2008 Woodie Awards
Somewhere over the rainbow
Watership Down
Glenn Kerfoot
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Entertainment
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Fantasy is a broad umbrella under which fall all kinds of books and genres. Elves and dwarves, vampires and werewolves, magic swords and enchanted mirrors, and secret destinies and epic quests are all standard fare in fantasy, but they do not cover all the bases. Fantasy is more extensive and includes a great variety of works, for example the stories of the Brothers Grimm. Alongside the brave warriors and shield maidens of heroic fantasy, one can place the prim Mary Poppins and the innocent Dorothy Gale (of Oz fame and the inspiration for this column).
And don't forget the animals! Remember the films The Lion King or The Secret of NIMH? My all-time favorite is 101 Dalmatians (the animated version, please!) with the Colonel, Ole Towser, and the 'Twilight Bark.' And if you like the film, I think the book is better.
However, the best fantasy novel involving animals is neatly described by this blurb from the back cover of the first paperback edition.
Here is "a remarkable tale of exile and survival, of heroism and leadership . . . the epic novel of a group of adventurers who desert their doomed city, and venture forth against all odds on a quest for a new home.'' If you don't know the book, here's a hint-think rabbits! Still wondering? This "remarkable tale" is Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Watership Down (named after a hill) follows the journey of a small band of rabbits from Sandleford warren led by Hazel, Bigwig, and the little visionary Fiver on their way to Watership Down. Their journey begins with Fiver's dreams and premonitions of "death" coming to Sandleford. In fact, these dreams reveal that a construction company will begin developing the acreage surrounding the warren. Fiver convinces his friends to flee with him toward a haven he has seen in his visions, Watership Down.
I enjoyed the characterization of the rabbits. Much like the lions in The Lion King or the dogs in 101 Dalmatians, all the rabbits in the novel are developed as full characters. They never stop being rabbits, so they don't drive cars, wear armor, wield magic, or act un-rabbit like.
And don't forget the animals! Remember the films The Lion King or The Secret of NIMH? My all-time favorite is 101 Dalmatians (the animated version, please!) with the Colonel, Ole Towser, and the 'Twilight Bark.' And if you like the film, I think the book is better.
However, the best fantasy novel involving animals is neatly described by this blurb from the back cover of the first paperback edition.
Here is "a remarkable tale of exile and survival, of heroism and leadership . . . the epic novel of a group of adventurers who desert their doomed city, and venture forth against all odds on a quest for a new home.'' If you don't know the book, here's a hint-think rabbits! Still wondering? This "remarkable tale" is Watership Down by Richard Adams.
Watership Down (named after a hill) follows the journey of a small band of rabbits from Sandleford warren led by Hazel, Bigwig, and the little visionary Fiver on their way to Watership Down. Their journey begins with Fiver's dreams and premonitions of "death" coming to Sandleford. In fact, these dreams reveal that a construction company will begin developing the acreage surrounding the warren. Fiver convinces his friends to flee with him toward a haven he has seen in his visions, Watership Down.
I enjoyed the characterization of the rabbits. Much like the lions in The Lion King or the dogs in 101 Dalmatians, all the rabbits in the novel are developed as full characters. They never stop being rabbits, so they don't drive cars, wear armor, wield magic, or act un-rabbit like.
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