Mark Reads ‘The Book of Night With Moon’: Chapter 5, Part II

In the second part of the fifth chapter of The Book of Night With Moon, Arhu learns more of the world. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to read Feline Wizards. 

Technology

I just… I don’t know how to react to this? I admire how nonchalantly Duane writes this, but my brain couldn’t really wrap itself around the idea that cats use computers. It’s so… silly? I think it’s the physicality that felt strange to me. I could see cats using wizardry to interact with a computer, but Ehef uses a touchscreen and a mouse at one point and… how?? Can cats even do that? WHY IS THIS THE THING I’M HUNG UP ON, THIS IS A BOOK ABOUT MAGICAL CATS, THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY PUT THEIR MINDS TO. I’m just… wow, this opens up an entire WORLD of ramifications. Y’all, Ehef knows about the Internet, which makes we wonder if he posts on the Internet. What is his Twitter feed like? Does he troll people online like he does in person? What happens when wireless mice are introduced? Do cats prefer Macs or Windows or Linux? ARE THERE CATS WHO ONLY WANT TO BUILD THEIR OWN MACHINES? How does this affect the cat/human hierarchy, since cats don’t make computers, yet they view themselves as superior to humans?

Y’all, this has fucking unraveled me. I can’t stop thinking about all the implications of this!!! COULD CATS READ MY REVIEW OF CATS USING THE INTERNET? Would they send me hate mail? Would they use selfies for their avatars, or would they use humans to represent themselves? Oh my fucking god, CAT MEMES. Cat memes would be OUT OF CONTROL. Now that I know more about hauissh, you know that cats would make all kinds of memes about it. There’s be Facebook groups tracking hauissh competitions, and then there’d be cats who would provide commentary as if they were experts but had never played hauissh in their lives. YOU KNOW I’M RIGHT. 

Oh god, I feel like I could pull this thread forever, but I did want to talk about hauissh. I don’t feel like the general plot was advanced much; there are clues to future events, like Ehef saying that Rhiow needs to go to the Met, but this is mostly full of worldbuilding. Hauissh provides yet another explanation for a cat behavior that has previously been mysterious to me. I kinda figured that the whole cat staring game was some weird power play thing? I’m still looking forward to Duane explaining why cats seem to zone out and stare at absolutely nothing while looking fucking terrified. Anyway, I don’t know if this game plays a larger part in the story, and I’m reading it as another chance for Arhu to be taught the world of felines. I admit there’s a lot of world building in the first quarter of this book, and I’m guessing some of it really is important for what is coming later. I’ve got the Met to look forward to AND another trip to the Downsides. I’m more nervous about the latter, though, because that place gives me the creeps. Duane knows that, though, and I’m glad she seeded that possibility so early into the book. It’s a smart way to build tension and keep me on my toes.

And now, I’d like to hear your best headcanon for Cat Internet. I NEED TO KNOW.

https://youtu.be/zqt3aYPNaUY

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