Rakkety Tam

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Title Rakkety Tam

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

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

From a region known only as the Land of Ice and Snow emerges Gulo the Savage, a vicious wolverine in command of a horde of a hundred white vermin (foxes and ermine) 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 vermin under his command. Most notably was his Captain the white fox named Shard and his mate the vixen Freeta. Although Shard was the Captain of this feral horde, it is Freeta that held the real power, intelligence and sway.

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.

US cover of Rakkety Tam
US cover of Rakkety Tam

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 after long minutes of persuasion from Idga (they had sworn allegiance to him some seasons before) if they succeed in finding, and returning, 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 (the infirmary sister), a squirrel, and the niece to Skipper of Otters, Brookflow (often called 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.

Meanwhile, a volethief named Yoofus Lightpaw is up in a tree when he sees Gulo's army beneath with the king's banner. He steals it from them and flees with it.

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, Log-a-Log Togey, and Yoofus. They join forces to fight off Gulo. However, when crossing the pines, they lose Doogy and Yoofus.

Yoofus and Doogy end up in somebody's house and fight off the vermin in there. They want to go back to Yoofus's cave before continuing back to Redwall. When the two arrive, the volewife feeds the hungry travelers sausages and they meet Rockbottom, a tortoise (which is actually the Walking Stone). They head back to Redwall.

At Redwall, the other part of Gulo's army attacks the Abbey, led by Shard's mate, Freeta. It is she that is responsible for entrance of the Abbey for it was her cunning that thought up the plan. The vermin are all killed, but in a fierce battle, Freeta mortally wounds the Brigadier of the Long Patrol, Crumshaw.

Tam and the party chase Gulo's army down a river and wounds him badly. Then, they continue back to Redwall.

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"

[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
v • d • e

Lord Brocktree | Martin the Warrior | Mossflower | The Legend of Luke | Outcast of Redwall | Mariel of Redwall | The Bellmaker | Salamandastron | Redwall | Mattimeo | The Pearls of Lutra | The Long Patrol | Marlfox | The Taggerung | Triss | Loamhedge | Rakkety Tam | High Rhulain | Eulalia
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