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Sci Fi Birds

© Mary Wilson

Author's note: In honor of Halloween, the next two articles will deal with birds and science fiction/fantasy.

I do not disguise the fact that I enjoy science fiction and fantasy. I adore any book that has a glimmer of a bird in it, and find that my feathered children spur ideas in me for different stories. Take, for example, the crazy button quail I have that gave rise to a story about a killer button quail, which is truly laughable if you've ever seen a button quail.

I picked up this picture at the art show at ICON http://www.mindbridge.org/icon/, which was held earlier this month. Not only are chickadees my favorite wild birds, but something about this picture drew me in. It made me think that perhaps the starlings that flock in our back yards and the sparrows aren't quite what they seem.

It always amazes me when birds show up in books where they're not expected. For example, in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series of books, Laurell K. Hamilton introduces us to Kaspar, a were-swan. Although his story is based more on the Swan Prince ballet than any form of lycanthropy known to most readers, I found his appearance fascinating, and I wish we could see more of his character.

Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill co-authored Beyond World's End, and its sequel is due out in a few months. Not only do one of the guardians of this book raise African Gray parrots, but the hero himself launches into a long self-discussion about the needs of parakeets. I only hope the sequel has as much birds in it as the original.

I don't know what it is about our fine, feathered friends that induce us to such creative heights, though it's probably the same thing that exists in horses, cats, and dogs that allows one to write stories about them too.

My own attempt at an urban fantasy novel that I'm currently outlining involves a vet who finds herself involved in an elemental war because she treated what she thought was an escaped parrot. The poor guy looked as if he'd tangled with a cat or a dog, and as a vet, she found herself honor bound to treat it. Interesting premise, I hope.

For me, the fascination with birds lies in their intelligence. There's so much more going on within their minds than we would like to believe. Even a zebra finch is thinking about something.

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