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Cat Ship #1
Catalyst
Dance teacher Wil Tango, adopted by a cat who needs to make use of his opposable thumbs, knows all too well the primary rule of their arrangement: never reveal the cat is a genius. Their clever scheme to win all the jackpots on Gizem Station works until a bigwig gets suspicious, and he finds himself stuffed in a stasis box and shipped to Garbage Planet. At least he’s got the cat for company.
Sulari Abfall, scrapyard picker extraordinaire, thinks she’s scored when she earns access to the latest offload from Gizem Station. Their trash is her treasure, and the profits from her recycling program should provide more than enough to upgrade her clunky garbage scow into a clunky tow ship, a huge step up in trash hierarchy. When she’s drawn to a hazardous waste container, she finds more than she ever bargained for. A naked man. And a sentient cat.
But unsealing the stasis pod sends an interspace signal back to Gizem Station—and the vengeful VIP who thought Wil was dead. It will take all the wits of a lovely garbage scow captain, a down on his luck dance instructor, and a brave orange feline to defeat a gang intent on mayhem, murder, and a galactic catnapping that could change the course of the future for the entire Obsidian Rim.
Includes a sneak peek at the next book in the ObsidianRim.com galaxy.
Obsidian Rim: Cat Ship
#1 Catalyst (August 2019)
#2 Catapult (November 2019)
#3 Catagenesis (March 2020)
Sulari Abfall, scrapyard picker extraordinaire, thinks she’s scored when she earns access to the latest offload from Gizem Station. Their trash is her treasure, and the profits from her recycling program should provide more than enough to upgrade her clunky garbage scow into a clunky tow ship, a huge step up in trash hierarchy. When she’s drawn to a hazardous waste container, she finds more than she ever bargained for. A naked man. And a sentient cat.
But unsealing the stasis pod sends an interspace signal back to Gizem Station—and the vengeful VIP who thought Wil was dead. It will take all the wits of a lovely garbage scow captain, a down on his luck dance instructor, and a brave orange feline to defeat a gang intent on mayhem, murder, and a galactic catnapping that could change the course of the future for the entire Obsidian Rim.
Includes a sneak peek at the next book in the ObsidianRim.com galaxy.
Obsidian Rim: Cat Ship
#1 Catalyst (August 2019)
#2 Catapult (November 2019)
#3 Catagenesis (March 2020)
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2019
15 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Jody Wallace
47 books157 followersJody Wallace’s 30+ titles include sf/f romance, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. Her fiction features diverse protagonists, action, adventure, and humor. Her readers frequently comment on her great characters, suspenseful stories, and intriguing and creative world building. When describing her methods, Jody says: “There are two sides to every story. I aim to tell the third. And I add cats regardless.”
Outside of her fiction career, Jody has employed her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to work as a college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt.
Outside of her fiction career, Jody has employed her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to work as a college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 4, 2023
3 Stars for Catalyst: Cat Ship, Book 1 (audiobook) by Jody Wallace read by Kristin James.
This was a fun Sci-fi romance with a talking cat. The author got to explore some interesting ideas and I liked the characters but I don’t think I’ll stick with the series.
This was a fun Sci-fi romance with a talking cat. The author got to explore some interesting ideas and I liked the characters but I don’t think I’ll stick with the series.
July 15, 2022
I was lured in by the promise of a talking cat but stayed for the story. I follow the author on Twitter and when she talked about the book it sounded interesting. She put out a call for reviewers and I happily replied. "Catalyst" reminded me of science fiction stories I read growing up - brave and daring main characters who are also underdogs, action and adventure and intrigue and romance, oh my!
"Catalyst" was a fun romp. The beginning was a little slow but then it picked up the pace and didn't stop. I loved that the people Wil encounters on Garbage Planet, who are generally brash and quite physical, recognized him as a dancer, and accorded him due respect for skills and his strengths. The people on Garbage do hard, dirty, often dangerous work but they valued dance and the arts and were fans of Wil's. Science fiction often ignores or minimizes the arts so this was a very nice change. It helped that Wil wasn't a prima donna and that he respected the work and skills of the residents on Garbage Planet.
