I'm sure a lot of you guys are hear for my animal artwork, and I would like to thank you for stopping by. I know I don't get around to everyone's front pages to thank you personally, but I appreciate it! If you ever have any questions or comments for me, feel free to leave them on my page or note me, and I will get back to you. I do read and love every comment!
Anyway, I thought I might share some of my favorite animal books with you guys, maybe some that are a little less known than Warriors or Watership Down. Feel free to comment with your own favorite books. I'm always looking for new things to read.
Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams (cat fantasy). Probably still the best talking feline book to date, this novel follows the story of young Fritti Tailchaser on his quest to save his mate. Along the way, he meets many heroes, gods, and villains. This is the first "talking animal" book that didn't have accompanying pictures.
I still love it, and have read it probably six times to date. I highly recommend this for older fans of the Warriors series who are looking for a different spin on cat society.
The Sight by David Clement-Davies (wolves). Although some readers may be bothered by the amount of violence and death in this book, many will enjoy the deep, insightful look into the life a wolf family. Much like the author's other book (Firebringer, involving deer) his novel focuses on the principal archetype of "The One" who is foretold to save the wolves. I recommend this book for wolf and fantasy lovers who don't mind a bit of gore.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett (rats and a cat). An upbeat Pied Piper story, this book combines all of the goodness and humor of a Discworld novel with a fairly accurate look at the way rats think and act. This is one of my favorite books of all, and shows a very deep level of understanding of the much-maligned rat. Plus, it's quite funny. I strongly recommend this book for rat lovers, probably some cat lovers, and satire/fantasy readers.
Ratha series by Clare Bell (prehistoric cats). I grew up reading these, and they are still some of my favorites. There are currently four out-of-print books in the series, but they are slated to be re-released soon along with a new novel. These books follow the lives of members of a clan of intelligent ancient cats and their enemies. These books tend to be very psychologically deep and sometimes disturbing. I highly recommend these for Warriors fans and anyone looking for a good read with meaningful insight into the characters.
Empire of the Ants by Bernard Werber (ants). I really hate ants, but I loved this book. Well researched and well written, this novel is both entertaining and informative. Set against a back-drop of a struggling empire, this is almost a mystery novel of a few ants who are trying to either discover traitors in their midst or simply survive. There are human characters in the story, however, they definitely take a backseat to their insect companions. I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for something different in the talking animal genre, or who would just like to learn more about these fascinating insects.
The Foxes of Firstdark (Hunter's Moon) by GaryKillworth. Another exceptional but hard to find novel, and also one of the best, if not the best, "talking animal" books out there. It reads as a grand sweeping tale of a fox family, complete with religion and mythology, and yet still manages to retain all of the gritty realism of nature. It's really a shame that this book is out of print, but it's definitely worth the search. I highly recommend this book for pretty much any animal or fantasy lover, especially for those who love foxes.
Well, that's all I am going to post. I have read quite a few other books though, so if you are looking for a book about a specific species, just ask. I may have read one. Also, feel free to post your own favorites to share with everyone!
