Teachers using this novel in a classroom must be acutely aware that the first alien met by the crew of the Space Beagle is named pussy by them. There will be no escaping the scorn and hilarity of adolescents, an understandable reaction. There was no need for the author to use this particular word with its associated obscene and denigrating meanings when naming a beast which appears vaguely feline in shape: in 1939, "kitty" was used at least as often to name cats in print and in polite conversation. The author, who never spent time in the company of men at a university, in the Armed Forces or the work force, clearly was unfamiliar with the common, informal vocabulary of grown men. He may be excused for his inexperience, but his editor can be blamed for perpetrating the womanhating theme of this novel through bad editing.

In...