Tailchaser's Song: Difference between revisions

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[[File:TailchaserSongbookCover_1869.jpg|frame]]
[[File:TailchaserSongbookCover_1869.jpg|frame]]


''Tailchaser's Song'' is a [[Fantasy]] novel written by [[Tad Williams]] and published in 1985. The story follows several feral cat communities, united in their beliefs and by their service to the Queen of Cats residing at Firsthome, the ancestral birthplace of Catkind.
''[[Tailchaser's Song]]'' is a [[Fantasy]] novel written by [[Tad Williams]] and published in 1985. The story follows several feral cat communities, united in their beliefs and by their service to the Queen of Cats residing at Firsthome, the ancestral birthplace of Catkind.


The cats of the novel have their own [[Fantasy Pantheon|mythology]]: they believe that everything was created by a feline god called Meerclar Allmother. The world was originally populated with cats, children of the Two: Harar Goldeneye and Fela Skydancer. Notable among the children of the Two are the three firstborn: Viror Whitewind, Grizraz Hearteater, and Tangaloor Firefoot. Because of his jealousy of his siblings, Grizraz reacts poorly and raises a demon hound to kill everyone. Whitewind succeeds in stopping it, but [[Heroic Sacrifice|dies in the process]]; later, Tangaloor traps Grizaz beneath a tree. Grizaz, after being trapped underground for a while, is blinded by the sun, and [[Beneath the Earth|digs a hole into the Earth]], where it is said he still remains....
The cats of the novel have their own [[Fantasy Pantheon|mythology]]: they believe that everything was created by a feline god called Meerclar Allmother. The world was originally populated with cats, children of the Two: Harar Goldeneye and Fela Skydancer. Notable among the children of the Two are the three firstborn: Viror Whitewind, Grizraz Hearteater, and Tangaloor Firefoot. Because of his jealousy of his siblings, Grizraz reacts poorly and raises a demon hound to kill everyone. Whitewind succeeds in stopping it, but [[Heroic Sacrifice|dies in the process]]; later, Tangaloor traps Grizaz beneath a tree. Grizaz, after being trapped underground for a while, is blinded by the sun, and [[Beneath the Earth|digs a hole into the Earth]], where it is said he still remains....
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Fast forward, and we meet Fritti Tailchaser, a tomcat in the Meeting Wall Clan. His family [[Conveniently an Orphan|mysteriously disappeared]] some time ago, and he was left with no one but his friend, Hushpad. As it happens, quite a few cats have been disappearing, and the Clan Elders send an envoy to Firsthome to ask the Queen for help. Tailchaser is not selected, so he sets out on his own with his lovable friend Pouncequick. Other members of Tailchaser's fellowship are a crazy cat named Eatbugs and Firsa Roofshadow, a sole survivor of a cat massacre.
Fast forward, and we meet Fritti Tailchaser, a tomcat in the Meeting Wall Clan. His family [[Conveniently an Orphan|mysteriously disappeared]] some time ago, and he was left with no one but his friend, Hushpad. As it happens, quite a few cats have been disappearing, and the Clan Elders send an envoy to Firsthome to ask the Queen for help. Tailchaser is not selected, so he sets out on his own with his lovable friend Pouncequick. Other members of Tailchaser's fellowship are a crazy cat named Eatbugs and Firsa Roofshadow, a sole survivor of a cat massacre.


Tailchaser's Song also has its own brand of [[TS Eliot]]-inspired honorifics. They are born with their "heart name" (equivalent to the Japanese first name--such as Fritti, Tangaloor, Firsa, etc.) that only family, close friends and lovers can use. They are appointed a "face name" at an old enough age (equivalent to the Japanese last name--Tailchaser, Roofshadow, Pouncequick, etc.) which is their commonly used name. They have to discover their third and most special name, their "tail name," by themselves.
''Tailchaser's Song'' also has its own brand of [[T. S. Eliot]]-inspired honorifics. They are born with their "heart name" (equivalent to the Japanese first name--such as Fritti, Tangaloor, Firsa, etc.) that only family, close friends and lovers can use. They are appointed a "face name" at an old enough age (equivalent to the Japanese last name--Tailchaser, Roofshadow, Pouncequick, etc.) which is their commonly used name. They have to discover their third and most special name, their "tail name," by themselves.

