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Star Cat #1
Infinity Claws
IN SPACE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU PURR.What if Jelly the Cat is our only chance?The Space Opera Alpha expedition vanished exploring one of Saturn's moons. It was assumed the crew died, but a strange message left Mission Control with hope.Why wouldn’t survivors send a longer distress call?It was only two words, but what do they mean?Only the common household cat seems to understand it. Now, the prowl is on to find the best-suited cat to join Space Opera Beta's rescue team to Saturn. She will be judged on her agility, prowess, obedience, and combat.The winner will be crowned Earth's first Star Cat, and equipped with Infinity Claws to battle anyone who stands in her way.But the human crew have no idea how important the little fuzzball is to the future of the universe, how disobedient she is whenever she feels like it... and how violent she can get with friends and foes.Fans of Frank Herbert, Douglas Adams, and Star Wars will love this first instalment in the best-selling STAR CAT phenomenon because everyone enjoys action-packed sci-fi fantasy tails full of twists, turns, aliens, and snarky banter. Get it now.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2018
468 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Mackay
102 books158 followersA novelist, screenwriter and former teacher, Andrew Mackay is the creator of groundbreaking sci-fi series STAR CAT.
His influences include John Cleese, Tom Sharpe, Kurt Vonnegut, James Patterson, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Michael Frayn, Chris Morris, Christopher Hitchins, Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Larry Cohen.
Get in touch! Andrew@chromevalleybooks.com
His influences include John Cleese, Tom Sharpe, Kurt Vonnegut, James Patterson, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Michael Frayn, Chris Morris, Christopher Hitchins, Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Larry Cohen.
Get in touch! Andrew@chromevalleybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 5, 2020
This was horrible. Don't read this. I would give this zero stars if it were an option.
It started off as a light-hearted science fiction novel about sending a cat to space. But the final round of the public competition for most qualified cat involved putting two cats into an electrified cage in zero gravity, and having them fight. One cat died. Both cats were house pets in families with young children; the children watched the fight. I can't begin to describe how revolted I was by including animal abuse in the story and not acknowledging how evil or traumatic it was both for the cats and for the families. I stopped reading there.
It started off as a light-hearted science fiction novel about sending a cat to space. But the final round of the public competition for most qualified cat involved putting two cats into an electrified cage in zero gravity, and having them fight. One cat died. Both cats were house pets in families with young children; the children watched the fight. I can't begin to describe how revolted I was by including animal abuse in the story and not acknowledging how evil or traumatic it was both for the cats and for the families. I stopped reading there.
December 3, 2021
DNF at 38%
I sometimes leave books at the back row to get back to in case I am in the mood to continue, but I don't know. I think I would rather watch paint dry than continuing. And I hate myself for it because I loved the first chapter so much. The concept of training a super awesome cat to travel to Saturn because it reacts coherently when exposed to a weird alien sound is just too cool to be true.
The problem is... well, the cat is awesome and she never fails. It is the worldbuilding and humans that drove me nuts.
First off, like... everyone acts like they have never seen a muslim before... in modern era London. This book is supposed to happen a few centuries into the future so unless gigantic hordes of people moved to other countries even though England continues to be a weathy nation for some weird reason, I wanted to claw my nails against a blackboard when the child owner of the cat reacts in such a freightful way when he meets an Iranian veterinarian that will be in charge of caring for his pet cat.
Heck, the book doesn't even make a lot of sense in other ways. Airplane travel is now very rare because nobody wants to use fossil fuels, but people don't travel long distances by boat. The book has the technology to travel to Saturn within a very short timeframe and have moon colonies, but human cities don't have hyperloops and Houston Texas still relies on gas cars for short distance travel. Huh?
Seems like the book has 3 superpowers in the future: USA, England and Russia. I would have wanted to really spice things up. Have Nigeria or India as one of the great powers to make things more original and the space cat competition feel truly international. The book can't really agree on whether to make the worldbuilding really futuristic or nestled in the Cold War era of the XXth century. A lot of the technology in the book feels dated even for 2021.
I knew beforehand about the animal cruelty featured in the space cat competition. It wasn't a deal breaker for me, but I think the tests seemed rather unrealistic. In particular in the sense they allowed adult cats to compete knowing they would likely be very elderly by the time they were trained and reached Saturn. And non sterilized cats? Huh? Even today, Europe has very strict laws governing keeping fertile pets. I would assume 200 years from now, it would be highly unlikely anyone from a wealthy nation would own an unsterilized pet. People living in Belgium have to follow insanely long waiting lists to adopt a pet with few chances to get to meet their new furry friend and if the animal's personality and energy level is a good fit for their own. None of this seems to be important with the worldbuilding of this book, which drove me nuts.
And what is with the racism anyways? One minute, the USA astronaut is such a goodie good shoes guy, the next minute he nips at the Iranian vet for no reason. Like, I seriously doubt NASA would allow a temperamental guy like that to join a long-term space mission. They purposely weed those people out and only select the candidates with the most docile personalities. It would be a really bad idea to stuff 10 emotionally volatile people into a spaceship. Better go the whole 9 yards and give them all machetes and pitchforks while you're at it.
I sometimes leave books at the back row to get back to in case I am in the mood to continue, but I don't know. I think I would rather watch paint dry than continuing. And I hate myself for it because I loved the first chapter so much. The concept of training a super awesome cat to travel to Saturn because it reacts coherently when exposed to a weird alien sound is just too cool to be true.
The problem is... well, the cat is awesome and she never fails. It is the worldbuilding and humans that drove me nuts.
First off, like... everyone acts like they have never seen a muslim before... in modern era London. This book is supposed to happen a few centuries into the future so unless gigantic hordes of people moved to other countries even though England continues to be a weathy nation for some weird reason, I wanted to claw my nails against a blackboard when the child owner of the cat reacts in such a freightful way when he meets an Iranian veterinarian that will be in charge of caring for his pet cat.
