Salamandastron (Redwall #5), Brian Jacques. New York: Ace Books, 1994.

Summary: The Badger Lord of the mountain fortress Salamandastron faces the overwheming forces of the Corpsemakers led by Ferahgo the Assassin and his son Klitch while Redwall Abbey is laid low by a deadly fever.

In this fifth book in the Redwall we are faced with the possibility of the fall of the mountain fortress of Salamandastron to evil forces and the extinction of Redwall Abbey to a deadly plague. So much will hinge on the actions of a few creatures we follow through the story.

The story begins with the restlessness of Mara, the young ward of the Badger Lord of Salamandastron, Urthstripe. She chafes under the discipline of the mountain fortress, and wanders off with Pikkle, a rogue hare with a huge appetite. They meet up with a couple of weasels who seem friendly enough that Mara invites them to dinner. Hospitality prevails but Urthstripe is suspicious and forces them to leave with the morning. He is right to do so, because they are spying out the fortress for Ferahgo the Assassin, an evil weasel who heads up a large band known as the Corpsemakers. One of them is Klitch, Ferahgo’s son, second in command, itching to take over. Mara resents Urthstripe’s coldness to her new friends and decides to run away. She is joined by Pikkle, they meet up with her weasel “friends” who take them to Ferahgo where they are held captive and questioned about the “treasure” in the mountain. They know nothing of this. Ferahgo sets his sights on conquest, eventually besieging, attacking, and through a secret agent, poisoning the food and water in the mountain.

Meanwhile, two stoats from Ferahgo’s group, unhappy with their lot, go wandering in the forests and find their way to Redwall. The Abbey, hospitable to all, welcomes them and the join a feast. That night, a storm descends, and a lightning strike looses the sword of Martin the Warrior that had been affixed to the weathervane, nearly killing Samkin the squirrel, who has been having dreams about Martin. They place it in the Great Hall by Martin’s Tapestry. The next morning the stoats are fooling with arrows in the hall and accidentally kill a brother. They flee, but before escaping, spy the sword, which they take to present to Ferahgo. Samkin and Arula the molemaid go in pursuit, only to find one dead along the way. They encounter a hermit, Furgle, who tells them it is Dry Ditch fever. They press on while Furgle goes to warn the Abbey. Too late. The sickness is spreading throughout the Abbey. Legend has it only the Flowers of Icetor in the North Mountains can cure the sickness. So Thrugg the otter, accompanied by Dumble the Dormouse set off to find the flowers, braving an attack of crows, only to find the flowers guarded by a majestic golden eagle, King MacPhearsome.

Meanwhile, Mara and Pikkle escape, and through a series of adventures join with an army of shrews. Samkin and Arula eventually join another group of shrews and recapture the sword. The groups face a lake serpent, Deepcoiler and a fearsome white badger who holds a stone sacred to the shrews. Eventually all go to relieve the beseiged forces of Salamandastron. Will they make it in time and defeat such a wily foe? And will Samkin and Arula find anyone alive should they make it back to the Abbey?

Jacques offers a clear contrast throughout the story between good and evil–courage, camraderie, hospitality, and integrity on one side and treachery, backbiting, servitude, and betrayal on the other. Even amid challenges, there is the love of goodness, of friends, and of food. Once again, Jacques creates a strong female character in Mara, as ready and courageous in battle as her guardian Urthstripe. And in a theme that has developed in these stories, the spirit of Martin continues to watch over the Abbey.

Mariel of Redwall (Redwall #4), Brian Jacques. New York: Avon Books, 1991.

Summary: Mariel the warrior mousemaid seeks revenge against Gabool, the pirate king, with a company from Redwall, while Redwall fends off a group of pirate fugitives led by rebel Captain Greypatch.

Mariel the mousemaid awakens on the shore of the coast off of Mossflower Wood. She’d been thrown into the sea by Gabool, King of the searats, pirates headquartered in Bladegirt Fortress on Terramort Isle, in the sea to the northwest of Mossflower. Her father, Joseph the Bellmaker and she had been seized enroute to deliver a bell to Lord Rawnstripe, of Salamandastrom. She had nearly defeated Gabool when he attacked her, stunning him. Held by his underlings, she is thrown to the sea, assumed to have drowned. Knocked on the head, she remembers none of this. All she has is a rope, which she uses to fend off ravenous gulls. She dubs herself Storm Gullwacker and her rope Gullwacker.

