The Cat From Outer Space

by Ted Key

A book of this grade is in acceptable shape to read and store. Definitely content are intact. Generally sturdy spine with all pages intact physically. Generally solid cover. Typically have decent shelve wear. Might includes acceptable highlights and notes.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Cats, Fantasy, Animals, Young Adult, Middle Grade

Paperback

First published June 1, 1978

About the author

born Theodore Keyser, he was an American cartoonist and writer, best known as the creator of the cartoon panel Hazel, which was later the basis for a television series of the same name.

Reviews

[Robert Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was 8 when the film was released in 1978, and the young me liked it very much because it had space (space was big back then) and friendly characters and a nice cat who talked. It's very 70's and fun and the book was just as delightful to read as well. The plot is something of a cross between Escape to Witch Mountain and That Darn Cat (both Disney movies also)

[Kelldicott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I was insanely fond of this as a kid. I have no idea why, it simply was the case. There was something corny and lovable about it, I don't know. Later, I found out that the film (of which it was a "novelization") featured a score by Lalo Schifrin and I felt vaguely validated.

[Don LaFountaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but must admit that my rating is a little biased in that this is a book about a movie I loved as a child, so it was through "rose colored glasses" that I read it.

An alien craft is surrounding Earth when the spaceship it was flying has trouble and crash lands on Earth. It's trajectory is followed by members of the US government who want to capture the alien. Though they don't succeed in that, they are able to capture the spacecraft. Within the craft, the Army officers find something they don't understand, and want to know more about. They bring in scientists to try to decide it, but they don't listen to the only one who is close to what it is, Dr. Frank Wilson. However, the alien who has landed on Earth follows him.

The alien is a cat who communicates telepathically and has a collar that allows humans to understand him and talk back. Before he knows it, he is cahoots with the cat and two other scientists who are striving to get Jake the cat launched before the Army General finds out what is going on.

I enjoyed this book a lot because of the nostalgia factor. It's an easy read and is entertaining. I would recommend it to children ages 7 - 12 ish, and to adults who may have had the pleasure to see the movie as a kid when it came out/

[L.B. Sisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. I'm rating this as a kid, since this was the first book I ever read--having sparked my interest after seeing the movie.

[Kadri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iconic Masterpiece... Ainus sci-fi teos, mida ma kunagi loen... Ületamatu... Showstopping....

[Rae Letenyei · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really not into old disney troupes and army plots… i was just annoyed by the end of it -_-

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A space ship lands setting off the army seeking it to look it over. They want to find the pilot, but he is making himself scarse. The ship collided with some space junk and is damaged. The pilot must make repairs and return to its mother ship within a few days.
The pilot is a cat with a collar that intensifies thought so he can communicate with Dr. Wilson, the man he hopes will help him.
This book is from a comedy movie. Key tries to convey the sight gags found in the movie with varying degrees of success. Keystone Cops routines do not write well. The human characters are stereotypes, almost caricatures.
With all of its flaws, this book is still a fast, fun one to read. Strictly fluff.

[jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not even sure how to describe how much I loved this book as a kid. It was my favorite. Very fun story.

[Dean Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for young readers, written to appeal to a young audience with an interest in space and cats...a hard combination to satisfy! The story is perfectly silly yet captivating for a young person, with language and pace that makes reading fun, chapters that are just the right length, and even a bit of an educational component. When I was about 9 years old I couldn't put this book down, though it's getting dated which makes it hard to give a 5 star rating.

[Summer Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This movie novelization is amusing but doesn't particularly stand out in any way. If you're familiar with the film, you'll probably enjoy it more. Jake is terrible at flirting. Wilson is a bit absent-minded. Some of the gags and jokes work better in visual format than print. But it's a fun bit of nostalgia.

[Mattine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was my husbands when he was little so we decided to give it a try. It’s interesting with some bizarre details.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The things I do for Ali and the podcast...

A novelization of a bad 1970s movie from Disney. Chock full of bad 70s lingo and misogyny.

[Eleanor B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book :')

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Kristin Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language is a bit dated but we read this as a family and all of us laughed at the corny jokes and silly happenings. Fun family read.

[Andrew Overbye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strangely this attempts a bunch of sight gags that would be better applied cinematically.

[JW David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intelligent cat with telekinetic powers crashlands on Earth, and needs a large quantity of gold to fix his ship. Hilarious story of the hi jinks involved in getting it.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious

[Sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light book, but it is also a good book. It moves mighty fast. But it's a fun fast.

Where this book soars is comparing it to contemporary fiction. Specifically comparing it to the last book I read, 'Sea Change' by Robert Parker, this book is genius fiction. In 'The Cat from Outer Space' the characters are well defined, the settings are well described, the story is understandable - and no nasty language and sexual mess.

Unlike my complaints of a current book's over abundance of everything, this one is a bit too trim. But, it works and I finished the book satisfied. Love the ending involving the Pledge of Allegiance. Can't imagine a book ending like that today.

Another neat thing about this book is that it was written by 'Hazel' cartoonist, Ted Key.

It's short, it's fast and it's fun. I recommend it.

[Amber Dyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could not be MORE 70's... Worth a read for incredible phrases like, "plant you now, dig you later," "in . . . a cat carrier lay sexy, inviting Lucy Belle," and "she was as good at flying copters as she was at playing pool."

At the risk of dating myself, I have a fond memory of seeing this at the drive-in when I was a girl with distant family, but the memory is more about that experience than the film itself. As an adult, it's hard to imagine who the intended audience was. Physicists, military bases, and bookies are hardly kid stuff, but a magic cat that mostly uses his powers for silly goofs is not for grown-ups either.

Reads quick, I knocked it out in about an hour and intend to leave it at this hotel for some poor confused soul to find. On to the next.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

And the good guys win! Hooray! Was there ever any doubt? I never saw this movie as a kid, but I'm sure I would have loved it. There's nothing like a talking cat. Just watch the film if you're interested; the novelization doesn't add much to the story.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what is it, it is amazing. There is a slow period in the middle that I was almost tempted to skim but then i remembered why I'm reading this book. It isnt because it is a great literary piece. It is because it is sweet, short, and a great look at the era it was written in. Looooved Jake and the story and would recommend to anyone looking for a nice 70s read.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember if in the book, the longshot horse that ends up winning the race is Sweet Jake or Lucky Jake. But, the movie used the other name. That didn't catch my attention until I read the book not long after I watched the movie. And then, my favorite phrase is "Pentagon popsicles."

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awww. Adorable book is adorable. And relevant to my existence, because 1) cats, 2) cats named Jake, 3) Jake's favorite movie. Overall it was fun to get a taste of late 70s movie tie-ins and this adventure in particular was enjoyable.

[Viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very random book. The only reason I picked it up was because it was about a Cat... from outer space. And I have a thing about cats. You can definitely tell this is a Disney story by the way it ends.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

very silly, very dated

[Dree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this as a kid, and I loved the movie. Now my kids have enjoyed the movie--and I couldn't see why I'd liked it so much LOL. Age appropriateness is everything :)

[Lindsey P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember seeing this movie in school when I was a kid!