Breed to Come

by Andre Norton

When desperate measures failed to control what men had begun and could not stop, they fled their polluted planet, leaving behind an epidemic virus born of experimentation. Yet unlike men, whom the disease could destroy, the animals of the planet thrived. Each generation was more forceful and intelligent than the last.

In the ruins of what was once a university complex, a vast band of The People, more highly evolved than those on the outside, sought to master the works of men. And they learned that the demons (as men were called) were not legendary but real. Then one day a spaceship landed...

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

285 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 6, 1972

About the author

Andre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this one as being a good post-apocalypse story featuring genetically uplifted felines who have to deal with the return of demon humanity, who had fled the shattered planet but left their pets behind. It inspired me to get a cat after years of thinking I was solely a dog person. I distinctly remember enjoying the read very much, but the plot details are a bit blurred... I'll hunt it up for a re-read one of these days!

[Dawn F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was recommended this because I was looking for a sci-fi I remember reading as a kid, the cover was greenish and it was something about sentient cats and a poisonous fog that smelled, so that people were warned when the fog came. Or so I remember it. This story is *close*, but either I played up the importance of the poisonous fog/air in my mind over the decades, or it isn't it, as it's barely mentioned in a sentence. But even so, I highly enjoyed the various peoples that had evolved from animals, I always love seeing recognizable things through the eyes of someone to whom it is strange. It was far better than Catseye, so I think I'm not done reading Andre Norton.

(PS: I didn't have mental space to read for months after I started this, so I'm gonna cheat and move my finish date to last year, so that I could reach my reading goal of 85. Looking at 84/85 hurt my brain 😅)

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I loved this book. It's a story about The People, who are genetically engineered cats, though they don't really remember this. The People are fighters, survivors, but their lives, and the lives of all the others on their world might be threatened by the return of the demons (human beings, who engineered the animals, then left the planet).

I cannot say how many times I re-read this book when I was in middle and high school. I'd recommend it to any cat lover, or fan of YA science fiction. I'd like to find it and re-read it, and see if Ms. Norton's writing stands up to my memories.

[Doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the first Sci-Fi book I ever read, and it hooked me on the genre.

This book starts with a being searching for game, and finding evidence of an invader. He makes his way back to the caves of his clan, where he reports on the trouble.

Unfortunately, this also happens to be the time of the mating ritual - the Choosing - where the females choose mates from the visitors from other clans. Our intrepid hero, a cat who walks like the Demons (humans) who long ago fled Earth for the stars, chased by viral diseases they created, is cast out when he loses a fight for the mate of his choice.

He goes to Gammage, an elder, who also happens to be his several-generations-past grandsire, and asks to join what amounts to a group of archaelogists. While there, he gets involved with a group of Demons who return to try to reclaim the Earth.

This book is a strong cautionary tale of things that could come to pass, both to humans and to their animal companions. It reminds us that just because something looks different, it isn't necessarily bad, and someone who sweet talks you isn't necessarily the good guy.

[S.A. Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story immensely this week. Although Andre Norton is one of the authors that got me into science fiction, I don't remember this one from my childhood. This story is one that puts her in the top level of the great writers of the genre.

Breed to Come does what science fiction rightly is known for. The what if of the story combines with human interest to lead you to suspend disbelief and go with the wild ideas until you get to the end.

I was riveted by the story of Furtig and the people he finds in the lairs. I admire his spirit. He is not a great fighter and suffers a defeat near the beginning of the book. His defeat is accepted as a step on his journey to uncover the secrets of his world and grow as an individual.

Breed to Come is superior to many science fiction books written in the same years. There are several strong characters who carry out important tasks separately from Furtig. We care about those other characters and look forward to finding out the results of their endeavors when Furtig meets up with them.

This book is written in 3rd person, mostly from Furtig's POV. The story is told in past tense. It took me 3 days of several hours each day to finish. I recommend to all ages. I think kids as young as 8 years old would probably be OK with it. No sex and moderate violence. The ideal audience will be made up of cat lovers. I would classify this story as a futuristic post-apocalyptic adventure. Thanks, Andre Norton.

