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Knowledgeable Creatures
A dog detective is hired by a female human to investigate a murder that she committed. But of course, all is not as it seems.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2019
3 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 1, 2020
WELCOME TO DECEMBER PROJECT!
this explanation/intro will be posted before each day’s short story. scroll down to get to the story-review.
this is the FOURTH year of me doing a short story advent calendar as my december project. for those of you new to me or this endeavor, here’s the skinny: every day in december, i will be reading a short story that is 1) available free somewhere on internet, and 2) listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity. there will be links provided for those of you who like to read (or listen to) short stories for free, and also for those of you who have wildly overestimated how many books you can read in a year and are freaking out about not meeting your 2019 reading-challenge goals. i have been gathering links all year when tasty little tales have popped into my feed, but i will also accept additional suggestions, as long as they meet my aforementioned 1), 2) standards.
if you scroll to the end of the reviews linked here, you will find links to all the previous years� stories, which means NINETY-THREE FREEBIES FOR YOU!
2016: /review/show...
2017: /review/show...
2018: /review/show...
reviews of these will vary in length/quality depending on my available time/brain power.
so, let’s begin
DECEMBER 20
three-and-a-half, with room to grow if this ever becomes a larger work. i like the characters and the world very much. i was obviously drawn to this story in particular by that 'cover' and the synopsis:
A dog detective is hired by a female human to investigate a murder that she committed. But of course, all is not as it seems.
all of which translates into "gimmie gimmie gimmie!" in my mind.
the execution wasn't as toight as i'd hoped—i remain question-filled, but i enjoyed the story enough to want to read more in this setting and discover the answers to my myriad questions.
now i gotta go grind my body into dust to make sure some rich people have a great holiday and maybe next year i will have a job that allows me to afford a christmas of my very own, hooray!
read it for yourself here:
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DECEMBER 1
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DECEMBER 14 GOODREADS ERASED THIS STORY AND MY REVIEW FROM THE SITE, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO READ IT, IT IS THANKS.
DECEMBER 15
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DECEMBER 31
this explanation/intro will be posted before each day’s short story. scroll down to get to the story-review.
this is the FOURTH year of me doing a short story advent calendar as my december project. for those of you new to me or this endeavor, here’s the skinny: every day in december, i will be reading a short story that is 1) available free somewhere on internet, and 2) listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity. there will be links provided for those of you who like to read (or listen to) short stories for free, and also for those of you who have wildly overestimated how many books you can read in a year and are freaking out about not meeting your 2019 reading-challenge goals. i have been gathering links all year when tasty little tales have popped into my feed, but i will also accept additional suggestions, as long as they meet my aforementioned 1), 2) standards.
if you scroll to the end of the reviews linked here, you will find links to all the previous years� stories, which means NINETY-THREE FREEBIES FOR YOU!
2016: /review/show...
2017: /review/show...
2018: /review/show...
reviews of these will vary in length/quality depending on my available time/brain power.
so, let’s begin
DECEMBER 20
Have learned mice been around forever? Did they awaken humans at some time in the distant past? Are they the secret governors of us all, operating independently of the Imperium, probably controlling it?
These really aren’t the kinds of questions you ask if you want to be taken seriously. They certainly aren’t the kinds of questions you ask if you want to stay a police officer.
three-and-a-half, with room to grow if this ever becomes a larger work. i like the characters and the world very much. i was obviously drawn to this story in particular by that 'cover' and the synopsis:
A dog detective is hired by a female human to investigate a murder that she committed. But of course, all is not as it seems.
all of which translates into "gimmie gimmie gimmie!" in my mind.
the execution wasn't as toight as i'd hoped—i remain question-filled, but i enjoyed the story enough to want to read more in this setting and discover the answers to my myriad questions.
now i gotta go grind my body into dust to make sure some rich people have a great holiday and maybe next year i will have a job that allows me to afford a christmas of my very own, hooray!
read it for yourself here:
*
DECEMBER 1
DECEMBER 2
DECEMBER 3
DECEMBER 4
DECEMBER 5
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 8
DECEMBER 9
DECEMBER 10
DECEMBER 11
DECEMBER 12
DECEMBER 13
DECEMBER 14 GOODREADS ERASED THIS STORY AND MY REVIEW FROM THE SITE, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO READ IT, IT IS THANKS.
DECEMBER 15
DECEMBER 16
DECEMBER 17
DECEMBER 18
DECEMBER 19
DECEMBER 21
DECEMBER 22
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December 30, 2020
I can honestly say this is the best noir I've ever read starring a dog detective.