Heck, the book doesn't even make a lot of sense in other ways. Airplane travel is now very rare because nobody wants to use fossil fuels, but people don't travel long distances by boat. The book has the technology to travel to Saturn within a very short timeframe and have moon colonies, but human cities don't have hyperloops and Houston Texas still relies on gas cars for short distance travel. Huh?
Seems like the book has 3 superpowers in the future: USA, England and Russia. I would have wanted to really spice things up. Have Nigeria or India as one of the great powers to make things more original and the space cat competition feel truly international. The book can't really agree on whether to make the worldbuilding really futuristic or nestled in the Cold War era of the XXth century. A lot of the technology in the book feels dated even for 2021.
I knew beforehand about the animal cruelty featured in the space cat competition. It wasn't a deal breaker for me, but I think the tests seemed rather unrealistic. In particular in the sense they allowed adult cats to compete knowing they would likely be very elderly by the time they were trained and reached Saturn. And non sterilized cats? Huh? Even today, Europe has very strict laws governing keeping fertile pets. I would assume 200 years from now, it would be highly unlikely anyone from a wealthy nation would own an unsterilized pet. People living in Belgium have to follow insanely long waiting lists to adopt a pet with few chances to get to meet their new furry friend and if the animal's personality and energy level is a good fit for their own. None of this seems to be important with the worldbuilding of this book, which drove me nuts.
And what is with the racism anyways? One minute, the USA astronaut is such a goodie good shoes guy, the next minute he nips at the Iranian vet for no reason. Like, I seriously doubt NASA would allow a temperamental guy like that to join a long-term space mission. They purposely weed those people out and only select the candidates with the most docile personalities. It would be a really bad idea to stuff 10 emotionally volatile people into a spaceship. Better go the whole 9 yards and give them all machetes and pitchforks while you're at it.
February 23, 2023
Sorry, but I did not sign up for animal abuse and scenes of cats ripping each other apart against their will.
May 2, 2019
Good start to the series though I think the book was a bit longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed getting to know the crew of Space Opera Beta and Jelly is adorable. Hopefully the next one is a bit shorter.
December 24, 2022
Lt. Tripp Healy works on the moon base station. He is part of an investigation into the "Saturn Cry", a possible distress call or maybe communication from aliens, which has been under investigation for three years but the investigation has gone nowhere. He is bored because of this and there isn't much to do on the moon so he calls home to his wife and child. The station's computer misunderstands something Tripp says as a command and plays the Saturn Cry and Tripp's family cat reacts to it.
The international consortium (USARIC) that runs the moon base station, mostly Americans and Russians, launches an international search for the world's first cat in space. The competition turns into a global phenomenon, with national competitions (think Survivor, America's Got Talent, or Dancing with the Stars but with cats). However, rather than showing us a global view, Mackay narrows his focus to one boy - Jaime, his orange tabby cat, Jelly, and his mother, Emily. Jelly makes it through the preliminary screening, and is in the top three after the UK National competition. Emily, Jamie, and Jelly travel to the US for the finals. Jelly comes in second, but the winning cat suffers from injuries he received in the competition and an unusual allergy to the infinity paw each pet cat was given and dies. Jelly is offered the position of the first cat in space. Emily agrees. Jamie is given a tour of the spaceship Opera Beta and is enthralled. He tries to convince the astronauts to take him with Jelly into space but it doesn't work. When Jelly is taken away, Jamie cries and regrets even getting involved in the competition.
This is the first half of this short novel, which was my Day 1 of Blizzard read. I liked the beginning of this book. Jamie is wonderful, Jelly is a great character (and no, the cat doesn't speak, nor do we have chapters from her point-of-view), and Emily is understandable. I did find the killing of the Russian Blue cat (the winner of the competition but ultimately a loser) to be cruel and unnecessary. It's possible this is foreshadowing for later plot points in the series, but for what had been a cute story that promises cats in space - torturing and killing a cat is cruel and hard to read (I nearly cried). Yes, the project vet tries to save the cat but it's too late.
There are also some weird comments in part one. Jamie considers himself very lucky to travel to the US because there is now a practical ban on all international travel. Any travel that exists is extremely expensive and outside the means of most normal, everyday people. There is little explanation for this - just, that's how it is now. Travel is the best way to broaden the mind and experience different cultures and people. By banning it, old hatreds, stereotypes, lies, etc. are no doubt bound to occur. With those lies and hatreds often comes war and conflict. So banning travel, long-term, makes no sense. (Emergency short-term bans sometimes make sense - it depends on the reason for the ban and how it is enforced.)
There's also a ban on social media with the excuse that it caused people to forget how to interact with others, and even forget how to talk. That's physically impossible and doesn't make sense - at all. Social Media has been replaced with "individimedia". Though not much is said about Individimedia, it is installed on the forearm of all persons at age 17 and it feeds them advertisements, news, entertainment, etc. People cannot respond back with their own opinions or comments on all these media - it's decidedly one-way, like broadcast television.
There have also been some geographic changes to the US. Florida is destroyed in a flood, and the survivors move to Texas. Texas is split into two states: North Texas and South Texas. And Alaska splits off to be a new country along with part of Russia (by the Bering Straight). This geopolitical conflict also sets up the USARIC.
In part two, the scientists on Opera Beta travel towards one of the moons of Saturn, source of the Saturn Cry, with a now augmented Jelly the cat (she has the infinity paws on her paws including titanium claws replacing her own and an opposable thumb. Jelly is popular with most of the crew. One of the crew members attempts to kill the commander, Katz, but Jelly interferes and saves the commander - the offender is essentially sent to the brig. The problem is, instead of putting him in cyro sleep immediately (which they will need to do eventually) they wait. And this spy/traitor isn't the only spy on the ship.
Before they reach the moon, they find Opera Alpha and see that it is floating in space. They also find out the signal is coming from Alpha. The crew vote on whether to try to rescue the crew of Alpha. One person is opposed, but she's convinced eventually and the captain gets his unanimous vote. Unfortunately, things do not go well for anybody from that point on. They find the "commander" of the other ship, alive, but she says she had to put the others in the crew in stasis because the ship's organic oxygen factory was destroyed. She can't explain how. Well, she's apparently been taken over by an alien or some sort of infection.
