Martin the Warrior

by Brian Jacques
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 9 discs
read by the author
genre: fantasy adventure

I hadn't read / heard this one before! The story opens in "modern" times with travelers coming to Redwall. They share the history of Martin the Warrior, who founded Redwall. Martin was a feisty mouse enslaved by the evil stoat Badrang at his fort called Marshank. Martin, Rose, a troop of actors, and other freed slaves go to battle against Badrang. The thing that really stood out for me was the elaborate descriptions of meals . . . I think that's part of why Nick liked these stories so much when he was young. Epic battles and epic food.

Redwall

by Brian Jacques
personal collection, paperback, 351 pages

I've read this before, but it's been a while. Delightful story about Matthias "I - am that is" who emulates Martin the Warrior so he can save the Abbey from Cluny the Scourge. "Peopled" with delightful characters (Basil Stag Hare, Silent Sam, Methuselah, and others), this is a great adventure story for smart kids. I can see why Nick enjoyed this series so much when he was younger.