The Sands of Time (2nd in the Hermux Tantamoq Series) [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Michael Hoeye (Author), Campbell Scott (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: 2nd in the Hermux Tantamoq Series

Our favorite mouse and watchmaker, Hermux Tantamoq, is up to his ears in trouble again. All of Pinchester is in an uproar over his friend Mirrin Stentrill's visionary new paintings-monumental portraits of CATS! The Pinchester Museum announces Mirrin's exhibition, and Mayor Pinkwiggin immediately vows to shut it down. After all, cats are not a popular topic in a city of rodents-and everyone knows they never really existed. While militant mice organize to stop the show, most of Pinchester's stylish set vies for invitations to the gala opening.

Then a mysterious old chipmunk appears in Hermux's shop with what he claims to be a map to the royal library of a prehistoric kingdom of cats. Before long Hermux is hot on a trail of treachery and deceit that leads all the way from Pinchester to an ancient tomb that lies buried in . . . The Sands of Time!

"A gripping story full of emotion and original humor. . . . Should firmly establish Hoeye as a break-out writer, one whose work can be favorably compared with J. K. Rowling and Brian Jacques." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Michael Hoeye's Hermux Tantamoq Adventure series is now being published by Putnam. The first title, Time Stops for No Mouse, introduced the watchmaking mouse, Hermux Tantamoq, his pet ladybug, Terfle, and his crush, aviatrix Ms. Linka Perflinger. In the second episode, The Sands of Time, Mayor Hooster Pinkwiggin vows to close Mirrin Stentrill's art exhibit when he learns it features felines-a taboo subject in the rodent town of Pinchester. PW said the author's "galloping plot, evocative descriptions and exuberantly sophisticated wit keep the pages rapidly turning."
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-The sand sifts slowly through the hourglass while listening to this audio rendition of this Hermux Tantamoq Adventure by Michael Hoeye (Putnam, 2002). The major portion of the adventure focuses on the discussion of the mythical cat civilization and tedious, on-going descriptions of scenes and settings. This, coupled with character's names, such as Tucka Mertslin, Linka Perflinger, and more, can leave unfamiliar listeners befuddled. While trying to understand who the characters are, listeners can easily lose the thread of the story as the narrator's reading moves along steadily, leaving no time to make the necessary connections. The narration by Campell Scott, an experienced film and TV drama actor, is less than stellar. His vocalizations add little to bring this verbose and belabored novel alive. Scott's voices for the multitude of characters is nondescript. Even in the instances where characters are said to "squeal" or "chirp," Scott's voice remains unvarying and lifeless. Birch is the only character whose voice is discernable due to a slight raspiness. Without voice changes, the characters remain one-dimensional, which only serves to emphasize the linear predictability of the story line.
Tina Hudak, St. Bernard's School, Riverdale, MD
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape; Unabridged edition (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807208841
• ISBN-13: 978-0807208847
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,655,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy sequel, February 12, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sands of Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure (Paperback)

I was hopeful but steeled for sequelitis when I first opened the second Hermux Tantamoq book. I was pleased that my fears were needless. Michael Hoeye has not lost his touch that was so evident in "Time Stops For No Mouse". (And I recently found out that these books are being republished in hardcover by Putnam -- congratulations, Mr. Hoeye!)

The story is a sequel (but not slavishly so) to the first book of the series: Cats are a taboo item among the mice where Hermux Tantamoq lives, supposedly mythical creatures. So when his friend Mirrin displays cat paintings, people are -- to put it mildly -- upset about it; the mayor is even going to clamp down and ban it, and a large group of mice get together to prevent it from opening.

Then a chipmunk named Birch Tentintrotter arrives. Years ago, Birch was chased away for ownership of a map leading to a city of cats -- and now he's back. Birch leads the heroic mice (including Linka Perflinger and Hermux) to find the tomb of Ka-Narsh-Pah -- but problems are following them, in the form of two very determined villains.

Familiar faced abound in this book, from the previous one. Mirren, Linka, and Tucka are the most prevalent among them - it's great to see the artist, aviatrix love interest and cosmetics creep once again. Even so, it's not too necessary to read the first book to read the second (I advise it anyway, if nothing else because it's also delightful).

And the originality of Hoeye's plotlines continues. The idea of mice seeing cats as mythical creatures is inspired, as is his subtle dealing with controversial art (and the elite wanting to see it); also great is the idea of a revisionist-history villain. Any person who hates the editing of history will be grinning at the portrayal of Hinkum Stepfitchler.

His writing is as charming and descriptive (but not TOO descriptive) as it was in the first book. Hermux is endearing and humble as ever. Linka, Mirrin and Birch are all delightful as well. The dialogue is cute, but not TOO cute, and unlike many authors Mr. Hoeye seems to have no trouble keeping the separate personalities of the characters from running into each other.

Fans of Redwall, Avi animal books, and the prior book in this series will eat this right up; those of you not into anthropomorphic fantasy may want to change your minds. Here's hoping for lots more of Hermux Tantamoq.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You HAVE to READ this!!!..., January 16, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Sands of Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure (Hermux Tantamoq Adventures) (Hardcover)

This book was soooo great! Along with other people, I wasn't too sure if the sequel to Time Stops For No Mouse would be as good as the first one.

But it was. It had great suspense, and you really felt what the characters were feeling. It is a very refreshing change from the usual fantasy/spin on fairy tales that is popular. (Even though I like that stuff.) I don't really know what there is to not like about it; maybe just the fact that there are only two books about Hermux Tantamoq. I really like the fact that Michael Hoeye(anybody know how to pronounce his name?) added the "mythical CATS" to the story line.

If you haven't read this book, you really SHOULD!!!!!!!!

By the way, Time Stops For No Mouse is REALLY GREAT, too.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits with the same bang as before, March 14, 2002

By 

Rupert (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sands of Time: A Hermux Tantamoq Adventure (Paperback)

I, too, was worried that the sequel wouldn't be as good as the amazing Time Stops for No Mouse, but it hit with the same, if not better, bang as before. There seems to be no lack of Michael Hoeye's gripping writing style in either of the two books.

In this particular book, Hermux (the main mouse character) encounters a squirrel, Birch Tenintrotter, who claims to have evidence of a lost civilization of CATS. To be precise, it was a want-ad from a lost civilization of cats. The citizens of Pinchester (Hermux's city) are small animals, mostly rodents, so they don't appreciate cats very much.

Intrigued, Hermux and Birch, along with another mouse, named Linka, set out to find the desert civilization of cats, but they find more than whirling sands to stop them in The Sands of Time.