Catland [Paperback]

David Garrett Izzo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Catland is a fable for all ages about mystic and mythic heroic cats the size of lions that lived before recorded time when they were the gifted species and humans were the newcomers. Catland is a parable of goodness adapted from the sweetest essence of mystical philosophy. Catland is about friendship and loyalty, love and devotion, heroism and sacrifice. The kittens Huxley, Maximus and Princess learn about these qualities at the feet of the great sage Gerald, who is an ancient friend of the mystical eagle and leader of Eagleland, Wystan the Wise. When the kittens become adults and Catland's leaders, they face the threat of the evil human Reltih who wishes to rule the world. The Princess chooses Huxley as her mate. The orphan, Maximus, driven by his unrequited love for Princess, becomes Catland's greatest warrior and defends his adopted home from the enemy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Catland" is a beautifully written fantasy novella that takes place before recorded time when the big cats ruled the world. -- North Port Sun-Herald

As a cat-lover myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the images of giant housecats bounding to the rescue. -- White Crane Journal: Toby Johnson

Catland is an interesting story that grabs the reader and doesn't let them go until the end. -- The Reading Nook: Conan Tigard

From the Publisher

David Garrett Izzo's love for the mystical and his skills in writing fantasy come forth in his break out novella "Catland." This is a story for all ages.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Black Panther Publishing (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097210822X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972108225
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,150,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review from White Crane Journal, February 24, 2003

By 

Toby Johnson "toby" (Central Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catland (Paperback)

"Before recorded time, the big cats ruled the world with mysticism, honor, and courage," goes the subtitle for Catland by White Crane subscriber and contributor David Izzo. This is a children's book: on the surface, a piece of fluff-but quite fun-about legendary housecats the size of human beings who inhabit a world a little like Tolkien's Middle Earth where intelligent, even psychic, animal spirits share the earth with one another, wizards, majestic eagles, and problematic human beings, and a little like the galaxy far, far away where the Light and the Dark sides compete for the power of the Force, i.e. a world of myth and metaphorical meaning.
The story tells of the adventures of the head of the Council of Cats, Maximus the First, a black cat with a shiny white chest and burning yellow eyes. Maximus was stolen as a kitten and cared for in capitivity by a wise, magical eagle named Wystan and watched over by a wizard named Gerald. The first half of the book involves Maximus's rescue by the red-and-tan tabby named Huxley and his uniting with a bride Princess Blue.
The second half recounts Maximus's conflict with the evil humans, likened to Nazis with names that are cyphers for Hitler and Mengele, men who have chosen "Second Nature" (the Dark side), that is, ego and power over collective identity and common good.
Izzo's dedication at the head of the book reveals that Max, Huxley, and Princess are he and his wife's household cats. But, of course, the names are also reminiscent of the 1940s and 50s poetry/mysticism circle of W.H. Auden, Gerald Heard, Stephen Spender, Aldous Huxley, and Christopher Isherwood. Izzo is a scholar of this period in English and American letters, having written and edited several books and scholarly anthologies on these mostly gay literary figures. One of Izzo's books is a novelized account of these men's experience of the rise of Nazism in Europe called A Change of Heart (to be published by Gival Press) which examines Isherwood's idea of the Truly Strong Man.
Catland is certainly not a roman a clef, though there are parallels between the cats and their namesakes (Huxley the red-and-tan tabby is half-blind from an eye-infection like his namesake Aldous). But it is, in fairy-tale style, another examination of the idea of the Truly Strong Man-or, in this case, Cat-which is one who would give his own life for the sake of transpersonal good (what in Catland is called "Great Mystery").
I liked this little book. I thought the Nazi references clumsy, but as a cat-lover myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the images of giant housecats bounding to the rescue. Izzo's writing is very descriptive. This book is a treat-with a truly mystical message.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vivid, Enthralling Tale for All Ages, March 8, 2003

By 

S. B. Anderson "sba*folk*art" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Catland (Paperback)

Catland ignites the reader's imagination and paints incredible pictures as it tells of the cat's we wish we knew: cats who lead lives of valor and compassion. Readers of all ages will love it. The cat-lovers of today know that our very cats live mystical lives, but they, unfortunately, cannot convey them. Catland does this for us. And those who aren't cat-lovers...well, they will be.

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible story that you will carry with you forever, February 28, 2003

By 

diane (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catland (Paperback)

Once I opened CATLAND I was unable to put it down. It is full of mysticism, wisdom, and beauty. Maximus, the lead cat character, is every woman's dream. You will fall madly and hopelessly in love with him. This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time and the story will stay with me forever. Aside weaving a spellbinding tale, David Garret Izzo's writing is exceptional.