Respect also played into Wil and Su's romance. Their emotions built quickly but they still moved slow, taking their time, and checking in with each other, talking about their expectations, hopes, and desires. There's no Big Misunderstanding, no secrets, just a temporary difference in ideas about the future. I really liked that. One thing I did miss was sexual tension; it never really grabbed me. I felt their interest but at times it was tepid; they could have maybe used a wee bit more conflict between them. Still, I was rooting for them to get together.
And then there's Pumpkin, the talking cat. Ooo, he could be an annoying little brat. Just like a real cat. :D I had so many questions about him. Wallace teased us, dribbling out information, and then WHAM! that ending! It wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, the major plot points were tied up, but the ending was an attention grabber for sure.
"Catalyst" was fast, fun, and engaging. Once I got into it, I whipped through it, reading right till the end. I've already started bugging Ms. Wallace about book two.
"Catalyst" was a fun romp. The beginning was a little slow but then it picked up the pace and didn't stop. I loved that the people Wil encounters on Garbage Planet, who are generally brash and quite physical, recognized him as a dancer, and accorded him due respect for skills and his strengths. The people on Garbage do hard, dirty, often dangerous work but they valued dance and the arts and were fans of Wil's. Science fiction often ignores or minimizes the arts so this was a very nice change. It helped that Wil wasn't a prima donna and that he respected the work and skills of the residents on Garbage Planet.
Respect also played into Wil and Su's romance. Their emotions built quickly but they still moved slow, taking their time, and checking in with each other, talking about their expectations, hopes, and desires. There's no Big Misunderstanding, no secrets, just a temporary difference in ideas about the future. I really liked that. One thing I did miss was sexual tension; it never really grabbed me. I felt their interest but at times it was tepid; they could have maybe used a wee bit more conflict between them. Still, I was rooting for them to get together.
And then there's Pumpkin, the talking cat. Ooo, he could be an annoying little brat. Just like a real cat. :D I had so many questions about him. Wallace teased us, dribbling out information, and then WHAM! that ending! It wasn't exactly a cliffhanger, the major plot points were tied up, but the ending was an attention grabber for sure.
"Catalyst" was fast, fun, and engaging. Once I got into it, I whipped through it, reading right till the end. I've already started bugging Ms. Wallace about book two.
January 8, 2020
This book caught my eye the first time I saw it, that sci-fi style cover with a girl and a cat on it and then the fun sounding premise. Eventually I decided to give it a try and picked up my copy. I had fun reading this book. The story is relatively straightforward, but in a way that kept my attention and made me interested to see what would happen next.
Catalyst is told in dual point of views of both Su and Will. Will gets dumped in the trash on Trash Planet where Su finds him. Will pissed off a casino boss who is now after him and who wants his cat, Pumpkin. The immediate conflict and no clear solution for how to fix it made for an engaging read. I just couldn't imagine how they would get out of this situation. And now that Su is helping Will she also lands herself on the radar of the casino boss. I enjoyed following them along as they try and figure out a solution to their problem.
I liked both main characters. Su is determined and capable, but also very caring and willing to risk everything for the people she cares about. Then there is Will who is a dance instructor and leaves that all behind to help Pumpkin. He literally throws everything he knows away for the cat and gets very little in return. I have to say it was quite gratifying when Su talks back to the cat and demands he works with them and tells them more. And seeing these two different characters team up together and work together was so much fun.
There are a bunch of fun side characters as well. Mostly friends of Su and ofcourse Pumpkin the cat, more about that later. I liked reading about the tight group of friends that Su has around her on Trash Planet. There also is some history and struggles with another group of people on Trash Planet and slowly we figure out what has happened to Su in the past.
I liked the romance between Su and Will. They have some mutual attraction form the start, but I like how they don't act upon it till they are safe. It also takes them a bit of time to explore what's between them. I liked how low on drama their romance was.
