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Quozl
The sci-fi comedy classic that fans will flip over!
From the bestselling author of Jed the Dead--here is the out-of-this-world comedy that introduced "Flip-A-Mation" (animated flip art inside each book) and the most lovable aliens in the universe...
The Quozl knew they'd love the third planet from the sun. But it never occurred to them that anyone lived there...
Includes "Flip-A-Mation" art inside each book!
From the bestselling author of Jed the Dead--here is the out-of-this-world comedy that introduced "Flip-A-Mation" (animated flip art inside each book) and the most lovable aliens in the universe...
The Quozl knew they'd love the third planet from the sun. But it never occurred to them that anyone lived there...
Includes "Flip-A-Mation" art inside each book!
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1989
130 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Alan Dean Foster
498 books2,034 followersBestselling science fiction writer Alan Dean Foster was born in New York City in 1946, but raised mainly in California. He received a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA in 1968, and a M.F.A. in 1969. Foster lives in Arizona with his wife, but he enjoys traveling because it gives him opportunities to meet new people and explore new places and cultures. This interest is carried over to his writing, but with a twist: the new places encountered in his books are likely to be on another planet, and the people may belong to an alien race.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
Foster began his career as an author when a letter he sent to Arkham Collection was purchased by the editor and published in the magazine in 1968. His first novel, The Tar-Aiym Krang, introduced the Humanx Commonwealth, a galactic alliance between humans and an insectlike race called Thranx. Several other novels, including the Icerigger trilogy, are also set in the world of the Commonwealth. The Tar-Aiym Krang also marked the first appearance of Flinx, a young man with paranormal abilities, who reappears in other books, including Orphan Star, For Love of Mother-Not, and Flinx in Flux.
Foster has also written The Damned series and the Spellsinger series, which includes The Hour of the Gate, The Moment of the Magician, The Paths of the Perambulator, and Son of Spellsinger, among others. Other books include novelizations of science fiction movies and television shows such as Star Trek, The Black Hole, Starman, Star Wars, and the Alien movies. Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a bestselling novel based on the Star Wars movies, received the Galaxy Award in 1979. The book Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990. His novel Our Lady of the Machine won him the UPC Award (Spain) in 1993. He also won the Ignotus Award (Spain) in 1994 and the Stannik Award (Russia) in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
November 10, 2025
Quozl
by Alan Dean Foster
This is a fun book about an alien species looking for a planet to start life over again. They finally reach it and notice lights on it from space. They weren't expecting it to be occupied.
They study the planet and find it is filled with war and a violent population.
They have to take a chance because they can't go back. The book is about how they meet people and survive, and become part of this world. Witty, fun, sad at times, and heartwarming.
by Alan Dean Foster
This is a fun book about an alien species looking for a planet to start life over again. They finally reach it and notice lights on it from space. They weren't expecting it to be occupied.
They study the planet and find it is filled with war and a violent population.
They have to take a chance because they can't go back. The book is about how they meet people and survive, and become part of this world. Witty, fun, sad at times, and heartwarming.
August 24, 2021
Quozl is fun and funny, a good first-contact story with some well-intentioned social satire, some interesting and endearing aliens, and some convincing human characters, too. But mostly it's fun and funny. Sometimes you should look for deep meaning and a significant message, but sometimes you just need to kick back and grin and turn the pages and have fun. Quozl is one of those.
May 26, 2011
Divide it into three parts for easy reference: the landing, the encounter, and integration. The events in landing and encounter are interesting enough. Foster does a wonderful job creating this alien race, complete with their grooming, social and sexual practices. All quite appropriate to establishing their mindset. It’s a great work of society-building.
Ignoring the climax, integration contains the most realistic method of introducing an alien race to the world. Would we really go to government officials to make the general population comfortable with aliens living on Earth? No, the best way is to channel the introduction through the media. TV, press interviews, cartoons, advertising campaigns, talk shows—now that’s how to make humans comfortable with aliens. It’s a bitter taste of reality, and in spite of branching from an absurd climax it is realistic. I suspect it’s supposed to be funny, but it actually comes across as sardonic. Kinda like the movie Contact: we don’t want to believe we’d react this way yet at the same time we all know we would.
So what’s wrong with the book? Part of the reason is it dwells a lot on unnecessary details. Really, the most interesting part is integration, and it takes up less than a third of the page count. Which means two-thirds of the book is setup. The transition from encounter to integration is stupid, and it’s impossible to enjoy the story once it finally gets started because it really is a lousy twist.
The dialogue is clumsy and overly wordy. It works for the Quozl race, as it is part of their culture to speak with dodgy eloquence. But the book itself is narrated this way and the humans talk with Quozl-like eloquence as well. I wonder if it’s really crafted for the Quozl or if the author just isn’t good at dialogue and this is what we ended up with.
Then there’s the ending. I must’ve missed how the ending ties in with the rest of the story, as it feels uncalled for. Or is it? It does fit the atmosphere. Perhaps it’s the mood of this book that keeps it from being great. Quozl feels scornful. It is appropriate for the alien perspective, but if it’s supposed to be funny, ironic or insightful, it doesn’t come across as such. The undercurrent is that human beings deserve this scorn and it serves us right to be peacefully subjugated.
