The phenomenon of on-line Redwall fanfiction is now well over half a dozen years old, and in that time a great many amateur stories have been written in this genre, along with a few that actually verge on the professional.  Much has been lost in the various collapses and relocations of the various RFF sites, but much of the "classic" RFF endures, thanks to the dilligence of the authors and their readers, and newcomers are constantly adding their input to what has gone before.  I've had the arguable privilege of reading a great deal of the RFF that currently resides on the net, and while I can hardly claim to have read more of it than anyone else in the ROC, I've read quite enough.  And since I both know what I like and am an opinionated bugger in sharing these views with others, what better time than this final issue of Tsar's Redwall Digest for ... Highwing's Top Ten Redwall Fanfics!

A few words before I get to my lists.  I tended to favor longer, more ambitious works over shorts and poems.  I also favored completed stories over ones that are still in progress (and many of which, in longstanding RFF tradition, will likely remain forever unfinished).  Also, the story must be definitely set within the Redwall universe.  Thus, you will not find here Snitter's wonderful (and, yes, incomplete) "The Adventures of Erin and Apollo," which became one of my favorites when I first stumbled across Tsar's Board in early 2001 and began reading all the stories there.  "Erin and Apollo" has very much the feel of a Redwall tale, but also some subtle differences in the way the characters behave, which species are portrayed, and the background rules of their world.  Most of all, there is not a single reference to any of the official Redwall characters, history or place names.  It truly is an original, stand-alone work that exists apart from Redwall.  Perhaps someday Snitter will see fit to finish it and perhaps even seek publication for it.  Until then, any curious readers can find what exists of "E&A" on the old Cgiforme Board.

You also won't see Mitya's "The Quartet" on either of the lists below.  It is a fine piece of work and an impressive literary exercise, but it's simply not Redwall, even though its central character was introduced in her Soviet allegory Redwall fanfic "Does Song Compose Heroes?"  (That earlier story has since been "de-Redwallized" as well, hopefully for eventual publication.)

And so, without further ado ...

HIGHWING'S TOP TEN REDWALL FANFICS

1.  "DOES SONG COMPOSE HEROES?" by Mitya Shostak

As already mentioned, this story has since been rewritten by the author to remove it from the Redwall sphere and qualify it for professional publication.  But the original version can still be found on both the old Cgiforme Board and the current EZBoard RFF forum that Tsar administers, and it is well worth the read.  Even in its Redwall form, "DSCH?" is so unique it almost transcends the genre, daring to go where no other RFF has ever gone in terms of both literary virtuosity and subject matter.  An allegory of the Stalinist Soviet Union, this tour de force relates in perfect, halting first-person narrative the haunting story of a young fox composer who is recruited to be the court composer for a tyrannical (and tin-eared) dictator.  The feeling of brooding despair grows more and more palpable with each chapter, as the composer's creative freedom is smothered under the iron paw of artistic oppression.  Much adventure fiction - Redwall and otherwise - features cruel tyrants imprisoning hapless subjects, but "DSCH?" goes far beyond mere physical incarceration and delves into the imprisonment of the mind, of the soul.  The loss of the main character's artistic integrity parallels the loss of personal liberty, and the combined effect is devastating.  Anyone with a shred of creativity in them (and that is surely most of us here in the ROC) must certainly relate to the young fox's plight, and that is what makes the tale so harrowing.  Many of the incidents contained in "DSCH?" are based on historical events, and even though this is an animal fable, it gives a very good feel for what life must be like under a total dictatorship like Stalinist Russia ... or Saddam Hussein's Iraq, for that matter.  I have enjoyed many Redwall fanfics, but this may be the only one that ever left me feeling undeniably enriched for having read it.  My choice for the very best fic, no contest.

2.  "A FORGE'S DESTINY" by Nakar Gabab

If Mitya's story left me feeling enriched, Nakar's "AFD" left me feeling as if I'd been on a grand journey along with the characters, moreso than any other Redwall fanfic I've ever read.  It may not read as well if you haven't read its preceding novella "Veraconta," which details how Peter and the other foxes first came to Redwall, but then again I read "AFD" before I'd read the previous tale, and that did not diminish my enjoyment of it.  I must also confess that I haven't read Nakar's revised version on the current RFF Board, which edits out several references to a race of technologically advanced meerkats, but since that subplot never quite meshed with the main storyline anyway, I imagine the work is even stronger for its absence.  One of the original RFF epics, very well written and immensely engaging.  You haven't read all the best RFF until you've read Nakar, and until he finishes "Ill Will" and "Windcatcher," this is the one to read.