Ofcourse this review wouldn't be complete with more mention of Pumpkin. He was such a typical cat and at the same time so much more with his enhanced intelligence and special skills. I liked that mix of how smart and capable he was, but then reverted to typical cat behavior as well like with the boxes, I liked that scene. I liked him immediately, there's something so adorable about him. But there were also plenty of moments when I got a bit frustrated with him. He doesn't tell Su and Will the truth for a long time and while it makes sense, it also felt a bit like a plot device to keep readers in the dark. But like I said it makes sense and toward the end there is this big reveal and he does decide to trust them and then it makes even more sense why Pumpkin had to be sure he could trust Su and Will. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series progresses and the role the cats will play in it.
I liked getting a feel for the world in this book. I haven't read any other Obsidian Rim books yet, but you can easily start the Cat Ship series that's part of that universe without having read any of the other books. We get a feel for the world and what's possible, but most of the book takes place on Trash Planet.
To summarize: This was such a fun start to this series. I liked the premise with the talking cat and the humans who help him. The plot line is quite straightforward with a casino boss being after Will and wanting the cat, but there was no easy solution in sight. It made for a compelling read following these characters along and seeing how they deal with the situation. I liked both Su and Will, they are quite different, but work well together. I also like how caring they both are, Will throws his whole life away to help Pumpkin and Su will do almost everything for those she cares about. And Pumpkin was just so adorable, he's a cat who can talk and has special powers, but he's still very much a cat too, which was an awesome mix of traits. He did frustrate me at times with how he keeps things a secret, but it did make sense. And then there's the big reveal at the end which makes me really curious about book 2!
Catalyst is told in dual point of views of both Su and Will. Will gets dumped in the trash on Trash Planet where Su finds him. Will pissed off a casino boss who is now after him and who wants his cat, Pumpkin. The immediate conflict and no clear solution for how to fix it made for an engaging read. I just couldn't imagine how they would get out of this situation. And now that Su is helping Will she also lands herself on the radar of the casino boss. I enjoyed following them along as they try and figure out a solution to their problem.
I liked both main characters. Su is determined and capable, but also very caring and willing to risk everything for the people she cares about. Then there is Will who is a dance instructor and leaves that all behind to help Pumpkin. He literally throws everything he knows away for the cat and gets very little in return. I have to say it was quite gratifying when Su talks back to the cat and demands he works with them and tells them more. And seeing these two different characters team up together and work together was so much fun.
There are a bunch of fun side characters as well. Mostly friends of Su and ofcourse Pumpkin the cat, more about that later. I liked reading about the tight group of friends that Su has around her on Trash Planet. There also is some history and struggles with another group of people on Trash Planet and slowly we figure out what has happened to Su in the past.
I liked the romance between Su and Will. They have some mutual attraction form the start, but I like how they don't act upon it till they are safe. It also takes them a bit of time to explore what's between them. I liked how low on drama their romance was.
Ofcourse this review wouldn't be complete with more mention of Pumpkin. He was such a typical cat and at the same time so much more with his enhanced intelligence and special skills. I liked that mix of how smart and capable he was, but then reverted to typical cat behavior as well like with the boxes, I liked that scene. I liked him immediately, there's something so adorable about him. But there were also plenty of moments when I got a bit frustrated with him. He doesn't tell Su and Will the truth for a long time and while it makes sense, it also felt a bit like a plot device to keep readers in the dark. But like I said it makes sense and toward the end there is this big reveal and he does decide to trust them and then it makes even more sense why Pumpkin had to be sure he could trust Su and Will. I can't wait to see how the rest of the series progresses and the role the cats will play in it.
I liked getting a feel for the world in this book. I haven't read any other Obsidian Rim books yet, but you can easily start the Cat Ship series that's part of that universe without having read any of the other books. We get a feel for the world and what's possible, but most of the book takes place on Trash Planet.
To summarize: This was such a fun start to this series. I liked the premise with the talking cat and the humans who help him. The plot line is quite straightforward with a casino boss being after Will and wanting the cat, but there was no easy solution in sight. It made for a compelling read following these characters along and seeing how they deal with the situation. I liked both Su and Will, they are quite different, but work well together. I also like how caring they both are, Will throws his whole life away to help Pumpkin and Su will do almost everything for those she cares about. And Pumpkin was just so adorable, he's a cat who can talk and has special powers, but he's still very much a cat too, which was an awesome mix of traits. He did frustrate me at times with how he keeps things a secret, but it did make sense. And then there's the big reveal at the end which makes me really curious about book 2!
