Customer Reviews

Tomorrows Sphinx

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kichebo is a black cheetah, born in a far-flung future. Unlike the gold-coated, black spotted cheetahs around her, her coat is sable with gold markings. Everywhere she goes, she is hunted by strange creatures in sky vehicles that try to capture her. Unable to find acceptance or safety among her kind, she makes contact with another--amazingly like herself. Kehknemt lived thousands of years ago, the companion of an Egyptian Prince. Through these shared memories across time, and the strange friendship Kichebo strikes up with small two-legged creature, the black cheetah hopes to find the answers to the questions of why she is so different, and what her future might hold.

Clare Bell has a real love of the big cats, and provides an insightful look into the lives of these large hunters. Her depiction of the cheetah society does not try to over-anthropomorphize the cats into human beings. Although they communicate in a sentient manner and are provided with personality and purpose, their behaviors and lifestyles remain those of powerful semi-solitary predators. It makes for an interesting glimpse into how an intelligent society of cats might develop. Beyond this, Kichebo's story is one coming of age and discovery of self. The questions Kichebo most seeks an answer to are: "Why am I so different?" and "What is the meaning of my life?" Questions that are universal and easy to understand, if not easy to answer. Kichebo is destined to take her people in a new direction, one she never imagined. The time travel aspect of this book gives us a fascinating look into what might have been in the days of King Tutankhamen, and the reasons behind the young King's early death.

This book is written with young readers in mind, much of Kichebo's search for self and struggle to become who she is will echo with adolescents who are going through the same struggle. I read this book in my teens and have reread it several times since. I think adult readers will find the story lacks the kind of mature sophistication they might be used to in adult science fiction, but it fits the intended readership well. For those who enjoy this book, see if you can find Ratha's Creature, also by Clare Bell.

Happy Reading! Shanshad ^_^

I loved this book. Kichebo was so... realistic. Torn in a way many of us feel. The flashbackas and backgrounds of Ancient Egypt as well as future Egypte were astounding and thorough in thier description This is a wonderful book by a wonderful author. I don't understand why all her books are out of print!

Tomorrow's Sphinx is an extremely imaginative and thought provoking read. With wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions, Clare Bell has created an exquisite world like no other.
Kichebo, a cheetah who's lucky to have survived past year one, is not like the rest of her kin. She is unique in the sense that she is black with gold tear lines, gold ear tips, and a gold tail tip, and that she is mentally different from her brethren. Shunned because of her differences, Kichebo is destined to find out that she is different in a way that she could never have fathomed. Through the guidance of Asu-Kheknemt, a long dead cheetah who protected and befriended Tutankhamen, a wise, grayed cheetah named Gray Cape, and the affectionate human child, Menk, Kichebo will soon discover what her place in the world is, and find herself.
I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who wants a fresh original fantasy read, you will not be dissapointed!!

This is my favorite book. I could read it over and over again and never get tired of it. It has an excellent point of view from the animal and great scifi entertainment. If you love wild cats especially cheetahs and you like Egypt and it's history and you're into scifi I suggest you read Tomorrow's Sphinx.

This story manages to combine history and sci-fi in an incredibly belivable tale told through the eyes of two rare phenomena, the only Black Cheetahs to ever live. Kichebo's outlook on life, and Keknemt's version of Tutankamen's history are amazingly realistic and, for all we know, might actually be true. The story is extremely well written, and gives a clear picture of what life would be like through the eyes of an ill-treated animal. One of Clare's best, IMHO.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love history and I love animal fantasy, and this book melds both between its pages. I kept on wanting to read more, find out what happens next.

The author Clare Bell does a fantastic job bringing to life these cheetahs. She walks a lovely and interesting line between over anthropomorphization to the point of the characters feeling like humans in cheetah suits and leaving the cats to alien to understand. The reader knows and is reminded in their actions and thoughts they aren't human.

The book is primarily written toward younger readers, but anyone of any age can enjoy this book. It's a lovely animal fiction work along with being a nice fictionalization story of ancient Egypt.

I loved this book so much when I was younger that I remembered it over ten years later. The book I received was in great condition and I look forward to rereading it! This is a great book for any young readers who enjoy fantasy novels or are interested in big cats. It has a great plot and is a lot of fun to read. I suggest it for all ages!

When I was in high school, I borrowed this book from the library. It was a fun and fantastic read. Clare Bell is amazing at storytelling, not just in this book, but her others as well. I was big into Egypt [see Akhetaten's Gates], and this was something fun and different to read about Egypt, as well as about cheetahs, which I love anyway.

Now that I'm grown, I'm glad to have finally purchased a copy of my own and talked to the author. It's nice to have a piece of my childhood on my bookshelf.

This is a very touching, and very unusual book.

It's told from the point of view of an intelligent cheetah, born with a black pelt, and takes place in an alternate earth which, it seems, was ruled by an Egyptian culture. Kichebo's black fur makes it difficult for her to hunt and ambush, and draws the hostile attention of strange flying craft. An outcast among her own kind, Kichebo struggles to find a place for herself in her harsh world.

This is a very unique book that will stick in your memory, if you can manage to find a copy. If you like cheetahs or Egypt (or both) you will adore this novel. (I treasure my copy, even though it has very damaged covers - I found it at a used book store, lucky for me!)

This book was wonderfully writen by C.B. I could tell of her love for big cats as she was extreamly descriptive in her protrayal of these animals. The story is all set in the past, however there are two time periods that she bounces between in this story. Also there are some elements of the future written in as well, but the setting described is still in a time that we all have long lived through. I wont go into details about the storyline of this book as others before me already have, but I will say that this is an excellent book for young adults who love sci-fi elements as well as eygptian mythology and stories, ans espicially for the young adult who loves big cats being the protagonist of stories.

I fuond this rare gem of a book when I was much younger and not too long ago I remembred this book and also the fact that I hadn't finished it.(It was a library book). That is what led me to buy it again and re-read it. Although I enjoyed finishing this book finally, as an adult I wouldn't reccomend this book for older audiences. Certain parts of the plot would leave older readers wanting if a past relationship wasn't already developed with this book. That being said. Young readers... Enjoy! This is a rarity.