Ratha's Challenge
| Industry | Publishing / Literature |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Clare Bell |
| Products | Young adult xenofictive prehistoric fiction novels |
The Books of the Named—also referred to as the Ratha series, authored by Clare Bell—comprises a collection of young adult xenofictive prehistoric fiction novels. The narrative centers on an intelligent prehistoric feline society known as the Named, who herd ancient horses and deer while contending with a non-sapient faction called the Unnamed. At the heart of the series is Ratha, who uncovers the secret of fire ("Red Tongue"), a discovery that fundamentally alters their civilization. Critical reception has been favorable, with comparisons frequently drawn to Watership Down.
Books
- Ratha's Creature (1983)
- Clan Ground (1984)
- Ratha and Thistle-chaser (1990)
- Ratha's Challenge (1994)
- Ratha's Courage (2008)
Ratha's Creature (1983)
The Named consist of a clan of highly intelligent, cheetah-like Dinaelurus nimravids possessing their own language, customs, and laws. They herd local prey species such as dapplebacks and three-horns but face threats from the more numerous and less cognitively advanced Unnamed, who raid their herds. Interbreeding between Named and Unnamed is prohibited due to prevailing beliefs about the intellectual capacity of hybrid offspring.
Ratha, a young female member of the Named, defies traditional male dominance by training under Thakur as a herder. The clan risks annihilation from repeated Unnamed incursions until Ratha discovers how to control fire—the "Red Tongue"—which promises new means of survival. Meoran, her uncle and despotic leader, resists her use of fire and banishes her. During exile, Ratha encounters Bonechewer, an unusually intelligent male Unnamed who speaks the Named tongue. They mate; however, their cubs do not exhibit the expected intelligence, prompting Ratha to reject them harshly.
Thakur summons Ratha back to reclaim the Red Tongue, enabling her to depose Meoran. When the Unnamed launch another attack, Ratha leads the Named in wielding fire as a weapon to repel them. She assumes leadership of the clan and appoints Fessran as chief of the Firekeepers—those responsible for maintaining fire and using torches in combat. Despite their victory, Bonechewer succumbs to injuries from battle, deeply affecting Ratha. She acknowledges that fire has transformed their society irrevocably but affirms it as essential for their continued existence.
Clan Ground (1984)
After Meoran’s demise, Ratha takes command of the Named clan, now wielding authority through mastery of the Red Tongue. She oversees the Firekeepers but grows concerned about whether fire’s influence has led them astray. When Orange-eyes—a politically astute outsider—arrives, Ratha faces challenges in preserving her control over the clan. The story unfolds one year after previous events during celebrations marking Ratha’s triumph over the Unnamed and the birth of the Red Tongue’s legacy. A young Unnamed yearling seeks asylum; despite resistance from Firekeepers, Ratha respects his bravery and permits him to assist them.
Orange-eyes, potentially a distinct species given his size and saber development, mates with Bira; their offspring lack intelligence. Ratha orders him to abandon his cubs beyond clan boundaries, breeding resentment in Orange-eyes. He establishes a cult venerating fire and ultimately usurps Ratha by exploiting control over the Red Tongue. In response, Ratha and Thakur flood the cave harboring fire’s core; Ratha kills Orange-eyes (Shongshar) and reclaims leadership of the clan.
Ratha and Thistle-chaser (1990)
Thistle-chaser, the daughter of Ratha who has no recollection of her origins, lives in solitude near the shoreline under the name "Newt," forming bonds with the native animals. She suffers from seizures triggered by a being she calls the Dreambiter. During his search for water, Thakur encounters her and assists her with swimming exercises to improve her atrophied leg. While reporting on coastal resources, Thakur encourages Ratha to move the clan and capture seamares, which Thistle-chaser subsequently frees. Ratha denies recognizing her as her offspring and threatens to attack if Thistle-chaser intervenes again.
Upon discovering her heritage, Thistle-chaser believes that killing Ratha will break the Dreambiter curse—a result of a childhood bite from Ratha. They engage in combat until Mishanti, an orphaned Unnamed cub abandoned by Ratha, steps in to defend her. When Thistle-chaser pursues Mishanti, Ratha stops her. Alongside Thakur and Fessran, they rescue Mishanti together. This event prompts Ratha to accept Thistle-chaser as her daughter, and Thistle-chaser forgives her. She then dedicates herself to raising Mishanti and fostering his emerging sentience.
