Kitty's Greatest Hits (Kitty Norville) [Paperback]

Carrie Vaughn (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 16, 2011 | Series: Kitty Norville

The first-ever story collection from the New York Times bestselling author, including two all-new works!

Kitty Norville, star of a New York Times bestselling series, is everybody’s favorite werewolf DJ and out-of-the-closet supernatural creature. Over the course of eight books she’s fought evil vampires, were-creatures, and some serious black magic. She’s done it all with a sharp wit and the help of a memorable cast of werewolf hunters, psychics, and if-notgood- then-neutral vampires by her side. Kitty’s Greatest Hits not only gives readers some of Kitty’s further adventures, it offers longtime fans a window into the origins of some of their favorite characters.

In “Conquistador de la Noche,” we learn the origin story of Denver’s Master vampire, Rick; with “Wild Ride,” we find out how Kitty’s friend T.J. became a werewolf; and in “Life is the Teacher,” we revisit Emma, the human-turned-unwilling-vampire who serves the aloof vampire Master of Washington, D.C.

This entertaining collection includes two brand-new works: “You’re On the Air,” about one of Kitty’s callers after he hangs up the phone; and the eagerly awaited “Long Time Waiting,” the novella that finally reveals just what happened to Cormac in prison, something every Kitty fan wants to know.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Do you like werewolves?  Vampires?  Talk radio?  Reading?  Sex?  If the answer to any of those is yes, you’re in for a wonderful ride.”
--Gene Wolfe on Kitty and the Midnight Hour

“Vaughn takes on PTSD and gives it a new twist in the latest Kitty adventure…Vaughn’s deft touch at characterization and plot development has made this series hugely entertaining and not to be missed!”
--Romantic Times Book Reviews on Kitty Goes to War

“Kitty doesn't have her usual pack, but she still emerges as a leader. We know going in this isn't going to go well — but Vaughn makes it suspenseful and interesting through the voice of Kitty.”
--The Denver Post on Kitty's House of Horrors

About the Author

Carrie Vaughn is the New York Times bestselling author of the Kitty Norville books, including Kitty’s Big Trouble, Kitty Goes to War, and Kitty and the Midnight Hour. She is also the author of the standalone novels After the Golden Age and Discord’s Apple, and the young adult books Voice of Dragons and Steel. Vaughn had the nomadic childhood of the typical Air Force brat, with stops across the country from California to Florida. She earned her B.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles, and a master’s in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has worked as a Renaissance Festival counter wench, a theater usher, an editor, a buyer at an independent bookstore, and an administrative assistant. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (August 16, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765329573
• ISBN-13: 978-0765329578
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in California, but grew up all over the country, a bona fide Air Force Brat. I currently live in Colorado, with my miniature American Eskimo dog, Lily. I have a Masters in English Lit, love to travel, love movies, plays, music, just about anything, and am known to occasionally pick up a rapier.

I've never been a DJ, but I love writing about one.

Here's my website: www.carrievaughn.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#72 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#86 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

#72 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#86 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Kitty's Greatest Hits August 16, 2011

By Jess

Format:Paperback

This collection of short stories combines previously published and new stories in the Kitty world, some specific to Kitty, some just within the supernatural world. I've haven't read any of the short stories Carrie Vaughn's written, so this entire book was new to me. I picked out three stories to highlight with mini-reviews below. The main reason to pick this book up is the new Cormac short story. I've always found his character to be interesting, mainly because we know only what he shows us about himself, which isn't a lot. And while I may have never been in the Kitty/Cormac fanclub, Cormac showed me a different side to himself in his short story and I came away really feeling for the guy and interested in his character more than ever. (Possible spoilers for the Kitty series in the reviews below)

LOOKING AFTER FAMILY
A short story told from both Cormac and Ben's point of view, describes the time when Cormac first moves in with the O'Farrell's after Cormac's dad is killed by a werewolf. Young Ben wants to be friends again with Cormac, like they were prior to his dad's death, but he's finding it hard to relate to Cormac. Cormac's just trying to figure things out in his head while still continuing what his dad taught him, hunt werewolves on the full moon. Ben convinces Cormac to let him go with during a nighttime hunt and it might be the first time Cormac's eyes are opened up about who he's really hunting, and not what. When a werewolf and his human brother find themselves staring at Cormac's gun, things that Ben says makes Cormac pause. He mentions that the werewolf, once shot, will turn into a human and that he needs to just let them both go. Everything Cormac was taught he started questioning that night and it ended up being a new start to his and Ben's friendship.

