The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

From the team of Anne McCaffrey, bestselling author of the Dragonriders of Pern series, and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Nebula Award-winning author of The Healer’s War, comes the first book of an exciting new series that’s sure to please cat-lovers and science fiction fans alike!

Thomas’ Duchess—or Chessie, to those who love and depend on her services—is no ordinary feline. She’s a purebred Barque Cat, one of an invaluable breed trained to patrol the tight areas of spaceships, sniffing out oxygen leaks and other hazards. They’re so highly prized that every ship is required to bear a sign notifying rescue teams of their presence on board. But now the Galactic Health Authority has discovered an epidemic that will mean the impounding and possible destruction of animals across the galaxy—Barque Cats included. And Chessie and her kitten, two young people, and a mysterious cat with a hidden agenda are all that stand between the animals and total destruction....

Ever since Anne McCaffrey’s “psi”-fi novels, Rowan and Damia, fans have been eager to learn more about the remarkable Barque Cats. Now Catalyst reveals their story amid a lively space adventure only the masters of Pern and Petaybee could tell!