Meanwhile, on Beta, the other spy makes himself known, arrests the two people left on board, and frees his comrade from the brig. Because, of course, the bad guys are Russians.
On Alpha, the rest of Tripp's crew, including Jelly, arrive and are convinced by the commander of the ship to remove their helmets. BAD MOVE! Why do people in SF books/TV Series/Movies always take off their helmets and breathe the contaminated air of derelict ships? WHY?! Anyway, it goes about as well as you'd expect. Everyone is exposed to whatever happened on the ship, and their eyes are bleeding pink. They find out the crew in the stasis pods are dead. The Alpha commander is nuts. And the Russians on Beta force the android from Beta to blow up itself and the command deck of Alpha.
Most of the crew manage to escape to Beta. One of the scientists dies from the pink stuff. The only clue anyone has to what is going on is the phrase, "Pink Symphony". There's also some sort of weird pink cloud on the surface of the moon of Saturn they are supposed to study. And Saturn's rings are acting weird. The commander sacrifices himself to let his crew escape.
Back on Beta, the crew figures out they have been betrayed. They manage to finally catch the bad guys, and release their own imprisoned colleagues - but not before the oxygen generation chamber on Beta is also destroyed. In the end, Jelly gets to the ship's computer to call Jaime so she can say goodbye, but then Jelly tries to send the ship off towards the mysterious pink cloud that might be a wormhole in a last-ditch attempt to save everyone before the air runs out. So it's a cliffhanger ending.
I received the first three books of this series for free through one of the many free e-book newsletters I subscribe to. Based on the strength of this book though, I bought the rest of the series. I do recommend Star Cat even though parts of it were a bit weird.
The international consortium (USARIC) that runs the moon base station, mostly Americans and Russians, launches an international search for the world's first cat in space. The competition turns into a global phenomenon, with national competitions (think Survivor, America's Got Talent, or Dancing with the Stars but with cats). However, rather than showing us a global view, Mackay narrows his focus to one boy - Jaime, his orange tabby cat, Jelly, and his mother, Emily. Jelly makes it through the preliminary screening, and is in the top three after the UK National competition. Emily, Jamie, and Jelly travel to the US for the finals. Jelly comes in second, but the winning cat suffers from injuries he received in the competition and an unusual allergy to the infinity paw each pet cat was given and dies. Jelly is offered the position of the first cat in space. Emily agrees. Jamie is given a tour of the spaceship Opera Beta and is enthralled. He tries to convince the astronauts to take him with Jelly into space but it doesn't work. When Jelly is taken away, Jamie cries and regrets even getting involved in the competition.
This is the first half of this short novel, which was my Day 1 of Blizzard read. I liked the beginning of this book. Jamie is wonderful, Jelly is a great character (and no, the cat doesn't speak, nor do we have chapters from her point-of-view), and Emily is understandable. I did find the killing of the Russian Blue cat (the winner of the competition but ultimately a loser) to be cruel and unnecessary. It's possible this is foreshadowing for later plot points in the series, but for what had been a cute story that promises cats in space - torturing and killing a cat is cruel and hard to read (I nearly cried). Yes, the project vet tries to save the cat but it's too late.
There are also some weird comments in part one. Jamie considers himself very lucky to travel to the US because there is now a practical ban on all international travel. Any travel that exists is extremely expensive and outside the means of most normal, everyday people. There is little explanation for this - just, that's how it is now. Travel is the best way to broaden the mind and experience different cultures and people. By banning it, old hatreds, stereotypes, lies, etc. are no doubt bound to occur. With those lies and hatreds often comes war and conflict. So banning travel, long-term, makes no sense. (Emergency short-term bans sometimes make sense - it depends on the reason for the ban and how it is enforced.)
There's also a ban on social media with the excuse that it caused people to forget how to interact with others, and even forget how to talk. That's physically impossible and doesn't make sense - at all. Social Media has been replaced with "individimedia". Though not much is said about Individimedia, it is installed on the forearm of all persons at age 17 and it feeds them advertisements, news, entertainment, etc. People cannot respond back with their own opinions or comments on all these media - it's decidedly one-way, like broadcast television.
There have also been some geographic changes to the US. Florida is destroyed in a flood, and the survivors move to Texas. Texas is split into two states: North Texas and South Texas. And Alaska splits off to be a new country along with part of Russia (by the Bering Straight). This geopolitical conflict also sets up the USARIC.
In part two, the scientists on Opera Beta travel towards one of the moons of Saturn, source of the Saturn Cry, with a now augmented Jelly the cat (she has the infinity paws on her paws including titanium claws replacing her own and an opposable thumb. Jelly is popular with most of the crew. One of the crew members attempts to kill the commander, Katz, but Jelly interferes and saves the commander - the offender is essentially sent to the brig. The problem is, instead of putting him in cyro sleep immediately (which they will need to do eventually) they wait. And this spy/traitor isn't the only spy on the ship.
Before they reach the moon, they find Opera Alpha and see that it is floating in space. They also find out the signal is coming from Alpha. The crew vote on whether to try to rescue the crew of Alpha. One person is opposed, but she's convinced eventually and the captain gets his unanimous vote. Unfortunately, things do not go well for anybody from that point on. They find the "commander" of the other ship, alive, but she says she had to put the others in the crew in stasis because the ship's organic oxygen factory was destroyed. She can't explain how. Well, she's apparently been taken over by an alien or some sort of infection.
Meanwhile, on Beta, the other spy makes himself known, arrests the two people left on board, and frees his comrade from the brig. Because, of course, the bad guys are Russians.
On Alpha, the rest of Tripp's crew, including Jelly, arrive and are convinced by the commander of the ship to remove their helmets. BAD MOVE! Why do people in SF books/TV Series/Movies always take off their helmets and breathe the contaminated air of derelict ships? WHY?! Anyway, it goes about as well as you'd expect. Everyone is exposed to whatever happened on the ship, and their eyes are bleeding pink. They find out the crew in the stasis pods are dead. The Alpha commander is nuts. And the Russians on Beta force the android from Beta to blow up itself and the command deck of Alpha.
