Tailchaser's Song

by Tad Williams

Book Overview

The debut novel from master storyteller Tad Williams, Tailchaser's Song has surprised and enchanted readers for decades

"A fantasy of epic proportions in the vein of Watership Down." --San Diego Union

Meet Fritti Tailchaser, a ginger tom cat of rare courage and curiosity, a born survivor in a world of heroes and villains, of powerful feline gods and whiskery legends about those strange furless, erect creatures called...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0756415519
• ISBN13: 9780756415518
• Release Date: May 2024
• Publisher: Daw Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Awesome adventure fantasy

One of the better books I've read lately. Very immersive story and from early in the book. Characters quickly come to life and the author was clearly thinking from a cats point of view the entire book, which couldn't have been easy. The cats are personified in such a clever way throughout and you really become invested in Tailchaser's adventure. The main plot becomes slightly dark and the main villain is grotesque, contrasting the light hearted banter and funny moments in the book. Very well balanced and timed story.

Great, Fun Book

I picked up Tailchasre's Song not expecting it to capture my interest, although I am a cat-lover. I was between Warriors Books. When I started reading it, it was amazing to me how much it was like the Warriors, which I LOVE. I'm not finished with it yet but I will be soon. It's so hard to put it down. Tailchaser and young Pouncequick set off on a journey to find Tailchaser's fela(girl cat)friend, Hushpad. Along the way they meet Roofshadow who is also missing some friends. They suspect strange "cats" with red claws (as Pouncequick put it). Roofshadfow's family and friends were attacked by them yet there were also some cats missing. Roofshadow, Tailchaser and Pouncequick set off into the unknown to try to find their missing friends.

Captures the magic and mystery of life and cats

Tailchaser's Song is a philosophic quest that is told in an enchanting way. The requisite battle between light and darkness is there, but there are no straight paths, just a lot of wisdom to gather if you keep your ears perked. I still greet cats with the musical language Tad Williams transcribes for those of us who are a bit too slow to understand cat speech just yet. This is one of my sacred trio of favorite books. As an added bonus, the quotes that introduce each chapter are wonderful as well.

A great cat fantasy!

Tailchaser's Song is one of the best books I have ever read! It creates an entire world, not just a story. It's full of cat folklore, stories, and even some words (there is a glossary in the back). There is action, too, and plenty of it. The descriptions of the Hearteater's underground realm (he's evil) are a bit haunting. You will find yourself not being able to stop reading-I stayed up until 2am reading it the first day I had it :-). It *is* long, and detailed, but not in a boring way. I'd recommend in for fantasy fans of young adult age or older (younger kids will find it too long). However, people who don't like cats, longer books, or fantasy will probably dislike it. >^..^<

A book to convert anyone who doesn't LOVE cats!!

I read A LOT of books, and Tailchaser's Song is one of the best books I have ever read. I must have read this book at least a dozen times (no, really!). You don't have to be a cat lover to be enchanted by Williams' best work, but it helps. To me, the sad thing is that most "average" people will pass this book up at first glance because they assume that it's a kiddie fairy-tale type thing. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a senior in high school and there are parts in Tailchaser's Song that even startled me the first time I read it. The effect is really enhanced because the story is so intricately woven that the reader is drawn in. You will feel as if you are actually padding along beside Tailchaser as he journeys deep beneath the Earth's crust, and you will find you actually care about what happens to the stories characters... Anyone who is reading this, please read this book! I have loaned my copy out many, many times, and it is always returned to me with a smile (and also a bit of reluctence) and some sort of comment along the lines of "Man, am I ever glad you convinced me to read this!"," It's even better than you told me!", and" To think I would have missed out on this if it weren't for you!" You will feel the same way once you read this book. In closing, let me say once more: BUY THIS BOOK!!! If nothing else, check out the price; less than six bucks! You couldn't even get into a movie for that much! And unlike a movie, this is an experience that you will savor over and over again. Don't cheat yourself; order Tailchaser's Song TODAY!!!

One of the best fantasy novels--up there with Tolkien!

I just read this wonderful book on the heels of Gabriel King's new novel, "The Wild Road", which I really loved. This one was truly special as well, and there are certainly parallels one can draw between the two. The idea of the quest, the journey from innocence to experience, the coming of age of the main character in each novel-- very well done. The characters themselves were quite completely realized, too--although I think that Gabriel King managed to pull this off a bit better, through the use of really interesting , often humorous dialogue which certainly revealed each individual character. I loved the cat language Tad Williams created, and the way he enables the reader to truly see the world through a cat's sensibilities. (e.g. distance always is referred to in "jumps.") As with "The Wild Road," I felt hungry for a sequel to this remarkable book!