Voyage of the Slaves
Brian Jacques
The Flying Dutchman is a ship cursed to sail the seas for eternity without rest or harbour. Ben and Ned, the two innocents on board when the crew was cursed by an Angel of the Lord, share only in immortality and instead roam the world as they can, following the Angel's command to help all they can. Their most recent adventure lands them with a travelling troupe of performers in the clutches of a slave trader called Al Misurata. Aside from escaping themselves, both Ben and Ned know they must rescue their new friends and, if possible, put a stop to the evil man. However, their past is a complicated one that cannot be explained to just anyone, and even as the wretched Captain Vanderdecken persues them in their nightmares, Ben faces perhaps his most challenging problem to date: falling in love with a normal girl.
This book is a sequel. Actually, it's a third. But I'm tempted to label it, not only my favorite, but the best of the three stories. The first novel, The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman was half back story half new adventure--it's moderately difficult to have a randomly immortal boy and dog that go about saving folks without actually having a reason as to why. Even Dr. Who has a backstory. Quite an intense and complex one, too, it would seem. Book two, The Angel's Command, is also split down the middle as two stories. This book falls back on the Redwall standby of having the book dubdivided into three books and then chapters throughout, with the books being nothing more than sort of act markers for a play. The book, physically about the same size as the others, is one story from first page to last and allows Jacques to play with more maneuvers and action while also developing his side characters. Sort of. As the sea would allow, there are actually several change overs from ship to ship, regularly presenting new friends to help Ben and Ned on their mission.
Being the third in the series, this is not really an easy book to pick up and read standalone. Throughout the text, there are numerous references to the previous written adventures [all footnoted with the title to which you would look for them] and even a few brief explanations, but I would venture to say that a new reader to the series would find these more obnoxious than helpful. Actually, even as a returning reader, I found them to be kind of obnoxious. [The footnotes for the few non-English words were quite helpful, though. I learned a few pieces of German and Italian.] But if a reader can get over the oddities of the premise and arrangements and approach this book for the children's adventure that it is, well, it is more than enjoyable. There are all the things, I think, that should be found in a rousing and properly exciting sea-faring adventure. Ships, enemies, friends, fights, cannons, a storm or two... There is always something going on, as well, with the perspective following Ben and Ned for starters [together or apart], the performing troupe in their captivity and sometimes even the baddies behind closed doors.
Some, including myself originally, may be a bit in the way of a doubting Thomas about reading yet another Jacques book, though. He has always provided action and pacing, but some of the later Redwall novels began to get a bit predictable. The first Castaways book felt like a Redwall in several ways. There were your main underdog [sorry Ned] protagonists, some supernatural help, a large seemingly overwhelming evil to face and some riddles. Voyage steers more clear of ilk, completely free of riddles and suspending the supernatural presence and assistance of the Angel for the main bulk of the text. [Basically, it bookends the story, with an appearance at the beginning and end.] True, Vanderdecken and the Dutchman appear throughout, but a psychotic evil Captain who got himself damned to an eternity of sailing and vowing to catch you and drag you along with him would be, I imagine, hard to shake.
Rip-roaring until the end, Voyage of the Slaves is an excellent piece of light reading, about perfect for summertime poolside. Just be carefull you don't doze too deeply lest you be chased by Vanderdecken as well.
Brian Jacques
The Flying Dutchman is a ship cursed to sail the seas for eternity without rest or harbour. Ben and Ned, the two innocents on board when the crew was cursed by an Angel of the Lord, share only in immortality and instead roam the world as they can, following the Angel's command to help all they can. Their most recent adventure lands them with a travelling troupe of performers in the clutches of a slave trader called Al Misurata. Aside from escaping themselves, both Ben and Ned know they must rescue their new friends and, if possible, put a stop to the evil man. However, their past is a complicated one that cannot be explained to just anyone, and even as the wretched Captain Vanderdecken persues them in their nightmares, Ben faces perhaps his most challenging problem to date: falling in love with a normal girl.
This book is a sequel. Actually, it's a third. But I'm tempted to label it, not only my favorite, but the best of the three stories. The first novel, The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman was half back story half new adventure--it's moderately difficult to have a randomly immortal boy and dog that go about saving folks without actually having a reason as to why. Even Dr. Who has a backstory. Quite an intense and complex one, too, it would seem. Book two, The Angel's Command, is also split down the middle as two stories. This book falls back on the Redwall standby of having the book dubdivided into three books and then chapters throughout, with the books being nothing more than sort of act markers for a play. The book, physically about the same size as the others, is one story from first page to last and allows Jacques to play with more maneuvers and action while also developing his side characters. Sort of. As the sea would allow, there are actually several change overs from ship to ship, regularly presenting new friends to help Ben and Ned on their mission.
Being the third in the series, this is not really an easy book to pick up and read standalone. Throughout the text, there are numerous references to the previous written adventures [all footnoted with the title to which you would look for them] and even a few brief explanations, but I would venture to say that a new reader to the series would find these more obnoxious than helpful. Actually, even as a returning reader, I found them to be kind of obnoxious. [The footnotes for the few non-English words were quite helpful, though. I learned a few pieces of German and Italian.] But if a reader can get over the oddities of the premise and arrangements and approach this book for the children's adventure that it is, well, it is more than enjoyable. There are all the things, I think, that should be found in a rousing and properly exciting sea-faring adventure. Ships, enemies, friends, fights, cannons, a storm or two... There is always something going on, as well, with the perspective following Ben and Ned for starters [together or apart], the performing troupe in their captivity and sometimes even the baddies behind closed doors.
Some, including myself originally, may be a bit in the way of a doubting Thomas about reading yet another Jacques book, though. He has always provided action and pacing, but some of the later Redwall novels began to get a bit predictable. The first Castaways book felt like a Redwall in several ways. There were your main underdog [sorry Ned] protagonists, some supernatural help, a large seemingly overwhelming evil to face and some riddles. Voyage steers more clear of ilk, completely free of riddles and suspending the supernatural presence and assistance of the Angel for the main bulk of the text. [Basically, it bookends the story, with an appearance at the beginning and end.] True, Vanderdecken and the Dutchman appear throughout, but a psychotic evil Captain who got himself damned to an eternity of sailing and vowing to catch you and drag you along with him would be, I imagine, hard to shake.
Rip-roaring until the end, Voyage of the Slaves is an excellent piece of light reading, about perfect for summertime poolside. Just be carefull you don't doze too deeply lest you be chased by Vanderdecken as well.
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