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Catskinner's Book: The Book Of Lost Doors Paperback – August 25, 2012

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 91 ratings

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Catskinner's Book is a science fiction/urban fantasy novel set in a surreal world unlike any that you have seen before. James Ozryck has a monster in his head. All of his life the entity that he calls Catskinner has made him a fugitive, afraid to get too close to anyone, afraid to stay in one place for too long. Catskinner kills, without compassion and without warning, and is very good at it. Now James has learned that Catskinner is not the only monster in the world, a world that has suddenly become a far stranger and more dangerous place than he imagined. In order to survive he will have to become something more than a monster, he will have to learn what it means to be human.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 25, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1479179736
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1479179732
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 91 ratings

About the author

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Misha Burnett
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Misha Burnett has little formal education, but has been writing poetry and fiction for around forty years. During this time he has supported himself and his family with a variety of jobs, including locksmith, cab driver, and building maintenance.

His first four novels, Catskinner's Book, Cannibal Hearts, The Worms Of Heaven, and Gingerbread Wolves comprise a series, collectively known as The Book Of Lost Doors.

Major influences include Tim Powers, Samuel Delany, William Burroughs, and Phillip K. Dick.

More information about upcoming projects can be found at http://mishaburnett.wordpress.com/

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
91 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book and found it engaging. They appreciated the tight, well-crafted prose and believable characters. The story was described as fantastic, intriguing, and dynamic. Readers also liked the intelligent and creative writing style. They found the pacing quick and read the book quickly.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

33 customers mention "Story quality"28 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find the plot compelling, with a perfect grasp of it. The story extends beyond science fiction and fantasy, bordering on speculative fiction. Readers describe it as an elegant, fast-paced mystery-adventure with lots of monsters, occult organized crime, and suspense. The story flows seamlessly from start to finish with well-written characters and dark humor.

"...There are no witches, or ghosts, or vampires or werewolves. Burnett populates his world with all sorts of unique creatures...." Read more

"...of time; And Misha's unique universe, as he describes it, is *very* compelling...." Read more

"...I absolutely enjoy moral ambiguity and intriguing monsters and this story delivers. I plan on picking up the next titles in the series." Read more

"...I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a psychologically dynamic sci-fi/fantasy story." Read more

29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They find it intriguing, original, and fast-paced. The worldbuilding is excellent, with references to other works. Overall, readers describe the book as a great read.

"...conversations with James are fun to read. I’ll read any book with more Catskinner in it, as he is the most interesting character in the book...." Read more

"...This book is not one of them! I enjoyed every aspect of this book and I hope its author continues to write sequels which I plan to devour as soon..." Read more

"...The mechanics and descriptiveness of scenario was both plausible and fantastic...." Read more

"This is a very fun read. I read it in one sitting. The author's voice is very interesting, and morphs over the course of the short book...." Read more

23 customers mention "Writing style"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the descriptive language and natural flow of world descriptions. The terse style is executed well, with no typos or distracting details. While poetic at times, the writing never sacrifices clarity.

"...This leads me to Burnett’s writing. While Burnett can be poetic, it’s never at the expense of clarity...." Read more

"...Its terse style is well executed and it is very tightly edited. I had the sense that a good copy editor had gone over it pretty throughly...." Read more

"...The book was very well written. I love the style...." Read more

"...The dialogue between them was well done, and contributed to the plot development...." Read more

21 customers mention "Character development"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters compelling and well-developed. They can empathize with even minor characters. The dialogue between the human James and the alien Catskinner is described as believable. Overall, readers describe the book as engaging and similar to Clive Barker's work.

"...It’s imaginative, sympathetic characters, a truly fantastical world, and a forward-moving plot...." Read more

"...Catskinner's Book is a solemn, moody story with a pretty fantastic titular character...." Read more

"...was psychologically fascinating as these two personalities were profoundly interesting. I could hear the distinctive voices of each in my head...." Read more

"...Burnett builds upon these elements, but he stays true to his central character throughout, and to the reader, keeping the storyline very real...." Read more

21 customers mention "Originality"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book original, creative, and clever. They describe it as unique, unusual, and unlike anything they've read before. The world is described as compelling and the characters are described as unique.

"...I plowed through it quickly and enjoyed everything about it. It’s imaginative, sympathetic characters, a truly fantastical world, and a forward-..." Read more

"...However, this book does not seem amateurish. I will say I found a few more missing words then one usually finds in a professionally published work...." Read more

"...The book was very well written. I love the style...." Read more

"...the accessibility of the writing style, and 2) the genius creativity and imagination expressed through the author’s imagery...." Read more

12 customers mention "Intelligence"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book intriguing with its creative concepts and characters. They appreciate the pacing, relevant information, and interesting worldview. The plot keeps readers guessing with no infodumps or confusing pieces.

