rezanova, pp. 468-479

 

  • (1993)-2 Published in Yaroslavl, by Nuance, 5-741-51030-2, HC, 768pg ~ cover by N.D. Shadura ~ Russian title Саргассы в космосе [Sargassos in Space]

Contains:

    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~ pp. 3-158
    • "Plague Ship" as "Plagued Ship" ~ pp. 159-294
    • "Voodoo Planet" as "Planet of witchcraft" ~ pp. 295-358
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Stamped by Stars" ~ pp. 359-500
    • "Plague Planet" by Unknown author ~ pp. 501-542
    • "Catseye" as "The Horseman of Vorden" ~ pp. 543-678
    • "Star Hunter" ~ pp. 679-767

 

  • (1994) Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press, 5-863-14034-8, HC, 528pg ~ cover by D. Avvakumov ~ Russian title Звездная стража [Star guard]

Contains:

    • "The Last Planet" ~ pp. 3-154
    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 155-274
    • "Star Hunter" ~ pp. 275-367
    • "Star Guard" ~ pp. 368-519

 

  • (2001) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-040-07031-1, HC, 480pg ~ cover by Ogor Varavin ~ Russian title Победа на Янусе [Victory on Janus]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-108
    • "Night of Masks" as "The Night of the Masks" ~ translation by A. Schupov & I. Golovshchikov, pp. 109-228
    • "Judgment on Janus" as "Court on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 229-346
    • "Victory on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 347-475

 

  • (2002) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-699-00366-5, HC, 384pg ~ cover by I. Varavin ~ Russian title Ночь масок [Mask night]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arsenyev, pp. 5-164
    • "Night of Masks" as "The Night of the Masks" ~ translation by A. Schupov & I. Golovshchikov, pp. 165-347

 

  • (2004) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo and St. Petersburg, by Donino, 5-699-07079-6, HC, 608pg ~ cover by Jim Burns ~ Russian title Космические бродяги [Space tramps]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-144
    • "Night of Masks" as "The Night of the Masks" ~ translation by A. Schupov & I. Golovshchikov, pp. 145-300
    • "Judgment on Janus" as "Court on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 301-448
    • "Victory on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 449-606

 

  • (2015) Published in Moscow by Eksmo, 978-5-699-76086-2, HC, 800pgs ~ cover art by A. Dubovik ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Victory on Janus] ~ Limited to 3000 copies ~ in fact, released in December 2014

Contains:

    • "Storm Over Warlock" as "Storm over the planet Sorcerer" ~ translation S. Sergeev, pp. 5-200
    • "Ordeal in Otherwhere" as "Trials in the Other-Where" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 201-352
    • "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 353-486
    • "Judgment on Janus" as "Court on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 487-636
    • "Victory on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 637-797
 
 
  •  Pirated edition, marked as being published by "North-east", a non-existent publisher. ~ Russian title Да здравствует Лорд Кор! [Long live Lord Cor!] ~ see: 1992-4
  •  Pirated editions, marked as being published by "North-east", a non-existent publisher. ~ cover by C. Achilleos ~ Russian title Камень предтеч [Forerunner Stone] ~ see: 1992-6
  •  Pirated edition, marked as being published by "North-east", a non-existent publisher. ~ Russian title Кошачьим взглядом [The Cats Eye] ~ see: 1992-8

 

Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1992)-7 Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Enthalpy and Moscow by Pilgrim, 5-886-02002-0, 416pg ~ Ukrainian title Кошачьим взглядом. Звездная стража. Зеркало Мерлина. [Cat's eye. Star Guard. Merlin's mirror.]

Contains:

    • "Catseye" as "The Cat's Eye" ~ pp. 3-116
    • "Star Guard" ~ pp. 117-260
    • "Merlin's Mirror" ~ pp. 261-414

 

View the Original contract

View the 1978 ACE contract

View the 2004 Russian contract

See Also: Timeline 1 - Andre's Universe entry for this title.

For information on editions currently available visit the Book Store

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-dipple-series/255-catseye#sigProId18f687f40f

 

 

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