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Furtig is one of the People (cat people), a descendant of Gammage. Gammage was physically different - his fur was sparser and his fingers longer. He also believed that the tools and knowledge left behind by the Demons (human beings) could be useful. It was he who developed metal claws that allowed the People to more effectively hunt, as well as fight against the Barkers, Tuskers, and Rattons. When Furtig fails his Trial and chance to secure a mate, he opts to leave his tribe and go to Gammage, who is rumored to somehow still be alive and seeking to unite the People and even ally with the Barkers and Tuskers against a common enemy...the Demons. The Demons disappeared or died out long ago, after killing many of the People in their madness. Could they really be returning?

I first read this when I was in the 5th grade. We'd been given an assignment to read a certain number of science fiction books, and at the time I was firmly a fantasy reader and felt that science fiction was not for me. Then I discovered that Andre Norton had written science fiction starring cats, and I changed my mind.

I don't know that I can really call this a reread. I know I read it before, but I didn't feel one bit of recognition during this "reread," to the point that I might as well have been reading it for the first time.

Norton's style was a bit stiffer than I recalled, and I didn't really settle into the story until after Furtig met Foskatt and Gammage. I enjoyed Furtig's encounters with "Demon" technology - sometimes it was easy to figure out what sort of device he was using, and sometimes I couldn't be sure. Furtig's discovery that he had slight psychic powers was a bit much, but they thankfully weren't overused.

Norton's vision of humanity in this was...not exactly flattering. We basically screwed up multiple times, and then made things worse when we tried to fix our mistakes. The overall message: technology is nice and all, but go too far and you'll kill yourself. It struck me as being both simplistic and depressing, especially considering how Norton hammered it home at the end.

The whole setup with the People, Barkers, Tuskers, and Rattons, made sapient by the mistakes that ultimately killed humanity, was interesting enough. And yeah, I can definitely understand why animal-loving 5th grade me latched onto this and Norton's other cat-focused books. However, in my reread one thing that really bothered me was how hard Norton leaned on rat stereotypes. The Barkers and Tuskers were allowed to be more complex - they could be reasoned with and potentially become allies to the People. The Rattons, on the other hand, were just plain evil, resorting to torture and horrible traps. It struck me as lazy, compared to the way the Barkers and Tuskers were depicted.

All in all, not a bad reread, but a bit more of a downer than I expected.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Rie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid, perusing the sci fi stacks at the library. I don't remember the cover being so cheesy, but I liked the story, though there was probably a lot I couldn't grasp as a kid. The main character was a cat named Furtig, and I remember naming my pound kitty after him. I'm a terrible book reviewer. hehe.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a 10 or 11 year old and loved it. I would still recommend it for young sci fi lovers. When I reread it years later for nostalgia's sake, it wasn't quite the masterpiece I remembered. But even as an adult, if you can suspend your disbelief and avoid wincing over some corny naming, there's some enjoyment here. 2.5 stars

[heather Hammack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally found the book I read 17 years ago that got me to start reading more than just requires for school.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

amazing.

[Valerie]

The 'Demons' who come again are perfectly normal humans, with a serious problem that's never resolved (they came back to Earth after generations on their refuge planet because the refuge planet was also (inexplicably) becoming uninhabitable. If they leave, where can they go?) There's some hint toward the end that there _might_ be a solution from the archives--but it's far from a certainty.

Earth is presented as a planet that has become untenable for humans. If it doesn't kill them, it will poison their minds, and then (probably) kill them anyway. How? Why can't the humans and other peoples (Feline People, Canine Barkers, Porcine Tuskers, and Ratlike Rattons) live in peace? Why are the Rattons represented as inevitably cruel and hostile? The other peoples are personated (they have individual and quite variable natures). Why would the Rattons be impersonal and uniformly cruel and hostile? What's not true about rats wouldn't be true about their humanized descendants, surely? My personal feeling is that Norton was just phobic about rodents, and so prepared to believe any slander alleged against them. But I, having worked with rodents quite often, and lived peacefully in their territories, have to question such reflexive slanders.