Most of the crew manage to escape to Beta. One of the scientists dies from the pink stuff. The only clue anyone has to what is going on is the phrase, "Pink Symphony". There's also some sort of weird pink cloud on the surface of the moon of Saturn they are supposed to study. And Saturn's rings are acting weird. The commander sacrifices himself to let his crew escape.
Back on Beta, the crew figures out they have been betrayed. They manage to finally catch the bad guys, and release their own imprisoned colleagues - but not before the oxygen generation chamber on Beta is also destroyed. In the end, Jelly gets to the ship's computer to call Jaime so she can say goodbye, but then Jelly tries to send the ship off towards the mysterious pink cloud that might be a wormhole in a last-ditch attempt to save everyone before the air runs out. So it's a cliffhanger ending.
I received the first three books of this series for free through one of the many free e-book newsletters I subscribe to. Based on the strength of this book though, I bought the rest of the series. I do recommend Star Cat even though parts of it were a bit weird.
August 23, 2018
Jelly, the cat, wins in the competition to go into space to explore the universe and the strength signals they received. only she could deceiver them. She flies up with her crew members, asleep for the time. arriving there, well, lots is happening you never see it coming. At the end of the book, only Jelly is still awake and tries, yes, she is, to save her crew members.
Amazing story. Love Jelly. Had to get the next book in line.
Amazing story. Love Jelly. Had to get the next book in line.
April 14, 2025
I often glance at reviews (no spoilers), but I try to make up my own mind about the book. The reviews for this were concerning, and as I read, I realized that they were right.
The thing is, cats fighting, cats dying can be used like in the Warrior series where it has a purpose. But to pretty much start your series off and to have no reason for it, just puts a bad taste in your mouth. It's a space program about a message (as far as they've explained), not an illegal cage match. It's just unnecessary. We don't train our human cadets for space like this. The Russians didn't even train Laika the dog like this when she went to space. It just makes no sense.
AND there is no way in hell the family wouldn't be informed that their family pet had a "chance" of dying in these trials, let alone that they be ok with. There would be so many people suing over their lost, as they were misled. I think that erked me the most; the completely unrealistic setting.
The thing is, cats fighting, cats dying can be used like in the Warrior series where it has a purpose. But to pretty much start your series off and to have no reason for it, just puts a bad taste in your mouth. It's a space program about a message (as far as they've explained), not an illegal cage match. It's just unnecessary. We don't train our human cadets for space like this. The Russians didn't even train Laika the dog like this when she went to space. It just makes no sense.
AND there is no way in hell the family wouldn't be informed that their family pet had a "chance" of dying in these trials, let alone that they be ok with. There would be so many people suing over their lost, as they were misled. I think that erked me the most; the completely unrealistic setting.
June 7, 2018
Title: Infinity Claws
Author: Andrew Mackay
Publisher: Chrome Valley Books
ISBN: B07C49DK9L
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Star-Cat-Infin...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Star Cat 2
Enter your cat. Win the contest. Save the universe.
Five-year-old Jamie Anderson has something to prove. He knows his cat, Jelly, is one in a million and has what it takes to win.
In 2117, the search is on for the first feline in space.
Welcome to the Star Cat Trials.
Millions of cats across the globe will compete to demonstrate their agility, prowess, obedience and combat skills. The winner will join USARIC’s Space Opera Beta team of mercenaries and scientists on a mission to Saturn to decode a distress call and rescue their sister ship.
Now, the fur is about to fly. If Jelly wins, she’ll soon learn that in space no one can hear you purr…
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Jamie knows that he has the smartest cat and he is determined that to prove it at the Star Cat Trials. People form all over the world bring their cats in, but only the cats that fit the very specific requirements will get the chance to compete. Jamie’s cat Jelly fits the bill, but no one expected the contest to pit cats against each other in the most dangerous way. There is more behind the contest than anyone expected and when Jelly wins Jamie is left wondering if it was all worth it. Jelly is about to have the adventure of a lifetime as he joins the Space Beta team in a rescue mission where no one knows what the outcome could be.
This is an incredible sci-fi filled with unexpected plot twists and it isn’t over yet. Jelly is a wonderful character who is more than your average cat. His desire to protect and defend leads him into situations way beyond your average cat. I can’t wait to read Pink Symphony the next book in the Star Cat series.
Received for an honest review.
Author: Andrew Mackay
Publisher: Chrome Valley Books
ISBN: B07C49DK9L
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Star-Cat-Infin...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Star Cat 2
Enter your cat. Win the contest. Save the universe.
Five-year-old Jamie Anderson has something to prove. He knows his cat, Jelly, is one in a million and has what it takes to win.
In 2117, the search is on for the first feline in space.
Welcome to the Star Cat Trials.
Millions of cats across the globe will compete to demonstrate their agility, prowess, obedience and combat skills. The winner will join USARIC’s Space Opera Beta team of mercenaries and scientists on a mission to Saturn to decode a distress call and rescue their sister ship.
Now, the fur is about to fly. If Jelly wins, she’ll soon learn that in space no one can hear you purr…
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
Jamie knows that he has the smartest cat and he is determined that to prove it at the Star Cat Trials. People form all over the world bring their cats in, but only the cats that fit the very specific requirements will get the chance to compete. Jamie’s cat Jelly fits the bill, but no one expected the contest to pit cats against each other in the most dangerous way. There is more behind the contest than anyone expected and when Jelly wins Jamie is left wondering if it was all worth it. Jelly is about to have the adventure of a lifetime as he joins the Space Beta team in a rescue mission where no one knows what the outcome could be.
This is an incredible sci-fi filled with unexpected plot twists and it isn’t over yet. Jelly is a wonderful character who is more than your average cat. His desire to protect and defend leads him into situations way beyond your average cat. I can’t wait to read Pink Symphony the next book in the Star Cat series.
Received for an honest review.