October 10, 2019
When I first saw this book, I knew I had to read it. A cat. Scifi. Romance. Jody Wallace. One click.
Sulari Abfall is a one-legged junk picker (with a bionic leg) and a business owner who turns junk into all sorts of containers in her box factory. Everybody needs containers, so Su has created a very successful niche market. To start the story, Su picks a container that happens to have cryosleeping man in it. As soon as she opens the box, a naked Will Tango tumbles out of the box and a talking cat name Pumpkin appears. And so, the adventure begins. The fateful meeting of Will and Su leads to a chase, a romance, a partnership and a family reunion. With a talking cat offering commentary and ‘assistance’ all along.
Pumpkin is really quite remarkable. He can pop in and out of a place at any time. Just when you think you may never see him again, he appears, seemingly out of nowhere. I believe his odd talent may be based on the habits of some non-fictional cats. If you have a cat you might understand. If you have a cat and you read this book, you might understand even better! I do wish the story would have had room to offer more about Pumpkin and his background, even though it was not needed to tell the tale. The story ending does hint that there may be more story to come. Or maybe it ends here. I hope for more Jody Wallace. 🙂
Will Tango is one of the most unusual main characters I have run across in scifi romance. A former dancer and dance instructor turned gambler. He also happens to have a following of dance loving garbage collectors. You think you know somebody and, all of a sudden, they want a dance lesson.
Will is being chased by casino goons (who really want Pumpkin) when he ends up on the Trash Planet. Goons become the bad guys. Garbage collectors, including Su, become the good guys. I’ve never seen that in a scifi romance either.
I like the setting very much. It is perfect for this story. Catalyst takes place on a garbage planet. Yes, trash, refuse, debris, rubbish, junk. If it has been tossed out, it can be found on Trash Planet. On this world, people collect trash from the dumps and find ways to repurpose them. They are organized into unions for policing, protection and regulation. It is a system that seems to work well on a planet with no formal law enforcement.
I also liked the dancer falling for the one-legged garbage collector, the cat learning a lesson, and the box factory. I know box factory sounds a bit humdrum, but read the book. You’ll get it.
Catalyst is a standalone novel in the Obsidian Rim series. This is the first book I have read in the series and did not feel I needed to have read any others, so feel free to jump in with Catalyst if you are a cat loving, scifi romance reader with a wacky sense of humor.
Sulari Abfall is a one-legged junk picker (with a bionic leg) and a business owner who turns junk into all sorts of containers in her box factory. Everybody needs containers, so Su has created a very successful niche market. To start the story, Su picks a container that happens to have cryosleeping man in it. As soon as she opens the box, a naked Will Tango tumbles out of the box and a talking cat name Pumpkin appears. And so, the adventure begins. The fateful meeting of Will and Su leads to a chase, a romance, a partnership and a family reunion. With a talking cat offering commentary and ‘assistance’ all along.
Pumpkin is really quite remarkable. He can pop in and out of a place at any time. Just when you think you may never see him again, he appears, seemingly out of nowhere. I believe his odd talent may be based on the habits of some non-fictional cats. If you have a cat you might understand. If you have a cat and you read this book, you might understand even better! I do wish the story would have had room to offer more about Pumpkin and his background, even though it was not needed to tell the tale. The story ending does hint that there may be more story to come. Or maybe it ends here. I hope for more Jody Wallace. 🙂
Will Tango is one of the most unusual main characters I have run across in scifi romance. A former dancer and dance instructor turned gambler. He also happens to have a following of dance loving garbage collectors. You think you know somebody and, all of a sudden, they want a dance lesson.
Will is being chased by casino goons (who really want Pumpkin) when he ends up on the Trash Planet. Goons become the bad guys. Garbage collectors, including Su, become the good guys. I’ve never seen that in a scifi romance either.
I like the setting very much. It is perfect for this story. Catalyst takes place on a garbage planet. Yes, trash, refuse, debris, rubbish, junk. If it has been tossed out, it can be found on Trash Planet. On this world, people collect trash from the dumps and find ways to repurpose them. They are organized into unions for policing, protection and regulation. It is a system that seems to work well on a planet with no formal law enforcement.
