[4][5] Alexander succeeded on his first try writing fantasy for children, which he later called "the most creative and liberating experience of my life."

But I should have, even though he didn't do any work.The nine settings were "nine places in the past that a cat would logically visit", discovered by reading and research.

[6][a] Jason learns that his cat, Gareth, is able to talk and has the power to travel to nine different points in world history (his "nine lives").

Jason convinces Gareth to take him along and their adventures begin where cats are considered divine, in Ancient Egypt in the year 2700 BC.

Later, they visit Britain (55 BC), Ireland (AD 411), Japan (998), Italy (1468), Peru (1555), the Isle of Man (1588), Germany (1600), and the United States (1775).