September 30, 2018
From a workstation on the moon in the twenty-second century, where a team has monitored strange screeching noises emanating from Saturn for six years, a member calls his family, only to notice that the family cat, a female, reacts strangely to the sounds coming through the transmission. By this pure chance, USARIC, the American-Russian consortium tracking the sounds, discovers that only female cats react to the code, which is the only link they have to an expedition that disappeared while searching for the source of what’s now called “the Saturn Cry.” This realization leads to a worldwide contest to find the feline most suited to venture into space. The ultimate choice is Jelly Anderson, the beloved cat of five-year-old Jamie Anderson of Great Britain, and while his mother recognizes the value to their impoverished lives of the $250,000 reward for Jelly’s two-year mission, he regrets letting her go.
However, as a member of Space Opera Beta, Jelly exceeds expectations and, with the help of a supercomputer named Pure Genius, interprets the bizarre sounds. They’re coming from what turns out to be the lost expedition, Space Opera Alpha, which is hiding, abandoned, on the dark side of Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons. However, they have no clue what the two-word message means. When the crew ventures to the deserted ship to investigate, they discover carnage and mayhem, as well as saboteurs in their midst. Only through the bravery of their captain, and the human-like heroics of Jelly, does the crew survive to return to their ship, but what will happen as Space Opera Beta runs out of oxygen?
As encapsulated in the name of the vessels, Andrew Mackay has constructed the perfect space opera. Star Cat: Infinity Claws is a suspenseful beginning to Team Beta’s, and more importantly, Jelly’s, journey to discover just what lurks in the voids of the universe.
However, as a member of Space Opera Beta, Jelly exceeds expectations and, with the help of a supercomputer named Pure Genius, interprets the bizarre sounds. They’re coming from what turns out to be the lost expedition, Space Opera Alpha, which is hiding, abandoned, on the dark side of Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons. However, they have no clue what the two-word message means. When the crew ventures to the deserted ship to investigate, they discover carnage and mayhem, as well as saboteurs in their midst. Only through the bravery of their captain, and the human-like heroics of Jelly, does the crew survive to return to their ship, but what will happen as Space Opera Beta runs out of oxygen?
As encapsulated in the name of the vessels, Andrew Mackay has constructed the perfect space opera. Star Cat: Infinity Claws is a suspenseful beginning to Team Beta’s, and more importantly, Jelly’s, journey to discover just what lurks in the voids of the universe.
August 30, 2018
This story got better and better as you went on. Your started with Jamie and Emily touring the space ship after the cat that won the competition had given up her space on the mission, but don't tell anyone, it's hush hush. There were a lot of hushed things that came out in this book and you will be knocked off your seat with some of them, I was. There were a few that my mouth hung open with a "no way" attached to it.
Learning the history of the space program and the ship was to say the least fascinating. You felt like you were touring one of today's space ships and learning about the mission it was going on and looking back at the history of our space program. It felt very real and very believable.
I cried when Jamie had to hand over Jelly for her new Mommy and home. I looked over at my own sleeping cat, Oliver, who has the same colors and eyes and Jelly does, and knew that it would be to hard to do what Jamie did. See, it feels real, Andrew Makay did a fabulist job in bringing this story to life.
The mission started out like any other would and grew with excitement and action as you read on. There are many twists and turns along the way and you don't see a lot of them coming. Andrew Makay is good for that! Example, there is one clue that can give you an idea of a part of what's to come if you don't miss it. I didn't miss it, but I was thoroughly surprised how it played out.
As usual, when you are reading one of Andrew Makay's books, you are left with a sense of wonder for what is to come next from him. I just love his work and would recommend his books to everyone.
Learning the history of the space program and the ship was to say the least fascinating. You felt like you were touring one of today's space ships and learning about the mission it was going on and looking back at the history of our space program. It felt very real and very believable.
I cried when Jamie had to hand over Jelly for her new Mommy and home. I looked over at my own sleeping cat, Oliver, who has the same colors and eyes and Jelly does, and knew that it would be to hard to do what Jamie did. See, it feels real, Andrew Makay did a fabulist job in bringing this story to life.
The mission started out like any other would and grew with excitement and action as you read on. There are many twists and turns along the way and you don't see a lot of them coming. Andrew Makay is good for that! Example, there is one clue that can give you an idea of a part of what's to come if you don't miss it. I didn't miss it, but I was thoroughly surprised how it played out.
As usual, when you are reading one of Andrew Makay's books, you are left with a sense of wonder for what is to come next from him. I just love his work and would recommend his books to everyone.
July 8, 2018
2.5 Stars
This was almost a very good book.
The premise and the basic story actually are very good and well thought out. Unfortunately, while the subject matter is best suited to the fourteen and up crowd, it reads like an early grade chapter book especially during the cat trials and during much-needed descriptions of what was happening near Saturn. I also couldn’t tell if the social commentary was supposed to be humor, satire, or completely serious. However, I did feel like it wasn’t completely necessary. Interesting backstory ranging to the 21st century hinted at world-building that never quite reached the mark and was lost in the cold war aspects of the story, where the exposition was often jumbled and confusing. Are they allies? Why are they not?
Jelly along with Jamie and his mother are wonderful warm-blooded characters that immediately engendered emotional investment. Very few of any of the other major characters seemed worth my time and the bad guys read more like elementary schoolyard bullies than adult international spies.
Finally, the copy I ended up with could have used another edit as the book’s title “Infinity Claws” and a major plot point the “Infinity Clause” seemed to be used interchangeably at several points. That along with other minor spelling issues (typos), sadly, made reading this to the end a bit of chore. I couldn’t even finish the interview questions at the end because of them.
This series has so much potential this book just doesn’t live up to.
This was almost a very good book.
The premise and the basic story actually are very good and well thought out. Unfortunately, while the subject matter is best suited to the fourteen and up crowd, it reads like an early grade chapter book especially during the cat trials and during much-needed descriptions of what was happening near Saturn. I also couldn’t tell if the social commentary was supposed to be humor, satire, or completely serious. However, I did feel like it wasn’t completely necessary. Interesting backstory ranging to the 21st century hinted at world-building that never quite reached the mark and was lost in the cold war aspects of the story, where the exposition was often jumbled and confusing. Are they allies? Why are they not?