Knowledgeable Creatures is a murder mystery set in a world where Isaac Newtown and his partner, the learned mouse Xerxes, via alchemy, ushered in an age of intelligent animals.
It's an imaginative story. I had loads of fun reading it; I wish there were more (there will be, but not until 2023 apparently; I'm looking forward to it). Read it here:
Knowledgeable Creatures is a murder mystery set in a world where Isaac Newtown and his partner, the learned mouse Xerxes, via alchemy, ushered in an age of intelligent animals.
It's an imaginative story. I had loads of fun reading it; I wish there were more (there will be, but not until 2023 apparently; I'm looking forward to it). Read it here:
December 15, 2021
Cool setup. I thought it was going to be interesting despite the whole talking animals thing not really being my thing, but ultimately this went nowhere and feels mostly like wasted potential.
December 25, 2024
A dog detective is hired by a human professor to help solve a murder in a strange, fantasy world where some animals are intelligent. Of course, it's the learned mice that most people seem to have the most respect for - are they the real operators behind the curtain?
A lovely story, although a bit convoluted in the end. I loved the illustration by Armando Veve:
A lovely story, although a bit convoluted in the end. I loved the illustration by Armando Veve:
August 24, 2022
A gritty noir parody set in a world where all animals possess the same intelligence as humans, much greater in some cases. Connolly Marsh, a dog working as a hardened detective is hired by a human female, a history professor named Thomasina Swallow looking to solve a murder that she believes she is responsible for. As one might expect from such an odd case, nothing is at it seems.
This story had a lot of potential, but it never really utilized any of its assets. It was part crime noir and part conspiracy theory mystery involving the idea of who the true masters of the world are and who secretly controls things from the shadows. The thing is, there was never really any point of the characters being animals because they talked and acted exactly like humans, not even once reflecting animal habits, personality traits or quirks. The 'big twist' at the end of the story could've been accomplished just as easily with an all human cast. There's also some pretty big gaps between reveals which make many of the revelations feel awkward or undeserved.
I think it was trying to accomplish something similar to Zootopia, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or even the manga Beastars, but not executed nearly as well. Not a bad story, but a very generic conspiracy murder mystery that never uses the tools at its disposal. A recent story I've read that does the whole animals as the main characters thing much more effectively is For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, fantasy, sci-fi and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions:
This story had a lot of potential, but it never really utilized any of its assets. It was part crime noir and part conspiracy theory mystery involving the idea of who the true masters of the world are and who secretly controls things from the shadows. The thing is, there was never really any point of the characters being animals because they talked and acted exactly like humans, not even once reflecting animal habits, personality traits or quirks. The 'big twist' at the end of the story could've been accomplished just as easily with an all human cast. There's also some pretty big gaps between reveals which make many of the revelations feel awkward or undeserved.
I think it was trying to accomplish something similar to Zootopia, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy or even the manga Beastars, but not executed nearly as well. Not a bad story, but a very generic conspiracy murder mystery that never uses the tools at its disposal. A recent story I've read that does the whole animals as the main characters thing much more effectively is For He Can Creep by Siobhan Carroll.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, fantasy, sci-fi and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions:
December 5, 2021
I'll also put the name of the story here, in case Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ decides to merge it into some other work:
Knowledgeable Creatures by - 2.5/5�
A detective knowledgeable dog partners up with a knowledgeable crow to investigate a murder � I liked the idea, but the execution was meh..
The short story is found in and can also be read on .
Knowledgeable Creatures by - 2.5/5�
A detective knowledgeable dog partners up with a knowledgeable crow to investigate a murder � I liked the idea, but the execution was meh..
The short story is found in and can also be read on .
December 18, 2020
After reading quite a few short stories (free from Tor) lately that left me with reactions ranging from 'OK' to 'pretty good', this one, also from Tor, really stood out. Its central idea is unusual and masterfully revealed, with just the right amount of ambiguity. I really, really hope there will be more stories in this world.
March 10, 2019
A dog detective and a crow sidekick. Two of my fave animals in one story, woohoo! Set in a world with uplifted animals, it was a cute one at first, but went dark in the end.
April 12, 2019
An uneven story about a dog detective who's hired by a professor after she believes she's murdered a colleague. This one sounded fun, a dog as the main character, but I was so bored. The plot bogged down on the issue of forbidden writing the professor had produced that questions human intelligence. By halfway it had lost direction, then ended without conclusion.
November 1, 2020
A really interesting idea of a world inhabited by sentient animals. The story itself describes the fast-paced adventures of a detective dog and his crow side-kick (really cute dynamic between those two, also). But the broader idea would be wonderful if it were developed more into other writings, as well.
September 3, 2020
As for me, these are my particulars: I am the private detective, Connolly Marsh. I am an investigative dog.