Delivered from an attack of toads by the Long Patrol of rabbits, Hon. Rosie, Thyme, and Clary, she’s entrusted to Pakatugg the squirrel to take her to Redwall. She parts ways with the self-serving squirrel and decides to make her own way to, encountering Tarquin L Woodsorrel, an eccentric but courageous hare, who takes her there. Welcomed, bathed against her wishes, clothed, and nourished by the inhabitants, she joins in their Jubilee, during which verses are sung that are a prophesy of her–at which her memory is awakened.

She determines to go back to rescue or avenge her father against Gabool. But the companions she has met while at Redwall will not let her go along. Tarquin joins her along with Durry Quill the hedgehog and Dandin, who is carrying the sword of Martin, given him by Simeon the herbalist, prompted by a dream message from Martin. They are guided on the way by old prophecies–when they remember to pay attention to the signs. They survive many adventures, eventually finding their way to Gabool’s refuge.

Mariel is not the only one seeking revenge against Gabool. Separately, Lord Rawnstripe seeks revenge for badgers killed by Gabools searats. When a ship lands he slaughters them all and takes the ship, sailing for Terramort.

Meanwhile, Redwall faces its own challenges. Captain Greypatch, leading a group of searats who seize the Darkqueen after her previous captain, Saltar, is treacherously killed by Gabool who brooks no rivals. Gabool mobilizes his fleet to find the Darkqueen but she lands on the shore of Mossflower wood, capture Pakatugg, and the company, with their oarslaves, make their way to the outskirts of Redwall, deciding that would make a great fortress if they can displace its warriors. As at other times, bereft of their warriors, the residents of Redwall make up in resourcefulness and courage what they lack in might, confounding their enemies, who are dwindling and discontented. A courageous raid by the Long Patrol, now returned, rescues captive mice and Pakatugg, but at a cost.

Gabool is left alone in his fortress, growing increasingly paranoid, hearing the bell ring, not understanding the cryptic markings on it and dreaming of the coming of a giant badger until dream becomes reality and Lord Rawnstripe arrives, as do all the others who would avenge themselves against Gabool. Will any succeed?

I love the strong female characters, particularly the Hon. Rosie, Mother Mellus, and of course, Mariel. They hold their own with the men, and more! The contrast here, as elsewhere between the camaraderies of the Redwallians versus the discord among the evil searats is striking, and how evil self-destroys and consumes its own. The idea of being guided by the prophecies is one worth remembering for Christ-followers. I deeply appreciate the depictions of a clear line between good and evil and the examples of determination and courage. Jacques does all this moving back and forth between the different plotlines as we move toward climax and resolution.

I also love the joy in the commonplaces of food and drink. It occurred to me to wonder if the dishes described have been collected in a cookbooks with recipes. I discovered they have in the Redwall Cookbook! I wonder if people have Redwall feasts…

Mossflower (Redwall #2), Brian Jacques. New York: Avon Books, 1988.

Summary: A prequel to Redwall, narrating the quest of Martin the Warrior and his companions to deliver Mossflower from the attack of the cruel wildcat Tsarmina, ruling from the fortress Kotir, next to Mossflower Wood.

Martin the warrior mouse is marching by the Kotir fortress when seized, after a fierce fight, by the forces of Verdauga, the dying wildcat Lord of Kotir. His daughter Tsarmina, furious that Verdauga has spared Martin’s life, breaks his sword, creating the enmity between Tsarmina and Martin that builds throughout the book. Martin meets Gonff, a mouse-thief in the prison, and Gonff succeeds in helping them both escape into Mossflower Wood.

Verdauga dies. Tsarmina imprisons her brother and rules. She is ruthless, willing to kill any who challenge her. The tribute she enforces drives villagers into Mossflower, leading to increasingly depleted stores. She plots the conquest of Mossflower. Her forays are resisted by mice, moles, hedgehogs and squirrels but it is apparent that Kotir’s might is superior. It is decided that only with the aid of Boar the Fighter, who went off many years ago on a quest to Salamandastrom Mountain, the Mountain of Dragons, that they can conquer. Martin, wearing his broken sword around his neck, along with Gonff and Dinny the mole, go on a quest to the mountain, surmounting encounters with crabs, toads, gulls and owls.

