The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith

Saving the universe, one hairball at a time.

Cats. In Space. Fighting Aliens.

Yes, you read that correctly. If that tagline didn’t immediately grab your attention, I don’t know what will. Cordwainer Smith’s The Game of Rat and Dragon is a wild ride straight out of 1950s pulp sci-fi, where the ideas are big, logic is non-existent, and entertainment value is prioritized above everything else. 

Humanity is exploring the stars, but space travel is a nightmare thanks to terrifying alien beings called "dragons" that can attack your mind and drive you insane. The solution? Astronauts, or “pinlighters,” form telepathic partnerships with cats. Yes, cats. These furry heroes zip around in their own little ships, pew-pewing aliens away with laser-like nuclear bombs. Why cats? No idea, but clearly Smith understood that if anyone’s going to save humanity, it’s definitely not going to be dogs.

This story doesn’t just lean into its ridiculous premise—it cannonballs into it, reveling in its over-the-top sci-fi absurdity like a B-movie that knows exactly where it wants to go. In this case, the destination is Bonkersville, USA. Smith takes what should be a completely unhinged idea and turns it into an entertaining sci-fi romp. Moreover, the relationship between the pinlighters and their cats is oddly sweet, and the alien battles are surprisingly well-conceived, even when you’re picturing a cat piloting a spaceship.

Look, if you’re here for hard-hitting, thought-provoking science fiction, you might want to steer your starship elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for a story that’s charmingly weird and completely off the rails, you're in for a treat (sorry, no catnip is allowed onboard). After all, who wouldn’t want to imagine cats saving the galaxy?

Rating: 3 out of 5 interstellar felines 🐱🚀