I also liked the dancer falling for the one-legged garbage collector, the cat learning a lesson, and the box factory. I know box factory sounds a bit humdrum, but read the book. You’ll get it.
Catalyst is a standalone novel in the Obsidian Rim series. This is the first book I have read in the series and did not feel I needed to have read any others, so feel free to jump in with Catalyst if you are a cat loving, scifi romance reader with a wacky sense of humor.
February 6, 2023
“Catalyst” (Cat Ship #1) by Jody Wallace ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: SciFi Romance Extravaganza. Location: Trash Planet. Time: The future. NOTE: This is also book 8 in The Obsidian Rim series.
THE SERIES: Far, far away in distance and time, there’s a grey place called Trash Planet. Grey skies, grey rocks, grey mountains, massive hail storms. This is where the rest of the galaxy sends their garbage because…why not? Trash Planet is also the home of the best recyclers in the Galaxy. The series is funny, and action-packed. And, as the author says: full of “cats being oh so catty”.
THIS BOOK: Sulari Abfall (Su) is a scrapyard picker and box recycler who wants to upgrade her clunky garbage skow to a tow ship. When she sorts boxes of Gizem Station trash, she finds a naked man and a sentient cat. The man is Wil Tango, dance teacher adopted by a cat who needs to use his opposable thumbs. The cat is Pumpkin, a very special cat indeed. They played and won casino jackpots-until they were stuffed into a box and shipped to Trash Planet.
Unfortunately, opening their box sends a signal back to Gizem Station. This starts a series of events that includes mayham, murder, and galactic catnapping. Can the dance instructor, the secretive orange cat, and the garbage skow captain work together to save the day?
Author Wallace makes us wait for answers to many questions that arise: (How/why does the cat talk? What’s the cat’s mission? Why is it a secret? How did Su lose her leg? How old are Su and Wil?- you’ll be surprised.) She cleverly makes Pumpkin a sentient cat who is also a typical cat-complete with a love for boxes. This gives us empathy when the cat scratches and destroys things.
I’d call this a light space opera or extravaganza. There are some clean romantic scenes, but the attraction between Su and Wil just isn’t made clear. It was labeled a romance; but for me, romance was the weakest part, so it’s 3 stars from me. I look forward to getting to know the characters better in book 2.🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to BookSirens, Meankitty Publishing, and Jody Wallace for this ecopy.
THE SERIES: Far, far away in distance and time, there’s a grey place called Trash Planet. Grey skies, grey rocks, grey mountains, massive hail storms. This is where the rest of the galaxy sends their garbage because…why not? Trash Planet is also the home of the best recyclers in the Galaxy. The series is funny, and action-packed. And, as the author says: full of “cats being oh so catty”.
THIS BOOK: Sulari Abfall (Su) is a scrapyard picker and box recycler who wants to upgrade her clunky garbage skow to a tow ship. When she sorts boxes of Gizem Station trash, she finds a naked man and a sentient cat. The man is Wil Tango, dance teacher adopted by a cat who needs to use his opposable thumbs. The cat is Pumpkin, a very special cat indeed. They played and won casino jackpots-until they were stuffed into a box and shipped to Trash Planet.
Unfortunately, opening their box sends a signal back to Gizem Station. This starts a series of events that includes mayham, murder, and galactic catnapping. Can the dance instructor, the secretive orange cat, and the garbage skow captain work together to save the day?
Author Wallace makes us wait for answers to many questions that arise: (How/why does the cat talk? What’s the cat’s mission? Why is it a secret? How did Su lose her leg? How old are Su and Wil?- you’ll be surprised.) She cleverly makes Pumpkin a sentient cat who is also a typical cat-complete with a love for boxes. This gives us empathy when the cat scratches and destroys things.
I’d call this a light space opera or extravaganza. There are some clean romantic scenes, but the attraction between Su and Wil just isn’t made clear. It was labeled a romance; but for me, romance was the weakest part, so it’s 3 stars from me. I look forward to getting to know the characters better in book 2.🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to BookSirens, Meankitty Publishing, and Jody Wallace for this ecopy.