Jelly along with Jamie and his mother are wonderful warm-blooded characters that immediately engendered emotional investment. Very few of any of the other major characters seemed worth my time and the bad guys read more like elementary schoolyard bullies than adult international spies.
Finally, the copy I ended up with could have used another edit as the book’s title “Infinity Claws” and a major plot point the “Infinity Clause” seemed to be used interchangeably at several points. That along with other minor spelling issues (typos), sadly, made reading this to the end a bit of chore. I couldn’t even finish the interview questions at the end because of them.
This series has so much potential this book just doesn’t live up to.
February 2, 2019
Tripp Healy decided to call home from the moon where he had been for two weeks. While talking to his wife and son showed them what the earth looked like his bedroom on the moon. Rogan his son wanted to know when he could come to the moon and Tripp said maybe when you're older about that time a black cat walked into the room named Spooky. He told them that Opera Alpha was missing. Then he played the Saturn Cry and spooky reacted to it. Manuel the virtual computer then begin to explain that the Saturn cry is a perceived distress call from the planet of Saturn made a striking want sound like an excessive blue on a drum spooky got down and was ready to attack anything in her proximity Tripp got his wife Samantha to turn the camera down and nothing happened. Trip had Manuel replay the cry and on the first boom spooky shrieked Her tail got bushy and she was ready to attack something then there was another boom and spooky calm down immediately letting out economy now and gave broken a cuddled and then plumped again and spooky jumped in the air Willingboro landing on her feet.
A year later they had the Cat Trials in which millions of people brought their female cats who weighed between five and 10 pounds she must be between three and five years H she must not have any elements the abilities or injuries where jelly Anderson and orange female cat got entered into the Cat Trials. To find out how the Trials were conducted and who one you must get the book and read it I'll be honest with you I didn't care for the cat trials the rest of the book is a really good read...
A year later they had the Cat Trials in which millions of people brought their female cats who weighed between five and 10 pounds she must be between three and five years H she must not have any elements the abilities or injuries where jelly Anderson and orange female cat got entered into the Cat Trials. To find out how the Trials were conducted and who one you must get the book and read it I'll be honest with you I didn't care for the cat trials the rest of the book is a really good read...
May 25, 2019
This one is emotional and also inspirational. The space organizations from U.S. and Russia have aligned as allies succeeding in interplanetary mission possibilities. The space organization has "lost" contact with Space Opera Alpha to investigate Enceladus, a moon of Saturn.. The only signal received on earth are whistles, static, chirps and cords. The scientists have noticed that felines seem to be affected by the sounds altering their behavior according to the sounds. They decide to offer a reward and contest for felines that can pass the necessary needs of the mission. Jamie Anderson and his mother Emily have brought their cat Jelly to a contest for the first cat in space. Jelly passed the tests, added enhancements given to her, and joins her human crew on the Space Opera Beta,. In space there is no sound or oxygen and this involves the outcome. Pink Symphony is a virus affecting the behavior of the crew of Alpha and Beta and Jelly. Traitors take control and Jelly in left to figure what happens. End of first book in series and I am sitting on the edge of my chair seat. Plot action and characters well formed and given the voice of real people. although this would probably start with middle grade readers it is deep enough for adults too. I am on of these. On to the next book in series.
February 14, 2019
An intriguing story about a star cat
In the prequel Star Cat Origin a regular cat named Jelly is entered by his owner Jamie Anderson into a contest to be the first star cat.
This intriguing story is about a star cat who is chosen out of thousand cats to interpret the Saturn cry. One spacecraft is already lost because of this Saturn cry which scientist figure was a distress signal. The first ship is indeed in distress, but much happened to the first ship and the second ship. But you will have to read about what happened for yourself. No spoiler alert for you.
The characters are relatable and interesting. But uniquely is the way Earth is divided into various continents and the language that is spoken by the people make this book so intriguing. It's like studying a whole new culture all its own.
I am curious to read the next in the series to find out what happens 2 the Spaceship and Jelly.
Highly recommended to anybody who loves Syfy stories.
bookwormsuzy
In the prequel Star Cat Origin a regular cat named Jelly is entered by his owner Jamie Anderson into a contest to be the first star cat.
This intriguing story is about a star cat who is chosen out of thousand cats to interpret the Saturn cry. One spacecraft is already lost because of this Saturn cry which scientist figure was a distress signal. The first ship is indeed in distress, but much happened to the first ship and the second ship. But you will have to read about what happened for yourself. No spoiler alert for you.
The characters are relatable and interesting. But uniquely is the way Earth is divided into various continents and the language that is spoken by the people make this book so intriguing. It's like studying a whole new culture all its own.
I am curious to read the next in the series to find out what happens 2 the Spaceship and Jelly.
Highly recommended to anybody who loves Syfy stories.
bookwormsuzy
July 16, 2018
I read the prequel (Star Cat Origins) which laid the ground work for this book before beginning Infinity Claws.
I was intrigued by the concept of a cat in space though the Russians did put a dog up during the early Cold War space race.
This story began with more contests to find out which one of them all would win the honor. Our favorite looked like she wouldn’t win but due to some thing unforeseen she was selected to make the journey. Then it started getting exciting and became a real page turner as the end of the book neared. With a real cliffhanger ending I can’t wait to see what happens next to Jelly. There are twists and turns some of which I knew but others that caught me completely by surprise.
This is a great original story and anyone who is fascinated by space travel will like this book. I certainly did!!
Give it a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
I was intrigued by the concept of a cat in space though the Russians did put a dog up during the early Cold War space race.
This story began with more contests to find out which one of them all would win the honor. Our favorite looked like she wouldn’t win but due to some thing unforeseen she was selected to make the journey. Then it started getting exciting and became a real page turner as the end of the book neared. With a real cliffhanger ending I can’t wait to see what happens next to Jelly. There are twists and turns some of which I knew but others that caught me completely by surprise.
