A sequel to Psion but a very different book. Though taking placing only a few years after Psion, both the character's maturity, writing, and themes have advanced by decades. I believe this was lumped in with all the other cyberpunk novels that followed Neuromancer in the 1980's. There is an indeed a trip through cyberspace. It's probably the weakest section of the book. But overall it's much closer to cyberpunk's roots in hard-boiled detective fiction. As with such fiction, his client is an incredibly wealthy family with all kinds of secrets, the bad guys have great power, his slum-born habits and attitude cause friction constantly, several beautiful women sleep with him, he gets beaten up pretty badly, and he eventually saves the day. Despite checking all the boxes, Vinge manages to make the story's main character unique and sympathetic, and the plot chugs along nicely.

Recommended, even if you weren't fond of Psion. ( )

I picked this book up before realizing it was book #2 of a series, stopped midway to read "Psion," then finished this last night--at 5am. In this addictive series, Vinge shows deep character growth for Cat. "Catspaw" offers a Cat who is less angry and more focused on carving out a life for himself. But his awareness that the world is willing to grind him under a boot heel is never far from his thoughts.

There is more political intrigue in this novel--plots within plots, and Cat has to learn to navigate them to keep himself and others alive. What keeps it compelling, though, is that everything is filtered through Cat's emotional and psychological struggles. Violence is not simply an action piece; it's insight into Cat's social status and his efforts to put his past--and his overwhelming feelings of helplessness--behind him. Even the sexual encounters are not there for the sake of titillation or overwrought romance--they're about power, loneliness, and fear.

"Psion" is more of a coming-of-age SF adventure story, with Cat as an anti-hero. "Catspaw" is dominated by political intrigue with elements of cyberpunk. Also, "Catspaw," shows a Cat who has grown emotionally, and is a more sympathetic character. I recommend both, but "Catspaw can be read as a stand-alone book. The events of "Psion" are integrated into "Catspaw" as a rich backstory. These two books have guaranteed that I'll check out every novel Vinge has written--sadly, far too few. ( )

This sequel to Psion again sees Cat charting his own course in the face of some very powerful people. Choices are made. People do terrible things, and wonderful things. No one is what they seem. Except Daric, who really is that much of an asshole.

This book contains one very 1980s trip through cyberspace.

Overall, great worldbuilding, larger than life characters, and a compelling plot. ( )

I think I've re-read this book at least once a year for the last ten years. I can honestly say that it is one of my all time favorites! ( )

I'm re-reading some older science fiction lately & couldn't pass this by. Joan D. Vinge is a wonderful, feminist cyberpunk author - also an anthropologist. There are 3 books in this series - Psion (Cat), Catspaw, & Dreamfall (Cat). All worth the read (& frequently found in the Young Adults section of the library).

Vinge creates interesting worlds people with interesting people who do interesting things & what more can you want, eh? ( )

Cat is half Psion and half human, an outcast who used to have telepathic powers until he lost them in a battle to the death. Now he's been dragged into a dangerous game of high level corporate intrigue when he is kidnapped by the powerful taMing clan, given drugs that bring back his ability, and set as a bodyguard against assassins.

Cat doesn't want the job, but he is asked to help by a friend. Before long, he's pulled deep into the web of lies, love and deceit that reaches beyond the corporate control into the highest levels of government. He's never been trained for this kind of work. He doesn't understand the culture, and the people he is protecting don't trust him. It's a combination that is bound to lead to disaster.

This is a fascinating, and fast-paced, science fiction tale that weaves an unlikely character into a believable future. Catspaw is the middle book of a trilogy -- Psion, Catspaw, Dreamfall . It is also something that is very rare, the best of all three. Usually a middle book suffers from being neither the start nor the end of a story. However, because so many years fell between the writing of Psion and Catspaw, Joan D. Vinge's storytelling abilities had matured, and the book has an incredible depth of character development and cultural worldbuilding. Cat is the kind of character a reader can understand -- the outsider who finds his courage and his morals challenged, and shows himself better than many of the people he is now forced to work for.

Filled with thrills, this book gets my highest recommendation for straight out excitement and fun. This is a truly timeless science fiction tale that can be read with as much pleasure today as it was when first published. ( )

Great I love the entire series by Vinge. Catspaw is my favorite however. A wonderful look at a future time and place with such amazing characters. ( )

http://www.fascinationplace.org/2007/12/28/joan-d-vinge-catspaw/ ( )

The politics of the mega-companies called combines are cutthroat, and the combine security branches are not beyond assasination of rival board members. So when Cat is manipulated into serving as bodyguard for a combine board member, he tries to hope for the best... as if he wanted anything to do with these creeps in the first place! And to make matters worse, the combine wants him to use his psi--against the law, but more importantly, in defiance of the dance of back-stabbing manners of the combine elite politics. ( )

Cat, the main character of Vinge's previous book "Psion", is summoned by the taMing dynasy to protect one of its members from murder. While there, he discovers that plots are thicker than water.
Another old favorite, which I decided to reread. Again, growth of experience has taught that these are not the best of all authors, but Vinge is still pretty good at turning a story. She manages to keep the character dark and angsty without falling into incessant whining. Again, the mystery is one which is revealed as you go along, rather than having all the clues explained at the very end. It's interesting seeing a sort of sci-fi adaptation of "The Great Gatsby", though with more of a tech-murder-conspiracy angle. (So, really, the only way it relates to Gatsby is the fascination with the ultra-rich. My apologies.)
I'd include it in the genre of cyberpunk, or at least a precursor. It has most of the elements - rampant technology, worlds which function largely without laws, the delicious seamy underside, the anti-hero.
Quick, fun read, especially for those who prefer sci-fi (of course) and darker themes. 7/10 ( )

The second of Vinge's books about Cat, and probably my favorite. This draws more heavily on the psiberpunk elements than either of the others, though the plot (revolving around a democratic election) gives it a slightly less jaded tone. Cat's abilities give the reader a chance to see a wonderful cast of new characters shine; Cat himself, thrown into a snake pit with only his wits to rely on, comes into his own. There's a fair bit of sex and sexual violence here, but I found it extremely well done, relevant, damaging, and also hot. ( )