February 23, 2026
For the Love of Cats - Cat-tastic!
Catalyst, Obsidian Rim, book1 by Jody Wallace, Narrated by Kristin James 7hrs 56min
I loved this light hearted sci-fi with cats. What a great idea. 'Their trash is her treasure.' Sulari Abfall gets involved in a stow away situation that quickly becomes an intergalactic hunt. Wonderful idea. Cat-tastic. Sometimes Sci-fi needs a little light relief. This story is exactly that. I finished this story quickly and wanted more. I can't wait for the next one. Luckily this is the first in series. Anyone that enjoys a clean romance - this is for you.
Catalyst, Obsidian Rim, book1 by Jody Wallace, Narrated by Kristin James 7hrs 56min
I loved this light hearted sci-fi with cats. What a great idea. 'Their trash is her treasure.' Sulari Abfall gets involved in a stow away situation that quickly becomes an intergalactic hunt. Wonderful idea. Cat-tastic. Sometimes Sci-fi needs a little light relief. This story is exactly that. I finished this story quickly and wanted more. I can't wait for the next one. Luckily this is the first in series. Anyone that enjoys a clean romance - this is for you.
More... Sulari Abfall has hit the jackpot when she qualifies for first dibs to scavenge the trash offloaded from Gizem Station. This is her chance to scavenge the best pickings so she can upgrade to an old tow ship. Where does the cat come in? Sulari finds she's drawn to toxic waste containers. Breaking all rules her gut feeling demands she looks inside. A naked man in cryo, closely followed by a sentient cat. Her head start is over in minutes and she has to get the man and the cat out of the junk yard without anyone seeing them as a large pack of hard-headed salvagers are allowed into scavenge too. This is just the beginning of Sulari's problems.
January 15, 2023
The start of something big…
The Obsidian Rim, a thin ring of shattered planet debris, and the few remaining planets in what was left of a galaxy after humanity nearly obliterated it in the Qubition War. Trash Planet, the barely habitable trash dump of the Obsidian Rim, home of Su Abfell, scavenger and recycler extraordinaire, and a handy colony of fellow scrappers. Su's first dibs on the latest salvaged ship is an even bigger opportunity than she ever dreamed of: she "salvages" a cryo-frozen dance pro named Wil Tango, and his talking cat. Yeah, right. Like cats talk. and cats are extinct since before the Rim was formed. And… NOTHING our badass Su knows about the galaxy is as she thought. Least of all how much she and Wil Tango want the forever they never dared believe in. Or how truly important a formerly extinct species will be to humanity's future. Slow burn romance, industrial espionage, family feuds, and all that's best of humans and cats, fill the pages of this first book in outrageously entertaining alt/future SF. Thus ends my voluntary ARC review. Thank goodness there's more in the works from author Jody Wallace. I need more like this!
The Obsidian Rim, a thin ring of shattered planet debris, and the few remaining planets in what was left of a galaxy after humanity nearly obliterated it in the Qubition War. Trash Planet, the barely habitable trash dump of the Obsidian Rim, home of Su Abfell, scavenger and recycler extraordinaire, and a handy colony of fellow scrappers. Su's first dibs on the latest salvaged ship is an even bigger opportunity than she ever dreamed of: she "salvages" a cryo-frozen dance pro named Wil Tango, and his talking cat. Yeah, right. Like cats talk. and cats are extinct since before the Rim was formed. And… NOTHING our badass Su knows about the galaxy is as she thought. Least of all how much she and Wil Tango want the forever they never dared believe in. Or how truly important a formerly extinct species will be to humanity's future. Slow burn romance, industrial espionage, family feuds, and all that's best of humans and cats, fill the pages of this first book in outrageously entertaining alt/future SF. Thus ends my voluntary ARC review. Thank goodness there's more in the works from author Jody Wallace. I need more like this!