But is it a stinging social commentary delivered with indifference by an alien race rightfully looking down their noses at us? Is it supposed to be a lighthearted spoof, as suggested by the silly flip-a-mation illustrations? Or is this an alien invasion story, showing a realistic method by which aliens would dominate mankind? At any given page it can feel like any of the three, but ultimately it is disdainful. The ambiguous ending reinforces this deduction. Again, it fits the mood but why is it there? Why does it end on this note? What is it supposed to show? Because the intent is not obvious or in any way insightful, the contempt leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Did I enjoy it? Yes in that it’s a well-crafted alien species. No in the execution of the story.
Ignoring the climax, integration contains the most realistic method of introducing an alien race to the world. Would we really go to government officials to make the general population comfortable with aliens living on Earth? No, the best way is to channel the introduction through the media. TV, press interviews, cartoons, advertising campaigns, talk shows—now that’s how to make humans comfortable with aliens. It’s a bitter taste of reality, and in spite of branching from an absurd climax it is realistic. I suspect it’s supposed to be funny, but it actually comes across as sardonic. Kinda like the movie Contact: we don’t want to believe we’d react this way yet at the same time we all know we would.
So what’s wrong with the book? Part of the reason is it dwells a lot on unnecessary details. Really, the most interesting part is integration, and it takes up less than a third of the page count. Which means two-thirds of the book is setup. The transition from encounter to integration is stupid, and it’s impossible to enjoy the story once it finally gets started because it really is a lousy twist.
The dialogue is clumsy and overly wordy. It works for the Quozl race, as it is part of their culture to speak with dodgy eloquence. But the book itself is narrated this way and the humans talk with Quozl-like eloquence as well. I wonder if it’s really crafted for the Quozl or if the author just isn’t good at dialogue and this is what we ended up with.
Then there’s the ending. I must’ve missed how the ending ties in with the rest of the story, as it feels uncalled for. Or is it? It does fit the atmosphere. Perhaps it’s the mood of this book that keeps it from being great. Quozl feels scornful. It is appropriate for the alien perspective, but if it’s supposed to be funny, ironic or insightful, it doesn’t come across as such. The undercurrent is that human beings deserve this scorn and it serves us right to be peacefully subjugated.
But is it a stinging social commentary delivered with indifference by an alien race rightfully looking down their noses at us? Is it supposed to be a lighthearted spoof, as suggested by the silly flip-a-mation illustrations? Or is this an alien invasion story, showing a realistic method by which aliens would dominate mankind? At any given page it can feel like any of the three, but ultimately it is disdainful. The ambiguous ending reinforces this deduction. Again, it fits the mood but why is it there? Why does it end on this note? What is it supposed to show? Because the intent is not obvious or in any way insightful, the contempt leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Did I enjoy it? Yes in that it’s a well-crafted alien species. No in the execution of the story.
March 2, 2024
I was unsure about this book but it looked fun & didn’t disappoint! For me it felt like a cross between Agent to the Stars & Galaxy Quest. SO! MUCH! FUN! A quick fun read! The narrator was perfect, it felt like an instant classic.
Space rabbits land during the commotion of WWII and go into hiding but they multiply like … rabbits & soon due to their growing numbers, they will be revealed, but how? HA!
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Lore, this was just what I needed. I like the audiobook cover.
Space rabbits land during the commotion of WWII and go into hiding but they multiply like … rabbits & soon due to their growing numbers, they will be revealed, but how? HA!
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Lore, this was just what I needed. I like the audiobook cover.
October 8, 2024
Woah. So this is where Scalzi found the plot for Agent of the Stars….
This book follows a bunny-like alien who lands on Eatth without realizing humans were here. At first they hide, but after several generations, they realize first contact is inevitable and they want to get ahead of it…. Plot happens and they end up with an agent from LA.
I enjoyed this story even if it has become a bit stereotypical or too easily resolved- i had a good time.
This book follows a bunny-like alien who lands on Eatth without realizing humans were here. At first they hide, but after several generations, they realize first contact is inevitable and they want to get ahead of it…. Plot happens and they end up with an agent from LA.
I enjoyed this story even if it has become a bit stereotypical or too easily resolved- i had a good time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2013
One of my favorite books of all time. Sadly the cover art does not do the depth of this book justice, as it weaves a complex society into its integration on Earth with great skill and poise that belies the "cartoony" art. This is definitely a case of "do not judge the book by its cover". The characters are exceptionally well developed, as is the growing interrelationship between the Quozl and Earthlings, and the dangers such interactions can pose. Grab this one for a fast and entertaining read you won't forget.
March 27, 2012
I first read Quozl as a youth and it quickly became a favorite and often read book. So much so that it was destroyed through constant reading. I found a cherry hardcover copy in a used book store and blazed through the book in a day. Very entertaining and a fascinating commentary on the human condition through the eyes of alien colonists.
October 23, 2014
Those readers who are familiar with Foster’s ‘Flinx and Pip’ adventures are sure to find this book worthy of those stories. Imagine yourself on an interstellar colonization trip to an unknown planet. You spend five generations getting there, and when you finally land, you are not the only sentient race on the planet. Though you are more advanced technologically, the other race has overwhelming numbers and is divided into warring tribal societies.
It is decided by your High Council that it would be best to stay hidden until the day comes where you will be safely established in a self-sufficient settlement. It is estimated that you will need two-three hundred years to get to this point. You choose an area where there are few of the indigenous people and begin colonization. The Quozl are a burrowing race and their colony has little or no surface structures.
Therefore they are able to live for fifty years without anyone on Earth knowing they are there.
