Help me identify this short story

Cafe Society
1

I read this a long time ago, so some of the details are vague. However, I thought if anyone can help me it would be the SDMB. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

By it’s nature, this may contain spoilers for whatever story it is (but some of them may be wrong spoilers if I am remembering wrong :D)

Here’s what I recall:

  • Science fiction/fantasy
  • I think it was a short story or a ‘story within a story’, not a novel by itself
  • The main characters had travelled to this world, which was quite agrarian I think
  • Mysterious mutilations/killings of animals were happening (I think it was animals, not people, could be wrong)
  • There were cute dog-like creatures which sort of wandered around, not belonging to anyone in particular.

Of course…DUM DUM DUM… the cute doglike creatures were actually intelligent and evil and behind the killings. They could talk, too.

The revelation of this resulted in a battle between the dog-creatures and the main characters.

I read it many years ago, and I don’t think it was new at the time, so lets assume it is at least 20 years old.

I’m Australian, but I don’t think it was an Australian story specifically - most likely American or British.

Over to you…

2

Not immediately familiar to me. I did some searching and so far have come up with nothing, but when Awesome Andy L figures it out, I’ll wanna read this.

3

I wish I knew - doesn’t ring a bell for me, but if I run across a useful reference, I’ll let you all know.

4

There are some vague echos of Heinlein’s Tunnel In The Sky. The “dopey joes” turning predator bit.

It’s almost certainly NOT that, but in this sort of threads, any info ideas have proven helpful.

5

Good suggestion. “Beware of Stobor”

6

Thanks for the suggestion. You’re right it isn’t that (based on the wikipedia description I don’t think I’ve read the Heinlein story).

One of things I did like about the story I am looking for is that aspects on an apparently harmless, friendly creature being smarter and more evil than people suspected.