This is a great original story and anyone who is fascinated by space travel will like this book. I certainly did!!
Give it a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
March 1, 2019
There's a new hero in the universe and she's a cat
Disclaimer : received a copy through a book giveaway
If I described sections of the book that made me say "wow" I'd have to read it to you.
The world of earth with its troubles is described eloquently and gives you that I'm there feeling without over complicating things. You gather as much by the character interactions as societies descriptions.
Star Cat (Jelly Anderson) herself is written in a method I've not seen before - between a much loved moggie that is all pet cat to one that is changing. Most cat characterizations I've read have been extremes - simple housecat to that of an animal with an intellect and emotions on par with humans.
If you are a cat lover this story will grab you (now I just have to figure out how to get my hands on the rest of the series without my wife finding out)!
Disclaimer : received a copy through a book giveaway
If I described sections of the book that made me say "wow" I'd have to read it to you.
The world of earth with its troubles is described eloquently and gives you that I'm there feeling without over complicating things. You gather as much by the character interactions as societies descriptions.
Star Cat (Jelly Anderson) herself is written in a method I've not seen before - between a much loved moggie that is all pet cat to one that is changing. Most cat characterizations I've read have been extremes - simple housecat to that of an animal with an intellect and emotions on par with humans.
If you are a cat lover this story will grab you (now I just have to figure out how to get my hands on the rest of the series without my wife finding out)!
January 9, 2021
This book partially ties in with Mackay’s novella, Training Day. But we learn how the cat, Jelly Anderson, is selected to go on a space journey to Saturn. A strange message is intercepted from space via a previous excursion but all communications are lost with the ship. For an odd reason some cats seem to respond to the message, although they cannot convey to humans the exact meaning. So a competition is held pitting cats of a certain weight and age to find the ‘purrfect candidate.’
But for the sake of great sci-fi, Jelly is a special cat and is the newest astronaut.
The pace is mostly speedy and has a few witty but sometimes drawn out conversations. Jelly is intuitive and somehow wins the day.
Aside from some annoying clinkers of typos or misused phrasing (can we blame it on the British colloquialisms?), these stories are fun.
Jelly is our heroine!
But for the sake of great sci-fi, Jelly is a special cat and is the newest astronaut.
The pace is mostly speedy and has a few witty but sometimes drawn out conversations. Jelly is intuitive and somehow wins the day.
Aside from some annoying clinkers of typos or misused phrasing (can we blame it on the British colloquialisms?), these stories are fun.
Jelly is our heroine!
March 20, 2019
Anthropomorphised Animal Fiction Which Is Somewhat Realistic?
Yes, that is what this novel is. I've had a love of animal based stories since I discovered and read _Watership Down_ and have read many novels with animal characters who are, to one degree or another, imbued with human traits. However, this is the first novel I've read where the humanized animal could conceivably actually exist. Jelly Andersen is a ginger cat. She is sent into space and given a few cybernetic implants to make her more useful to the human crew, thus Space Cat.
I'm going to read the remaining books in the series, in fact I've already bought them, because I'm invested in Jelly's story. If you read this book, I suspect you will be too.
Yes, that is what this novel is. I've had a love of animal based stories since I discovered and read _Watership Down_ and have read many novels with animal characters who are, to one degree or another, imbued with human traits. However, this is the first novel I've read where the humanized animal could conceivably actually exist. Jelly Andersen is a ginger cat. She is sent into space and given a few cybernetic implants to make her more useful to the human crew, thus Space Cat.
I'm going to read the remaining books in the series, in fact I've already bought them, because I'm invested in Jelly's story. If you read this book, I suspect you will be too.
August 31, 2020
I didn't expect to enjoy this book. I bought it because it was cheap and the concept sounded so incredibly stupid that it almost seemed good.
This book is about Jelly the Cat. A Cat that goes into space and gets subjected to horrible amounts of animal cruelty during the process. Sometimes, this was hard to read. Especially since none of the human characters seemed to be all too concerned about Jelly. They didn't seem to care that this cat was in constant pain and distress.
However, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. I really enjoyed this book until 85%. It kind of lost me after that.
The animal cruelty and the weird last few chapters make me reward this book with 3,5 stars, rounded up to four.
This book is about Jelly the Cat. A Cat that goes into space and gets subjected to horrible amounts of animal cruelty during the process. Sometimes, this was hard to read. Especially since none of the human characters seemed to be all too concerned about Jelly. They didn't seem to care that this cat was in constant pain and distress.
However, the story was interesting enough to keep me reading. I really enjoyed this book until 85%. It kind of lost me after that.
The animal cruelty and the weird last few chapters make me reward this book with 3,5 stars, rounded up to four.
November 7, 2020
Purrrrr-fect Fun
I held onto this book for a while in my Kindle library, not thinking it could possibly be a serious enough read. Silly me for waiting!
I found Star Cat: Infinity Claws to be a serious great read with a great sense of humor. Being a cat person myself I found Jelly's newly acquired abilities VERY believable. I used to wait every Christmas Eve for my vats to start talking. Someone said they would do it, I'm still holding out hope. This book instills that kind of childlike wonder. Yet the book keeps us anchored to some of the harsher realities of life. Bravo, super writing skills Mr. McKay! I look forward to reading more, as finances allow. Blessings to you and yours!
I held onto this book for a while in my Kindle library, not thinking it could possibly be a serious enough read. Silly me for waiting!
I found Star Cat: Infinity Claws to be a serious great read with a great sense of humor. Being a cat person myself I found Jelly's newly acquired abilities VERY believable. I used to wait every Christmas Eve for my vats to start talking. Someone said they would do it, I'm still holding out hope. This book instills that kind of childlike wonder. Yet the book keeps us anchored to some of the harsher realities of life. Bravo, super writing skills Mr. McKay! I look forward to reading more, as finances allow. Blessings to you and yours!
August 24, 2018
I love Jelly. I had my own cat die a few months back and I guess I'm not over that but I did not want Jelly to leave for space. The author spent the perfect amount of time providing the detail of how beautiful she is and this was perfect for me to become attached to her. I can't wait to grab the next book in the series.