January 28, 2023
Science fiction lovers will really enjoy this story. It has great world-building in the tradition of Star Wars and other futuristic adventure series. Su runs a container factory and is a trash picker on Trash World, a tough planet with an economy based on recycling the populated universe’s trash. After winning the right to be the first to enter a vessel of new trash, Su discovers a naked man stashed in stasis and a cat. Cats are extremely rare and owned only by the rich. Wil is a dancer who spent his career with the universe’s wealthy, until he ran across this mysterious cat (Pumpkin). Pumpkin has a secret agenda and unusual abilities like being able to talk, read minds and disappear. Pumpkin had persuaded Will to team up with him to use those unique abilities to cheat in casinos. A bad guy discovers that Pumpkin can talk, is trying to kill Will to obtain the cat for himself. There are battles, Trash World union politics, and good supporting characters, plus a romance between Su and Wil. I’m a new fan of this author and can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Very highly recommended. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2023
Searching Space For a Safe Place
Though the concept of cats in space was instantly inviting, I had my doubts about reading Catalyst. True, it's likely that having a cat in it would always make it appealing to undiscriminating cat lovers, but this book could have been a silly idea. And, it would have been a terrible idea if it were poorly written.
It was a tiny bit silly, but all in good ways. And it was skillfully written. Within the first chapter, I was hooked. I haven't had so much fun reading in a while. Jody Wallace is a first rate writer. Her characters, especially Su and Wil, are immediately appealing and have a presence that makes them larger than life. And Pumpkin? He's the star, of course.
I offer grateful thanks to Jody Wallace, Meankitty Publishing, and BookSirens for the opportunity to read a free advance reader's copy of this first volume of the Cat Ship series. Though I owe them nothing in return, I offer my enthusiastic endorsement of this
Though the concept of cats in space was instantly inviting, I had my doubts about reading Catalyst. True, it's likely that having a cat in it would always make it appealing to undiscriminating cat lovers, but this book could have been a silly idea. And, it would have been a terrible idea if it were poorly written.
It was a tiny bit silly, but all in good ways. And it was skillfully written. Within the first chapter, I was hooked. I haven't had so much fun reading in a while. Jody Wallace is a first rate writer. Her characters, especially Su and Wil, are immediately appealing and have a presence that makes them larger than life. And Pumpkin? He's the star, of course.
I offer grateful thanks to Jody Wallace, Meankitty Publishing, and BookSirens for the opportunity to read a free advance reader's copy of this first volume of the Cat Ship series. Though I owe them nothing in return, I offer my enthusiastic endorsement of this
February 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It's more than 3 stars but not quite 4.
While this is book 8 of the Obsidian Rim series, it is a standalone book. There is a great reveal at the end which makes me want to read the next book in the Cat Ship series when it comes out.
The characters felt authentic and believable. It was nice that so many folks on the planet were good people. It was a bit pollyanna - lots of violence but not much death (only the bad guys), while not everybody on the planet was noble, most stuck together by a 'code' which sees them come to each other's aid. The cat has secrets, and he does help his human friends.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While this is book 8 of the Obsidian Rim series, it is a standalone book. There is a great reveal at the end which makes me want to read the next book in the Cat Ship series when it comes out.
The characters felt authentic and believable. It was nice that so many folks on the planet were good people. It was a bit pollyanna - lots of violence but not much death (only the bad guys), while not everybody on the planet was noble, most stuck together by a 'code' which sees them come to each other's aid. The cat has secrets, and he does help his human friends.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 14, 2023
Catalyst is Book 1 in the Cat Ship Series by Jody Wallace. I thought this story was so much fun. I felt that the book was both fantasy and SiFi rolled into one enjoyable book. Su Abfall is trash bend digging when she finds Wil Tango and the orange cat, Pumpkin; no ones life is the same after meeting this magical cat. I found the characters to be so well written and I love the cat! Catalyst is non stop action and adventure. I am looking forward to reading book 2, Catapult. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
February 2, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyable space opera!
What’s not to love about a down-on-his-luck dancer/gambler waking up stuck inside a cyro container on a planet very similar to the one in Thor: Ragnarock. . . and best of all you get a telepathic sentient cat to boot!!!
Loved the world-building here! The various scrapper unions, the native critters, just overall adored the whole book and am eager to explore MORE of the Obsidian Rim novels!
GREAT FUN!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What’s not to love about a down-on-his-luck dancer/gambler waking up stuck inside a cyro container on a planet very similar to the one in Thor: Ragnarock. . . and best of all you get a telepathic sentient cat to boot!!!