The blurbs say that the 'lairs' are a university complex. I doubt this. Not only is it way too big, but any university I'VE ever been associated with is embedded in parklike vegetation--the 'lairs' are represented as being almost completely unvegetated.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book. I read it for the first time when I was in 5th grade (I think, I know it was before 6th). After switching to a new school building I couldn't find it anymore, though only remembering the front cover image, and the basic storyline, along with the quote at the beginning of the book didn't help. After about 9 years (with details fading and reemerging during this time) of idle searching for the book using various keywords in Google, I finally found it again. I instantly purchased it on Amazon, one of surprisingly few copies available from what I saw.

[Idan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ready to give this five stars when I realized that there are plotholes. Not major ones, granted, but enough to make me drop a star. Aside from that, excellent story-telling, excellent characters, excellent conclusion. A very solid work.

[AoC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breed to Come is one of those stories where the premise is sadly spoiled by a blurb on the back of the box, but that doesn't really diminish it so much as prepare you what to expect and keep you guessing when the shift is due. It's at about halfway point in case you were wondering.

World is now inhabited by the People with vague recollections of history. They make their way in a landscape left behind by Demons who fled a long time ago, but it is not without perils as there are Barkers, Tuskers and Rattan still prowling about having formed their own societies. If you haven't surmised yet, the People are descendants of cats albeit something that "those from old days" would recoil from as they've underwent changes of their own which seemingly propelled them into an evolved society. They walk upright unless speed is of essence, their fingers have become elongated enabling rudimentary tool usage, smarter among them have fashioned objects they use as weapons and tools hanging on their belts, etc. As we inhabit the paws of grey Furtig we get this insight into the People's culture, be it from a fledgling warrior looking to prove himself so a female Chooser will, well, choose him to father children with, to a bigger picture regarding tribes and caves they dwell in. As I mentioned there are also outlier People who forsake tradition and move into mysterious lairs from which they delve into the mysteries of now-gone Demons. Deadly, and barely understood technologies have spread out, forever changing existing way of life. Furtig, having lost his claw in a ritual battle, decides to leave and contact his tribe's ancestor residing in just one of such lairs. It just so happens this coincides with a mysterious flying object appearing and perhaps foreshadowing Demons' return?

As I stated above it takes until about the half of the novel for things to escalate, but I must confess the introduction of a new human cast didn't do much for me. They have their own existential reasons for returning to Earth. Seeing a layer of villainized history get peeled back as the People and new human protagonist interact was worth it, though. Amusingly they're linked by common interest in the past and caches of lost technologies they eventually have to rely on for a bombastic finale to unfold. Still, Breed to Come is intrinsically about the new feline society and struggles more so than any hard story. Venerable Gammage has the right idea to advance his people by researching Demon technology, but should he replicate to the letter not knowing what lead to their exodus from Earth? This question is sidestepped for a long time until the eponymous Demon gets to chime in as well.

Narratively you're looking at a lot of "person unfamiliar with modern contraptions tries to comprehend" takes alongside some tactical espionage action since, you know, cats be cats. Interestingly enough the People are quick to shun any ideas of gods, but rather accept technology as re-discovered leftovers they have little qualms against using. Even from characters you'd expect to be obstinate warrior types. In fact, I liked the world view entire society embraces as there are real, day-to-day issues so you don't have the comfort to entertain the apocalyptic notion of Demons returning or forging an alliance with Barkers. In more immediate terms Furtig has to leave behind some of the old ways of the caves and realize People in lairs think differently. Warrior may not simply be measured by his scouting or fighting prowess among those who value intelligence and knowledge-seeking, for example. He finds his way even if taking somewhat a backseat once the humans are introduced.

If there's single problem I have with Breed to Come it would be the finale itself as story almost glosses over it, similar to earlier segments when Furtig is elsewhere as important events are underway. Especially noticeable in this instance as we're talking about some serious damage while one protagonist is away and the other plays the role of a call-center operator. Entire thing is also condensed to mere couple of pages AND pulls double duty for the finale send-off on all accounts. I wanted more of a conclusion.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

There had always been Puttis -- round and soft, made for children. She had kept hers because it was the last thing her mother had made... Puttis were four-legged and tailed. Their heads were round, with shining eyes made of buttons or beads, upstanding ears, whiskers above the small mouth. Puttis were loved, played with, adored in the child world; their origin was those brought by children on the First Ships. [loc. 2219]

This was the first science fiction book I remember reading, from Rochford Library, probably pre-1975. I don't think I've read it since, though I did briefly own a paperback copy. Apparently the blurbs of newer editions mention 'university complex' and 'epidemic virus': aged <10, I was hooked by the cat on the front.

