Wildlife Novels

[pressld2]

Another series (aimed primarily at early teens but I enjoyed them) is the Silverwing Saga by Kenneth Oppel. Once again it's non-British wildlife - Mr Oppel is Canadian - but if you like bats these books are for you. Initially a trilogy comprising Silverwing, Sunwing and Firewing, I've just done a Google search to make sure that they are available in the UK before posting here and discovered that a fourth book, Darkwing, was published last September. Might have to treat myself.

Dave P.

P.s. Just read a bit more about it and Darkwing is a prequel to the original trilogy so might be the best one to start with...

[PMG]

Many many years ago ....................when I was young I read Jack Londons Call of the Wild....... I don't remember the story exactly except it was about wolves - but I can remember the profound effect it had on me and I couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 years old. I lapped it up and resolved betwen this story and Travels with Romany on the wireless that I was going to make a big study of wildlife - and I have done - and I'm hoping for another 50 years worth to study some more...........

Pauline

[coasty]

Originally Posted by PMG

Many many years ago ....................when I was young I read Jack Londons Call of the Wild....... I don't remember the story exactly except it was about wolves - but I can remember the profound effect it had on me and I couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 years old. I lapped it up and resolved betwen this story and Travels with Romany on the wireless that I was going to make a big study of wildlife - and I have done - and I'm hoping for another 50 years worth to study some more...........

Pauline

Great book this, I had forgotten all about it,,,

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I'm reading The Stream by Brian Clarke, so far so good I'll post more when I've finished it.

BWD

I finished The Stream last night. What a good read. If any one is in any doubt over how we are ruining our country side then this book should change your mind. I'll not tell you too much about it, in case any one is, or is going to read it. Basically it’s the story of a stream, hence the name and all the creatures that live, in, on or near it, over a 5 year cycle, oh yes and the development of a struggling town.

I highly recommend it.

BWD

[coasty]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I finished The Stream last night. What a good read. If any one is in any doubt over how we are ruining our country side then this book should change your mind. I'll not tell you too much about it, in case any one is, or is going to read it. Basically it’s the story of a stream, hence the name and all the creatures that live, in, on or near it, over a 5 year cycle, oh yes and the development of a struggling town.

I highly recommend it.

BWD

Hi I will have to get a copy of that one,, Sounds right up my street. If you like that sort of thing may I suggest Loved River by HR Jukes... I am sure you will enjoy.

Andy

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by coasty

Hi I will have to get a copy of that one,, Sounds right up my street. If you like that sort of thing may I suggest Loved River by HR Jukes... I am sure you will enjoy.

Andy

I'll certainly give it a try. Cheers

BWD

[coasty]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I'll certainly give it a try. Cheers

BWD

Its quite an old novel that charts the opposite,,, A man helping a river from his youth recover its life,,,

Andy

[Garden Carpet]

Strangers to the Marsh by Monica Edwards was a book I read as a girl.... which left me wanting to see Hoopoes. Something I didnt do until four years ago!!! However it started me off on birdwatching and that of course led to interest in other aspects of wildlife. I re read this book recently thanks to Henrya and his amazing memory! It is a childrens book but well worth the read.

jaki

[forevergreen]

I read the Redwall series it is kind of like the rats of nimh but its about mice,squirrels,Moles,voles and Badgers who set up an abbey made of red stone called redwall. In each book there is a bad guy with an army of rats,ferrets,Stoats,Weasels and sometimes snakes always trying to take over redwall or do it harm in some way so the peaceful redwallers are guided by the spirit of martin the warriormouse to defend the abbey and keep all of mossflwer free from evil.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Lance Morgan

I love the nature novels by Henry Williamson 'Tarka the Otter' etc.
I read them avidly when I was younger and still do. 'BB' aka Denys Watkins-Pitchford is also one of my favourites.