Will they find Boar alive? Will they return in time when no one has come back from Salamandastrom? And will the determined animals of Mossflower be able to withstand the attacks of Tsarmina until reinforcements arrive? Along the way, we see Martin truly emerge as the Warrior, and learn of the forging of his sword that plays such an important role in Redwall. We also admire the ingenuity and fierce resolution of the creatures of Mossflower.

Martin and Gonff make ideal companions and part of the enjoyment of the book is the friendship between the determined warrior and the happy-go-lucky but equally courageous Gonff. We also observe the folly of evil, its propensity to self-destruction that help undermine the advantages Tsarmina has enjoyed, even as her fortress is slowly being undermined. By contrast, there is the goodness of the creatures of Mossflower, loving peace but resolute and self-sacrificial in the defense of their home. The arrival of the Abbess Germaine adds wisdom, spiritual depth, and the arts of a healer, desperately needed as Mossflower faces war. And in her arrival, the foundations are laid for Redwall.

In addition to the contest between the forces of Tsarmina and those of Mossflower, Jacques fills in many backstories alluded to in Redwall. I hope this is not all we see of this generation. I really liked Martin and Gonff and hope I will see more of them.

Redwall (Redwall #1), Brian Jacques. New York: Ace Books, 1998 (originally published in 1986).

Summary: The first in the Redwall Saga,where Matthias, the adopted mouse, dreams of being a warrior like Martin the Warrior, hero of the Redwall Abbey tapestry, a dream (and prophecy) he has the chance to fulfill when Cluny the rat and his forces attack Redwall Abbey.

How did I miss this fantasy, and miss reading it aloud when our son was growing up? Only recently, when I kept seeing it turn up in the recommendations of online friends did I decide to pick up the first of the series of Redwall Sagas (twenty-two in all) by Brian Jacques, who passed in 2011. I found Redwall absolutely delightful and absorbing.

The story centers around a mouse adopted by Redwall Abby, Matthias, who has dreams of following in the footsteps of Martin the Warrior, founder and hero of the abbey, celebrated in a glorious tapestry. He’s mentored by Methuselah the gatekeeper, old Abbot Mortimer, and Constance the Badger, perhaps the fiercest fighter in Redwall. He’s rather impetuous for a novice monk but his true mettle shows when news comes of the approaching attack of Cluny the Rat, known as the Scourge for his poison-barb tail. Cluny has struck terror wherever he has gone, but the residents of Redwall, who quickly recognize Matthias leadership, refuse to surrender.

So it is war. Cluny is strangely troubled in his dreams of a mighty warrior like Martin, and even succeeds in stealing the Martin portion of the tapestry. But this just reveals a prophecy, that points to Matthias as Martin’s successor–if only he can find Martin’s armor and sword. The Sparras, living in the rooftops of the abbey are sworn enemies of the mice and clues point to their possession of Martin’s sword. Matthias ends up their prisoner, but in the end secures the shield and the friendship with the future queen of the Sparras and learns that the sword has fallen into the deadly grip of Asmodeus, a poisonous adder who has already claimed several victims. He sets off to Mossflower forest, seeking the counsel of a wise owl as to the whereabouts of Asmodeus, after making friendship with the voles of the forest.

I will leave you to find out whether he succeeds in his battle against Asmodeus, and whether he is able to save Redwall from the increasingly devious attacks of Cluny. But here is what I really liked about the story: the contrast between Cluny and his minions and the residents of Redwall. The former reminded me of the demons of the Screwtape Letters, in endless rivalries, seeking to enlarge themselves by devouring others, including one who even fancies taking Cluny’s place, leading to his demise. By contrast, it seems that the character of Redwall is that residents magnify each other, the wise old abbot and old Methuselah pouring themselves into Matthias, and all working with harmony, and even joy, amid their efforts to defend. The Sparras are reconciled to the Redwall mice, and the voles to the former arch-predator owl. Jacques is also skilled in description, enabling us to envision Redwall, the old Saint Ninian’s church, the Mossflower woods, as well as all of the principle characters.

From what I read, the plans for a Redwall movie from Netflix are on hold due to the company’s troubles. I’m not altogether disappointed with this. It gives me a chance to discover more books in the saga. I loved Jacques worldbuilding and story-telling, more accessible than Tolkien, though richly textured in its own way. Only twenty-one more to go! I only wish I’d had these books in those wonderful “read me a story” days (although Asmodeus might be a bit scary for a young child).