Ratha's Creature
By Clare Bell
4.5/5
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About this ebook
Twenty-five million years in the past, a clan of sentient, prehistoric big cats called “the Named” have their own language, traditions, and law. Led by Meoran, the Named herd horses and deer for food. They keep order and peace, fending off predatory raiders—the UnNamed—from all sides. But, the battle has taken its toll, and the Named are skirting the edge of survival.
Much to the displeasure of Meoran, a young female named Ratha discovers a powerful defense against the UnNamed. She calls it “the Red Tongue,” and it is a creature of incredible power. Red Tongue is fire, a force of both life and destruction that must be at once nurtured and tamed.
Sensing that Ratha’s mastery of fire threatens his power, Meoran banishes her from the clan. As she travels out amongst the savage UnNamed, Ratha learns about both them and herself. But, her tribe needs her. Can she return? Will the Named survive constant attacks without the Red Tongue? Will the power of the Red Tongue change the clan forever?
Acclaimed author Clare Bell crafts a serious coming-of-age story filled with adventure, triumph, and heartbreak. Perfect for readers of Jean M. Auel’s The Clan of the Cave Bear, Ratha’s Creature will have readers hooked and clamoring for more stories of these big, noble cats.
Clare Bell
Born in England in 1952, Clare Bell immigrated to the United States in 1957. She worked in oceanography, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering before she wrote her first book, Ratha’s Creature (Atheneum-Argo Margaret K. McElderry, 1983), about a prehistoric wildcat who tames fire. She continued to write fantasy and science fiction for children and adults. She says, “I am still fascinated by prehistoric animals and big cats, as showcased in the five Ratha novels. . . . My stories show sociological themes, exploring how culture changes through technology, even one as crude as fire. The central theme of my fiction is evolution, a result of my being influenced early by the works of C. S. Lewis, Olaf Stapledon, and Arthur C. Clarke.” Bell has multiple science degrees and works in technical areas in addition to writing fiction. She built and designed electric vehicles, and worked in Norway on the Ford Think EV. She also raced EVs in the Arizona Public Service Company–sponsored Solar and Electrics competitions. Her electric Porsche 914, race number 13, was a top-placing competitor. She helped lead the Women’s Electric Racing and Educational Team (WE’RE-IT), with the Porsche and a converted Rabbit (number 6) Hop-Along. After moving to the hills west of Patterson, California, Bell and her husband, Chuck Piper, installed their own solar, waterwheel, and wind systems. After writing the most recent novel in the Ratha series, Bell launched an exciting new project: working with young artists on a Ratha’s Creature graphic novel. To learn more, please visit www.facebook.com/rathaseries.
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Reviews for Ratha's Creature
7 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A very interesting and catching story with wonderful characters. I just got the impression that something is missing, some situations solve really fast and I would have loved to get a bit more background information on Ratha and her clan. apart from that, a very good book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ratha’s Creature is a truly imaginative work. There are plenty of cat stories out there in the publishing world, but I can honestly say I've never read any cat story that's quite like this work of Clare Bell. Bell has created a harsh prehistoric world that her cat clan lives in. This is not a land of magic or easy choices. Each choice leads to inevitable consequences, even when it may be the right choice to make. The author's deft handling of her characters allows for readers to suspend their disbelief and really visualize this band of sentient cats that herd animals for food. The author manages to pull the reader into the world without lengthy scene setting or world building detours. It's a powerful story of what makes a leader and what kinds of roads they often travel. It's the story of love and loss and betrayal. It's a story of big cats in an unforgiving wilderness and how they survive. Ratha’s story is truly one to read and want more of.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Named, a group of prehistoric cats, herd packs of various animals including dapplebacks and three-horns. Ratha, a yearling, was getting trained to be a herder by Thakur. But he is hiding something about the mysterious Unnamed pack. Ratha can smell it. All of the Named have been taught that the Unnamed are stupid; they don’t know how to talk. Ratha swears she heard one speak. Then the forest is devoured by the “Red Tongue”-fire. Ratha discovers that fire can be used to their advantage and not be an enemy. Thakur is not convinced and why would Meoran, the pack leader, listen to only a yearling?Ratha’s Creature was a bit odd at first, considering that they are talking cats. Once I got into the story, though, their speech fascinated me; they had manners. The idea for the Named series is unique and the characters that are used in the story each have their own personality. The descriptions were vivid and brought a lot of detail to the book. Yes, it was unique indeed but it just wasn’t my kind of book. I know a few friends that would take a great interest in this book so I will definitely recommend it to them.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5"Ratha's Creature" is the first book in Clare Bell's series about intelligent prehistoric cats. The titular Ratha is a young herder among the "Named", a hierarchical clan that lives off the creatures they herd. The book follows her and the fallout of her taming fire after a forest fire strikes.The result is quite a good, although frequently not nice, YA book. Bell vividly draws life in the prehistoric world - among both the Named and The Un-Named, outsiders to the clan that live by hunting and raiding the herds of the Named. The characters are far from perfect - Ratha herself can be vicious - but both their societies and characters are convincing and fit their nature as big cats. Ratha's experiences and journey are a great YA fantasy read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This has to be one of my favorite YA finds ever. Being fascinated with cats and animal stories, I first picked this book up because the protagonist was a large catlike animal, but it has so much more depth than just a simple animal adventure. I remember being enveloped immediately in Ratha's world, and pondering for hours on some of the questions the series rose for me, such as, what exactly makes intelligence, and what exactly is the moral obligation of discovery, and also is the old way of doing things the only and best way of doing things. Despite all the deep thinking themes woven intricately into the plot, it never came across as preachy, it simply brought those issues up and let them be there for the reader to ponder. The adventure Ratha faces as she comes of age and enters her world is enhanced by these themes as well. It is an engaging book on so many levels, and I would recommend the read as well worth your time!