3.  "VENGEANCE QUEST" by Snowspine

Yes, I know it's unfinished.  But this story is just so good that even if Snowy stopped writing it now and never added another word to it, "VQ" would probably become a fixture in all future Top Ten lists I might make.  Fortunately, this doesn't seem likely to happen, since she's still updating with new segments on an almost weekly basis.  The young squirrel Riala Goldentail sees her father killed by a treacherous wolverine, and embarks on a lifelong mission of revenge that spans many seasons and involves her in many adventures.  Snowspine apparently roleplayed with many of these characters for several years before starting "Vengeance Quest," and it shows.  The writing is heavenly (did I actually just say that?) with all the attention to setting and physical detail that one would expect from a Brian Jacques novel, and maybe then some, and characterization that just doesn't quit.  I consider this to be a traditional Redwall fanfic - in spite of several "good vermin" who pop up along the way and some heavy duty shades of gray that come to light in Riala's grim personality - and the way this is shaping up, it could turn out to be the very best story of its kind in the history of the ROC.  This is Redwall fanfiction the way it should be written, and I think we could all stand to take a page from Snowy's book.

4.  "THE SPREADING" by DBIII

DB wrote this story five years ago when he was only 12, and all but disowns it today.  Some of the narrative, characterizations, plotting and dialogue are about what you'd expect from a 12-year-old ... but a great deal of it is not, and that's the surprise.  But it is the content more than anything which makes this one of the all-time legendary Redwall fanfics.  Guns, rape, suicide, interspecies lust, the violation of beloved Redwall locales, a well-placed bit of profanity and more violence than the average John Woo flick all factor into this saga of Redwall's fall and rebirth.  Not one but two competing vermin hordes, plus a ruthless cult of defenders whose leader is telepathically linked to the Abbey, make things very complicated for our heroes.  This may have been the first 100-plus page novel completed in the RFF; it certainly has been one of the most controversial and influential stories in the ROC.  (So much so that one post on Abbot Alf's original RFF Board around 1997 was titled "Why Is Everybody Writing Stories about the End of Redwall?"  It seems others back then were jumping on the DB bandwagon.)  You may like this story or hate it, but one thing is certain: few who read "The Spreading" are likely to forget it.

5.  "THE SUBVERSIVE TRILOGY" ("OURS IS NOT TO REASON WHY," "THESE WALLS," AND "HEATHENS") by Amberdulen

One thing I have noticed since my arrival in the ROC is that many Redwall fans possess a definite pro-vermin sympathy.  Every story I have mentioned so far includes at least one heroic character whose species would almost automatically make them a villain in one of BJ's novels, whether it is the good foxes in "DSCH?" or Nakar's saga, some of the Wanderers in Snowy's "VQ" or the ferret Glumeyes in "The Spreading."  There have been many other fanfics which make anti-vermin bias their central theme, but the most effective of these are probably those written by Amberdulen, a.k.a. Ember Trillwind of the now sadly defunct Redwall Online.  By the time you get to the end of "Heathens" you might be saying to yourself, "Okay, I get it already!"  But the writing is top-notch, and "Ours Is Not to Reason Why" in particular packs quite a punch.  A good author looks at all sides of things, and this mini-trilogy not only makes for an entertaining read, but can also serve as a guide for RFF newcomers in avoiding overly cartoonish villains.  Remember, vermin are people too.  (Huh?)

6.  THE "EAGLE WATCH" SAGA by Matthew Vasquez

No, it's not about birds, as I quickly found out when I started reading this multi-part saga, although there are several minor characters who are of the feathered persuasion.  Set in pre-"Mossflower" times, when the Abbey of Loamhedge is still intact and populated, the main characters are a group of creatures who form the Eagle Watch - a group not unlike the Wanderers from Snowspine's "VQ" - dedicated to protecting innocent goodbeasts from slavers, thieves and horde leaders.  Oddly, though, much of the action turns most unRedwallish as a clan of amoral foxes starts playing both ends against the other, setting up a three-sided game of treachery and death.  In spite of this, and despite the fact that several of the heroes are ferrets, I would still classify this as one of the more traditional quality Redwall fanfics I've encountered.  Technically, this is an unfinished work, since the novellas "Eagle Watch: Ghost" and "Eagle Watch: Southstream" were followed by a third installment which is still in the early chapters.  (It is unclear whether Matthew is still working on these tales or might have moved on to other things.)  But each novella stands fairly well on its own, and the writing is competent and straightforward.  While their motivations may not always be crystal clear, this author has a talent for creating characters that creep up on you, so that when one of them meets harm it can be very affecting.  Good stuff, this.