The Quozl live in a hive-type society, where they are each a member of a ‘guild’ and each guild-head is among the High Council that leads the society. They also live in multiple connected burrow for which a ‘governor’ is chosen, who also is on the High Council. In this way they live in a very structured society where age and experience is determine your place in the hierarchy.
Having originally been a warlike race, they have developed methods to self-inhibit these tendencies, and have learned to channel that nature into art and philosophy. Having spent time listening to ‘TV and radio’ broadcasts, they are confused as to how an advanced race can continuously war with itself. They fear to expose themselves to this new world where they could be declared the enemy of the ‘Human Race’ and thereby be exterminated in an inter-species war.
Foster comes up with a unique way in which the Quozl are ‘exposed’ to humans and in the way they find to co-exist on this planet Earth. It’s a fun story and the ending, though too utopian for me, is a rational outgrowth to the rest of the story.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
It is decided by your High Council that it would be best to stay hidden until the day comes where you will be safely established in a self-sufficient settlement. It is estimated that you will need two-three hundred years to get to this point. You choose an area where there are few of the indigenous people and begin colonization. The Quozl are a burrowing race and their colony has little or no surface structures.
Therefore they are able to live for fifty years without anyone on Earth knowing they are there.
The Quozl live in a hive-type society, where they are each a member of a ‘guild’ and each guild-head is among the High Council that leads the society. They also live in multiple connected burrow for which a ‘governor’ is chosen, who also is on the High Council. In this way they live in a very structured society where age and experience is determine your place in the hierarchy.
Having originally been a warlike race, they have developed methods to self-inhibit these tendencies, and have learned to channel that nature into art and philosophy. Having spent time listening to ‘TV and radio’ broadcasts, they are confused as to how an advanced race can continuously war with itself. They fear to expose themselves to this new world where they could be declared the enemy of the ‘Human Race’ and thereby be exterminated in an inter-species war.
Foster comes up with a unique way in which the Quozl are ‘exposed’ to humans and in the way they find to co-exist on this planet Earth. It’s a fun story and the ending, though too utopian for me, is a rational outgrowth to the rest of the story.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com
March 7, 2016
The alien invasion at the time of the talk shows. The Quozl are cute aliens, a cross between a cat and a rabbit, lovers of piercing, the bright colors and jewelery, peaceful after a sublimated and ritualized bloody past. At their arrive on Earth, they discove only at the last moment that it is an inhabited planet, which is why they hidden in a place difficult to reach for some fifty years, while all will settle. But one day the inevitable happens: a young human and a young Quozl meet and make friends, and from there the events fall into a crescendo of hilarious situations, until the final revelation.
An alien invasion is still an alien invasion, or not?
Thank Open Road Integrated Media and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
L'invasione aliena al tempo dei talk show. I Quozl sono dei simpatici alieni, una via di mezzo tra un gatto e un coniglio, amanti dei piercing, dei colori sgargianti e della gioielleria, pacifici dopo aver sublimato e ritualizzato un passato sanguinoso. Arrivano sulla Terra scoprendo solo all'ultimo momento che si tratta di un pianeta abitato, motivo per il quale se ne restano nascosti in una località difficilmente raggiungibile per una cinquantina d'anni, mentre, per così dire si sistemano. Un giorno però accade l'inevitabile: un giovane Quozl e un giovane umano si incontrano e fanno amicizia, e da lì gli eventi precipitano in un crescendo di situazioni esilaranti, fino alla rivelazione finale.
Un'invasione aliena è pur sempre un'invasione aliena, o no?
Rngrazio Open Road Integrated Media per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
An alien invasion is still an alien invasion, or not?
Thank Open Road Integrated Media and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
L'invasione aliena al tempo dei talk show. I Quozl sono dei simpatici alieni, una via di mezzo tra un gatto e un coniglio, amanti dei piercing, dei colori sgargianti e della gioielleria, pacifici dopo aver sublimato e ritualizzato un passato sanguinoso. Arrivano sulla Terra scoprendo solo all'ultimo momento che si tratta di un pianeta abitato, motivo per il quale se ne restano nascosti in una località difficilmente raggiungibile per una cinquantina d'anni, mentre, per così dire si sistemano. Un giorno però accade l'inevitabile: un giovane Quozl e un giovane umano si incontrano e fanno amicizia, e da lì gli eventi precipitano in un crescendo di situazioni esilaranti, fino alla rivelazione finale.
Un'invasione aliena è pur sempre un'invasione aliena, o no?
Rngrazio Open Road Integrated Media per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
March 23, 2015
It's interesting that the original cover of this book (seen here) makes it look like a ridiculous farce while it's actually quite a decent first contact story. It has some humorous moments but it's not a comedy at all. The Quozl come to Earth looking for a new home and are surprised to find it already inhabited by an intelligent species. They manage to live undetected for 50 years but eventually the day comes when they are discovered.
This was a 4 star read most of the way through but the last 15% was rushed and the resolution was so easy that I had to knock a star off. Still, a very good read.
I just discovered Alan Dean Foster a couple of years ago when I stumbled across The Taken Trilogy which I enjoyed very much. I only bought Quozl because it came across as a Kindle Deal. It might be time to actually read one of his books on purpose.
This was a 4 star read most of the way through but the last 15% was rushed and the resolution was so easy that I had to knock a star off. Still, a very good read.
I just discovered Alan Dean Foster a couple of years ago when I stumbled across The Taken Trilogy which I enjoyed very much. I only bought Quozl because it came across as a Kindle Deal. It might be time to actually read one of his books on purpose.
