A review by bentgaidin
The Big Meow, by Diane Duane

2.0

'The Big Meow' just didn't land for me, to my disappointment. Some of it are things I might warm up to after some reflection and on rereading; it's another time-travel story, right after the last one, and to a time period (40's Hollywood) that I don't really care one way about. It's also about defeating an entity from outside the universe that's supposed to be worse than the Lone Power, which feels kind of like a narrative cheat at first introduction. What I think will stick with me, though, is that half-way through the book I was thinking that whatever my quibbles with the plot were, at least I was getting to spend more time with Rhiow as a calm, capable leader, and enjoying her wit and detachment from the foibles of humans and the games of toms and queens alike -- and then the story introduces a romance for her, and she becomes flustered and much concerned with how a tom could love her even though she's been spayed. This is entirely my personal issue, but I _liked_ that she maintained a network of close relationships outside of the realm of sex, and indeed this is a plot point of the last book, that she would work with and appreciate and befriend a tom without desiring him, or even desiring to desire him. Here, the idea of a platonic friendship seems to disappear once one side expresses an interest, or the working-in-pride that she has with other wizards. It could be a cat cultural thing, but it's never come up this way before, it doesn't feel necessary, and I just don't like what it does to her character. ... Otherwise, it's a decent book. If Ace representation isn't a sticking point, or if you like that era of Hollywood and would recognize the characters, bump it up a star or two and you'll really enjoy it.