Urn Burial [Hardcover]

Robert Westall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1988

Ralph's discovery of the burial site of a creature from another world leads him into a chilling supernatural adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cumbrian shepherd Ralph Edwards disturbs the hidden grave of an extraterrestrial and thereby involves his village in the last stages of an interplanetary war. Aliens resembling dogsthe Wawakakidnap humans for medical experiments; when taken prisoner, Ralph must be rescued by the catlike Fefethil, who used Earth in the past as their warriors' burial ground, and must now undo the effects of their ancient wars. Westall manages to slip an anti-vivisectionist message smoothly into his story, and his aliens preserve their animal qualities nicely (humans do look rather slow by comparison). Though some readers may pause at Northern English idioms and phrasing, the characterization of small-town life disturbed by an encounter with the supernatural is pleasing, often funny, and the adventure doesn't let up for a moment. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up Seventeen-year old Ralph stumbles upon the burial site of a crea ture from another world. The capsule contains not only the perfectly pre served body, but also alien artifacts and weapons; it is these which drag him into an unexpected and terrifying adven ture. His opening of the coffin and his ill-advised experiments with an incredi ble blaster bring other creatures down from the skies; and he finds himself a key figure in an on-going galactic battle between two races resembling large, in telligent dogs and cats. The depiction of these ``dog things'' and cat creatures is impressivley handled. In other hands they could easily be ridiculous and comic, but Westall succeeds in making them realistic and, in the case of the canine Wawaka, frightening. Contrast ing glimpses of the interiors of their spaceship, which reflect the very differ ent attitudes of the two races, are also effective and inspired. Ralph's eventual decision to fight the aliens one last time, on his own turf, brings the book to a thrilling climax and puts the capper on his growth as a maturing character, one who is determined to strive for the ultimate good even though scared out of his wits. The protagonist here is less macho and more sensitive than earlier Westall heroes. He weeps, blushes, feels tenderness for his girlfriend, and is uncomfortable even killing rabbitsall of which render his final success more satisfying. This is an enjoyable, fast- moving science fiction thriller with lots of English country atmosphere , a well- drawn central character, and some fas cinating extraterrestrials. Lyle Blake Smythers, Library of Congress, Wash ington, D.C.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Hardcover: 170 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co (April 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688075959
• ISBN-13: 978-0688075958
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,415,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Excellent, One Of The Best Books I've Ever Read, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Urn Burial (Hardcover)

"Urn Burial" is the story of a young man and his interaction with forces beyond his control. Capturing the mood and feeling of Scotland, Westall tells how 'Ralph', the lead character, uncovers an alien coffin and goes on to detail the strange and intriuging set of events that unfold. It's all very believable. "Urn Burial" won the Carneigie award for teenage fiction and this book is certainly Westall at his best.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of "urn burial" by robert westall, June 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Urn Burial (Hardcover)

"Urn Burial" is one of my very favorite books. I am definintly not a science fiction freak, but this one was really good. It is about a boy who discovers a cat-like being's body buried in a cairn with many mysterious objects, but gets more than he bargained for when an alien race, much resembling dogs, pays earth a visit hoping to find a the cat-thing after detecting the radition from an egg buried with the cat.

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Gem, September 19, 2011

By 

Jerome E Murphy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Urn Burial (Puffin Teenage Fiction) (Paperback)

Is this out of print? No surprise - Westall crafts the kind of careful, literate YA fiction that doesn't rely on miniseries adaptions full of chases and explosions. That said, URN BURIAL has its share of battles and blood.

The premise alone is spine-tingling - a teen shepherd uncovering an alien coffin beneath a stone cairn in the remote Scottish hills. This awakens the players in an ancient intergalactic battle, in which he must now play a part. The plot, and its unfolding, are brilliantly conceived.

It starts off slow and atmospheric, with some unfamiliar vocabulary - but hang in there. It really takes off, plotwise, as it goes along, and although a bit predictable in spots (often, Westall's protagonist is not as quick as the reader), it's worth it just for the majesty of Westall's imagination. What could have been ridiculous is made plausible and understated.

This could have been the start of a series: it's a story that stays with you.