July 29, 2019
If you want an intriguing and heartwarming story about a human and alien meeting for the first time and how their species are later widely introduced to each other, this is as good of a story as it gets. It's like E.T. in a way.
Twenty years since the first book I read by Alan Dean Foster, and I come across this absolute gem of a story. It's easy enough to read yet has a complex and very compelling story.
The initial interaction between a human and quozl is just a nice happy introduction that warms the heart in wanting to learn more about their relationship as it progresses over the years.
There's some contentions, which is good, but they play out pretty satisfactorily in the end. There is minimal drama but still some interesting character interplays that move the story along at a nice but admittedly sometimes hurried pace.
Twenty years since the first book I read by Alan Dean Foster, and I come across this absolute gem of a story. It's easy enough to read yet has a complex and very compelling story.
The initial interaction between a human and quozl is just a nice happy introduction that warms the heart in wanting to learn more about their relationship as it progresses over the years.
There's some contentions, which is good, but they play out pretty satisfactorily in the end. There is minimal drama but still some interesting character interplays that move the story along at a nice but admittedly sometimes hurried pace.
October 13, 2023
A lot of fun.
BTW, it’s neat that the Quozl name Earth (in Quozl) Shiraz- which is the name of a city outside Tehran, and part of the name of a TV show? movie? “Summers of Shiraz”…
BTW, it’s neat that the Quozl name Earth (in Quozl) Shiraz- which is the name of a city outside Tehran, and part of the name of a TV show? movie? “Summers of Shiraz”…
July 23, 2017
READ THE FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG: http://thebookaddictsblog.blogspot.pt...
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I need to start by saying that I barely read any books set in space, or with alien characters, so I am not an expert on this matter, but I think I can honestly say this is probably one of the best developed out there right now.
The Quozl culture, their costumes, their identity as inteligent beings, their way of living. It felt as if nothing was left out. Everything was interestingly detailed and analysed, leaving us with the sense that we knew them as well as the author, there was nothing else we could ask for that wasn't mentioned here. The story didn't feel shallow, basic. It went kilometers deep into Quozl history.
I especially adored the way it was funny and light and easy to read, but also extremely profound, scientific and fascinating. It made these little guys feel so real and the story so much more intense and fast to get trough.
The next thing that needs to be acknowledged is the way these aliens see the world they are about to enter. In the beginning of the story we see the crew of the Sequencer, after generations and generations of interspace travel from their overpopulated planet, Quozl, as they land on a new (supposedly) unoccupied planet, Shiraz. However, as they study it further, they discover it has already been popularized by other intelligent beings. They landed on Earth. As peaceful, respectful and polite creatures, the Quozl are aghast when they start studying Humans and learn of their violent wars. That's probably what stuck me the most, the views they had on the Human society and their way of exposing it. In my opinion, it was brilliantly made and it was carried all throughout the story.
I believe these alien colonists really force us to see what we have let technology, evolution and Human nature do to the world we live in and give an example everyone reading would want to follow.
I absolutely loved to love and loved to hate some of the characters. Not because they were detestable, but because they were so clueless and naive. Anyhow, all of the characters were explored and described immensely well and we get to met such a diverse set of them that it's hard to point out any negative aspects.
The relationship between aliens and humans was one of the best aspects about the last half of the book. The differences and similarities, especially the differences in the dialogue, was what, in my opinion, took this story to the next level.
The ending was not how I pictured it, but it was still really good, and showed that a book like this can remain constant and true to itself and still keep you guessing and reading on. There is always something new to discover, until the very last page. I utterly believe we would like to think that that is not how things would play out, but I think, deep down, we all hope for it. There is no way to guess what would actually happen, but Alan Dean Foster did a remarkable job.
Although this isn't a recent book, I would still absolutely recommend it. It was, overall, such an interesting, enjoyable, amusing book, with cute moments, awkward scenes and lovable characters. Under all the subtle humour, it is the kind of sci-fi novel that makes us think 'what if?'
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I need to start by saying that I barely read any books set in space, or with alien characters, so I am not an expert on this matter, but I think I can honestly say this is probably one of the best developed out there right now.
The Quozl culture, their costumes, their identity as inteligent beings, their way of living. It felt as if nothing was left out. Everything was interestingly detailed and analysed, leaving us with the sense that we knew them as well as the author, there was nothing else we could ask for that wasn't mentioned here. The story didn't feel shallow, basic. It went kilometers deep into Quozl history.
I especially adored the way it was funny and light and easy to read, but also extremely profound, scientific and fascinating. It made these little guys feel so real and the story so much more intense and fast to get trough.
The next thing that needs to be acknowledged is the way these aliens see the world they are about to enter. In the beginning of the story we see the crew of the Sequencer, after generations and generations of interspace travel from their overpopulated planet, Quozl, as they land on a new (supposedly) unoccupied planet, Shiraz. However, as they study it further, they discover it has already been popularized by other intelligent beings. They landed on Earth. As peaceful, respectful and polite creatures, the Quozl are aghast when they start studying Humans and learn of their violent wars. That's probably what stuck me the most, the views they had on the Human society and their way of exposing it. In my opinion, it was brilliantly made and it was carried all throughout the story.
I believe these alien colonists really force us to see what we have let technology, evolution and Human nature do to the world we live in and give an example everyone reading would want to follow.
I absolutely loved to love and loved to hate some of the characters. Not because they were detestable, but because they were so clueless and naive. Anyhow, all of the characters were explored and described immensely well and we get to met such a diverse set of them that it's hard to point out any negative aspects.