WILD RIDE
There's always that one character in a series that I wish we would have just had "more" of. T.J. is that guy in this series. We meet T.J. in the first book of the Kitty series, he's Kitty's best friend and plays a huge role in her progression as a werewolf. This story shows us how T.J. went from an HIV-positive human, into a pack mate. Once he's diagnosed, he feels completely hopeless. During a bike wreck in which one rider should have died, but didn't, he questions how something like that is possible. After witnessing a human shifting into a werewolf, he has a choice: be bitten and instantly cured of any illness or stay human and face the possibility of an early death. He chooses the bite - and we see a little of his life right after, his initial happiness of having a pack/family into his need for more, for something different. Reading his backstory made me wish we had gotten to see more of his friendship with Kitty and maybe she would have never had to deal with being a pack of 1.

LONG TIME WAITING
Long Time Waiting starts out with Amelia's story, how she was hung for a crime she didn't commit in the prison that Cormac is currently being held in. Present day, Cormac's surviving prison, barely. He keeps to himself, minds his own business and just counts down the days until his release. The biggest thing that came across in this story was Cormac's vulnerability. We find out that yes, he does care about Kitty, and that while he lives for the days that Kitty and Ben come to visit him, he's afraid (as afraid as Cormac can be) that they'll stop coming. That the letters, the phone calls, the visits will all just stop.
**********
"Is everything okay?"

He hoped she (Kitty) didn't tell him to get some sleep, that she didn't see the stress written on his face. He tried to smile, failed. "Hanging in there. Sometimes by my fingernails. But hanging in there."
**********
For as much of a loner as he presents himself to be, he really does need a pack, and as we know in the books that take place after his prison sentence is over, he finds a strong pack with Kitty and Ben.

We finally learn about Amelia, about what exactly happened to Cormac in prison and how Amelia and he came to be bonded. Before knowing the circumstances around Amelia, I wasn't too sure where the author was going with this, a ghost sharing Cormac's body. But I like Amelia. She's tough, but most important, she's a presence in Cormac's life. They may be the ultimate odd couple, but Cormac needs people in his life, and it seems like he's finally starting to let a few get close to him.

Overall, this is an enjoyable collection of short stories. The range is wide, and I found myself drawn to the stories that were a little more specific to Kitty's world. Most of the stories come in around the 20-30 page mark, though Cormac's LONG TIME WAITING is the longest at around 55 pages. If you're a fan of Kitty, you'll enjoy these stories - especially getting to experience Cormac's past few years through his POV.

Blog rating: 3/5 stars

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Reminds me of why I liked this series August 16, 2011

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This is an eclectic collection of short stories that are supposed to take place in the Kitty Norville world. Some are better than others. A few... I'm not sure what they're doing in this book at all. Here's a breakdown of the more memorable selections.

"Il Est Ne" - Being a werewolf is new to David. He can't control his changes; he has no pack. He thinks he'll never lead a normal life again. Then, he meets Kitty at a Waffle House on Christmas. She recognizes what he is and tries to guide him. As they talk, news reports come in, of a series of deadly attacks in the area. David immediately wonders if he is to blame. So he and Kitty work together to solve the murders. (This story takes place after the events of Kitty and The Midnight Hour.)

"Conquistador de la Noche" - This is the story of how Ricardo de Avila became a vampire. Yes, we're talking about Rick. He was one of Coronado's men, exploring the new world. After 10 years, he was approached by an old friend and lured to a neighboring village. It turns out that Diego is a vampire. Ricardo found out when Diego and three of his vampire friends attacked him and changed him against his will. The other men thought that once he was turned, Ricardo would be content to kill and plunder at their sides. They were wrong. Ricardo is made of sterner stuff. And while he'll never be human again, he won't be the evil thing they expected him to be.

"Looking After Family" - THIS is the kind of story I had in mind for this book. It's a little peek into the history of Cormac and Ben. It takes place right after Cormac's father is killed and he goes to live with Ben's family. Cormac is cut off emotionally and Ben barely recognizes his cousin. On the first full moon after he moves in, Cormac sneaks out to hunt and Ben tags along. It's then that Ben learns about werewolves and what really killed his uncle. And it's the beginning of that connection between Cormac and Ben that continues into the current books.

"Wild Ride" - Oh, TJ, I hardly knew you. (**sniff**) This is the story of how TJ became a werewolf. From the moment he found out he was HIV positive, to his decision to be bitten... and his eventual choice to strike out as a lone wolf. It was good, but bittersweet, in light of the events of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.

"Life is the Teacher" - Remember Emma? She was Alette's living descendant who was turned into a vampire at the end of Kitty Goes to Washington. In this story, she is still coming to terms with what she has become and sets out to take blood from a human for the first time. She encounters a man from her old life and struggles with the rising monster inside her. It was a sensual story with a satisfying ending.

