Creatures of the Kingdom [Mass Market Paperback]

James A. Michener (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1995

"DRAMATIC...ENTHRALLING...EXPERTLY CRAFTED...Michener treats each of these creatures with fundamental respect, and in many cases, admiration and awe, if not outright love."
--The Virginian-Pilot & The Ledger-Star
In these sixteen wonderful stories, bestselling author James A. Michener lights up nature's most awesome and beguiling handiwork--from the sublime shaping and reshaping of earth's land and seas to the ridiculous armadillo whose assault on a bit of Texas real estate paid off handsomely. Chosen from Michener's most popular books--including one story never before published in paperback--these mini-masterpieces take us deep into the secret lives of animals and the hidden world of nature. In them we hear the music of the spheres and feel the heartbeat of creation.
"Contain[s] the dramatic elements of a life--the wonder of birth, rites of passage, lots of conflict, much of it physical and bloody, and death...As characters in a Michener novel, a beaver can know loneliness, a buffalo can bide his time, a salmon can feel encouraged, and a woolly mammoth can 'luxuriate' in the ecological rewards of a plains fire."
--Boston Sunday Herald
"Delightful...Nature writing at its most fluid and involving."
--Booklist

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you know James Michener solely for his entertaining, exhaustively researched epic novels, the short essays in Creatures of the Kingdom may come as a surprise, though all but one are excerpted from five of his most popular works. Mostly tales of animal life told in a strong narrative voice from the animal's anthropomorphized point of view, these 16 pieces evince a clear affection for their subjects and are told with an essential goodwill that is reminiscent of James Herriot. Good tales on their own (each piece stands alone and is not hampered by being taken out of context), the stories selected for this anthology also serve to showcase the gentle humor that infuses Michener's body of work, but which is generally overshadowed by the sheer weight of information and ideas in cumbrous books that could easily double as doorstops. By contrast, Creatures of the Kingdom clocks in at a digestible 281 pages and will appeal to anyone who enjoys reading about natural history or zoology. It is also likely to be a favorite with adolescent readers who favor animal stories but are getting too advanced for reading material aimed at their own age group--or who have depleted the available youth titles and are ready to move on. --Brenda Pittsley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

YA-Flowing descriptions, scientific details, and unique individuals unite in this anthology composed primarily of excerpts from Michener's earlier works. The stories provide a variety of animal personalities and actions. The gentle, the stubborn, the vicious, and the humorous all fight to survive in their own unique ways. The animals always remain true to their natural instincts. Frequently they are called by their species name; sometimes, though, the author has given them affectionate, Latinized versions of their scientific names. Although the brevity of the selections and the inclusion of line drawings may appeal to younger students, the vocabulary is a bit challenging. Dialogue is kept to a minimum and is only used in those few stories where humans appear. A wonderful opportunity for students to become acquainted with a talented writer without having to tackle one of his longer works.
Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449220923
• ISBN-13: 978-0449220924
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts you in the mind and eyes of the animals, February 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creatures of the Kingdom (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a high school senior and I don't read much, but I enjoyed this book. My teacher thinks James Michener is the greatest, so he had me read this to make up a biology credit. It was really interesting and made me think about animals in new ways and from their perspective. I recommend this book to anybody.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for nature and animal lovers., March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Creatures of the Kingdom (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my first introduction to the works of James A Michener. If you are an impatient reader, you may have trouble with other Michener works. But if you like an attention to detail Michener is the man for you. Since reading "Stories," I have read many other Michener novels and he has become a favorite. Readers who dislike his books often complain about the length. These are the same people who might cut you off in traffic and are always in a hurry. If you think getting there is half the fun, however, you will love a Michener novel. "Stories" is a book for everyone, however. It does not have the usual length of a full Michener novel and the subject matter shifts just enough to keep your attention. If you are impatient and still want to be well versed on your great authors, this is a great Michner book to read since you get an idea of his style and you also get exerpts from several of his books. If you like animals and nature, there is even more reason to love this book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loving All Creatures, March 5, 2011

By 

Raymond D. Schamel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creatures of the Kingdom (Paperback)

A remarkable compilation highlighting the researching and story telling skill of one of the greatest of authors.
It will almost certainly make one wish to read all of the novels containing these stories and showcases the
humanity and the love James Michener had for all of this wonderful creation.