The relationship between aliens and humans was one of the best aspects about the last half of the book. The differences and similarities, especially the differences in the dialogue, was what, in my opinion, took this story to the next level.
The ending was not how I pictured it, but it was still really good, and showed that a book like this can remain constant and true to itself and still keep you guessing and reading on. There is always something new to discover, until the very last page. I utterly believe we would like to think that that is not how things would play out, but I think, deep down, we all hope for it. There is no way to guess what would actually happen, but Alan Dean Foster did a remarkable job.
Although this isn't a recent book, I would still absolutely recommend it. It was, overall, such an interesting, enjoyable, amusing book, with cute moments, awkward scenes and lovable characters. Under all the subtle humour, it is the kind of sci-fi novel that makes us think 'what if?'
August 17, 2009
ADF frequently goes the "comedic" route, but it never works for me. He has a knack for pleasing prose, really he does, but he's fatally bland, and his attempts at humor and horror fall flat. Space opera is his forte; I may knock something like "The Tar-Aiym Krang" or "Icerigger", but if you want a rousing silly scifi adventure they're go-to books. But he aims too low when he goes for broad accessibility, and this, at best, is what he comes up with: bunny rabbit aliens.
There is a not-bad satirical bit deep into the novel that perhaps I shouldn't spoil, but oh I will, in which one of a pair of children, the only people on earth who know that the harmless Quozl have settled underground, uses them as fodder for a crappy children's tv show.
You know, since Vern has turned his knowledge of Seagalogy into cold hard cash, I ought to cash in on my Alandeanfosterological research. Cause baby, I read it all. I read the novelizations of Outland and The Last Starfighter. I all the goddamn Commonwealth books, and then he went and wrote more of them. I read his short fiction and Into the Out Of and To the Vanishing Point, I read Parallelities and Greenthieves, fucking everthing. Glory Lane? Check. All his books. I must have thought there would be a test. Then I stopped reading, and he kept writing.
There is a not-bad satirical bit deep into the novel that perhaps I shouldn't spoil, but oh I will, in which one of a pair of children, the only people on earth who know that the harmless Quozl have settled underground, uses them as fodder for a crappy children's tv show.
You know, since Vern has turned his knowledge of Seagalogy into cold hard cash, I ought to cash in on my Alandeanfosterological research. Cause baby, I read it all. I read the novelizations of Outland and The Last Starfighter. I all the goddamn Commonwealth books, and then he went and wrote more of them. I read his short fiction and Into the Out Of and To the Vanishing Point, I read Parallelities and Greenthieves, fucking everthing. Glory Lane? Check. All his books. I must have thought there would be a test. Then I stopped reading, and he kept writing.
January 4, 2016
Interesting but naïve
The alien Quozl that Foster created are fascinating. Their culture, philosophy, social hierarchy are unique and very fun to read about. Even their ponderously slow method of space travel and colonization is interesting which allows for a proper introduction into who the Qouzl are as a race. It is only when they begin to interact with humans on a grander scale do I lose interest in the narrative. The transition from hidden secretive race to media sensation is too rapid and unrealistic. Which is where my opinion really skews the book. I don't believe humans would react in the way Foster has written them in this book. The process is too peaceful. You could make the argument that this was the intention of the author. This may very well be his idea of how things should go if ever there was first contact with an alien race. But, to me it feels false. Granted this book was first published in 1989 and Foster
The alien Quozl that Foster created are fascinating. Their culture, philosophy, social hierarchy are unique and very fun to read about. Even their ponderously slow method of space travel and colonization is interesting which allows for a proper introduction into who the Qouzl are as a race. It is only when they begin to interact with humans on a grander scale do I lose interest in the narrative. The transition from hidden secretive race to media sensation is too rapid and unrealistic. Which is where my opinion really skews the book. I don't believe humans would react in the way Foster has written them in this book. The process is too peaceful. You could make the argument that this was the intention of the author. This may very well be his idea of how things should go if ever there was first contact with an alien race. But, to me it feels false. Granted this book was first published in 1989 and Foster
September 17, 2015
Quozl, not your average Easter Bunnies
Oh Joy!!! A new favourite author to read. I realize that he has been writing for years but I just discovered him and this stand alone sci-fi book is a great introduction to his writing. The idea of large intelligent alien rabbits landing from outer space was so intriguing that I had to download it immediately. It opens up with a large, long dose of the Quozl and their culture and beliefs. Very well done. Complete in depth world building. I wish that he wrote a volume 2 about the eventual return trip to the Quozl home planet.
Oh Joy!!! A new favourite author to read. I realize that he has been writing for years but I just discovered him and this stand alone sci-fi book is a great introduction to his writing. The idea of large intelligent alien rabbits landing from outer space was so intriguing that I had to download it immediately. It opens up with a large, long dose of the Quozl and their culture and beliefs. Very well done. Complete in depth world building. I wish that he wrote a volume 2 about the eventual return trip to the Quozl home planet.
August 19, 2017
Ah darn. A very interesting topic, an equally interesting approach, all marred by a excruciatingly slow unveiling. ADF stretches it much, much longer than he should in order to fill pages, and it's a shame. I wanted to see what happens next, but after reading the first third of the book I decided there are much more promising books on my to-read shelves to make reading the rest of this worthwhile...
March 19, 2015
I think I read this book first when I was 13 and thought it was hilarious. I was worried when I re-read it as an adult that it wouldn't hold up but it did. I wouldn't recommend the book to someone that young normally but it didn't scar me in anyway. It was funny with great characterization and thought-provoking.