"Long Time Waiting" - This is the story most people will probably buy the book for. It details what happened to Cormac when he went to prison. Essentially, there is a demon killing inmates. And in the prison is the spirit of a demon hunter who knows how to defeat him. Amelia needs a human host to do the job and she thinks Cormac would be the perfect host. He fights the idea, but eventually gives in for the greater good.

Here's the thing: I hate the entire concept of Cormac sharing his body with this woman. Is she supposed to be an eventual love interest? The story reminds us of the unresolved feelings of Cormac for Kitty. Why does Carrie Vaughn torture me this way? Kitty and Cormac are like the dangling carrot I have been chasing for years. Kitty (and in a different way, Ben) is supposed to be the one who sees inside him... who has this bond with him... not some woman that's been dead 100 years. It was a good story, but it just stirs up my angst all over again.

Vaughn did provide some Author's Notes at the end, which I did find insightful, answered a few of my questions, and added to the stories.

The bottom line: I enjoyed the book as a whole. It reminded me why I liked the series... especially "Looking After Family," "Wild Ride," and "Il Est Ne." Unfortunately, it also reminded me how frustrated I've become with the direction it has ultimately taken. 4 stars.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars - Play 'em one more time - some gems, some hard to find - plus a new Cormac debut August 17, 2011

By melindeeloo TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Since Kitty's Greatest Hits is all Vaughn all the time, the anthology has a better flow to it even with a mix of different types of stories than typical multi-author collections do. A lot of these stories have been previously published, but even though Vaughn promised a few new ones - including a brand new Cormac story - and some hard to find ones originally appeared in magazines, I was still surprised to find there were actually a few more new-to-me-ones here than I'd expected. I was also surprised that I actually enjoyed most of the oldies more on the second read as well. As bonus - and I thought this was especially interesting - there's section at the back of the book which includes a discussion of the stories and their purpose. So for me that extra insight, plus the new novella length Cormac story, made Kitty's Greatest Hits worth the read.

Here's Kitty's Hit List:

Il Est Ne (in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) - Facing a lonely Christmas in a diner, Kitty helps another werewolf recapture his humanity. I think I liked this one better the second time 'round, since I wasn't expecting a slice of the series and the shifter's plight is very sympathy stirring.

A Princess of Spain (in The Secret History of Vampires) - Not a Kitty story, instead a vampire plays a part in a historical story involving Catherine of Spain and King HenryVIII - this was okay but didn't really seem to belong here

Conquistador de la Noche (Subterranean Online, Spring 2009) Vampire Rick's background is explored a bit here, this was interesting and I would love more of Rick.

Book of Daniel (Talebones #39, Winter 2009) - A twist to the story of Daniel and the lions - I liked this one but again, it didn't really fit in a Kitty anthology.

Temptation of Robin Greene (in Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance) - A woman who is essentially a crypto-zookeeper falls for one of her charges - When I read this the first time, I didn't realize that the vampire was Kitty's friend Rick, I think that helped up my enjoyment of the story as well.

Looking After Family (Realms of Fantasy, February 2007) - A Cormac and Ben origins story, it was fun to see the start of cousins' relationship when they were teens.

God's Creatures (in Dark and Stormy Knights) - Cormac hunts a beast on the edge of becoming a man killer, it is interesting to see a slight shift in Cormac's black and white world view in this day in in his oddball life story

Wild Ride ( in Running with the Pack ) - This is TJ's back story - I've always like TJ, this is pretty short, I would have liked more.

Winnowing the Herd (Strange Horizons, Oct. 16, 2006)- a Kitty prequel, actually just a really short scene with a horror feel to it.

Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned (Weird Tales #338) - Kitty goes to a club gig to get and interview with a band whose concerts are hell on fans - this was a nice little carve out vignette, Kitty manages to get into trouble wherever she goes.

Kitty's Zombie New Year (in Weird Tales #345) - Afraid of spending another boring New Year's Eve alone, and attends a party she'll never forget - I really liked this one and Vaughn's twist on the zombie mythos.

Life Is the Teacher (in Hotter than Hell) - connected to Kitty Goes to Washington, this stars vampire Emma working to become independent after her 'change of life' - I enjoyed this story so much more this time around, even though the ending is a bit bittersweet - but I was relieved that it didn't have the more horror-ish ending that I misremembered.

You're on the Air (new)- connected to Kitty and the Silver Bullet, One of Kitty's callers plays the hand he was dealt - very short but it's nice see a Joe-regular-guy vamp rail against the stereotype and to see him finally get a break.

Long Time Waiting (new) - The story of how prison 'changed' Cormac - this story is a bit heftier lengthwise and we really get a good look inside his head and find out what happened while he was off screen in the last few books. This one was long enough to be a satisfying Cormac fix.