Ratha's Courage (The Named, Book 5) [Paperback]

Clare Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2008

Ratha and her clan, the Named, are sentient prehistoric big cats. In Ratha s Courage, the fifth book in the Named series, Ratha extends the use of the Red Tongue fire to a hunter tribe. One of the hunters ignites a blaze that sets off a devastating conflict between the two clans. Now Ratha must find the courage within herself to set it right.

Ratha's Courage is the newest book in the series since 1994.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The narrative oscillates between deep description, world building -- an amazing array of visuals, smells, and kinesthetic responses -- and action, with some ruminative passages providing background. The characterization is successfully realized, rich in nuance, and alive with individual quirks and humor. --VOYA

From the Back Cover

Ratha, the fiery and determined female leader of the sentient prehistoric cat clan called the Named, continues her story in this new novel. In Ratha's Courage, the Named attempt an alliance with the other clan of "face-tail" (mammoth and mastodon) hunting cats introduced in Ratha's Challenge.

The hunter clan's group mind, and strange, frighteningly effective unity fascinates yet repels the independent-minded Named, creating a dangerous potential for conflict. The contrasting values of two very different cultures lead to misunderstanding, tragedy, and war. Ratha learns that reaching out to others, especially when the chasm is so wide, takes true courage.

Returning to the strengths of the first book in the series, Ratha's Creature, the new novel showcases world-building, deep description and an amazing array of feline visual images, sound, smell, taste, touch, and movement. The story envelops the reader in the mind of a big cat, looking out through her eyes while discovering her world.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Imaginator Pr; first edition (October 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974560367
• ISBN-13: 978-0974560366
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in England in 1952, I moved to the US with my family in 1957. I worked in oceanography, electrical engineering, test equipment design and mechanical engineering before I wrote my first book, Ratha's Creature (Atheneum-Argo Margaret K .McElderry 1983) , the story of a prehistoric wildcat who learns to tame fire.

Since then I have continued to write fantasy and science fiction for children and adults. I continue to be fascinated by big cats, as showcased in Tomorrow's Sphinx (cheetahs in Tutanhkmen's Eygypt) and Jaguar Princess (were-jaguars in Aztec and Olmec Mexico).

My stories tend to show sociological themes as well, exploring the changes that are brought about in culture through technology. I also enjoy creating plausible and workable alien critters ( the aronan fliers in People of the Sky). The central theme of my fiction is evolution, having been influenced early by the works of C.S. Lewis, Olaf Stapledon , and Arthur C. Clarke.

I have degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering, biology and chemistry and have continued working in technical areas in addition to writing fiction. I became involved in building and designing electric vehicles and spent a year in Norway working on a production EV. I have also participated in electric vehicle racing in the Arizona Public Service Company-sponsored Solar and Electrics competitions, held from 1991 to 1998. My electric Porsche 914, known by her racing number, 13, was a well-known competitor in these races. I was also involved with the Women's Electric Racing and Educational Team (WE'RE-IT) when we raced the Porsche and our converted race-Rabbit, #6 Hop-along.

After moving to a remote site in California's coastal mountains, I and my partner put together our own solar and wind systems and experimented with a power-generating waterwheel. A naturalized citizen of the US, I now live with my partner-become-husband, Chuck Piper, in the hills west of Patterson, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Awaited and Well Worth the Wait, November 2, 2007

By 

J. Feldes "kiyotesong2" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ratha's Courage (Hardcover)

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of 'Ratha's Courage' and hope I can do it justice with my review! Clare Bell has been in hiding for many years now, but she has finally come back to her fans with "Ratha's Courage". It picks up where "Ratha and Thistle-Chaser" left off, furthering the tenuous relationship between the Named and the communal followers of True-of-Voice. I was awed by the amazing twist the story took towards the end as the lines of friend and foe blurred into something altogether new and different. Ratha continues to mature as leader of her tribe of fire-wielding talking cats. Ms. Bell's time away from the unique feline world she gave us has not lessened her familiarity with the personalities of the individuals (most noteably Thakur, Fessran and especially Ratha herself) integral to the story line, and the continuity is fantastic - no plot holes here! The story line is somewhat more sophisticated than the original 'Ratha's Creature', and would probably be hard for young (under 8 or so) readers to follow, but any pre-teen or 'young adult' should be able to catch on with ease. As with all the books, there are some sexual overtones parents may want to watch for.
'Ratha's Courage' was definitely worth the wait, and hopefully there will be another adventure of the Named waiting in the wings.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most brilliant books I've ever read., December 29, 2008

By 

SarurunKamui (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratha's Courage (The Named, Book 5) (Paperback)

Despite the 13-year time gap between the writing of "Ratha's Challenge" and this, "Ratha's Courage" does an excellent job of keeping the characters' personalities intact, evolving lesser characters, and introducing new ones, all while carrying you through an exciting and highly original plot. Probably due to the influence of more modern styles of writing, Clare Bell's writing voice has changed a bit, but not at all for the worse. I enjoyed this just as much as the others in the series and I hope she writes another book soon, be it about Ratha or something else.
Here I offer a maturity warning. It's nothing graphic at all, but if you're sensitive to slight sexual themes then you might want to stay away. They play a major part in said 'highly original plot'. Not in a bad way, but I just want to warn wary readers.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fantasy Masterpiece by Clare Bell, March 1, 2008

By 

'The Virginiaprograsser' "Always Have a Song ... (Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratha's Courage (Hardcover)

I was also fortunate enough to recieve an advance copy of Ratha's Courage. It is amazing how vibrant and alive Bell's characters continue to be after all this time has passed between her last wonderful Ratha novel (Ratha's Challenge) and this worthy successor. Time has in no way dimmed Bell's skill as a writer and Courage delivers in every way possible.

I may be getting ahead of myself here but I can't wait for the next installment of The Named series. Through the power of Clare Bell's writing you end up caring about Ratha and her clan that much...5 Stars.

:)Steve Sikes-Nova
Educator, Audio Journalist, Music PR
Tidewater, Virginia, USA