January 6, 2022
Fantastic! Great story, wildly imaginative and a solid thesis for how to assimilate into a new world. I wish I could've given it 4 and a half stars because of an ending that seemed a bit rushed and had a couple of plot inconsistencies but I gave it a 5 to counter a few reviews that I feel are very unfair to this charming and fun read
April 4, 2008
Gave the book only 3 stars simply because I have a dim memory that I liked it and there has always been this fuzzy memory in the back of my mind that pops up from time to time about the story. My have to re-read it some day to find out why. (Read while in Jr. High school, I think...)
February 18, 2018
First Contact by a master of the art
An old style book, where the first half sets the scene. Then the action really picks up.
I'm pleased to see there are several of Alan's book that I have still to read.
An old style book, where the first half sets the scene. Then the action really picks up.
I'm pleased to see there are several of Alan's book that I have still to read.
May 26, 2018
Entertaing
I gave it five stars becauee this story desrrves five stars. I was guided visually , emotionally, and entertaingly to a new concept on Aliens. It was humorous and thoughtful at the same time. A really great read!!
I gave it five stars becauee this story desrrves five stars. I was guided visually , emotionally, and entertaingly to a new concept on Aliens. It was humorous and thoughtful at the same time. A really great read!!
May 27, 2016
Another winner for Alan Dean Foster. I've read this book multiple times and still get great enjoyment out of it.
November 6, 2021
Alien invasion
Only Foster can have aliens invade the Earth and have everyone rooting for the aliens. A truly excellent story. Masterful
Only Foster can have aliens invade the Earth and have everyone rooting for the aliens. A truly excellent story. Masterful
January 6, 2024
I don’t usually read science fiction, but I found this 1989 novel about the interaction between earthlings and a rabbit-like alien race imaginative, intriguing and a sharp critique of human mores.
The Quozls are intelligent rabbit-like beings who also breed like bunnies after “coupling” nine to ten times per day. Originally a war-like people, they learned to sublimate their violence believing that war is the result of sexual frustration and inequality between the genders. Despite birth control, the Quozls rapidly outstrip the population capacity of their home planet, and explore new planets with which to colonize. Believing that they are the only intelligent life in the universe, they look to colonize Earth only to discover that it is inhabited by peoples with rudimentary intelligence who are prone to violence. Nevertheless, the Quozls burrow into an uninhabited part of Idaho hoping not to make human contact for several hundred years. These plans go awry due to the inquisitive nature of a few Quozls wishing to explore their surroundings outside their burrow. The first Quozl-human interaction ends in disaster with the deaths of two sentient beings.
Frankly, I am surprised that subsequent Quozl-human meetings do not result in shock and terror like the first encounter - “Christ! Martians!” This is because the next encounter is with Chad, first as a child and later as a teenager. But then Chad’s adult sister and aspiring writer, Mindy, exploits the friendship by developing a cartoon series based on the Quozls. As more and more people get exposed to actual Quozls, the cute, harmless and helpful aliens become accepted by human society.
Unfortunately, this depiction of any encounter with an alien race is pure fantasy with large doses of pollyanna. Xenophobic humans can barely get along with themselves let alone aliens. Consider all the bigotry in terms of racism, illegal immigrants, Islamophobia and antisemitism. Like the Quozls, we have a long way to go before we can learn to live and let live.
The Quozls are intelligent rabbit-like beings who also breed like bunnies after “coupling” nine to ten times per day. Originally a war-like people, they learned to sublimate their violence believing that war is the result of sexual frustration and inequality between the genders. Despite birth control, the Quozls rapidly outstrip the population capacity of their home planet, and explore new planets with which to colonize. Believing that they are the only intelligent life in the universe, they look to colonize Earth only to discover that it is inhabited by peoples with rudimentary intelligence who are prone to violence. Nevertheless, the Quozls burrow into an uninhabited part of Idaho hoping not to make human contact for several hundred years. These plans go awry due to the inquisitive nature of a few Quozls wishing to explore their surroundings outside their burrow. The first Quozl-human interaction ends in disaster with the deaths of two sentient beings.
Frankly, I am surprised that subsequent Quozl-human meetings do not result in shock and terror like the first encounter - “Christ! Martians!” This is because the next encounter is with Chad, first as a child and later as a teenager. But then Chad’s adult sister and aspiring writer, Mindy, exploits the friendship by developing a cartoon series based on the Quozls. As more and more people get exposed to actual Quozls, the cute, harmless and helpful aliens become accepted by human society.
Unfortunately, this depiction of any encounter with an alien race is pure fantasy with large doses of pollyanna. Xenophobic humans can barely get along with themselves let alone aliens. Consider all the bigotry in terms of racism, illegal immigrants, Islamophobia and antisemitism. Like the Quozls, we have a long way to go before we can learn to live and let live.
February 12, 2024
The minute I saw this audiobook was written by Alan Dean Foster, I jumped on it! A master of the sci-fi genre, he is well known for being George Lucas' ghost writer, BUT is a phenomenal author in his own right. (I will acknowledge his contribution to Star Wars all day long)
The Qozl have overrun and outgrown their planet and as such, they need to seek new pastures to call home. I will admit that as much as I enjoyed the world building and character building in the first few chapters, (the impromptu fight scene was absolutely hilarious to me) There was so much focus on the proliferation of the species and the control/ prevention thereof, that it almost, almost put me off. Not the necessity and the context, but because of the current overuse of certain terminolgy in contempporary soceity, dehumanising the act of procreation. lovemaking. But As I was enjoying the audiobook otherwise, I continued on and I am so glad that I did!
