A review by tamandua
At the Mouth of the River of Bees: Stories by Kij Johnson

3.5

i was really close to giving this 4.5 stars, but with anthologies, some work for you, some don’t, and so inherently they’re always going to be a mixed bag. i really liked the opening story in particular, the titular one, the cat who walked a thousand miles, the brief horror of ponies, but i found the penultimate story boring and dragged on two long and the last one left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Repeatedly comparing people with dogs to masters and slaves, like i just don’t think that’s how most people view dogs? they view them as part of the family. animal abuse is horrific and some people should never be allowed near a dog but I just don’t think that many people would get rid of their dogs if they could talk. also like, animals can talk, and you mention that pigs can too, but you’re focusing on dogs? i just feel like this story could have had way more to say if it focused on the farming industry, like how would society be forced to change if the animals we kill could scream and beg to not be killed? instead it kept repeating that humans prefer our slaves mute  which could have been really interesting if it focused on the systematic abuse of animals for meat, not on how most people who have loving relationships for animals and would do anything to save suddenly hate them and drive them away just because they can talk.