Loved the world-building here! The various scrapper unions, the native critters, just overall adored the whole book and am eager to explore MORE of the Obsidian Rim novels!
GREAT FUN!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 14, 2023
Quirky fun, easy read Fantasy/Sci-fi. With a starring role for a cat. Su doesn’t realise how much trouble is going to come from her rescuing a naked man and a cat. The trouble from the man, not so much. But the cat, that’s a whole different kettle of fish. I liked the blurb, so got the book, and liked reading that even more! Thank you to MeanKitty Publishing and BookSirens for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
November 28, 2023
Open ended ending or what?
This was a very fun read - Trash Planets, garbage pickers, championship dancers, teleporting talking cats, bionic women, yada yada yada..... no end to the fun.
Throw in some casino cheating, a little romance, a family feud, and various other plot elements and you get...... more fun.
Probably wont be able to resist the sequel, and maybe even the whole Obsidian Rim (no idea what the series entails) deal.
Good stuff.
This was a very fun read - Trash Planets, garbage pickers, championship dancers, teleporting talking cats, bionic women, yada yada yada..... no end to the fun.
Throw in some casino cheating, a little romance, a family feud, and various other plot elements and you get...... more fun.
Probably wont be able to resist the sequel, and maybe even the whole Obsidian Rim (no idea what the series entails) deal.
Good stuff.
March 19, 2024
Sulari works as a salvager on a trash planet. While working on her latest job, she finds a stasis pod full of trouble - a talking cat, and a dancer named Will Tango.
This was a fun, action packed story with great characters, and an interesting location. The trash planet was pretty cool, and all people making treasure out of trash was pretty cool. Sulari and Will made a cute couple, and Pumpkin the cat was an adorable little a**hole.
Will continue the series!
This was a fun, action packed story with great characters, and an interesting location. The trash planet was pretty cool, and all people making treasure out of trash was pretty cool. Sulari and Will made a cute couple, and Pumpkin the cat was an adorable little a**hole.
Will continue the series!
February 16, 2023
The premise of this book is pure crack fic, but the author has the chops to back it up. So what we end up with is some really unique, thoughtfully done sci fi. I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
March 13, 2023
So far I really love the concept. Teleporting, or rather skipping, talking cats. It's both a dream and a nightmare for cat lovers. Pumpkin is definitely creating a nightmare for the humans around him. But what will he do to help the people who are in trouble for helping him? Will he share why he needs billions and billions of DIC? Will we learn why Pumpkin can do all of this neat stuff? Open the book to find out.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 31, 2024
Engaging, mysterious, and humorous all at once. I really enjoyed this sci-fi book, which is definitely book one of a series. (Or at least I hope so.) Pumpkin is a great main character, and his supporting humans are too. The author knows her cats. It would make a good TV series.
December 25, 2020
Great writing, compelling story, and great characters make this book a fun read.
September 11, 2023
I came for the cats. I stayed for the cats. And I'm confused about the cats.
Read
January 14, 2024Sometimes you just hit the random button on your library ebook app
January 21, 2024
Good book, cool cat
I wish my cat could talk, too! I liked this book and I've already bought the second one. The romance was nice and not overly descriptive. Good book.
I wish my cat could talk, too! I liked this book and I've already bought the second one. The romance was nice and not overly descriptive. Good book.
March 31, 2025
3.5 Stars
Interesting premise, but it drags a bit in places.
Interesting premise, but it drags a bit in places.
February 17, 2026
Very entertaining. I hope there is more.
August 13, 2019
I really had fun reading this story! It isn't a short story, but I honestly couldn't put it down until I found out what happened to Su, Wil and Pumpkin. Love the adventure, romance and humor in this unique and wonderful sci-fi romance.
I am leaving a voluntary review for an advanced copy of the book.
I am leaving a voluntary review for an advanced copy of the book.
November 9, 2019
Cats with psychic powers! (I was quite amused by how Pumpkin was, like most cats, a bit of a jerk and not a team player, but still loved his snuggles.) The Trash Planet setting, a garbage picker heroine (who also owns her own factory) and a dancer hero made this story feel fresh.
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