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Finder #3
Finder, Vol. 03: King of the Cats
Please be awed and inspired by the time and effort we`ve put into creatifying a stimulating environment that`s sure to be safe for the whole family. You can also purchase many items from a range of high-quality merchandise that we`re sure you`ll treasure for months to come.
Jaeger Ayers doesn`t take to crowds or conformity, and there`s an abundance of both in Munkytown. There are also personal connections for him. With the Ascians, whose tribal culture is on display to visitors eager to spend an afternoon in Noble Savage land; with the Nyima, the lion-people in danger of losing their pride the longer they stay in the town.
Holy city or theme park? Munkytown has the economic upper hand in an uneasy alliance where nothing is what it seems. But power takes many forms, and that`s where being a Finder comes in handy.
120 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2001
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2019
One of my favourites in an outstanding series. Fascinating tale of a truly non-human species.
June 7, 2021
The King of Cats has always stood out to me for the worldbuilding behind different groups in the lore of Finder. Chief Coward is an amazing character and the scenes in Munkyland are hilarious.
October 8, 2011
This is the story Jaeger's visit to the city of Munkytown (which is one part Mecca and two parts Disneyland), where he becomes involved in a conflict/treaty between the Ascians (his people, based on various Native American societies) and the Nyima (a race of lion headed people). It's quite good.
Why is it good?
Well, for starters, it's good to see Jaeger interactive with "his own" people (though he's only half-Ascian), and it's good to see Native-American-like folks in a situation that's far removed from a "cowboys and indians" cliche. Chief Coward, in particular, is pretty much everything I want from a wise tribal elder (in that he's crafty and cunning and maybe a bit ruthless, but most importantly he has a good sense of humour).
The Nyima are also a lot of fun. The women are humanoid, with lioness heads, while the men (except for the king) walk on four legs and have borderline animal intelligence, and their soceity is more like a pride of cats then a shrewdness of apes (that's the proper collective noun; I looked it up). This, as the title suggests, really their story; Jaeger is just the catalyst of events.
My favorite thing about the book, however, is Munkeytown itself. People travel there as both a family vacation and a holy pilgrimage. It's a hectic and seemingly chaotic place, filled with rides and shows and presentations, but the chaos is carefully controlled by the staff to give people the illusion of a carefree adventure with the safty of a walk in a mall.
You have to feel sorry for them when Jaeger runs amuck.
Why is it good?
Well, for starters, it's good to see Jaeger interactive with "his own" people (though he's only half-Ascian), and it's good to see Native-American-like folks in a situation that's far removed from a "cowboys and indians" cliche. Chief Coward, in particular, is pretty much everything I want from a wise tribal elder (in that he's crafty and cunning and maybe a bit ruthless, but most importantly he has a good sense of humour).
The Nyima are also a lot of fun. The women are humanoid, with lioness heads, while the men (except for the king) walk on four legs and have borderline animal intelligence, and their soceity is more like a pride of cats then a shrewdness of apes (that's the proper collective noun; I looked it up). This, as the title suggests, really their story; Jaeger is just the catalyst of events.
My favorite thing about the book, however, is Munkeytown itself. People travel there as both a family vacation and a holy pilgrimage. It's a hectic and seemingly chaotic place, filled with rides and shows and presentations, but the chaos is carefully controlled by the staff to give people the illusion of a carefree adventure with the safty of a walk in a mall.
You have to feel sorry for them when Jaeger runs amuck.
January 30, 2017
Perhaps my favorite Finder book. That puts it at the best of the best in terms of both comics and novels.
What happens when you put a truly scary rebel-vagabond into The Happy Place-- a sci fi Disneyworld that is only slightly exaggerated? Throw both Ascian tribesmen and Nyiman lion-women into the mix and you've got yourself a party. A scary, funny, revelatory party.
And how does a species of all-female humanoids reproduce? Who is the King of the Cats?
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
What happens when you put a truly scary rebel-vagabond into The Happy Place-- a sci fi Disneyworld that is only slightly exaggerated? Throw both Ascian tribesmen and Nyiman lion-women into the mix and you've got yourself a party. A scary, funny, revelatory party.
And how does a species of all-female humanoids reproduce? Who is the King of the Cats?
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
December 28, 2012
Jaeger finally gets fleshed out as a character in a tale mixing civilization sci-fi with its anthropological cousin. "King of The Cats" finds Jeager visiting the cacophonic city/theme park/religious monument of Munkytown where his people the Ascians are in conflict with a mutated tribe of the Nyima.