Furtig is one of the People, who are mutated and uplifted cats. The People have a truce with the Tuskers, and a standoff with the Barkers. All are united in their hatred and disgust for the Rattons, who torture and eat their captives. When Furtig fails to win a mate at the Trials, he heads for the Lairs -- the place where the Demons once lived, and where his relative Gammage has been discovering new technologies. Those who dwell in the Lairs now are the Inborn, even more mutated / uplifted than the People: often they have little or no fur, but their paws are much more handlike and agile. They are learning to use some delightfully retro tech, including tape drives ...

Gammage warns that the Demons might return -- and, quite a long way into the novel, we encounter Ayana, a human, who's on a spaceship nearing Earth. How Ayana and her crew react to and interact with the mutated animals, and with Earth itself, forms the rest of the story, though the focus remains firmly on Furtig and his friends and relations.

I remembered quite a bit about Furtig and his adventures, but very little about the humans (or Demons). One thing that did stick in my pre-adolescent mind, though, was how Ayana recognised what she was seeing. 'Not Putti but cat!'... Ayana is open-minded and well-meaning, but her society doesn't seem that great. The crew of her ship consists of two heterosexual couples, whose various skills fulfil all the requirements of the mission. There are hints that Ayana, at least, was psychologically manipulated into pairing with Tan. When they reach Earth, Tan seems to change -- could it be the plague that killed off the human race, apart from a few who escaped to space 500 years ago? -- and becomes abusive, cruel and physically violent. No wonder Ayana sides with the People.

Breed to Come is a darker story than I remember, but it has a happy ending (at least for Furtig and the People) and some intriguing ideas. And it was the novel that started me on the path to where, and who, and what I am today.

[Tim Popko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breed to Come is a YA science fiction book with a number of good twists and turns. It is not a straightforward piece of reading with predictable answers; even by story's end, the reader is left puzzled on parts of the plot.

Take for instance, the disappearance of humans from the planet. What caused it? Why did cats, dogs, pigs, and rodents all become so highly evolved in their 200 year absence? And when humans do arrive back, attempting to return or at least study why it had become inhabitable, how were the four scouts chosen? Why do they go mad when they return? Why was there so much experimentation on animals before humans left the planet?

All these questions remain unanswered, and as an avid science-fiction reader, I 'm okay with that. It makes this an enjoyable read, far more than the cover or the childish plotlines would suggest. It still is young-adult fiction for sure, with a nervous Furtig coming-of-age as a sensitive, shy cat, complete with his own sanitized romantic storyline. The limited emotional/psychological character development also detracts from more "hard" science fiction readers - a major complaint from other reviewers is that rodents are depicted as pure evil, while cats are depicted as warriors, lovers, society-builders and curious by nature - and I couldn't agree more.

I would strongly recommend this for a young adult reader audience, but am wary of the stiff, austere writing style by Andre Norton. Her long descriptions become a bore, her action scenes are a quick blur, and even the climactic portions of the story are far from reaching their potential - after all the build-up about humans eating and hurting animals, why do these advanced cats, rodents, and dogs suddenly become so welcoming to a female human (Ayassa), and at times practically beg her for her assistance? And why does she become an esteemed guest at Gammage's funeral, telling the cats to disavow their study of human advances, instead asking them to "work hard and do it themselves"!!!!???!!! And why not close these huge plotholes? Note: humans make an abrupt turn towards madness when they come to Earth - Andre dropped the ball on that one.

3 Stars - beautiful fantasy tale, excellent scenario for a story, but seriously flawed writing.

[Joe Santoro · Rating 2 out of 5]

So what happens when humans wipe themselves out? The cats take over, of course! I think I've decided I just don't like Andre Norton that much. There's nothing particularly bad about the book.. it's a pretty basic post-apocalypse story, where Cats (The People), Dogs (Barkers), Pigs (Tusked Ones) and Rats (Rattons) mutate enough to have intelligence, and trying to figure out why the Demons (Us) left, and protect themselves in case they come back.