"...Catskinner’s foreign worldview and mindset keep things very interesting, and his(?) conversations with James are fun to read...." Read more

"...Perfect in pacing and the revelation of relevant information...." Read more

"...and Catskinner are executed perfectly, and the hints about the backstory and confusing pieces about what's going on are delivered in just the right..." Read more

"...It's short, it's sweet, it's violent, it's sexy, it's intriguing ... A+ all around!..." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the plot moving at a steady pace with an intriguing adventure. The writing style and characters are thought-out, making it an easy, fun read.

"...Perfect in pacing and the revelation of relevant information...." Read more

"...The plot moved at a steady, quick pace with one intriguing adventure after another...." Read more

"...happen in his books; and third, because he communicates in a vivid, fast-paced, gritty way that grabs my attention...." Read more

"...is (ebook version), but it's just because it's a compelling and quick read. But what really compels me is the author's use of language...." Read more

5 customers mention "Humor"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find some of the jokes hilarious.

"Imagine a quirky, dark humored, action/sci-fi movie directed by David Fincher and starring Edward Norton and perhaps Margot Robbie as co-star….THAT..." Read more

"...Some bits are truly hilarious (though my late-night consumption of an adult beverage may have contributed to he hilarity)...." Read more

"...human James and the very alien Catskinner is both interesting and often amusing...." Read more

"...the very first page--the voice, the characters, the intelligence, the humor, the originality...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019
    Misha Burnett’s urban fantasy series is weird. That’s all I knew when I picked up Catskinner’s Book. Upon reading it, I can confirm that Catskinner’s Book is, indeed, very weird, but I mean that in the best sense possible. If you want something different from your usual urban fantasy/science fiction fare, look no further.

    James has a problem. His culty parents basically grafted an otherworldly, non-physical creature to James’ being. The creature is psychotic and believes violence is the best answer. It can also take control of James’ body to perform superhuman acts of brutal butchery. After spending years in various institutions, James has finally settled down into something approximating a life. He holds down a job at an electrical supply store while Victor, his boss and only kinda-sorta friend, sometimes sends him on missions to kill certain people. Everything works fine until Victor is murdered and James is thrust into the fantastical, horrific world behind the world in order to find Victor’s killers.

    Got all that? Good, because Burnett charges headlong into the story and world he’s created without pausing to give you time to breathe. Once the inciting incident hits, it’s pedal to the metal until the end. That said, the world is truly fantastical. There are no witches, or ghosts, or vampires or werewolves. Burnett populates his world with all sorts of unique creatures. We have the Ambimorphs, crazy hot plant-transgender-women-things that ooze sexuality; fiery, metal centipedes; sentient ooze that dissolve your very being; and much more.

    None of it feels out of place because Burnett explains how these various creatures function with plausible-sounding scientific explanations (I’m the furthest thing from a science geek, but they do sound plausible). It’s a fantastic world that has a scientific coherence to it. Calling this book urban fantasy might be a disservice because of the connotations of urban fantasy. Many times, it feels more like the science-fantasy of the genre-bending classics of the pulp era. So I guess that would make this an urban science-fantasy-thriller?

    This leads me to Burnett’s writing. While Burnett can be poetic, it’s never at the expense of clarity. Far too many authors try to show off their wordsmithing abilities only to end up being opaque with what’s going on. but Burnett manages to be the best of both worlds. There was never a moment where I had to reread a sentence due to confusion or clarity issues. This, more than anything else, is what made me finish the book in less than two days.

    James as a character is sympathetic. Sure, he’s not exactly a good guy, but you feel for the guy and the hand he’s been dealt, and you want him to succeed at making the best of his situation. Catskinner’s foreign worldview and mindset keep things very interesting, and his(?) conversations with James are fun to read. I’ll read any book with more Catskinner in it, as he is the most interesting character in the book. Other characters are introduced as well, weird characters indeed, but to talk more about them would spoil the fun of discovery.

    A final consideration. This book can get quite racy at times, though it never devolves into prurience or obscenity. Much like the magazine covers of Weird Tales, the book never quite crosses the line, which I find refreshing and much more effective.

