Ratha and Thistle-chaser
| 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, is a collection of young adult xenofictive prehistoric fiction novels authored by Clare Bell. This series explores the lives of the Named, an intelligent prehistoric feline society that herds ancient horses and deer, and their ongoing struggles against a non-sapient group known as the Unnamed. The narrative follows Ratha, who uncovers the secret of fire, called the "Red Tongue," which profoundly alters their civilization. The series has garnered favorable critiques and is often likened 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 constitute a clan of highly intelligent, cheetah-like Dinaelurus nimravids characterized by their own laws, language, and customs. They manage herds of local prey species such as dapplebacks and three-horns. In contrast, the more numerous but less cognitively advanced Unnamed occasionally raid these herds. Crossbreeding between Named and Unnamed is prohibited, as it is believed to yield only Unnamed offspring.
Ratha, a young female member of the Named, challenges male authority by training as a herder under Thakur’s guidance. While most herders are male, Fessran stands out as a formidable female herder who served before Meoran’s oppressive rule. The clan faces constant threats from Unnamed attacks until Ratha discovers how to control fire—the "Red Tongue." Meoran resists her innovation and banishes her.
During her exile among the Unnamed, Ratha encounters Bonechewer, an unusually intelligent male who can communicate in the Named tongue. They mate and produce cubs; however, these offspring do not inherit full sapience. Enraged, Ratha assaults Bonechewer and cripples their female cub, Thistle-Chaser, subsequently abandoning them.
Called back by Thakur, Ratha regains control over fire and leads a revolt against Meoran. Alongside Thakur and Fessran, she employs fire as a weapon to defend against the Unnamed. Ratha ascends to clan leadership and appoints Fessran as chief of the Firekeepers, responsible for managing fire for both survival and combat purposes. Despite triumphing, Ratha mourns Bonechewer’s mortal wounds and wrestles with the societal transformations ignited by fire. Nevertheless, she recognizes that with mastery over the Red Tongue, the Named’s future is secured.
Clan Ground (1984)
After Meoran’s demise, Ratha assumes leadership of the Named clan wielding the power granted by the Red Tongue. She supervises the Firekeepers but grows concerned that fire may have corrupted their ranks. When Orange-eyes, a politically astute newcomer, arrives, Ratha faces challenges in preserving her authority. The story opens one year after prior events with the Named celebrating Ratha’s victory over the Unnamed and the emergence of fire. A young Unnamed yearling seeks asylum but faces ridicule from Firekeepers; impressed by his bravery and intellect, Ratha permits him to serve as an aide.
Orange-Eyes—possibly representing a different species due to his size and saber growth—mates with Bira, a clan female, producing two cubs who lack intelligence. Ratha orders Orange-Eyes to abandon these cubs beyond clan boundaries. Bitter from rejection, Orange-Eyes adopts the name Shongshar and establishes a cult venerating fire nearby. He eventually usurps Ratha through control of the Red Tongue’s power and forces her into exile. Together with Thakur, Ratha devises a plan to flood Shongshar’s fire cave by diverting a stream. The scheme succeeds; Ratha kills Shongshar and reclaims her position as leader.
Ratha and Thistle-chaser (1990)
Thistle-chaser, the daughter of clan leader Ratha, lives isolated along a shoreline under the name “Newt,” with no recollection of her origins. Plagued by seizures triggered by a dream entity known as the Dreambiter, she forms bonds with the local fauna. While searching for water, Thakur encounters her and encourages swimming as therapy. Upon informing Ratha, the clan relocates to the coast and captures seamares to use as livestock. When Thistle-chaser releases these creatures, Ratha—who refuses to acknowledge their kinship—commands an attack should she interfere again.
