Redwall

[Matthias]

a grand fantasy, i must say. Has anyone heard of it?

What was your favorite book and why?

Mariel of Redwall and the Bellmaker were probably my favorite, but i loved the first one. I just loved Mariel's wit and sarcasm and attitude. Gabool the Wild was probably the second greatest bad dude in the series next to Cluny the Scourge.

[by the way] it was written by Brian Jacques who, i think, recently had a seizure or something...

[Avatar]

Yeah, I've heard of it. Own the first 2 books of the original trilogy, and Salmandastron (I think, ) and have read a couple of others. Not Mariel though.

They're fun books, and I enjoy reading them again every now and then. Excellent books to read to your kids too. (And I will if I ever have any.)

Especially like the way everything is "phrased" to reflect the fact that there are only animals, "nobeast" for example.

Always wondered if the world contains any people as well. Doesn't seem to...

Guess RedWall is still my favourite, like the Badgers though as well.

--A

[Matthias]

yeah, it's a great, unique style that only Jacques can pull off.
I think the rabbits were the greatest (and most hilarious) and of course the badgers like Mother Mellus and Constance were the best.

[Avatar]

I'd forgotten the rabbits...well...hares actually. Definitely good for a laugh. The otters are pretty cool too.

--A

[Matthias]

rabbits...hares...yeah.
But i can see that somepeople have not heard of Redwall. If you get a chance to read the first book "Redwall" you should take the chance.

It's about a friendly community of woodland animals that live in an abbey that is founded on the history and accomplishments of a famous and legendary mouse, Martin the Warrior. The whole book is a personfication of woodland creatures like Mice, stoats, birds, hares, badgers, squirrels and not to mention, rats who are the antagonists in every story.

full of poetry and puzzels and mystery, these books are truly remarkable.

[Roland of Gilead]

I've read and enjoyed the first three Redwall novels. They are similar to Watership Down and Duncton Wood, but probably not as good.

I think the series was becoming too formulaic, but they are certainly entertaining and worth trying.

[The Somberlain]

I was an avid fan a few years back. I think I read them all up to The Pearls Of Lutra (or some such). I absolutely adored the first one, I remember. The snake and the anagram part really... excited me. The others... I liked (though Mattimeo (sp?) took me a while to get into). And the first prequel, which I don't remember the name of, I enjoyed.

Not sure if I'd enjoy them so much these days.

[Avatar]

I've read and enjoyed the first three Redwall novels. They are similar to Watership Down and Duncton Wood, but probably not as good.

I think the series was becoming too formulaic, but they are certainly entertaining and worth trying.

I never read enough of them to start seeing a "formula," although I guess there are plenty of them now. Not as good as Watership Down I'll certainly give you, but personally, never managed to get into Duncton Wood etc.

Anyway, a very different target audience. As you said though, both entertaining and worth a try.

And Somberlain, I still enjoy them when I read them.

--A

[The Somberlain]

Now that I think about it, there are quite a few fantasy books that I loved as a child, then neglected when I went off the genre (well, it wasn't "cool". Couldn't be having with that when I was 13)... and then when I got back into it (thanks, Covenant) assumed they were pretty much just aimed at children.

[Menolly]

I have heard of the Redwall series, but have never read it. Is this a series Beorn (12 years old), as well as I, will enjoy?

[Avatar]

Definitely Menolly, and without a doubt. They're high on my list of books to read to children if I ever have any. Perhaps the highest, along with The Hobbit.

Somberlain, plenty of those books you'll probably still enjoy. I occasionally amuse myself by hitting the childrens section of the library, and taking out a bunch of books that I loved.

Fantasy is a bit more iffy really, but certainly in terms of sci-fi, there are plenty that are just a good, (if a little simplistic) for adults. Simplistic doesn't mean bad by any means though.

For quick fun escapism, some of them are great. Douglas Hill, John Christopher, Monica Hughes, I still read them all from time to time.

--A

[Sorus]

Garth Nix!

Not to hijack the thread; he has his own here somewhere.

I used to follow Redwall quite loyally, though I think the last one I read was probably whatever came after Pearls of Lutra.

PoL was probably my favorite, I think mainly because it had (don't quote me on this, haven't read the series in a long time) characters that defied the rather black and white view of good and evil which was my main problem with the series.

After that.. well, I can't come up with the titles, but the more riddles, the better.

[Matthias]

That's the one thing i loved about the series, the riddles and trying to solve them...

but then again, i am a complete dunce and am completely led along the story by a leash. It's like everything surprises me, i can't see what's coming up next. If there are any straightforward books with no hint of cleverness to the ending, i'd still be surprised.

yeah, probably anyone from ages 12 and up can read it. (i was about thirteen when i began to read these books and. this was a time when i was just beginning to read full-fledged novels. I can safely say that these books influenced me in all of my writing.)