Thoughts On Rakkety Tam

Thoughts on Rakkety Tam

We have only two books left, folks :( Those will probably just be one post before I give my overall thoughts

I had to read this one because otherwise I would get through this entire thing and go “damn it did I forget that book AGAIN”

Lady Melesme ok let's see if she does anything “she's sending ye a drum!” I love how everyone is shocked when canonically, 1000 years ago or whatever, they used a log when the bells were being created. 

Immediately we have cannibalism and a character telling the main characters to go to hell lmao maybe I judged this too harshly at first. 

Bloodlight is mentioned twice at least. The first time I can understand bc it refers to Tam, who may not know the term bloodwrath, but the second is by a Long Patrol hare Fortindom. Non-badgers can get bloodwrath. Mayhaps this was the beginning of a lesser form of bloodwrath. 

I like how the hares don't adhere to the dichotomy and immediately thought squirrels killed their fellows, also the language barrier. Then this bird thinks Tam is also a vermin. So I guess the dichotomy was slightly challenged in this book, congrats to us!

“Only a fool rises to the bait of h’another fool.” things we all can learn. 

The map is facing...somewhat behind Salamandastron, with more focus on the land. Other maps face somewhat in front of it, with the mountain being on the edge of the ocean, and this is the map that has stuck in my head for decades. So when it said the Squirrelkingdom was South of Salamandastron, I was wondering how this grove of trees was just in the ocean.

I imagined Tam and Armel to be a bit older than the writing suggests. Not as old as Brag and Saro but older than the typical heroes of the books. They're maybe just entering their mid seasons. 

Brigadier Wotwot 💀

Tam’s personality is a little.overwhelmed by everyone else. Doogy is a delight.  That's an issue a lot of these paired up protagonists have (Triss and Shogg, Buckler and whoever that was) I like the focus on his heritage being stronger than others with his weapon choices, and more would have been nice. 

I think this is the most chapter art we've gotten with a villain. I guess Gulo was just that fun to draw!

This may be one of 2 books (I remember Doomwyte being similar) where the Abbeybeasts are pragmatic about the need to fight. Screeve was very casually “ya I just killed that bastard with a rake”

20 books in and I just now wonder: where do they go to the bathroom. 

“Doogy Plumm threw up his paws in resignation. “Och, that explains everythin’. He should’ve been called Martin the Destroyer o’ Weapons.” Legit had me laughing. 

This one is more tactical than others, focusing on the surroundings of Mossflower more than a battle at the very end. Look at how the foebeast had a plan to lock the hares out from Redwall that almost worked. As a whole, it's refreshing.

"Redwall: Descent Into The Mushroom Forest"

Broadpaw and Treadfast didn't want to cross the fungi forest, but the alternative was backtracking nearly forty miles. Their kidnapped friends couldn't wait - they would have to push on after the weasels.

Been listening to the Redwall audiobooks and I just realized that at least one of the mice to carry the sword of Martin is a descendant of Gnoff (Dandin). Since Gnoff seems to have a large number of descendants in the Mossflower area and all of the mice who are Redwall Champions (with the exception of Mariel, who counts because I say so) grew up in Redwall, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that all the mice who take up the sword are descendants of Gnoff.

Also it seems fitting that Martin would choose mice from his best friend's family tree.

Incredibly written, both of you, friends. I love all of Martin's story; his patronage toward all abbeydwellers and even goodbeasts beyond Mosslfower, and especially the tragedy and unfinishedness of his earlier life. I don't know why, but I find safety in the things that Martin lost and the way that is accepted and respected in the story. I think Jacques writes very good characters.

Also, I find it symbolically interesting that Gonff went on to father many children, while his best friend's life ended with no offspring but generations of Redwallers to call family. Their paths are both opposites and parallel. And Jacques always said that Gonff was inspired by himself.

I remember the thing that most struck me in Redwall as a kid was that I expected Martin to have a wife and kids. He’s the spiritual father of the abbey with Germaine as its mother, he’s a mentor/father figure to the various orphan protagonists even if he is a ghost. The ultimate unattainable dad.

But, hopping back to Mossflower, he’s a virginal hero-knight, kindly but aloof compared to the more involved Gonff. Back further to Martin the Warrior, his relationship with Rose is beyond kids’-book chaste. I can’t even remember if it’s canonically a romance or just by implication.

Some of that may be the Christian influence, Martin as Galahad or a Christ-figure, unsullied by earthly desires. Kid me remembered it more as an abortion or stunting of his role in the story. He’s the hero. He’s supposed to win the day, get the girl, settle down, have a brood. Instead, Jacques takes care to show him as a person missing something. He’s incomplete.

From the earliest point in his chronology, he’s lost away from home. We never see him in his natural habitat. He loses the girl who was supposed to be his great love. He can’t even have Timballisto, who seems like one bright spot and then gets gently referred to in the past tense in Legend of Luke. Martin’s defining characteristic is that he’s an outsider, he’s too late, he’s stopped short, he’s unable to achieve his destiny as the hero, he has to instead become the mentor

I love "best friends forever" Song and Dann. They remind me of Mariel and Dandin, who are also a great pair. They're so fun. I love them.

I guess, if your name is Dan(n), you're destined for a qpr.

Dann: Song, can I talk to you for a second? Song: Yeah, what’s up? Lemme guess. You and Dippler are having problems and you want me to teach you how to kiss? Dann: What? No, stop that. I know how to kiss. I’ve read books.

hello I read Redwall when I was like 12, havent picked it up since, and a decade later painted these in a fall out boy/thirty seconds to mars/marianas trench-induced haze

time to start rereading