Jaeger doesn't emerge as the most nuanced character yet, but his background and the culture of his people gets explored nicely, elevating our protagonist above the "sexy rebel" cliché. This volume also works quite well as a story, again demonstrating Carla Speed McNeil's vast evolution as a storyteller.
Jaeger doesn't emerge as the most nuanced character yet, but his background and the culture of his people gets explored nicely, elevating our protagonist above the "sexy rebel" cliché. This volume also works quite well as a story, again demonstrating Carla Speed McNeil's vast evolution as a storyteller.
May 2, 2014
King of the Cats has a much tighter plot than Sin-Eater. It pokes satirical fun at Disney Worlds and modern society's obsession with technology and entertainment, as Jaeger gets stuck inside a hermetically sealed amusement park that is revered like a holy pilgrimage site. The real interest is in two "outside the dome" cultures that wealthy city people come to gawk at as exhibits - the Nyiman, nomdadic lion hybrid warriors, and the Ascian, Jaeger's own ethnic family and equivalents to Native Americans. Less monologues, more cuddly lion babies.
February 21, 2011
Getting away from Jaeger's story this volume focused greatly on the conflict between the Ascian and Nyima cultures. It delved deeply into the different cultures as well as the classic counting coup that was utterly hilarious to watch fall out. I liked this one better than the Sin-Eater volumes story-wise, though that may just be because I'm getting used to Speed's world now.
Highly recommended, either way. This series has not failed to deliver yet.
Highly recommended, either way. This series has not failed to deliver yet.
June 29, 2015
The worldbuilding is the only good thing about these books, I think. It's kind of disappointing because the world is so great and interesting, but the stories are sort of boring.
This has interesting concepts but these feel really thin in weird ways, since the world is very deep and layered. I think it's because none of that is really in the story. Most of the worldbuilding is put into endnotes, so the significance of the setting, the words, the people becomes lost.
This has interesting concepts but these feel really thin in weird ways, since the world is very deep and layered. I think it's because none of that is really in the story. Most of the worldbuilding is put into endnotes, so the significance of the setting, the words, the people becomes lost.
April 25, 2016
Every time I think I'm finished reading it, I wind up picking it up again to reread! This is a self-contained volume, and you don't need a lot of familiarity with the character's background, since there are extensive author notes in the back with page-by-page explanations!
This series has great respectful treatment of native cultures, and realistic portrayals of invented cultures that don't exist (yet!) Highly recommended.
This series has great respectful treatment of native cultures, and realistic portrayals of invented cultures that don't exist (yet!) Highly recommended.
July 6, 2010
i didn't understand this book. there are lion people, lions, people lions and people people. there's the Disney world we all know that Really exists. there's really lovely art.
i plan on reading more of the story because i think the fault for not getting it was mine for showing up in the middle of a story.
i plan on reading more of the story because i think the fault for not getting it was mine for showing up in the middle of a story.
March 1, 2008
This one starts off, like all the best stories, with no explanations; what you pick up of the world, you have to hunt for. And it's worth the hunt. A story of pride, necessity, and(as ever in McNeil's writing)the willingness to perform your duty, it's also surprisingly funny.
January 14, 2021
Brilliant well constructed speculative fiction of the future with amazing internal cohesiveness. Believable characters dealing with everyday issues not seen in real life or other fiction.
I'm rereading this.
I'm rereading this.
October 10, 2013
All right, truth be told, it's a toss-up for best finder story between this one and Voice. This one is funnier and prominently features Jaeger's naked boy bits. However, I think Chief Coward really makes this story. The Nyima are beautifully alien yet familiar.
August 4, 2008
i liked the skewering of Disneyland, the curious mating rituals of the Nymia and the sin eater backstory but the density of the first two books was absent
June 4, 2022
2022 reread.
May 12, 2011
One of the funniest chase scenes I've ever read! A good writer/artist who only gets better.
November 4, 2011
Reread. Weird and wonderful science-fiction world. Very anthropological. Why don't more people read this? Looking forward to picking up the new Dark Horse complete editions.
September 6, 2014
Another excellent installment from Carla Speed McNeil.
May 19, 2015
Jaeger and the Ascians and the weird bipedal lionesses. all that's missing is a surprise visit from the Doctor. But maybe Jaeger is the Doctor!
May 8, 2007
Every time I reread this, I love it a little bit more.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews