''The Cat Who... '' is a series of twenty-nine mystery

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

s and three related collections by Lilian Jackson Braun and published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, featuring a reporter named Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Kao K'o-Kung (Koko for short) and Yum Yum. The first was written in 1966, with two more following in 1967 and 1968. The fourth appeared eighteen years later, after which at least one new novel was published every year until 2007. A thirtieth novel, originally announced for 2008, was postponed indefinitely by its publisher and then canceled after the author's death in 2011. It remains unpublished.

Main characters

James Mackintosh Qwilleran is the main human character in the books. Qwilleran (Qwill to his friends) is a man who goes from late forties to mid fifties over the course of the series. He is often described as looking melancholy or brooding, but he is witty and enjoyable company. His most distinguishing feature is his "luxuriant moustache." "Kao K’o-Kung" is the full name of the

Siamese cat The Siamese cat (; แมวสยาม, Maeo Sayam; แมววิเชียรมาศ, Maeo Wichien Maat) is one of the first distinctly recognised breeds of Asian cat. It derives from the Wichianmat landrace. The Siamese cat is one ...

who is almost always referred to as Koko.Braun, Lilian Jackson, ''The Cat Who Could Read Backwards'' (1966). He is named after a 13th-century Chinese artist whose name is usually written in modern

Pinyin Hanyu Pinyin, or simply pinyin, officially the Chinese Phonetic Alphabet, is the most common romanization system for Standard Chinese. ''Hanyu'' () literally means 'Han Chinese, Han language'—that is, the Chinese language—while ''pinyin' ...

Gao Kegong Gao Kegong (; 1248–1310) was a Chinese painter, and sometimes poet, born during the Yuan dynasty; he was known for his landscapes. He was a good friend and colleague of Zhao Mengfu, and his paintings showed an artistic combination between ...

. He has the appearance of a prize-winning show-cat and an obstinate attitude toward anything he does not like. Yum Yum is also Siamese, and had a troubled past. Yum Yum is named after a character in the opera ''

The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...

'' by

Gilbert and Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen com ...

who is also the ward of a man named Ko-Ko. Yum Yum is described as being smaller than Koko, and far more affectionate. Her beautiful violet-blue eyes are slightly crossed.Pg 191, ''The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern''

Novels

Related Works by Lilian Jackson Braun

#''The Cat Who Had 14 Tales'', 1988 (): an anthology of unrelated short stories involving various cats. Note that Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum do not appear in these tales. #''Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends Collected by James Mackintosh Qwilleran'', 2002 (): collected anecdotes and regional folklore from residents of Pickax & environs #''The Private Life of the Cat Who ...: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum (from the Journals of James Mackintosh Qwilleran)'', 2004 (): collection of extracts from several previous works with limited new material

Related Works by Other Authors

*''The Cat Who... Companion'', 1998 () by Sharon A. Feaster, including Braun interview *''The Cat Who... Quiz Book'', 2003 () by Robert J. Headrick, Jr., with introduction by Braun *''The Cat Who... Cookbook'', 2000 () by Julie Murphy and Sally Abney Stempinski, with foreword by Braun *''The Cat Who... Reunion Cookbook'', 2006 () by Julie Murphy and Sally Abney Stempinski, with foreword by Braun *''The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun'', 2003 (), a parody novel by Robert Kaplow

References

External links