Customer Reviews

Quozl

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I fail to see why so many other reviewers here are treating Quozl as a failed comedy. It's nothing of the sort. It's a quietly serious and well-written little story that, if you catch it while in the right mood, may stick with you for some time. Foster is a very versatile writer and his enthusiasm for breathless, sprightly adventure fantasy sometimes obscures his ability to write in a more thoughtful mode, but, like most of his less popular books, Quozl will touch more than amuse. I liked it a lot.

Quozl is one of those books that most fans of Alan Dean Foster will love: It's classic Foster. It's unique, humorous, enjoyable, but not stupid or simplistic. If you're a sci-fi fan, you should enjoy it. If you're a Foster fan, you should enjoy it. Highly Recommended.

First the good: This is one of the best books I have ever read! It is cute, funny and written in a way that will appeal to children as well as fun-at-heart grown ups.

I HATE epics - I have no time for them - but this is a book that covers decades but doesn't get bogged down. An Epic that doesn't read like an epic.

Now the bad, and for me it was bad indeed. The book ain't perfect. There are a few small places it drags and one or two that seem to me to be rushed in as an after-thought. These can be forgiven though.

On the other hand...

Mr. Foster came up with a great concept, wonderful plot, amazing characters and ... after taking the reader through them he then - in my opinion - hangs it all on a meathook in the final chapter! I won't give away the ending except to say that *I* hated it to the point of actually RIPPING OUT the last several pages and letting the book sit there on my shelf for a few months to let the memory dim. Since then I have read it many times and went away feeling lighter in soul for it.

A feel good book that is worth the price 10X over, though I advice to stop a few pages before the end. :)

When I looked at the cover art and read the synopsis, I liked what I saw and bought the book. I was looking forward to a Sci-Fi comedy something akin to "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," or "Ded Dwarf." The last thing that I expected was the best first-contact type story that I have ever read.

The thing that struck me most about "Quozl" was Foster's attention to detail with respect to the development of this new alien race. Rather than the cuddly, bumbling, comical rabit-men, Foster created a complete culture based on a rather interesting angle. What happens to a race of intelligent, rational beings who have reproduction rates consumate with, well... rabbits. You have a race that has overpopulated its home world to the breaking point.

The story surrounds a colonization ship which is heading toward Earth... the catch, they have no idea that the planet is already inhabited until after it is too late to find a new target for colonization. The Quozl end up landing on the Earth in secret some time during the height of WWII and decide to remain underground until the human race grows up a bit.

I can't really go on without giving away much of the book and all of its wonderful suprises. Let me just reiterate that this is absolutely the most wonderful first-contact story I have ever read.

Quozl was actually the first book by Alan Dean Foster that I had read, and from that experience, I have gone on to read quite a few more. (I highly reccomend Codgerspace)

Foster definately brings a very different perspective to everything he writes. The plots are often strange, but he has yet to bore me; in fact, I can not seem to put his books down once I pick them up.

Tananda Densmore
Tananda@Javanet.com

One of the best books along with "cachalot", "Midworld" and "Dark Star" from this author.

I read Quozl some years ago. The story starts slow, but after the first contact is establised, the story grows towards a " read with speed, no pauses". Don't miss any sentence.

Foster didn't attempt to write a comedy book, but rather a 'First Contact' novel. The space-comedy angle seemed to have been the bad idea of his publisher's marketingpukes.

I loved it when I first read it almost ten years ago. And, whenever I see/read first contact/alternative history SciFi, I compare it to 'Quozl' and wonder how a story can come across with them in it. What I'd really like to see is a sequel where a joint Shirazian/Quozl expedition arrives at Quozlene. Perhaps human ingenuity can improve the Quozl hyperspace drive and thus make the trip faster. Quite a few furry ears would pop up, I'm sure.

Foster did a great job in providing a richly detailed background and alien race. While I was able to emote somewhat with the characters, the detailed world is what got me hooked.

I found the story humorous. Further, the notion that the Quozl psychologists had determined much of their nature and thus ameliorated their natural tendencies is a significant point. And their species control gives them a hidden advantage (in a sense). Defining our own natures and adjusting for our own good might be something we should consider.

I transcended the everyday place I live to join the Quozl community and learned so much I believed I was an explorer by the end. Liked the story. Imaginative and recommend if you want to take a quick trip away for awhile. Could prove to be a good vacation.

One of the more amusing first contacts I've read. Giant many-toed rabbits come to Earth and hide, not realizing from stellar surveys their planet of choice had intelligent life already. Quozl are extremely like bunnies, including the need for a high amount of sexual encounters. (In some sense you could call this a 'furry' book, but that isn't the focus.) After they make contact, it's a fun, quirky fast-paced story. Eastern culture defines their art, and their philosophy is steeped in martial arts and violence. This contrasted well with the tendency to think of bunnies as 'cute'.

I enjoyed Quozl just as much on the re-read through. (Still find 'hiding behind his feet' a funny mental picture.)

After buying the book purely for the reason that the cover of my version promises a Pratchett style book I was rather dissapoined at first not to be histerical by line 2.....

However, it certainly is a very good book nevertheless, with small doses of humour, and an interesting storyline to go with it.