The Ratastrophe Catastrophe (The Illmoor Chronicles, Book 1) - Hardcover

David, until recently an employee of Blockbuster video, has been creating the world of Ilmoor since he was ten years old. He works as a freelance writer for SFX magazine. He lives on the coast in Kent and has a baby German Shepherd called Cher.

Grade 5-8 - The city of Dullitch, on the continent of Illmoor,is home to humans, trolls, ogres, elves,and all sorts of magical creatures. Unfortunately, it is also overrun with rats, so the corrupt Duke offers a reward to any mercenary who can get rid of them. After a simple shepherd boy named Diek Wustapha shows up and plays his flute to charm the animals out of the town, the Duke refuses to pay the promised sum. The scenario is the familiar "Pied Piper of Hamelin" story, except that Diek is possessed by an ancient magical force that is both powerful and malevolent. He charms the children of Dullitch and leads them far away and into a mountain. Meanwhile, Tambor (an ex-wizard-turned-politician) joins forces with two of the mercenaries - Groan (a barbarian) and Gordo (a dwarf) - and, after spending a great deal of time drinking and carousing, the three of them, along with Tambor's grandson (a full-time thief), attempt to rescue the children. They soon find themselves in the middle of a showdown with Diek. The dialogue is fast paced and off-color jokes pepper the narrative. However, many of the puns fall flat and the self-conscious satire quickly gets old. The slick-looking, black-and-white illustrations show a cast of characters with exaggerated features. Fans of Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl" series may enjoy this first installment of a planned trilogy, but those looking for a bit more depth may prefer Jonathan Stroud's Amulet of Samarkand (Hyperion, 2003). - Farida S. Dowler, formerly at Bellevue Regional Library, WA
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