Redwall
A novel by Brian Jacques

Now that society has a certain... open-mindedness about some touchy subjects, I think that it's finally safe for someone like me to come out of the closet, and what better forum to do that, than right here, at the 11th Hour -- yes, that's right, I'm not ashamed to admit it... [Insert Deep Breath Here]... I am a grown, mature man (well, I suppose all three of those are up for debate, but that's a discussion for another time and place) who enjoys reading children's books. And I have done so, even before all of this Harry Potter hype. (What kind of coming out announcement were you expecting? This is a review of a kid's book.)

So, what does one do upon making an announcement such as that? Why, try and convert everyone else to one's way of thinking, of course! And what better way to do so than by reviewing Brian Jacques' masterpiece of Young Adult Fantasy (and no, that's not the same thing as the fantasies of young adults), Redwall.

The Redwall universe centers around the animals (mice, squirrels, otters, etc.) of Mossflower Woods, particularly those who live inside Redwall Abbey, a place of sanctuary and healing for all those in need. Just this very premise sets the tone of fantasy, for it requires the use of one's imagination in order to accept that rodents and other animals all have human abilities and characteristics, while still retaining the qualities specific to their respective species. (Note: If you have misplaced your imagination, I have decided to start selling parts of my own... yes, you heard me correctly -- you, too, can own and use part of my over-flowing, ever-stimulating, always conspiring, Pong-looking-for-a-Ping imagination. Send in your order today!)

On the surface, the plot may seem fairly standard: Redwall Abbey is under attack by an evil Sea-Rat called Cluny the Scourge (what a great name for an antagonist!), and a young mouse named Matthias must rise to the occasion and go on a quest to recover the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior in order to stop Cluny and save his friends. But that's just on the surface, and contrary to what Cordelia from Angel might say ("Scratch the surface, and what do you find? More surface."), there is a lot more to this book. Underlying throughout are themes of, among others: life, death, courage, good vs. evil, friendship, and teamwork. Everything a young, impressionable mind needs (next to my latest self-help tape on "How to be an Evil Overlord on $5 a day"... order now, and get a free trial sample of my imagination, as well as a copy of The Complete Works of K. Burtt, abridged). While the story may climax in a rather predictable way, one must keep in mind that this was written for a younger audience... one who has yet to experience the full glory of the fantasy genre (though this book is a superb introduction). It is most definitely not a fault in the book, mostly due to the fact that...

...it is extremely well written. (Wasn't the suspense fun?) First, the characters are quite believable. Each character has his/her own distinct personality, from the nonchalant but always observant Basil Stag Hare, to the overly-ambitious Cheesethief, one of Cluny's officers, to the sexually ambiguous ferret named Killconey (perhaps it's an error that has been fixed in later editions, but in my copy, this particular ferret is called both "she" and "he" at various points during the book). Strange as it might seem, we really do care about these rodents, and their fight for their lives. Combine these characters with a very smooth and eloquent use of language (again, it is geared toward a younger audience, so it is a very easy read for those of us who are older), full of colorful descriptions and some clever riddles, and you have a yourself an incredible book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. But that's not all, for Brian Jacques has a secret weapon (and, no, he didn't buy it from my secret weapon store "K's Kiosk of Killer **CENSORED**" -- sorry, I can't tell you that final word -- if I did, it wouldn't be a SECRET, now would it?), and that weapon is...

...food. (More of the suspense!) Yep, Brian Jacques loves to write about food. His descriptions of the various meals, whether it be a massive feast, or a simple backpack full of food for a traveler, really complete the already vivid picture the reader has in his/her mind. One just can't resist reading the rest of the book... oh, and before you ask, no, the book's pages just don't taste as good as the descriptions printed upon them. Not even with honey mustard. Depressingly.

The bottom line (in case you were confused at any point during this review) is that this book, despite being a children's book, is highly entertaining, and worth reading by anyone (yes, even you... yeah, you... I'm looking at you... that computer monitor of yours isn't as secure as you think it is). So go! Go read this book! For the good of the people, go!

RE-READ FACTOR: This book is probably in the worst shape out of any book that I own (and considering the fact that none of my books exercise on a regular basis, that's quite a feat), due to the number of times it has been read. Pages are coming out, the binding is beyond broken, and the cover is held on with more tape than most people use when wrapping all of their Christmas presents. So... uh... yes, I think this book is worth re-reading. Slightly.

SEQUEL FACTOR: I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw the first sequel (actually a prequel) to Redwall... okay, I could tell you, but you'd probably pity me. Anyway, for those looking for sequels to the book are in luck... there are 13 books in the series, the latest of which, Lord Brocktree, was published in September. I have read them all (except for the latest two, due to lack of opportunity -- hey, that whole Saving-The-World-From-Certain-Doom thing kept getting in the way!), and will continue to do so. Definitely one of my favorite series.

STRONG CHICK FACTOR: Many of the main characters would count as strong chicks (even though they are animals other than chickens): Constance the badger, Cornflower the fieldmouse, Jess the Squirrel. All female characters that you can look up to. Alas, not ones that guys can really be attracted to, due to their small, rodent-like qualities... unless... well... we'd better not go there.

-- K. Burtt

Redwall, published by Ace Books, is currently available in paperback.

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