Art by Troy Howell
While the forthcoming release of a Redwall book is normally a cause for celebration and eager anticipation, Brian Jacques’ passing makes the next release a more solemn affair, as it is likely our last. Slated for release on May 3rd, 2011 comes the final entry into The Redwall Series, The Rogue Crew. While certainly not intended to be the “last” Redwall novel, that is the position it appears to find itself in, and that is a heavy responsibility.
Our knowledge of the book is centered around three plot summaries. The first comes from Redwall.org:
From Salamandastron’s Western Shores, to the High North Coast, here they come. Captain Rake Nightfur, and his Long Patrol Hares, with Skor Axehound and the Rogue Crew Sea Otters. Marching boldly into a thrilling saga, singing, feasting, swashbuckling, and battling. Questing for the infamous ship Greenshroud, crewed by Searats and Corsairs, Captained by the murderous Razzid Wearat, terror of both sea and land. His aim, the conquest of an Abbey! Was there ever such a blood and thunder chase? The fate of Abbot Thibb and his Redwallers hangs in the balance. Who will be first to the gates, who can save the legendary Abbey from the clutches of a Wearat? On, on, to victory or death! Pray read on gentle reader…
A more parsimonious description is offered by the Library of Congress:
The murderous and evil Razzid Wearat and his crew of vermin are on a mission to seize Redwall Abbey for themselves, and Abbot Thibb and his Redwallers must defend their home with the help of the hares of the Long Patrol and the Rogue Crew of sea otters.
Finally, the publisher Penguin’s Summer 2011 Young Readers Catalogue provides the following description:
Nobeast is safe from the terror of a Wearat!
Redwall Abbey has never seen a creature more evil or more hideous than Razzid Wearat. Captain of the Greenshroud, a ship with wheels that can sail through water as well as the forest, this beast is a terror of both land and sea, traveling Mossflower Country, killing nearly everything– and everyone– in his path. And his goal? To conquer Redwall Abbey.
From Salamandastron to the High North Coast, the brave hares of the Long Patrol team up with the fearless sea otters of the Rogue Crew to form a pack so tough, so rough, only they can defend the abbey and defeat Razzid Wearat once and for all.
It will certainly be interesting to see Brian revisit the concept of the Wearat once more. It is also fitting, in a way, for “rogues” to feature so prominently in this book, as Brian was quite the rogue himself. With cover art by series staple Troy Howell and illustrations by the always-excellent Sean Rubin, The Rogue Crew is slated for release on May 3rd, 2011.
I have not read the sable quean, but I will deffinitly read this one. I was a big Redwall fan, and I want to see what Mr. Jacques was up to before…. I’m sure it will be very entertaining!!
We love Watership Down by Richard Adams its about a warren of rabtibs. kind of C.S. Lewis meets Bryan Jacques. We love the Redwall books and have many of them. Also Anne of Green Gables and The Little House series. We have read through the Chronicles of Narnia and love them. Right now we are reading My Side of the Mountain and we just finished Trails to Poosey which is like a boyish version of Little House. We also Love King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry who wrote all the Misty books. I could go on and on
Fear not, Redwall fans! Maybe Brian Jacques’s family will take up the threads of Redwall sagas! The Rogue Crew. I wonder how it is?
Liked the tribute. I wrote one myelsf on my facebook page that had more comedic and loving obituary as well as summing up why i loved his work. Seems like we’re in the same boat; when i was in 5th grade i picked up Redwall after a friend recommended it. after that i read his books and many others besides, became a fantasy writer and drew much of my style back them from him. due to a wider exposure to lit it has sobered and matured, and i know what you mean about jacques’s conventionality (came from him not reading other childrens writers so every idea he wrote would be his own), but i still bought his books, enjoyed them, and still loved them for what they were.the way i see it, jacques was a catholic, but i like to think, rather than going to the dark forest like they do in the books, he went to my idea of heaven: redwall itself. perhaps he is like their eternal father abbot; wise and funny and always being consulted by elders or poked fun at by the dibbuns, who he would also play with. or maybe he is like martin; a spirit safeguarding morality and helping those that need it. either way, he left the world a better place than he found it, and he will not be forgot!