I would love to read a novella/novel in this world. More!
(Online freebie at )
I would love to read a novella/novel in this world. More!
(Online freebie at )
December 22, 2019
The story itself isn't mind-blowing, but the idea behind is so cool and innovative that I wish it was a whole series.
October 21, 2020
Investigative dog Connolly Marsh is hired by human Professor Thomasina Swallow after she kills a coworker who was threatening blackmail. Things become increasingly screwy. The body is missing, the learned mouse who is also Sparrow's adopted father believes historical research into the history of knowledgeable creatures and humans shouldn't be forbidden, and Marsh can't make himself leave the case alone.
Huh. Another strange story with a lot of dangling threads left behind and even more questions. Yet this isn't a set-up for a longer story or even a series. It is complete within itself, with a somewhat sad ending for one character. Intriguing, almost a noir type of story. 3 out of 5.
Huh. Another strange story with a lot of dangling threads left behind and even more questions. Yet this isn't a set-up for a longer story or even a series. It is complete within itself, with a somewhat sad ending for one character. Intriguing, almost a noir type of story. 3 out of 5.
March 12, 2019
An ex-police dog turned detective is asked to investigate a human professor's murder. Things go badly.
One paragraph of world-building, but it's intriguing enough that I would read more set in this universe:
"What cannot be denied is that it’s the alchemical processes developed by Isaac Newton and his partner Xerxes, the first publicly acknowledged learned mouse, which led to the so-called Flowering, the world-wide, centuries-long explosion of new knowledgeable creatures, from Nox, the first curious cat awoken by Newton and Xerxes, on down to every philosophical pig and argute crow today. On down to every investigative dog—including, of course, me."
One paragraph of world-building, but it's intriguing enough that I would read more set in this universe:
"What cannot be denied is that it’s the alchemical processes developed by Isaac Newton and his partner Xerxes, the first publicly acknowledged learned mouse, which led to the so-called Flowering, the world-wide, centuries-long explosion of new knowledgeable creatures, from Nox, the first curious cat awoken by Newton and Xerxes, on down to every philosophical pig and argute crow today. On down to every investigative dog—including, of course, me."
March 6, 2019
Interesting setting and ideas, but I found that the plot itself wasn't interesting enough. I felt that not much happened and some of the most interesting questions raised by the setting weren't really addressed. Are all knowledgeable dogs investigators? Are all mice learned? Doesn't that kind of stereotype them? And if the dog kept quiet about what happened, who's he telling the story to? Is it a mental monologue? Or is he breaking his silence and about to pay the price like his crow friend?
March 20, 2019
This story had a promising start, and I really like the concept, but then just when things get interesting, it kinda fizzles out like a damp squib. The ending was abrupt, and lacked a sense of closure, almost as if the author wasn't sure how he was going to finish. I wanted more than this. Which is a pity, as Rowe writes well, but I think an editor could've helped tease out a bit more of twist in the tale, so to speak.
May 15, 2019
I did enjoy this unusual story about a dog detective in a world where most of the animals, birds etc are intelligent having been “uplifted� like in the David Brin Uplift series. I hope this is the first (assuming it is the first?) of a series as there is so much more to say about the world it is set in.
October 28, 2021
Very original & interesting. I usually don't write reviews because I'm lazy af and prefer the star rating, but this one was awesome. Read it at work every time I got a break. Tor.com is a great site that makes reading easy even on phone. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did :)
December 29, 2019
a weird little story with a fascinating premise-- i think it might've worked better as a novella, might've had more impact with some more time to spend on building the world and the characters before the ending.
March 20, 2020
A noir detective story given fresh life as the grizzled, ex-cop protagonist is a talking dog. In fact the entire world is filled with animals and remembers the perks/drawbacks of their biology. This one was gripping and fun.
October 24, 2024
A story about an ex-cop dog working as a private investigator. What's not to like? I would definitely read a novel set in this world.
March 8, 2019
Started off strong but once reaching the middle, I could see the failing of the story structure and lost all interest.
March 15, 2019
A nice detective thriller with a spooky aftertaste!
March 21, 2019
I'd like to see more in this world!
March 27, 2019
Read it at tor.com:
March 29, 2019
I think the premise might have merit, but the story wasn't well told. As evidenced by the fact that the second comment was a bunch of questions a person had after reading it twice.
April 2, 2019
Interesting concept but kind of went flat toward the end
April 2, 2019
Intriguing setting.
May 21, 2019
Compelling very compelling
June 12, 2019
A lot of unanswered questions but I found this story enjoyable. The writing and characters kept me captivated. I want to know more about this world.
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