The Quozl land on Earth smack bang in the middle of WWII (but the Quozl call this Shiraz and the inflections on the "z" are a scream") However, you can't keep a good space-bunny down and they are procreating again, well, like rabbits. Soon, their numbers can no longer be ignored and they venture forth to claim their new home
I must, must celebrate the narration of Paul Bellantoni as not only did he create incredible vocal nuances for each species, but the characters within too and this is no mean feat! He excelled at his narration and did not skip a beat, flipping stunning
I am well acquainted with the writing of Alan Dean Foster and if you don't get to read his Star Wars novels, then certainly, certainly listen to this. Cerebral, insightful, hilarious and well, all round awesome!
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, Dreamscape Lore, the incredible Alan Dean Foster and immensely talented Paul Bellantoni for this fantastic ALC! My review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own
The Qozl have overrun and outgrown their planet and as such, they need to seek new pastures to call home. I will admit that as much as I enjoyed the world building and character building in the first few chapters, (the impromptu fight scene was absolutely hilarious to me) There was so much focus on the proliferation of the species and the control/ prevention thereof, that it almost, almost put me off. Not the necessity and the context, but because of the current overuse of certain terminolgy in contempporary soceity, dehumanising the act of procreation. lovemaking. But As I was enjoying the audiobook otherwise, I continued on and I am so glad that I did!
The Quozl land on Earth smack bang in the middle of WWII (but the Quozl call this Shiraz and the inflections on the "z" are a scream") However, you can't keep a good space-bunny down and they are procreating again, well, like rabbits. Soon, their numbers can no longer be ignored and they venture forth to claim their new home
I must, must celebrate the narration of Paul Bellantoni as not only did he create incredible vocal nuances for each species, but the characters within too and this is no mean feat! He excelled at his narration and did not skip a beat, flipping stunning
I am well acquainted with the writing of Alan Dean Foster and if you don't get to read his Star Wars novels, then certainly, certainly listen to this. Cerebral, insightful, hilarious and well, all round awesome!
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, Dreamscape Lore, the incredible Alan Dean Foster and immensely talented Paul Bellantoni for this fantastic ALC! My review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own
March 23, 2024
I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The story centers around a race of rabbit-like aliens called the Quozl who are on a mission to find a new home planet. Their spaceship is a generation ship, meaning that the Quozl on board are descendants of the original colonists and have never set foot on a planet before.
The Quozl land on Earth during World War II and are shocked to discover that Earth is already inhabited by another intelligent species. The Quozl are a peaceful and docile race, and they are horrified by the violence and destruction they witness on Earth. They decide to keep their presence a secret and establish an underground colony. They are worried about what humans will do to them if they are discovered.
At first, the story follows a Quozl named Looks-at-Charts: A scout on the Quozl ship. He's responsible for finding a suitable planet and plays a crucial role in the initial landing on Earth. In the second part, the story shifts to Looks-at-Charts' extended relation, Runs-Red-Talking, who stumbles across a human child, and this simple interaction will start a chain of events that will forever change Quozl's history.
What I liked most about the book was Foster's detailed alien culture of the Quozl. Their social structure, communication, and motivations are interesting and well-explored. I also liked that they were giant rabbits, and in many respects, they had the same character traits as Earth rabbits, which was rather humorous.
The pacing could have been improved. Although the book kept my attention, the story sometimes moved slower than I would have liked. For example, the book spans many decades, with the main storyline happening in the present. The beginning world-building part was the aspect that dragged a bit, although it did build a good foundation for the main plotline.
Overall, Quozl is a charming and entertaining read that will leave you smiling. It's a perfect pick-me-up for anyone who enjoys lighthearted sci-fi.
The Quozl land on Earth during World War II and are shocked to discover that Earth is already inhabited by another intelligent species. The Quozl are a peaceful and docile race, and they are horrified by the violence and destruction they witness on Earth. They decide to keep their presence a secret and establish an underground colony. They are worried about what humans will do to them if they are discovered.
At first, the story follows a Quozl named Looks-at-Charts: A scout on the Quozl ship. He's responsible for finding a suitable planet and plays a crucial role in the initial landing on Earth. In the second part, the story shifts to Looks-at-Charts' extended relation, Runs-Red-Talking, who stumbles across a human child, and this simple interaction will start a chain of events that will forever change Quozl's history.
What I liked most about the book was Foster's detailed alien culture of the Quozl. Their social structure, communication, and motivations are interesting and well-explored. I also liked that they were giant rabbits, and in many respects, they had the same character traits as Earth rabbits, which was rather humorous.
The pacing could have been improved. Although the book kept my attention, the story sometimes moved slower than I would have liked. For example, the book spans many decades, with the main storyline happening in the present. The beginning world-building part was the aspect that dragged a bit, although it did build a good foundation for the main plotline.
Overall, Quozl is a charming and entertaining read that will leave you smiling. It's a perfect pick-me-up for anyone who enjoys lighthearted sci-fi.
January 31, 2025
This is a decent story about alien bunnies who come to Earth. The story is entertaining enough, but it did irritate me some.
