Salamandastron facts for kids
UK first edition cover
|
|
| Author | Brian Jacques |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Gary Chalk |
| Cover artist | Chris Baker |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Redwall |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Hutchinson (UK) & Philomel (US) |
|
Publication date
|
1992 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 336 (UK Hardback) & 391 (US Hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-09-176433-5 (UK Hardback) & ISBN: 0-399-21992-7 (US Hardback) |
| OCLC | 26764980 |
| Preceded by | Mariel of Redwall |
| Followed by | Martin the Warrior |
Salamandastron is an exciting fantasy book written by Brian Jacques. It came out in 1992. This book is part of the popular Redwall series. It's the fifth book published, but the eighth in the story's timeline.
Contents
Story Overview
This book tells the tale of several brave heroes. Ferahgo the Assassin, a mean weasel warlord, wants to take over Salamandastron. This is a huge mountain fortress ruled by the strong Badger Lord Urthstripe.
At the same time, trouble brews at Redwall Abbey. Two stoats steal the famous Sword of Martin the Warrior. A young squirrel named Samkim and his mole friend Arula decide to get it back. While they are gone, a terrible sickness spreads through Redwall. An otter named Thrugg and a dormouse named Dumble must find a cure.
Meanwhile, Mara, the Badger Lord's adopted daughter, leaves Salamandastron. She and her hare friend Pikkle get tricked by Ferahgo's son, Klitch. They soon join forces with a group of shrews called the Guosssom. Together, they try to get a special stone back from a mysterious badger.
Main Story
The story follows the brave Badger Lord Urthstripe the Strong. He must defend his home, Salamandastron, from the evil Ferahgo the Assassin. Mara, Urthstripe's adopted daughter, feels restless. She decides to leave the mountain fortress with her friend Pikkle.
Meanwhile, two stoats, Dingeye and Thura, leave Ferahgo's army. They find their way to Redwall Abbey. The kind animals there let them stay, even though they are rude.
Mara and Pikkle escape Ferahgo's group. They hide in a cave, but it's home to a sand lizard named Swinkee. After a small fight, Swinkee agrees to guide them. But Swinkee tricks them and leads them to a tribe of toads. These toads are not friendly!
Mara and Pikkle are thrown into a pit with 36 young shrews. One of them is Nordo, son of Log-a-Log, the leader of the Guosssom shrews. The shrews tell them about the toads' plan and their own escape idea. During a toad feast, the captives fight back. Log-a-Log's shrews arrive and free everyone. Mara tries to fight the toad chieftain, King Glagweb. But Log-a-Log stops her and throws the king into the pit with a large fish.
Log-a-Log then asks Mara and Pikkle for help. He needs to get back the Blackstone. This stone is a symbol of leadership for the Guosssom. He explains that a badger ghost took the stone. Their journey to the island is dangerous. A huge monster called the Deepcoiler lives in the lake. When they reach the island, they find the "ghost" badger. It's actually a living badger named Urthwyte. He is Urthstripe's long-lost brother. They also find Urthstripe's mother, Loambudd.
Back at Redwall, young Samkim the squirrel and his friend Arula the mole are playing. One night, lightning strikes Redwall Abbey. The Sword of Martin the Warrior falls right at Samkim's feet. He is amazed by his discovery.
Dingeye and Thura are forced to leave the Abbey. They accidentally killed Brother Hal with the bows and arrows Samkim and Arula had used. The stoats run off with Martin's stolen sword. Samkim and Arula chase them. They want to get the sword back and get revenge. Thura gets sick with Dryditch Fever and dies. Samkim, Arula, and a hermit named Furgle find his body. Furgle realizes the danger and warns Redwall. Dingeye is caught by Ferahgo's group. Their leader, Dethbrush, takes the sword after Dingeye is killed.
A terrible sickness, Dryditch Fever, spreads through Redwall Abbey. Furgle the hermit knows about it. Mrs. Faith Spinney remembers an old tale. Flowers of Icetor from the Northern Mountains can cure the fever. A brave otter named Thrugg sets off to find them. He takes Dumble the dormouse with him. They also meet an injured falcon named Rocangus. They reach the mountains and find the flowers. The mighty Golden Eagle, Wild King MacPhearsome, rules the mountain. He helps Thrugg get the flowers.
Samkim's path eventually crosses with Mara's. Samkim catches up to Dethbrush during a storm. He knocks Dethbrush into the water, where the Deepcoiler eats him. Samkim grabs the Sword of Martin the Warrior before the monster dives. Later, the Deepcoiler attacks again. Samkim bravely stabs the monster. The serpent then disappears. Mara and the Guosim find the Deepcoiler's body and get the sword. Mara gives the sword to Samkim when they meet.
The group heads back to Salamandastron. They arrive to find Ferahgo the Assassin attacking the fortress. Urthstripe the Badger Lord is filled with battle rage. He leaps from the mountain, taking Ferahgo with him. Both fall to their deaths. After the battle, Ferahgo's son, Klitch, is still trapped inside Salamandastron. He finds barrels of water and drinks from them. But the water was poisoned by Ferahgo's poisoner. Klitch dies from the powerful poison. After Urthstripe's death, Mara, Pikkle, Samkim, Arula, Urthwyte, and Loambudd find the badger treasure. They bury Urthstripe there.
Soon after, Thrugg, Dumble, and MacPhearsome return with the flowers. Samkim, Arula, Mara, and Pikkle also return to Redwall Abbey. The Abbey is cured of the fever. Later, a special day comes. Mara becomes the Badger Mother of Redwall. Urthwyte stays behind as the new Lord of Salamandastron. He rules with the surviving members of the Long Patrol.
Main Characters
- Urthstripe the Strong
- Ferahgo the Assassin
- Mara
- Wild King MacPhearsome
- Urthwyte the Mighty
- Loambudd
- Dingeye
- Thura
- Furgle the Hermit
- Thrugg
- Arula
- Samkim
- King Glagweb
- Klitch
- Log-a-Log
- Pikkle Ffolger
- Rocangus
Book Sections (English)
- Book 1: Questors and Runaways
- Book 2: Warriors and Monsters
- Book 3: Destinies and Homecomers
Translations
- (Finnish) Salamandastronin aarre
- (French) Rougemuraille : Salamandastron
- Tome 1 : Ferrago l'Assassin
- Tome 2 : La Fièvre du fossé tari
- Tome 3 : Le Serpentissime
- Tome 4 : Mara de Rougemuraille
- (German) Die Jagd nach dem Schatz
- Von Abenteurern und Ausreißern
- Von Kriegern und Ungeheuern
- Von Schicksalen und Heimkehrern
- (Russian) old version – Мара, или Война с Горностаем, new version – Саламандастрон
- Беглецы и искатели
- Воины и чудовища
- Живые и мертвые
Images for kids
-
US cover of Salamandastron