Ratha's Challenge (1994)
While Ratha attempts to reconcile with Thistle-chaser, the Named encounter tensions with a sapient Dinaelurus group called the Face-Tail Hunter Tribe, named for their skill in hunting large Mammutidae known as Face-Tails. The tribe relies on the telepathic melody of their leader, True-of-voice. After an accident leaves True-of-voice gravely injured, the tribe becomes vulnerable. Thistle-chaser, uniquely capable of perceiving the song, befriends Quiet Hunter, a male tribe member adapting to Named customs. Together they convince the Named to assist in saving True-of-voice, establishing a tentative alliance.
Ratha's Courage (2008)
An uneasy truce exists between the Named and the Hunter Tribe. When Quiet Hunter asks to share the Named’s fire for warming cubs, a young male steals the Red Tongue to wield its power but inadvertently causes a devastating canyon fire that kills many Tribe females. During mating season, leader True-of-voice expels younger males to lessen rivalry. His son, New-Singer, leads these outcasts in raids against the Named, killing most cubs and abducting females except for Ratha. Her attempt to rescue them results in her capture. New-Singer organizes a courting circle during which it is revealed that Night-who-eats-Stars—the fire thief—is actually Ratha’s lost son. Two Named cubs, Mishanti and Bundi, use their "Rumblers" to disrupt the courting circle and drive off the young Tribe members.
Publication history
Published in 1990 as a follow-up to Ratha's Creature and Clan Ground, Ratha and Thistle-chaser is part of this series' continuation. The fourth installment was released in 1994. In 2005, Viking Children's Books acquired rights for the fifth book through Sharyn November, who also reissued the first four titles under her Firebird Books imprint. An animated version appeared on CBS Storybreak during the late 1980s. The series earned acclaim including the 1984 International Reading Association Award.
Themes
Leadership and adversity are central motifs that run consistently throughout the series. One analyst described the narrative as simultaneously primitive and futuristic in its depiction of a feline civilization. The initial novel focuses primarily on the concept of evolution. In the fourth installment, Ratha's Challenge, the story delves into dynamics of society and family, alongside themes of personal identity. A critic observed similarities between the first book’s storyline and the "painful" development of human civilization, including power conflicts that risk reverting to a more "savage" state. Despite featuring animal protagonists, the series addresses distinctly human issues, with Ratha embodying the classic hero’s journey archetype in the opening volume.
Reception
Trev Jones from the School Library Journal described the debut novel as "challenging" yet "imbued with intense emotions," emphasizing Ratha’s character progression and the nuanced development of personalities. Ben and Beth Nelms remarked on its gradual pacing initially but praised Bell’s meticulous attention to detail. David Bratman of Mythprint characterized the prose as "smooth as velvet" and "ingeniously crafted," drawing favorable comparisons to Watership Down for its sophisticated feline characters that resonate with human readers. Another critic labeled Ratha's Creature as "captivating, compelling, and rich in both texture and imagination."
The series’ vivid descriptive style has garnered widespread acclaim. Polese highlighted especially striking imagery in the fourth book, focusing on Thistle-Chaser’s maturation journey, although she pointed out an "awkward summary" that detracted from early chapters. The fifth book received praise from VOYA magazine for its detailed descriptions and well-rounded character portrayals. The English Journal commended the engaging dialogue and vibrant descriptions. Sally Estes of The Booklist lauded the writing quality in the fourth novel but cautioned that its introspective nature might pose challenges for new readers.
Consistent recognition has been given to characterization throughout the series. Polese applauded the depiction of feline leads across all books, noting that adult audiences might find Ratha especially compelling as a "mother burdened by guilt." The second book was acknowledged for strong character work, though it was considered less dramatically intense compared to the first. Polese’s starred review of the third volume praised its "powerful" prose and its clear-eyed portrayal of emotional trauma that is both painful and ultimately restorative.