Meanwhile, the remnants of man found a place in space, but they messed that up, too, so they had to try to recover their secret records of Earth and go back to see what went wrong.

I think the thing is there's just nothing particularly unique or interesting about the story... it's pretty standard 'tribal society tries to adjust to new tech' stuff.. the gimmick they the are cat people just doesn't really do much to add flavor. I suppose if one really, really likes cats it might, but otherwise, it's a pretty bland story.... kinda reminded me of the 'Warriors' YA books a little bit.

[LadyCalico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a better than average sci-fi tale, but you had to make it past the midway point before the action picked up. Therein lies my main problem with it--the average straight sci-fi bit. I kept wishing for a more engrossing tale written by someone like Scalzi or Willis who would have written the furry protagonists as more catlike, with warmth and humor. Norton is capable of warmth and humor, as she proved in All Cats are Gray, but in this one the cats are more like fuzzy people who talk in stilted sci-fi speak. These cats don't feel like cats, just some generic anthropomorphic animals. Except for references to claws, paws, purrs, and tail, this story of survivor cats vs. returning humans could have been told as monkeys, dogs, rabbits, whatever vs people or just people vs people. But instead, she ignores the essential cat personality and foibles. Here we have a great plot idea in which the author passes up the opportunity to write a much better and more endearing book.

[Arturo Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot.

A world where humans have left and on the remains of such civilizations arose newer intelligent beings that stemmed from ancient breed of rats, cats, dogs and pigs.

How they discover the ancient ruins of humans and their technology comes in handy when humans return.

The story revolved too much on the mating rituals of the cat people and lost an opportunity on cat-human interaction.

The end seems sudden and rushed and just to justify an allegory of the errors of human civilization and a warning to avoid following them.

[Wilson E. Stevens Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book, good plot and development. Man pollutes and creates a illness that forces him off earth, and after hundreds of years returns because they have again damaged their home world. However their return to earth finds that now it is inhabited by intelligent alien beings they had left behind, like the cats, dogs, rats and yes the wart hogs. The resulting struggles, discoveries, and decisions will impact all involved.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good scifi about a post-apocalyptic Earth where humanity has abandoned the planet to colonize other worlds. Many of the animals left behind though have evolved (perhaps assisted by human intervention before the humans took off) into speaking creatures with new cultures (to varying extents - cats and dogs have evolved further than rats and boars, for example). The main characters are former cats who have learned enough about humanity to fear that they may come back and are preparing in case it happens. And then it does.

It's a very cool world and I liked the main characters a lot. Norton doesn't explain enough though of what happened to the humans or why some of them become more violent when they're back on their home planet. I don't think she's saying that Earth itself is a negative influence on humanity, but that's a theory that's offered and there aren't any other strong alternatives to it. It's a big question that Norton asks, but never answers.

That lack of clarity about one of the story's primary mysteries - and Norton's rushing through the final battle in order to wrap things up - keep me from loving the book. But it was a fun world to spend time in.

[Jennifer Mcpeak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and I remember loving it. I tracked down a copy and re-read it. Not good. It was a chore to get through it. Can't imagine why I loved it. After a ton of build up everything just ends in a matter of a few pages. Like the author got sick of it and just said, "eff it," and sent it to the publisher who also said, "eff it," and sent it to the printer.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to get into at first. It was written before I was born and suppose to be futuristic so I struggled with what is actual technology the author knew at the time and what he was making up. Once the Demons appear it became very interesting and the second half was a quicker read.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book as a boy who spent his teens immersed in Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. This book was written remarkably well, it had to be to have captivated my imagination for nearly three decades.

[Eric N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable sci fi adventure concerning Post apocalyptic Earth and animal people

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting new characters and elements for sci-fi. Different, in a good way.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of evolved cats who face immediate danger from equally evolved versions of their old animal enemies and the return of dreaded humans.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read when I was really young. Something about this story stuck with me over all of the years since. I must re-read it again.

[Magnus Anderson]

favorite from childhood. sue me.

[Jack T · Rating 3 out of 5]

cool premise but it really needed more time to delve into story as opposed to the little elements we got. skipped the climax but it dragged out monotonous elements