J.R.R.R. Hardison, author of FISH WIELDER, features some fun talking animals in his latest release. In this post, Hardison fills us in on 10 of his favorite tales with talking animals. He begins with an explanation of his definition of "talking animals" and finishes with a Dr. Seuss-inspired insight into his own writing and vocally-present animal characters. From Harry Potter to THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, Hardison's list will not disappoint with nods to all of our favorite animal characters and tales.
Great was their surprise when a little later, they heard Mr Beaver’s voice calling to them from just outside the cave. “It’s all right,” he was shouting. “Come out, Mrs Beaver. Come out, Sons and Daughters of Adam. It’s all right! It isn’t Her!” This was bad grammar of course, but that is how beavers talk when they are excited; I mean, in Narnia --- in our world they usually don’t talk at all. --- From THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis
While most people’s knowledge of talking animals starts and ends with Narnia, there are actually a number of really good stories with talking animals. Before I dive into those, I think it’s important to define what I mean by “talking animal." To be a talking animal, the character must:
- A) be an animal, so no mythical beasts like Yevaud, the talking dragon in A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. Le Guin or Morla the giant turtle in THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende (although Gmork passes the test).
- B) be able to talk to humans, so no animals that only talk amongst themselves, like Hazel and Fiver in WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams or who inhabit worlds without humans like Soren and Eglantine in the Guardian’s of Ga’Hoole series by Kathryn Lasky.
Ok! With the taxonomy out of the way, here (in no particular order) are ten terrific tales with talking animals:
- THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis. I have to start with this one because…Narnia. While everyone loves Aslan, I’d like to focus special attention on Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah from A HORSE AND HIS BOY and Reepicheep from VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER.
- THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ by Frank L. Baum. Although he looks a lot like a guy in a lion suit in the movie, the Cowardly Lion is an actual talking lion in the book.
- The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I debated this one for a while, but eventually decided that since more than one human can understand Parseltounge, that snakes could talk to humans in the series. And there was also Aragog. That spider could talk.
- THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende. Gmork is a talking wolf. I know he doesn’t look much like a regular wolf in the movie, but he’s pretty much an evil wolf who can speak human in the book.
- ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND & THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS by Lewis Carroll. This one has a bunch of talking animals, like the White Rabbit, but my favorite of them is the riddling and befuddling Cheshire Cat.
- THE DREAM QUEST OF UNKNOWN KADATH by H.P. Lovecraft. Ok. I’m stretching here because I love this book, but Randolph Carter does speak to the cats of Ulthar and they speak back to him. Sure, sure, they’re speaking cat language. Don’t quibble.
- ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell. I consider this a fantasy, even if it’s also a not very subtle political commentary on Stalin’s communism.
- THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien. What is it with talking spiders? The Spiders of Mirkwood talk and Bilbo understands them.
- His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman. I’m not counting the Daemons, because those aren’t exactly animals, but I am counting the talking polar bears, and in particular, Iorek Byrnison, who is an absolutely fabulous example.
- THE CAT IN THE HAT by Dr. Seuss. This was the one that started my love of talking animals and why there’s a talking fish in my book. Yes, THE CAT IN THE HAT is a ridiculous children’s book, but it’s also an excellent metaphor about the struggle all kids experience between the Id (The Cat) and the superego (The Fish).
