Rakkety Tam (Paperback)

Rakkety Tam Macburl is a squirrel mercenary, who along with his friend Doogy Plum has sworn his service to King Araltum and Idga Drayqueen. However, in contrast to Lady Melesme of Salamandastron these two self-proclaimed monarchs are rather foolish and egocentric. After speaking out against their ridiculous ceremonies and absurd rules Tam and Doogy find themselves imprisoned, bound by the laws they once purposed to uphold.

However, danger is quite literally on the horizon. Gulo the Savage, terrifying wolverine of the lands of ice, eater of his enemies' flesh, along with his band of white furred vermin, is sailing to Mossflower country in search of his brother, Askor, and the item he stole after the murder of their father, the object that gives validity to the ruler of their northern kingdom: the fabled Walking Stone. But with the former's death and the latter's disappearance, Gulo begins a rampage of terror and gruesome death through the woodland, bent on recovering the lost trinket. After news of the Walking Stone reaches Redwall, it is not long before it becomes clear that two of Redwall's own, Sister Armel and her friend the ottermaid Brooky, must set off to deliver the sword of Martin to the beast who will protect the abbey from the approaching terror.

Add into the mix the long awaited return of the Long Patrol, a rather charming vole-thief and his wife and a whole host of lively and inventive characters and you have got an excellent tale on your hands. As ever Brian's writing is a lively mix of comedy, adventure and powerful story, but here it feels particularly fresh. While not overly sentimental it is a powerful read for a book of its sort, unflinchingly facing up to the true tragedy of war. The pacing in general is excellent and Brian seems to get the balance perfect, allowing the juxtaposition of the more comical elements of the tale against those dealing with graver matters. He also manages to surprise his readers a fair bit, offering moments of delight as well as horror.

British troops have become more involved in conflicts around the globe in recent years and while reading I could not help but think of this as a catalyst for this change of tone. Indeed while never doubting what side is in the right he shows also the misjudgements and failings of those on both sides. "Grey" characters have become something of a rather constant demand by fans of the series, recalling how Veil, Blaggut and Romsca first rocked the boat, and many are pleased with the complexity that "Rakkety Tam" presents.

And yet for all its grittiness Brian is careful not to let it become unsuitable for his audience. This is still a child- and teenage-friendly read. Never does the book revel in gruesome details but instead focuses on their affects on others. This is no videogame horror. Characters suffer loss, while others are horrified by the death they see. In many ways the novel presents the meeting of two very different worlds as war comes upon beasts of peace and warriors discover a life away from conflict.

Another fan-pleasing element is the return of romance to the books. While recent books have not been without their love games and pairing offs "Rakkety Tam" brings it far more to the centre of the plot. However, Brian is careful to develop his leads and characters do not feel like instruments in the instigation of a romantic sub-plot but rather grow very naturally. For all that the fine balancing involved in the story Brian never looses sight of his characters. Like every other tale in the series it is still in many ways a fantastical tale set in a fantasy world, but it is certainly one of the most convincing.

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