Gifted adventurers across time and space often travel with an animal familiar-usually a cat, but possibly other fuzzy, scaly, or prickly creatures. These magical companions lead their humans into mischief, help them out of sticky situations, or offer opinionated commentary along the way.

We're familiar with familiars ... or are we?

Compiled by New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson and award-winning editor Allyson Longueira-and their Publishing graduate students at Western Colorado University-Feisty Felines and Other Fantastical Familiars features 26 never-before-published short stories and poems crafted by Mercedes Lackey, Heather Graham, Jody Lynn Nye, John Hartness, Steve Rasnic Tem, and many others.

You'll love this collection kitty-littered with surprises at every turn. Some stories are whimsical, some are sad, some will tug at your heartstrings-and some will stay with you long after you close this book.

From mischievous cats to cunning ravens, skittering spiders to-a cow?-these feisty familiars will take you on a magical trip to places even wizards don't tread.