Maybe my mind is used to reading indie writers but I did not notice any typos or many errors. A few words missing but it didn't really bother me since I suppose my mind would fill it in. I can't really think of anything I didn't like. I guess I'm just star struck by Jelly. :).
Maybe my mind is used to reading indie writers but I did not notice any typos or many errors. A few words missing but it didn't really bother me since I suppose my mind would fill it in. I can't really think of anything I didn't like. I guess I'm just star struck by Jelly. :).
June 30, 2018
Much like the prequel short story, this book is reminiscent of the YA works of Heinlein and Norton, but unlike the prequel this has some scenes that may distress younger readers, in particular the finale of the Star Cat trials and its aftermath. The author does discuss this in the post novel notes that are included.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable read, although it ends on a cliffhanger, which I found somewhat disappointing. I think novels of this type work best if they are stand alone, or at least have a definite ending even if they are part of an ongoing series.
Other than that, it was an enjoyable read, although it ends on a cliffhanger, which I found somewhat disappointing. I think novels of this type work best if they are stand alone, or at least have a definite ending even if they are part of an ongoing series.
May 11, 2019
Makes little sense to me
Maybe I'm just too old to get it or not from the right country? But I've been a cat person since I was in cradle an this book just doesn't capture a cats 'voice' but kinda turns it into so much what a human would think if they were a cat or wishes a cat could be.. not what a cat really is or what really motivates a cat. Ok I'm too much a cat person and what they describe a cat to think is just ridiculous. The trials to find the best cat and the lies they have to tell when it all goes wrong so sad.
Maybe I'm just too old to get it or not from the right country? But I've been a cat person since I was in cradle an this book just doesn't capture a cats 'voice' but kinda turns it into so much what a human would think if they were a cat or wishes a cat could be.. not what a cat really is or what really motivates a cat. Ok I'm too much a cat person and what they describe a cat to think is just ridiculous. The trials to find the best cat and the lies they have to tell when it all goes wrong so sad.
January 3, 2021
While parts of this book were clever, it refused to settle on a cohesive story. I read this as part of a collection and stopped reading mid-way through the second book. It’s fair to say that things get really weird. While ‘weird’ is fine with me most of the time, I appreciate when it’s there for a reason. After all, I read books because I enjoy stories, not because I want to see how bizarre an author can write. Maybe if I read the entire collection this would all come together, but with so little return so far, I’ve no interest in finding out.
May 25, 2018
Note: I received an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for a review.
The story follows a cat that goes to space. The cover gives you that, of course. The story is told from the perspective of the people around the cat, rather than from the cats point of view. While intriguing and well written, it wasn't a children's book (too much body horror) but it was written in a simple style as if it were intended for children to read. I'm not sure that made the story as strong as it could be.
The story follows a cat that goes to space. The cover gives you that, of course. The story is told from the perspective of the people around the cat, rather than from the cats point of view. While intriguing and well written, it wasn't a children's book (too much body horror) but it was written in a simple style as if it were intended for children to read. I'm not sure that made the story as strong as it could be.
July 19, 2018
No. This is an installment, not a book.
While the concept of the story is fantastic... I absolutely hate being dropped mid climax.
I honestly don't understand the concept of this kind of ambush. And don't misunderstand me it is an ambush!
Before I start a book I would appreciate being warned that the book is incomplete. You have wasted my time. I only have a certain amount left.
While the concept of the story is fantastic... I absolutely hate being dropped mid climax.
I honestly don't understand the concept of this kind of ambush. And don't misunderstand me it is an ambush!
Before I start a book I would appreciate being warned that the book is incomplete. You have wasted my time. I only have a certain amount left.
February 1, 2020
Good story!!
Clever writing, good plot, devious characters. But why pick on the Russians? I think the ordinary people are much like us, in that they just want to get by without government "help". Sometimes I think that if the fanatics and government would leave us alone...Of course, we would probably destroy the planet to get ourselves rich. You can doubt, but look at the old West in America in the 1800. People came in to get rich, and to Hades with anything else.
Clever writing, good plot, devious characters. But why pick on the Russians? I think the ordinary people are much like us, in that they just want to get by without government "help". Sometimes I think that if the fanatics and government would leave us alone...Of course, we would probably destroy the planet to get ourselves rich. You can doubt, but look at the old West in America in the 1800. People came in to get rich, and to Hades with anything else.
January 24, 2022
I'm undecided on how I feel about this book
I'm NOT a sci-fi reader, and I detest anything horror to the point of phobia. There was a part in this book that I didn't enjoy. But my love of cats will have me reaching for the next book in the series. I wouldn't call this a stand alone novel by any means because it ends on a cliff hanger. It's 4 stars for now, but that's subject to change.
I'm NOT a sci-fi reader, and I detest anything horror to the point of phobia. There was a part in this book that I didn't enjoy. But my love of cats will have me reaching for the next book in the series. I wouldn't call this a stand alone novel by any means because it ends on a cliff hanger. It's 4 stars for now, but that's subject to change.
August 3, 2018
This is a short story introduction to the series which lays out the origins, the premise and some of the characters for the series. It was a quick read and did peak my interest into the next book of the series. There isn't much to hint at the different sets of character's relationships which makes it a "I might get to it some day" series for me.
November 7, 2018
Complete waste of time
Cats in space. How could that suck, right? Oh. My. Gods. It can suck SO hard, and not in a good way. I've read close to 600 books in the last three years on Kindle Free and this is ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE worse than any other book I've read. Nothing else comes close. And if you manage to get ducked in by this book one, you'll get halfway through book two and wonder what the he'll you were thinking bothering to read any of this tripe.
Cats in space. How could that suck, right? Oh. My. Gods. It can suck SO hard, and not in a good way. I've read close to 600 books in the last three years on Kindle Free and this is ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE worse than any other book I've read. Nothing else comes close. And if you manage to get ducked in by this book one, you'll get halfway through book two and wonder what the he'll you were thinking bothering to read any of this tripe.
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