Well said there. Williamson was a very powerful writer, he seemed to live what he wrote about. As for BB, I read a book found in my Dad's bookcase called "Wild Lone, the story of a Pytchley Fox" when I was about 10, and it sort of got overlaid on the place we lived. When he died, 35 years later, I found it again when clearing out stuff. I can't open it. Getting soft.

[Meta menardi]

I have just gone through all the posts to date and all I can say is what a mean bunch you all are! There goes my book budget for about 2 years, there is not one you have mentioned that I haven't already read and enjoyed, or have not read but now want to.

On the non-fiction side, I have got all the books from the second hand bookshops round here by Henri Fabre, and a very good read is "Curious Naturalists" by Tinbergen (don't Google Tinbergen, his brother was an Economist).

[forevergreen]

Are wildlife novels like nature writing? In the BBc wildlife magazine for March it tells you a little bit about nature writing but it doesent properly explain it. is a wildlife novel the result of nature writing on a particular subject, or is nature writing just like documenting the things you saw/heard/smelt/felt/tasted in nature on that day?

[Bucknallbear]

I remember reading a book called "Chia The Wildcat" or something like that. Loved it at the time but can't remember it at all now!

[cf]

My horror at not seeing any mention of Mike Tomkies! Get yourselves to Ebay immediately and discover one of the finest wildlife and nature writers we've had the fortune to document British animals! An absolute must read for anyone into Golden Eagle or Scottish Wildcats especially.

Steve Piper

[vole-woman]

Not exactly a nature novel, but Cold Comfort Farm's a favourite of mine for all its references to Water Voles (even if some of them end up skinned. ) I even managed to sneak in a reference to wvs in my own new novel, which was a bit of an indulgence if we're being honest.

[Tam]

Theres another author of a series of wildlife novels from the 1940's called Kennneth Richmond, he wrote
Kesrel Klee
Krark the carrion crow
Garth the heron
,and one called Witch of the woods(tawney owl) all fron respective birds perspective ,there all relatively short about 140/150 pagers or so but contain interestin information and are a good insight to peoples attitude towards wildlife 60+ years ago,i recently bought these second hand of amazon so u sould still be able to pick up a copy.

[Goatboy]

This thread has reminded me of a book I had as a kid. It was a collection of short stories all based on the animal world. It was so wonderful, I wish I still had it. My favourite was the Kipling story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. In fact it may have been that story that sparked my interest in wildlife.

I also love the James Herriot books. Though as an exiled Yorkshire man they make me feel homesick.

[coasty]

Originally Posted by Goatboy

This thread has reminded me of a book I had as a kid. It was a collection of short stories all based on the animal world. It was so wonderful, I wish I still had it. My favourite was the Kipling story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. In fact it may have been that story that sparked my interest in wildlife.

I also love the James Herriot books. Though as an exiled Yorkshire man they make me feel homesick.

James Herriot,,,AKA Alf Wight cured my poorly pet rat when I was a small boy,,

Andy

[petermcgain]

There is a trilogy of novels written for teenagers about a 15 year old boy called Smiler who absconds from the police after being accused of a crime he hasn’t committed, and a cheetah that escapes from Longleat wildlife park. The first book is called The Runaways when their paths cross on Salisbury Plain in a very readable, and plausible, way. The second novel is called The Flight of the Grey Goose and the third is The Painted Tent which is about the return to the wild of a captured peregrine falcon. There is a strong element of conservation of wildlife in the novels as Smiler becomes more and more convinced he wants to work with animals. Like all good fiction the three books can be read independently of each other and can be enjoyed by all ages.

[outdoorguy]

when i was a kid i loved the willard price novels.. great escapism.. think i might have to read them again... james

[tcdandelion]

Years ago I read a wonderful book , the title and author escape me now , I think it was something like " Islands on the Plain ". It was a marvellous story of the wildlife living on a kopje somewhere out on the African savannah . The main character , if I remember correctly , was a Leopard . Anyone out there help me with this one ?