Rakkety Tam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| UK 1st Edition Cover | |
| Author | Brian Jacques |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | David Elliot |
| Cover Artist | David Wyatt |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Redwall |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Viking (UK) & Philomel (US) |
| Released | 2004 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 384 (UK Hardback) & 372 (US Hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-670-91069-4 (UK Hardback) & ISBN 0-399-23725-9 (US Hardback) |
| Preceded by | Loamhedge |
| Followed by | High Rhulain |
Rakkety Tam is a fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, published in 2004. It is the seventeenth book in the Redwall series.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
When Gulo the Savage and his army of vermin sweep across the land, it's up to Rakkety Tam MacBurl and his friend Wild Doogy Plumm to stop the advance of the bloodthirsty wolverine and protect Redwall and Mossflower.
[edit] Plot summary
From a region known only as the Land of Ice and Snow emerges Gulo the Savage, a vicious wolverine and his horde of a hundred white vermin who eat the flesh of their enemies. After murdering his father, Dramz, Gulo assumed control of his father's territory. However, only those who possess the Walking Stone may rule, and after his father's death, Gulo's brother, Askor, steals the stone and sails to Mossflower Woods. Gulo pursues his brother with the flesh-eating white foxes and ermine under his command.
Meanwhile, the mercenary squirrel Rakkety Tam MacBurl, along with his companion Wild Doogy Plumm, find themselves at odds with their current rulers, Squirrelking Araltum and Idga Drayqueen, both arrogant, foolish creatures who spend more time on ceremonies in their honor than ruling the kingdom.
When the forces of the Squirrelking are ambushed by Gulo and dozens of squirrels are massacred, Tam and Plum are given the chance to escape the trivialities of the kingdom and track the invaders. Gulo had stolen the king's new Royal Banner, so Tam and Doogy are sent off to find it. The king promises to release them of their bonds (they had sworn allegiance to him some seasons before) if they succeed in finding the banner. They eventually meet up with the Long Patrol and continue their hunt.
The Long Patrol, however, has its own problems. Some hares were ambushed and lost a precious drum, which was supposed to be going to Redwall Abbey as a present. It turns out that Gulo has possession of the drum as well as the banner.
At Redwall, the cousin of the Abbot and his traveling companion arrive with a story and a riddle. When two maidens, Sister Armel, a squirrel, and the niece to Skipper of Otters, Brooky, try to solve the riddle, the spirit of Martin the Warrior appears to Armel, telling her to take his sword and bring it to 'the Borderer who lost his sword', that being Rakkety Tam. Armel and Brooky head out into the woods, but are captured by Gulo's army.
Tam , Doogey, and the goshawk Tergen are sent to find Gulo's army. There, they find Sister Armel and Brooky held captive, and upon rescuing the two maids, Armel gives Tam the Sword of Martin, taken back from Gulo's dead captain, Shard. The freed captives and the rescuers then return to Redwall.
When an army of hares reaches Redwall, Rakkety Tam takes command of the force and splits them into two groups: One to constantly harass the flesh-eating enemy, and the other to guard Redwall. Tam and Doogy take the harassment force out to find Gulo's army, encountering the Guosim and Log-a-Log Togey along the way. The shrews, hares, squirrels and a water vole named Yoofus Lightpaw lead a split force of Gulo's army through the blackbird pines and over a waterfall, causing Gulo’s forces to be decimated. Then the force led by Tam goes back to Redwall for a final battle.
At Redwall, the other part of Gulo's army attacks the Abbey, led by Shard's mate, Freeta. The vermin are all killed, but in a fierce battle, Freeta mortally wounds the Brigadier of the Long Patrol, Crumshaw.
When the harassment force returns, the squirrels, with the aid of the hares, Guosim shrews, and inhabitants of Redwall, attack the remainder of the flesh-eating army. After a great victory, Tam challenges Gulo to single combat. In the end, Tam wins by launching Gulo onto his shield, onto which he had carved a fierce edge, and slaying him.
Tam eventually marries Sister Armel, and they have a daughter, Melanda. Together, they journey back with Doogy, Brooky, and Tergen to the Squirrelking and Queen, who have had a son named Rupert. When Doogy and Tam are free of their old bonds, two old friends of Tam's, Hinjo and Pinetooth, ask Tam and Armel to be the new king and queen, but Armel takes the crowns and throws them into the sea. Then they all continue on to Salamandastron, where Tergen stays, and all the others return to Redwall.
[edit] Characters in "Rakkety Tam"
- Dramz
- Gulo the Savage
- Askor
- Rakkety Tam MacBurl (Tam)
- Wild Doogy Plumm (Plum)
- Squirrelking Araltum and Idga Drayqueen
- Lady Melesme
- Sister Armel
- Brookflow (Brooky)
- Tergen
- Shard and Freeta
- Log-a-Log Togey
- Yoofus Lightpaw
- Brigadier Crumshaw
- Melanda MacBurl
[edit] Book Divisions (English)
- Book 1: The Warrior Who Sold His Sword
- Book 2: The Warrior Who Gained a Sword
- Book 3: The Walking Stone
[edit] Translations
- (French) Rougemuraille: La Pierre Qui Marche
[edit] Trivia
- Gulo gulo is the scientific name of wolverines. The villain in Rakkety Tam is a wolverine named Gulo.
[edit] External link
| Preceded by: Loamhedge |
Redwall Series (chronological order) |
Succeeded by: High Rhulain |
| Preceded by: Loamhedge |
Redwall Series (publication order) |
Succeeded by: High Rhulain |
| Books in the Redwall series, by Brian Jacques |
|
Lord Brocktree | Martin the Warrior | Mossflower | The Legend of Luke | Outcast of Redwall | Mariel of Redwall | The Bellmaker | Salamandastron |
