Customer Reviews

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On earth Shamrock Ferret has always answered questions almost from the day she was born so it is not surprising that she especially enjoys responding to those inquiries that seem impossible to obtain a reply. Her upbringing became her work and her skills have earned her a reputation as a successful sleuth. What Shamrock does is sit in the Cases Unsolved Chair to ponder the puzzle until she finds the solution.

Having just succeeded in solving the Case of the Curious Patterns for local farmers she accepts a partnership with Mr. Burroughs. However, she also begins her most difficult mystery. She "sees" a forlorn ferret hopelessly moaning on a dying world seeking someone or some way to save the survivors of the Ferret war that has devastated his people. Sitting in her chair she begins to wonder if this vision is a shadow from the past reaching out to her for help.

Besides the cleverly designed time paradox (not explained here), readers will appreciate Richard Bach's latest tale that clearly cries for give peace a chance. The story line focuses on Shamrock and her use of logic, psychometry, cryptography, and patterns to solve mysteries. Yet with all this Mr. Bach insures his audience understands his message that war is a last resort not a first preemptive strike because of the full impact on the innocent reminiscent of as Animal Farm in relation to Communism.

A very fun book. I'm a huge Richard Bach fan.
Read it to your kids and enjoy it along with them.
Great life lessons throughout.

Bach's Ferret Chronicles are full of wisdom and adventure. This one is no exception. The worst thing about this neat little volume is knowing it was the last of his series of Ferret Chronicles - for now, at least. Richard, bring your buddies back, please!

In the ferret culture, kits are taught almost from birth that the most important thing to do with one's life is to seek out one's "highest right" and live in accordance with it. Montgomery "Monty" Ferret and Cheyenne Jasmine Ferret, in doing that, learn that it doesn't always bring contentment. Raised on neighboring ranches among the beautiful scenery of Montana, they grow up "riding, exploring, noses in field guides about wild plants and animals and stars in the sky," both loving the country and the horselike delphins that ferrets use as mounts. But Cheyenne knows she's different from her friend--"not as gentle...not as peaceful, inside"--and though he teaches her patience, her first great passion is always for the movies they attend on weekends. After an apprenticeship of working at the theater, Cheyenne takes off for Hollywood to become a star. Monty stays behind, learning to communicate with the delphins, buying a ranch of his own, having a mystical encounter with what he suspects is a "philosopher ferret" (apparently a sort of avatar), opening a riding-and-racing school for kits, and eventually, through his brother Zander, coming to know the Rainbows, miniature cloned sheep with a sentiency of their own, who all agree that they want to live in the Wild West. Meanwhile Cheyenne is becoming a success, and eventually they meet again when she asks him to serve as wrangler on one of her films. But is Cheyenne ready to "give up all her wealth and fame" to be a "ranchpaw"?

Though the fourth-published of the Ferret Chronicles, this fable actually takes place before any of the others (Monty is the owner of the ranch where Bougeron of Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse, Boa of Rescue Ferrets at Sea, and Strobe of Air Ferrets Aloft spent a memorable kithood summer). It's not quite as much fun as the other three and somehow doesn't seem to take off as well, but Monty and Cheyenne are both sympathetic and well drawn, and the Rainbow sheep, of whom we learn a great deal, are a delightful creation. If you've enjoyed the preceding volumes, you should definitely have this one on your shelf as well.

This is amusing reading for those who enjoy adventure and/or flying. I'm not sure what the point of substituting ferrets for peoples means. However, once you accept this premise (i.e. the suspension of disbeief) then the story is much more enjoyable. This is almost more of a short story, than a book. The book is only about 135 pages. I like the author, Richard Bach. I have read many of his books, and have never been disappointed.