7.  "THE BELLMAKER SEQUEL" by Anna

Where's the REAL title? you may ask.  Never mind the lack of a proper moniker, just read the story.  For those who count Mariel and Dandin among their favorite characters from the Redwall novels, this is an unparalleled treat.  Anna has a firm grasp of these characters, enough to do them justice in a story that is at once very much in the BJ tradition and also uniquely her own.  Wonderful writing, with the interplay of dialogue an especial strength.  Unfinished and, sadly, likely to remain that way, since Anna only works on this in fits and starts and months can go by between updates.  I used to think of this as the most traditional of traditional Redwall fanfics - even the romantic aspects of Mariel and Dandin's relationship ring true - but I have since had the privilege of reading an excerpt from later in the story, not yet posted publicly, that utterly turns things on their head, and casts one of the most cherished characters from the Redwall canon in a nefarious new light.  "The Bellmaker Sequel" could well end up being one of the most subversive Redwall fanfics of all.

8.  THE "SILENT SAM" STORIES by MadPhilosophies, a.k.a. Tari

You want teen angst in a Redwall tale?  Here's enough to last for a season or two!  Witness everyone's favorite thumb-sucking squirrel from the first and third novels of the official series, reimagined as an antisocial goth - right down to the bone earrings and an Abbey habit dyed black!  Slagar and his slavers still come to Redwall to abduct Mattimeo and the others, but things go very differently this time, at least for Sam, who is presented with a unique opportunity to play the hero and must decide whether to do so, and how.  The resolution of the first story is heartrending, as all of Sam's external hardness melts away, revealing him for the child he still is.  The second tale restores hope, showing that things can get better again - up to a point.  Poignant and moving.  Tari is one of the best practitioners of RFF currently active in the field, and this duet is her at her peak.

9.  "PROMISES" by Slashfang

Simple and elegant, this songfic addresses the subject of the badgers' Bloodwrath as BJ never has.  What must it be like to live with such rage sleeping inside of you always, with no way of knowing when it might erupt?  How would it affect your relationships with others?  With an economy of words, Slashfang presents an unforgettable portrait of a shamed, nearly shattered beast whose ultimate power is also his greatest burden.

10.  "WHAT IF?" by McCarthy

I'm not an especial fan of fan poetry, but this one really got to me.  I've read it several times over the past few months, and it never fails to give me a chuckle.  A precocious mousechild grills her father with preposterous questions, and receives equally absurd answers in reply.  A real gem.  What if?  What indeed ...
 

What's this?  Ten already?  That can't be - there are so many great fics I haven't gotten to yet!  Ah, well.  That must mean it's time for ...

THE HONORABLE MENTIONS

THE COLLECTED WORKS OF TSARMINA - Yes, she's not only the guiding light and lordmistress of the current RFF Board (not to mention editor of the very 'zine you're reading at this moment), but our dear Tsar is also a prolific and talented author.  And if you didn't see anything of hers in my Top Ten, that's only because she's written so much quality RFF over the years that it was utterly impossible for me to single out any one above the others.  After all, where would I begin?  The wonderfully twisted and disturbing "Turning Things Around," whose pyromaniac psychotic fox Firebirth is one of the most memorable villains in RFF?  The alternate history speculation of "With Laterose," which has become a much-imitated classic of the genre?  Her superbly traditional Phuri Dae trilogy?  And if you're looking for vermin-sympathetic stories, you can take your pick of "Change of Heart," "Dragon's Teeth" or "Vagabond," all of which hold their own against Amberdulen's tales in that vein.  Perhaps the biggest reason she didn't appear in my Top Ten is that her two most ambitious works, "Silent Flame" and "Tears of the Phoenix," are still in the early stages of writing.  (I never got to read the original and fondly-remembered "Adventures of a Thief," upon which "Flame" is based.)  Maybe after she finishes either or both of these, Tsar might find a place on one of my future Top Ten lists.  We'll just have to wait and see ...

