Cat Island-Jack Vance fragment

Cat Island-Jack Vance fragment

Cat Island is a fragment of short fiction written in 1946 that is 5 pages long and was not previously published until the Vance Integral Edition was released in 2006.  It has been described as an "unfinished children's story" and also as a "previously unpublished excerpt from a novella."  It is not science fiction or a mystery and it seems more of a social satire than a fantasy.  We can only wonder what it would have become if Vance had continued to work with it. 

The story begins with a large ship lost at sea.  The sole survivors are thirty two cats who abandon ship and board a life raft.  On the fourth day adrift at sea their raft lands on a beach and the cats decide to hold council.  They discuss ways of trying to increase the probability of being rescued, but they finally agree that it is hopeless and that the best course is to set up their own society.  They decide to name their island Cat Island.  The island is later invaded by dangerous enemies of the United States and the cats decide to align with the U.S. Marines to combat the invaders.  Cat Island is a rather silly piece and will probably be of interest only to the most devoted Vance fan.  Rated 2 or “Okay”

Included in the Jack Vance collection titled Light from a Lone Star (1985)

Included in the Jack Vance collection titled Wild Thyme and violets, Other Unpublished Works (2012)