The Outlaws of Sherwood (Ace fantasy) (Paperback)

by Robin McKinley (Author) "A small vagrant breeze came from nowhere and barely flicked the feather tips as the arrow sped on its way..." (more)
Key Phrases: archery contest, new sheriff, green man, Little John, Sir Richard, Robin Hood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
McKinley brings to the Robin Hood legend a robustly romantic view. She renders it anew by fully developing the background and motive of each member of the merry band, from Robin's "crime" that sends him into the woods, to Marian's subterfuge as she straddles the worlds of the nobility and of the outlaws. Their habitations, foresting and thieving is explained, and McKinley, in a thoughtful afterword, reveals both her debt to and her differences with previous versions of the story. There is no reason, however, that readers of those stories might not enjoy this one as well. Although the author does fall into the politics indigenous only to the British isles, she presents a solid piece of tale-weaving, ingenious and ingenuous, causing readers to suspend belief willingly for a rousing good time. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Grade 9-12 Robin Hood is immortal, but in The Outlaws of Sherwood he doesn't quite come alive. McKinley's novelistic treatment expands the outlines of characters and episodes familiar to readers of Pyle. All is well in the Greenwood until the outlaws open their mouths: their speech and thoughts are a stiff, uneasy mix of ye-olde high seriousness and flip vernacular. McKinley's attempts to evoke the 12th-Century conflict with her wish to raise her characters' political and feminist consciousness do not work. The book moves slowly: there is action, but not enough for the sword-and-sorcery genre addicts; the romance between Robin and Marion hangs fire while he figures out that he can't tell her what to do; the dialogues are sometimes unwieldy and un-yeomanlike; the whole is unconvincing. Pyle's text may be stilted, but there are his wonderful pictures; even Roger Green's version (Penguin, 1984), albeit for a younger audience, has the merit of good pacing. Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Ace (August 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441644511
• ISBN-13: 978-0441644513
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,976 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best re-telling of Robin Hood that I've found!, May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Outlaws of Sherwood (Hardcover)

I've always loved the story of Robin Hood, and Robin McKinley was reccommended to me as an author I would like. So when I found her books in the library, I had to take "The Outlaws of Sherwood". This book lived up to it's expectations, and more! I liked the interesting twist how Robin wasn't the unusual more-than-human hero. He wasn't the overconfident, always-merry man that is so often portrayed. He couldn't even shoot that well! I liked the way all the characters where so human, and yet most (the outlaws anyway) were very likable. It was cool how Marian was actually the great archer, and that there was other women in the outlaws. (Sibyl, Eva, etc.) Will and Much provided some humor, and an arrogance that was actually likable, which is rare. Little John was the perfect large-yet-quiet faithful companion. King Richard was intriguing; I couldn't figure out if I liked him or not.

It was also interesting how during different times, the viewpoint switched around to many people. Of course it was still Robin's view through most of it, but frequently Friar Tuck too, and then towards the end it was often Cecil. (Which is interesting because you wouldn't have thought that character to be a main one) This book has everything; a familiar-yet-new story, adventure, romance, humor, good characters, evil villians, battles, great setting, (I love medieval times!) etc. I encourage anyone to read this!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robin Hood: the Possibility of Reality..., March 23, 1998

By	E. McChesney "E. McChesney" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Outlaws of Sherwood (Hardcover)

Robin McKinley is, perhaps, one of the best writers I have ever read, especially her books Outlaws of Sherwood and Beauty. In Outlaws of Sherwood, McKinley uses her clear and descriptive style to add a little reality to the Robin Hood legends. Instead of showing her readers a Robin who looks debonair and dashing while joking with his merry men, McKinley gives us a Robin who lives in the forest, is poor, sometimes afraid, and not constantly merry. This Robin even has trouble shooting a straight arrow! He is faulty, yet he is likable and compelling because the reader may see him/herself in his life and his decisions. The other characters in the book are also convincing, showing us a suprisingly different view of our Lady Marian along with a wonderful portrayel of Friar Tuck. McKinley uses the reality factor of life to spin a tale in which people really might have lived, yet she still captures all the fantastic elements of the Medieval times and pagentry, along with the humor, that the original legend possesses. Perhaps one of the best scenes in the entire novel is toward the end, when Guy of Gisbourne attacks the theives outside of Friar Tucks little church and hovel. The excitement of battle is mixed with such a concern for the characters that the reader really feels present among them, dodging blows from swords and the feathered shafts of arrows!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars same notes of praise, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Outlaws of Sherwood (Hardcover)

This was the first Mckinley Book that i had the good fortune to read. I was in the middle of a Robin Hood streek when i picked this up. I am very glad i read so many diffrent versions before Outlaws because Mckinley's book raised my expectations for old tales of heroism to olympic levels. Besides Marion being so cool without overcrowding Robin the main reason i liked this book is its multitude of characters with depth. Robin has a group of people surrounding him that you actually care if they are merry or not. His band are not mere cutouts of stock medevil charcters-friar peasent nobleman. Mckinley is able to tell a broad story without losing the focus of the tale that made robin famous. You will not want this story to end.