"RHYNNSYLVANIA" AND "SKIES OF MOSSFLOWER" - Two more by Mitya, the former an unfinnished classic from the late 90's, the latter her current work-in-progress.  "Rhynnsylvania" parallels the U.S. Civil War, as shiploads of Mossflowerians flee their earthquake-ravaged homeland and settle, pilgrim-style, on the new continent across the sea to the west.  But all is not well, and the temporary truce between vermin and woodlanders is soon shattered.  The talent that came to full flower in "Does Song Compose Heroes?" is very much in evidence here, especially in the later chapters after the war breaks out.  And although it is unfinished, what there is of it almost stands on its own as a complete tale.  In "Skies," also inspired by real-life events, Mitya tackles perhaps her most ambitious and challenging project by taking on the 9/11 attacks.  A fanatical stoat tyrant has Redwall in his sights; can the Abbey remain standing after his onslaught?  The early chapters are spellbinding.  Like all of Mitya's more recent writings, the narrative style is rather dense and definitely benefits from multiple readings, but for those willing to expend the effort, her body of work is perhaps the most rewarding in the RFF.

"BRAND" by Darth Tabby - Every bit the epic that DB's "The Spreading" is - and then some - this full-length novel tells the tale of an otter warrior living in Mossflower in the days before Redwall was built, and recounts his adventures as he leads his fellow woodlanders in opposition against a tyrannical fox ruler.  This must surely rank as one of the most ambitious first efforts ever seen in the RFF.  Darth has a good ear for dialogue and a talent for creating likeable, distinctive characters.  He also does a good job with actions and scenarios - there's a trail scene that's unlike anything else I can remember reading in the RFF, as well as a battle scene about two-thirds of the way through the novel that holds its own against anything in Snowspine's "Vengeance Quest."  If Darth has a weakness, it's with fuzzy sentences that can meander or just sort of lie there instead of snapping with vitality, but this is something that will improve with practice.  An overabundance of typos is also distracting.  If Darth goes back over this story in the next year or two, correcting the misspellings and tightening up the writing, this could be a future contender for the Top Ten.

"SEARCH FOR A SOUL" by Rustiredd - Another ambitious work from a relative newcomer, this saga currently comprises four complete novelettes/novellas, a fifth still in the writing, and several short stories as well, all revolving around the squirrel warrior Sunswift.  There's enough violence in Rusti's tales to do DB proud, so squeamish readers are warned.  The writing style is basic and utilitarian, but Rusti has recently announced plans to revise the entire series to make improvements and replace characters borrowed from "Taggerung" with ones of his own (he's even toyed with the idea of making it a non-Redwall tale altogether, as Mitya did with "DSCH?").  So stayed tuned, and let's see what develops ...

"LUTHER OF REDWALL" by Amberdulen - This was Amber's much-heralded epic from the original RFF Board run by Abbot Alf, and although never completed, it's still very much worth a read.  The vermin sympathies that later crystallized in her "Subversive Trilogy" are very much in evidence here in this earlier story, about the son of a searat pirate who's adopted by the Redwallers as a child and raised as an Abbeybeast.  (And, before you say it, much of "Luther" was written before the publication of "Outcast of Redwall," so hold your accusations of uncreativity.)  The earlier chapters are a little rough, but by the time the action moves to the Abbey and we see Luther as an adolescent, Amber hits her stride.  These scenes ring true, with little vignettes that are almost worthy of BJ himself, and a cast of memorable Abbeybeasts that are fun to read.  One of the landmark fanfics dealing with the attitudes of goodbeasts toward vermin species, and even if it doesn't mine this territory as thoroughly as some of the fanfics that came after it, it still does a much better job at examining these questions than "Outcast," or any of the other official Redwall novels.

Well, that's it for this year.  No doubt there are other worthwhile stories out there that have slipped under my radar screen, and many more yet to be written in the months and years ahead.  For those of you who might take issue with some of my choices, feel free to write an article naming your own picks.  I'm sure Tsar would be more than happy to run it in the next issue of Redwall Digest for you ... [Editor's note: Let's pat Wing-Wing on the head and remind him this is the final issue. ^.^]