Discovering that Ratha is her mother, Thistle-chaser believes that ending Ratha’s life will stop the Dreambiter’s torment. The Dreambiter’s origin traces back to a bite Ratha gave her during infancy. Their confrontation escalates until Ratha becomes trapped between rocks. Mishanti, an Unnamed cub whom Ratha intended to abandon, intervenes but faces threat from Thistle-chaser. Ratha calls her to calm down, and with assistance from Thakur and Fessran, they manage to save Mishanti. These events lead Ratha to accept Thistle-chaser as her daughter and grant forgiveness. Thistle-chaser then takes Mishanti under her care to foster his emerging sentience.
Ratha's Challenge (1994)
While Ratha attempts to mend ties with Thistle-chaser, the Named encounter a sapient Dinaelurus group known as the Face-Tail Hunter Tribe, famous for hunting mammutids ("Face-Tails"). This tribe relies heavily on the telepathic melody of their leader, True-of-voice. After an accident nearly claims True-of-voice’s life, the tribe becomes vulnerable. Thistle-chaser, uniquely capable of hearing this song, befriends Quiet Hunter—a disgraced male from the tribe adapting to Named customs. Together, they convince the Named to support True-of-voice, establishing a tentative alliance.
Ratha's Courage (2008)
The uneasy peace between the Named and Hunter Tribe continues. When Quiet Hunter requests fire to keep cubs warm, a young male steals the Red Tongue and unintentionally sparks a devastating canyon blaze that kills many females of breeding age. During mating season, True-of-voice banishes younger males to lessen rivalry. New-Singer, his son, leads these exiles in an assault on the Named, resulting in the deaths of most cubs and abductions of females except for Ratha. Captured while attempting a rescue, Ratha observes New-Singer’s courting ritual. It is revealed that Night-who-eats-Stars—the fire thief—is 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
Following Ratha's Creature and Clan Ground, Ratha and Thistle-chaser was published in 1990 as the third installment. The fourth volume appeared in 1994. In 2005, Viking Children's editor Sharyn November acquired rights to the fifth book and republished the series through Firebird Books. An animated version aired on CBS Storybreak during the late 1980s. The original novel earned the International Reading Association Award in 1984.
Themes
The series consistently explores themes of leadership and adversity; one analyst described it as simultaneously prehistoric and futuristic in its depiction of feline society. The initial book emphasizes evolution, while Ratha's Challenge delves into social structures, familial bonds, and individuality. Critics have observed similarities between the narrative of the first book and human societal evolution, particularly regarding power struggles that threaten regression into "savagery." Despite featuring animal protagonists, the series addresses human issues, with Ratha representing a classic hero's journey archetype in the opening novel.
Reception
Trev Jones, writing for the School Library Journal, described the initial book as "challenging" yet imbued with "intense emotions," emphasizing the growth of Ratha’s character alongside the author’s adept storytelling. Ben and Beth Nelms acknowledged the novel’s gradual pacing but praised Bell’s meticulous attention to detail. David Bratman from Mythprint characterized the prose as "silky smooth" and "brilliantly crafted," drawing a favorable comparison to Watership Down due to its intricate feline characters that resonate with human audiences. Another critic referred to Ratha's Creature as "captivating, compelling, and rich in both texture and imagination."
The series’ descriptive narrative style has garnered significant recognition. Carolyn Polese admired the vivid portrayal of characters and social structures in the fourth installment, although she pointed out that an awkward summary of prior events somewhat hindered the opening chapters. The fifth book received praise from VOYA magazine for its evocative descriptions and well-developed characters. The English Journal commended the series for its lively imagery and engaging conversations. Sally Estes, writing for The Booklist, celebrated the prose of the fourth volume but warned that new readers might find its introspective tone challenging.
Character development throughout the series has been consistently lauded. Polese highlighted the depiction of feline protagonists, suggesting that Ratha might particularly appeal to adult readers as a "mother burdened by guilt." The second book was positively reviewed for its character work, though it was considered less dramatically intense compared to the debut novel. Polese awarded a starred review to the third book, praising its compelling prose and subtle exploration of emotional trauma as simultaneously painful and restorative.