Catland

by David Garrett Izzo

Catland is a fable for all ages about mystic and mythic heroic cats the size of lions that lived before recorded time when they were the gifted species and humans were the newcomers. Catland is a parable of goodness adapted from the sweetest essence of mystical philosophy. Catland is about friendship and loyalty, love and devotion, heroism and sacrifice. The kittens Huxley, Maximus and Princess learn about these qualities at the feet of the great sage Gerald, who is an ancient friend of the mystical eagle and leader of Eagleland, Wystan the Wise. When the kittens become adults and Catland's leaders, they face the threat of the evil human Reltih who wishes to rule the world. The Princess chooses Huxley as her mate. The orphan, Maximus, driven by his unrequited love for Princess, becomes Catland's greatest warrior and defends his adopted home from the enemy.

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

David Garrett Izzo is an English Professor emeritus who has published three novels, three plays, five short stories, and 17 poems, as well as 16 books and 60 essays of literary scholarship. David has published extensively on the Perennial Spiritual Philosophy of Mysticism (Vedanta) as applied to literature. He is inspired by Aldous Huxley, as well as Bruce Springsteen, his wife Carol and their five cats: Huxley, Max, Princess, Phoebe, and Luca. Two of his novels are fantasies with cats as characters: Maximus in Catland (compared to C.S. Lewis) and Purring Heights. The third is a historical novel about Huxley and peers, Details and reviews at www.davidgarrettizzo.com

January 2017
Poems: (see photo)
Permutations Among the
Nightingales
Winner of the Vibrant Poetic Voices Award
Shade Seekers Press No. 2

Advance Praise:

With remarkable elan, David Garrett Izzo unfolds the secret origami of our minds and constitutions in his new book, Permutations among the Nightingales. It’s a fierce collection of philosophical raps, tributes to culture heroes, and the naked autobiography of a man to whom life has given both great pain and great pleasure. Reading Izzo’s poems, you wind up in unexpected places, for he is one of the great secrets of American literature.
Kevin Killian, November 2016.

(Kevin Killian is an American poet, author, editor, and playwright. My Vocabulary Did This to Me: The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer, which he co-edited with Peter Gizzi, won the American Book Award for poetry in 2009.)

The poems in David Izzo’s Permutations Among the Nightingales are full-voiced and whole-hearted. They range from quiet meditations--on teaching, on power, on poetry--to unabashed celebrations of the poet’s heroes—Springsteen, Auden, Huxley, and less famous exemplars of the twin arts of seeing clearly and living consciously. In a time when much poetry is guarded and cautious, these brave poems don’t flinch from expressing the big emotions—heartbreak, gratitude, rage, tenderness.
April Lindner, December 2016

(April Lindner’s first collection of poetry, won the Walt McDonald First Book Prize, Skin (2002). In 2010, she published a young adult novel, Jane. She teaches at St Joseph’s University, Pennsylvania.)

Reviews

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning, I liked the story. Catland is an interesting story that grabs the reader and doesn't let them go until the end. The characters are interesting and the story is a lot of fun. The violence is extremely minimal and this book is okay for younger reads, as there is nothing offensive in the story.

David Garrett Izzo spins a tale of giant cats that ruled the world with mysticism, honor and courage. I found these cats to be everything I wished humans could be today. What a wonderful world it would be if these giant cats really did exist. Overall, I would have to say that this is a very good story and can be read by young adults and adults both.

So, if you love cats, whether they be small house cats or large, intelligent, gentle cats, Catland is the book for you.

I rated this book an 8 out of 10.