| Author: | H. Beam Piper |
| Copyright: | 1964 |
| Date Reviewed: | 9/23/84 |
| Rating: | 6.5 |
Synopsis: Fuzzies are small furry humanoids that are childlike in behavior and live on the planet Zarathustra. This story centers around Little Fuzzy (the first Fuzzy found) and the group of Fuzzies he meets in the forest. While exploring on his own, Little Fuzzy falls into a large river and barely escapes with his life. He is presumed dead by his human guardians. While traveling back to camp, Little Fuzzy meets up with a band of eight Fuzzies. The leader, Wise One, is leading his group, without them knowing it, to Big One place. Little Fuzzy of course is Big One friend which pleases Wise One to no end. The group tries to build a raft to cross a big river by burning down some large trees. The fire gets out of control and a forest fire rages. The group of Fuzzies are finally rescued by the fire fighters.
Review: I read the first Fuzzy novel, "Little Fuzzy", and enjoyed it thoroughly. I enjoyed the good people vs. the not so good people vs. the totally evil people. I liked the discovery of the Fuzzies and learning of their ways. But most of all I enjoyed the plot which progressed from point to point. Since "Little Fuzzy" I've read three Fuzzy novels, including this one, and I'm still waiting for one I can enjoy (and one that has a plot).
"Fuzzies and Other People" was published posthumously 20 years after the creator of Fuzzies committed suicide. It is an unpolished novel. The book starts with what looks like a plot. The good people (there are no not so good people anymore and the evil people have no personality) are trying some bad people in court on slavery and faginy charges and hope to have them executed. In order to do that, they must prove that Fuzzies can lie (which they don't seem capable of doing) and that the lies will be detected but a veridicator. Since this plot sounds almost exactly like "Fuzzy Sapiens", I was starting to get disappointed. Suddenly the courtroom plot doesn't matter anymore, there are a few chapters that don't seem to go anywhere, and then Little Fuzzy gets lost.
The next 80 pages are about Little Fuzzy finding his way around the forest and finding the other group of Fuzzies, the leader of which, knows how to lie. It's too obvious were this is going to lead. "Fuzzies and Other People" is good reading, chapter by chapter but after finishing it I was left feeling that I wasted my time.