First off, the Quozl are a deep-thinking and highly philosophical bunch. They speak with a very broad vocabulary. I get that. But in the chapters about them, the narration uses a similarly fancy word choice--to the point where it gets a little obnoxious. I like to think I've got a decent vocabulary, but I was looking up words all the time. Fortunately, in the ebook, I could just tap on a word to get a definition, but this would be really maddening in paperback form. It was also distracting from the plot because I'd be all into the story, then need to stop and look up a word.
Secondly, the story feels a little naive. The author seems to agree that humans are sexually frustrated, but then acts surprised that a human would experiment. Personally, I think most of us are obsessed with sex.
And finally, the tale feels kinda Utopian, as in the characters can easily imagine all these terrible things that could happen if they just aren't careful, but when they aren't careful, none of these bad things do actually happen. Time and time again, the storyline goes from "Be careful you don't do X! Oops, I did X! Oh, thank goodness nothing bad happened because I did X."
I guess I'd call it "cozy scifi" because you don't get terribly stressed reading it. Sadly, that means it wasn't as exciting as it could be either.
First off, the Quozl are a deep-thinking and highly philosophical bunch. They speak with a very broad vocabulary. I get that. But in the chapters about them, the narration uses a similarly fancy word choice--to the point where it gets a little obnoxious. I like to think I've got a decent vocabulary, but I was looking up words all the time. Fortunately, in the ebook, I could just tap on a word to get a definition, but this would be really maddening in paperback form. It was also distracting from the plot because I'd be all into the story, then need to stop and look up a word.
Secondly, the story feels a little naive. The author seems to agree that humans are sexually frustrated, but then acts surprised that a human would experiment. Personally, I think most of us are obsessed with sex.
And finally, the tale feels kinda Utopian, as in the characters can easily imagine all these terrible things that could happen if they just aren't careful, but when they aren't careful, none of these bad things do actually happen. Time and time again, the storyline goes from "Be careful you don't do X! Oops, I did X! Oh, thank goodness nothing bad happened because I did X."
I guess I'd call it "cozy scifi" because you don't get terribly stressed reading it. Sadly, that means it wasn't as exciting as it could be either.
December 5, 2020
Rabbits?
A few days ago it was my birthday. Just for the hell of it I looked online to see if I shared a birthday with anyone notable. Of course I already knew about Mickey Mouse, born November 18, 1927,. There were a few notables from centuries past, but in 1946, my year, there was this guy Alan Dean Foster, an author of some note, albeit never before noted by me.
So being a good Kindle guy I looked him up, and found out about an invasion of our dear planet by a race of extraterrestrial bunny rabbits. To my surprise, I couldn’t put the ebook down, causing at least one night with four hours of sleep in it.
By way of an accident, Foster shows a relationship that hopefully, will develop someday in reality, while sneaking in some horrifyingly accurate descriptions of what makes us Tellurians tick.
I’m not going to say too much about the plot, since the five or six followers that I seem to have don’t like it if I blab too much. Suffice that you will not be disappointed in the story. And since Mr Foster is literally a man of my age, it’s good to see that we Lead Boomers have still got it.
A few days ago it was my birthday. Just for the hell of it I looked online to see if I shared a birthday with anyone notable. Of course I already knew about Mickey Mouse, born November 18, 1927,. There were a few notables from centuries past, but in 1946, my year, there was this guy Alan Dean Foster, an author of some note, albeit never before noted by me.
So being a good Kindle guy I looked him up, and found out about an invasion of our dear planet by a race of extraterrestrial bunny rabbits. To my surprise, I couldn’t put the ebook down, causing at least one night with four hours of sleep in it.
By way of an accident, Foster shows a relationship that hopefully, will develop someday in reality, while sneaking in some horrifyingly accurate descriptions of what makes us Tellurians tick.
I’m not going to say too much about the plot, since the five or six followers that I seem to have don’t like it if I blab too much. Suffice that you will not be disappointed in the story. And since Mr Foster is literally a man of my age, it’s good to see that we Lead Boomers have still got it.
February 15, 2024
This was a fun thrift store find. I admit I mainly picked it up because of the delightful James Gurney cover, but the blurb on the back did have me intrigued. "The Quozl knew they'd love the third planet from the sun. But it never occurred to them that anyone lived there..." More books could use a nice simple pitch like that.
While not being as funny or whimsical as the cover suggested, the book had a lot of interesting ideas, a well-developed alien society, and a very different take on first-contact/planetary colonization. It takes place over the course of many decades, leading to a bit of a weird structure and changing out of main characters - and overall too many characters. The human characters in particular were very one-note, boring, and prone to stupid decisions. The ending felt a bit rushed and too easy. I like an optimistic finale, but this one just felt unrealistically so.
Quozl was an enjoyable read with the feel of a cheesy-yet-charming 80s sci-fi movie. Actually, a low-budget adaptation with puppets would be delightful. Had I read it in my youth, I'm sure I would have absolutely loved it.
While not being as funny or whimsical as the cover suggested, the book had a lot of interesting ideas, a well-developed alien society, and a very different take on first-contact/planetary colonization. It takes place over the course of many decades, leading to a bit of a weird structure and changing out of main characters - and overall too many characters. The human characters in particular were very one-note, boring, and prone to stupid decisions. The ending felt a bit rushed and too easy. I like an optimistic finale, but this one just felt unrealistically so.
Quozl was an enjoyable read with the feel of a cheesy-yet-charming 80s sci-fi movie. Actually, a low-budget adaptation with puppets would be delightful. Had I read it in my youth, I'm sure I would have absolutely loved it.
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