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Part 1–Sense & Sensibility–out now in Plott Hound

Plott Hound is my kind of place. One where animals are central to the narrative.

Those of you who know me IRL (Mum, that means ‘in real life’) know how central animals are for me in my work–both professionally and creatively.

Sometimes, in my creative work, I try to wall off my professional existence, as if it were invasive and my corpus was doing its best to erect some barriers. In pathology, we might use a fun word like ‘encapsulated.’ Not as fun as my actual favorite medical word: ‘inspissated.” (Squeamish? Do not, I repeat, do not search images for inspissated.)

For good or ill, this essay breaks those walls down, squeezes a gloriously congealed center from the walled-off core of my professional life. (An oddly satisfying procedure, I assure you. Pro tip: invite neither a pathologist nor a veterinarian to dinner.)

I’ve been confessing to a lot of things lately. Yes, I am trained as a veterinarian. Yes, I do research now. The latter is the reason I have that decade of a publication gap, blame the second doctorate cum launch of an academic career. (Let’s not talk about how demonized science in the US is right now…catalyst for my “End of the World” poems perhaps, but not for this.)

This essay celebrates science. Specifically, the science of the senses and what that might mean from an animal’s perspective. I wrote this with the hope to inject some grounding into remarkable works that feature animal narratives, perhaps even provide a seed of inspiration. I find science inspiring, and I am honored to share my delight.

I mean, sure, I mention boiling frogs and infections that lead inevitably to zombiedom (zombie-doom?). Yes, I reference snakes (Dear Reader, if you live with ophidiophobia, you have been warned). That said, this is a happy piece, if occasionally gruesome, and I enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy it too.

What comes next? Perhaps ‘Prides and Prejudices’ featuring animal behavior and…obvi…prides of lions, with my adorable ‘kittens’ as the supporting cast. Perhaps something really uplifting, like death. Perhaps something else. I’m open to suggestions. What don’t you understand about animals that you’d like to hear more about?

(Except pandemics–whether for humans or animals–been there, done (and doing) that IRL…and also in Utopia SF: A Field Guide to (Write) the Next Pandemic.)

While you’re at it, check out the amazing cover art (this owl knows how to party!) and the other featured works in this, the 4th issue of Plott Hound! What a powerful first year!

If you want to read more about how owls see each other in pink, or about the discerning palate of a mosquito, I direct you to the original papers:

Griffith, E. et al. 2025. Fluorescent pigment concentration correlated with age, sex, and size in Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) plumage.

Jové, V. et al. 2020. Sensory discrimination of blood and floral nectar by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Please also enjoy this image from the Utrecht University Museum exhibit on animals, which (appropriately given UU’s world-class vet school) focuses on comparative medicine. Can you see like a chicken?