Tailchaser's Song
Fifteen years ago, a young author surprised and enchanted readers with his first novel—the story of Fritti Tailchaser, a courageous tom cat in a world of whiskery heroes and villains, of feline gods and strange, furless creatures called M'an. The book was Tailchaser's Song, the author was Tad Williams. The legend was born.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about Tailchaser's Song
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
When his sweetheart Hushpad disappears, a young ginger cat named Fritti Tailchaser sets out from his clan to find her. His search takes him into the dark court of an ancient cat king buried far underground.
Yes. Tad Williams's Tailchaser's Song (1985) is widely cited alongside Watership Down (rabbits) and Fire Bringer (deer) as a defining novel with animal protagonists. Tailchaser is a young feral cat on a quest.
Tailchaser's Song is generally recommended for readers 12 and up. Despite the cat protagonists, the violence, mythology, and political themes make it more demanding than typical middle-grade fiction.
Tailchaser's Song was written by Tad Williams, published in 1985 by Daw Books.
Tailchaser's Song is 320 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Tailchaser's Song takes most readers 5 to 7 hours to finish.
Tailchaser's Song is a standalone novel by Tad Williams, not part of a series.
Tailchaser's Song is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.