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{{tropelist}}
=== Tropes evident in this work include: ===
* [[Beneath the Earth]]: Grizraz.
* [[Beneath the Earth]]: Grizraz.
* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]: Prince Fencewalker.
* [[Boisterous Bruiser]]: Prince Fencewalker.
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* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Eatbugs.
* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: Eatbugs.
* [[Creation Myth]]: "In the Hour before time began, Meerclar Allmother came out of the darkness to the cold earth. She was black, and as furry as all the world come together to be fur. Meerclar banished the eternal night, and brought forth the Two."
* [[Creation Myth]]: "In the Hour before time began, Meerclar Allmother came out of the darkness to the cold earth. She was black, and as furry as all the world come together to be fur. Meerclar banished the eternal night, and brought forth the Two."
* [[Driven By Envy]]: Grizraz was jealous enough of his siblings' talents to summon a demon-hound in response.
* [[Driven by Envy]]: Grizraz was jealous enough of his siblings' talents to summon a demon-hound in response.
* [[Fantasy Pantheon]]
* [[Fantasy Pantheon]]
* [[Fictionary]]: The Higher Singing of the cats.
* [[Fictionary]]: The Higher Singing of the cats.
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* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]
* [[I Will Find You]]: Tailchaser to Hushpad
* [[I Will Find You]]: Tailchaser to Hushpad
* [[Living Legend]]: Grizraz Hearteater and Lord Tangaloor Firefoot are both [[Shrouded in Myth]], [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]], [[Physical God|Physical Gods]]. Tailchaser, by virtue of his adventures and [[Touched By Vorlons]] status, is as much a legendary hero as cats can have.
* [[Living Legend]]: Grizraz Hearteater and Lord Tangaloor Firefoot are both [[Shrouded in Myth]], [[Crystal Dragon Jesus]], [[Physical God|Physical Gods]]. Tailchaser, by virtue of his adventures and [[Touched by Vorlons]] status, is as much a legendary hero as cats can have.
* [[Mooks]]: The Clawguards are mook-ier than the Toothguard or the Boneguard, although they are still incredibly dangerous and violent.
* [[Mooks]]: The Clawguards are mook-ier than the Toothguard or the Boneguard, although they are still incredibly dangerous and violent.
* [[Mythopoeia]]
* [[Mythopoeia]]
* {{spoiler|[[Pals With Jesus]]: Eatbugs was Lord Tangaloor Firefoot all along. Slightly subverted in that he really was insane at the time.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Pals with Jesus]]: Eatbugs was Lord Tangaloor Firefoot all along. Slightly subverted in that he really was insane at the time.}}
* [[Power Trio]]: Tailchaser, Pouncequick, and Roofshadow
* [[Power Trio]]: Tailchaser, Pouncequick, and Roofshadow
* [[Proper Lady]]: Hushpad seems to be the cat version of this.
* [[Proper Lady]]: Hushpad seems to be the cat version of this.
* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Fencewalker. If only the same could be said for his parents.
* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]: Fencewalker. If only the same could be said for his parents.
* [[Shallow Female Love Interest]] {{spoiler|Hushpad, fairly literally. Or maybe she's not so much shallow as she is a total flake.}}
* [[Shallow Female Love Interest]] {{spoiler|Hushpad, fairly literally. Or maybe she's not so much shallow as she is a total flake.}}
* [[Shout Out]]: To ''[[TS Eliot|Old Possum's Book of Practical]] [[Cats]]'' (feline naming conventions) and the ''[[The Elric Saga|Elric Saga]]'' (the cat goddess is named "Meerclar").
* [[Shout-Out]]: To ''[[T. S. Eliot|Old Possum's Book of Practical]] [[Cats]]'' (feline naming conventions) and the ''[[The Elric Saga|Elric Saga]]'' (the cat goddess is named "Meerclar").
* [[Spiritual Successor|Spiritual Ancestor]]: To ''[[Warrior Cats (Literature)|Warrior Cats]]''.
* [[Spiritual Successor|Spiritual Ancestor]]: To ''[[Warrior Cats]]''.
* [[Sidekick]]: Pouncequick
* [[Sidekick]]: Pouncequick
* [[Talkative Loon]]: Eatbugs
* [[Talkative Loon]]: Eatbugs
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[[Category:Xenofictional Literature]]
[[Category:Xenofictional Literature]]
[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]
[[Category:Fantasy Literature]]
[[Category:Tailchasers Song]]
[[Category:Tailchaser's Song]]
[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Literature]]

Latest revision as of 15:54, 18 May 2020

Tailchaser's Song is a Fantasy novel written by Tad Williams and published in 1985. The story follows several feral cat communities, united in their beliefs and by their service to the Queen of Cats residing at Firsthome, the ancestral birthplace of Catkind.

The cats of the novel have their own mythology: they believe that everything was created by a feline god called Meerclar Allmother. The world was originally populated with cats, children of the Two: Harar Goldeneye and Fela Skydancer. Notable among the children of the Two are the three firstborn: Viror Whitewind, Grizraz Hearteater, and Tangaloor Firefoot. Because of his jealousy of his siblings, Grizraz reacts poorly and raises a demon hound to kill everyone. Whitewind succeeds in stopping it, but dies in the process; later, Tangaloor traps Grizaz beneath a tree. Grizaz, after being trapped underground for a while, is blinded by the sun, and digs a hole into the Earth, where it is said he still remains....

Fast forward, and we meet Fritti Tailchaser, a tomcat in the Meeting Wall Clan. His family mysteriously disappeared some time ago, and he was left with no one but his friend, Hushpad. As it happens, quite a few cats have been disappearing, and the Clan Elders send an envoy to Firsthome to ask the Queen for help. Tailchaser is not selected, so he sets out on his own with his lovable friend Pouncequick. Other members of Tailchaser's fellowship are a crazy cat named Eatbugs and Firsa Roofshadow, a sole survivor of a cat massacre.

Tailchaser's Song also has its own brand of T. S. Eliot-inspired honorifics. They are born with their "heart name" (equivalent to the Japanese first name--such as Fritti, Tangaloor, Firsa, etc.) that only family, close friends and lovers can use. They are appointed a "face name" at an old enough age (equivalent to the Japanese last name--Tailchaser, Roofshadow, Pouncequick, etc.) which is their commonly used name. They have to discover their third and most special name, their "tail name," by themselves.

Tropes used in Tailchaser's Song include:
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