    If I had any kind of nitpick, and it is just a nitpick, is that the climax of the novel isn’t quite climactic enough. I was expecting a massive fight against a formidable opponent. Burnett sidesteps that fight in a way that feels just tad anticlimactic. That said, he manages to throw a curveball your way which made me immediately get the second book without dropping a massive cliff-hanger on your head.

    This is a fantastic book. I plowed through it quickly and enjoyed everything about it. It’s imaginative, sympathetic characters, a truly fantastical world, and a forward-moving plot. This is weird fantasy at its finest and one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year.

    5 out of 5 stars
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024
    Imagine a quirky, dark humored, action/sci-fi movie directed by David Fincher and starring Edward Norton and perhaps Margot Robbie as co-star….THAT is what catskinner's book felt to me the whole time I was reading!
    Of course, if you ask author Misha Burnett, he will tell you that the concept of this story is based in part on himself as he was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and part of his motivation for writing this was an attempt to convey what DID feels like from inside.
    The other main inspiration for this quite unique and peculiar tale was William S. Burrough, specifically his Nova Express trilogy.
    The story revolves around James Ozwryck, a seemingly ordinary store clerk who believes he has an entity or alien form residing within him which he calls ‘catskinner’. James and catskinner communicate and even ‘argue’ at times, but the interesting thing is that when catskinner takes over James’ body he can find himself achieving physical feats otherwise impossible for a guy his size. As far as James can remember, catskinner has always been with him since birth.

    The entirety of book 1 revolves around James finding out more and more about catskinner and its origins, and to be honest, I was HOOKED! The story has good pace, good prose style that brilliantly reflects the urban language of our times, some jaw-dropping action scenes, violence and a dry sense of humor that-in this context-is very spot on.
    If you were wondering what the book cover was about, that cover is from a photo shoot of Burnett's roommate and those are the author's hands you see. What the image reflects is the main character James wanting to care for and protect Godiva, the co-main character.

    Now that I highlighted some of the positive aspects of this book, let's turn our attention to some of the negatives which lead me to score this more like a 4 out of 5 stars…

    The closing act:
    As I always advise authors, no matter how many sequels in one particular series you plan to write, you still have to offer a ‘complete experience’ to your readers in each individual book. Unfortunately, I feel like this book fails to accomplish that. The conclusion felt rushed, hollow, and disappointing. We basically end up where we started from and we realize we have learned close to zero about what we were seeking along with the main character. The end is abrupt, almost like the writer didn't know what else to do and decided to just end it there. I am all for cliffhangers and creating expectations to read the next book, but at the same time, each book must deliver some sense of fulfillment or that at least we have moved on from point A to point B… I just did not see that here, although the entire ride was extremely fun and suspenseful. Actually that in itself made the end that much more disappointing for me personally.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Linda
    4.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for all Sci-Fi Fans!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2014
    Full of non-stop action, I loved the twists and turns as the story of James and Catskinner unfolds. This well written sci-fi novel by Misha Burnett is set in a realistic world into which a reader can escape. Alive with imaginative creatures, Catskinner's Book is an original that I had a hard time putting down.
    I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great sci-fi story, and I couldn't wait to start into Book Two - Cannibal Hearts.
  • Allie
    4.0 out of 5 stars I thought that at first I would probably not enjoy the book as the opening scene seemed so mundane ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2014
    After reading the author's blog for some time now I became curious about his books that he occasionally mentioned. I'm not usually a huge sci-if lover but something about Catskinner's Book drew me in right from the first page. The normality of the opening scene followed by stranger happenings had me unusually hooked. I thought that at first I would probably not enjoy the book as the opening scene seemed so mundane and didn't appear to have a hook, but the style of writing and thought processing of James, the protagonist persuaded me to carry on reading and after the first few pages I found I just had to keep on reading. The character, Catskinner was fresh and something different and I was surprised with how well Burnett makes the reader engage with something so inhuman in mindset.The pace of the book didn't seem to slow down but I found I didn't mind too much as Burnett kept with the pace he had set and didn't falter with his writing quality. Near the end I admit I did want to throw my kindle out of the window at the turn of events in the plot as I had come to love the characters but the ending rewarded me as I manged to refrain from doing so. I'm thoroughly looking forward to reading the second installment (and the third when published) in the series. Well written Mr Burnett!
  • Eternal Dreamer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - but the ending!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2012
    I loved this book. The character of Cat Skinner himself was fantastic. Overall the pace was brilliant, plenty of action with well thought-out characters. The plot was great but that ending! I'd love to read more from these characters and the world they're in. If you like properly done urban fantasies with believable characters, you'll love this. Just be prepared for the ending.