Tales from Watership Down by Richard Adams gave me the opportunity to have a final visit to the enchanting world of rabbits that I first encountered and adored in his classic book Watership Down.

The book consists of short tales. Some are mythical stories from the rich rabbit culture “that all rabbits know.” Others are individual narratives that, when tied together, provide more depth and understanding of the main characters we are so familiar with, such as Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, and others. It is a delightful book, and the brevity of the stories beautifully showcases their unique world. If you were a fan of the original book, you will surely love this one as well.

I would like to focus on one particular aspect that really stood out to me. In the original book, with its main storyline, we witnessed Hazel’s remarkable leadership skills and the way his group or team worked in harmony. In this book, the short tale format allowed the author to introduce other rabbits in positions of power. It was fascinating to observe how he contrasted and balanced the different leadership styles. Additionally, he was able to present new challenges for Hazel that would not have been possible within the framework of the first book.

Hazel is truly a great leader. He listens attentively and weighs the opinions of his trusted advisors. Rarely does he become autocratic, except in emergency situations where immediate action is required. Here, we see his gentle yet firm approach to leadership. At one point, his methods are challenged by newcomers who don’t understand why his warren (group) doesn’t take the easy option of raiding the humans’ garden. However, Hazel realizes that drawing attention to themselves would lead to their demise at the hands of the humans. He knows the limits of his “people.”

Hazel also questions rabbit culture and wisdom. For example, when he saves an escaped rabbit that smells strongly of humans because it was a pet, his followers demand the death of this newcomer. Hazel disagrees, but he also realizes (as he is warned) that he risks losing his hold on power if he forces too much change upon his people too quickly. He is compelled to come up with a solution that minimizes drastic change.

While he is open to listening and introducing changes when new ideas are presented and he sees his people’s curiosity about trying something new, he is also willing to let those who push the limits face the consequences of their actions, even if it means death.

These lessons really struck a chord with me. I wondered if I was reading too much into it. Out of curiosity, I Googled “leadership from Watership Down.” I was amazed at the number of links that came back to articles analyzing and summarizing the leadership skills of Hazel that can be gleaned from these books.

This is yet another reason why this “children’s” book is beloved by adults and those with an eye for detecting deeper themes. There is so much that the world of rabbits can teach us humans.

This collection of stories beautifully continues the enchanting world of Watership Down. Watership Down, a highly popular and exquisitely written novel from the 1970s, revolves around a group of rabbits who embark on a journey to establish a new warren for themselves.

The stories within this collection are neatly divided into three distinct sections.

The first section delves into the captivating legends of El-ahrairah, a semi-mythical rabbit who was both a trickster and an adventurer. He dates back to a time before rabbits had a sense of smell, and the first story in this section vividly describes how he obtained that precious gift from the gods. With his cunning wiles, he manages to defeat seemingly unbeatable opponents such as a giant rabbit named King Fur-Rocious and a pair of sly foxes.

The second section contains tales of El-ahrairah and his companion Rabscuttle. Interestingly, Rabscuttle also makes appearances in some of the earlier stories. However, I'm not entirely convinced that this section really needed to be separate as the tone is very similar to that of the first section.

The third section brings us back to the exciting adventures of the Watership Down warren. Several of the stories here are more like chapters of a longer narrative, as the plots flow directly from one to the next. It's great fun to see Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and the other beloved characters in action. Although these stories may not have the epic sweep of the original novel, they are still highly entertaining and offer a delightful visit with some old friends.

Highly recommended, especially for fans of Watership Down (and really, who wouldn't love that book?).

The story doesn't quite possess the same enchanting magic.

Part I, aside from "The Hole in the Sky", which was a rather surprising and captivating piece of lapine cosmic horror that I, of course, thoroughly enjoyed, wasn't my favorite.

Parts II and III, however, were truly lovely. Revisiting El-ahrairah's travels as seen from the perspective of the black rabbit and then reading some short accounts about the lives after Watership brought a smile to my face.

It was truly a delight to see all the characters again.

The way the author has crafted these different parts, each with its own unique charm and narrative, makes the overall experience of reading this work quite engaging.

Although Part I had its moments, it was the latter parts that really shone through and made me appreciate the story even more.

The descriptions and the development of the characters and their stories added depth and richness to the entire narrative.

I look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for us in future works related to this wonderful world of Watership.

I have a deep love for WATERSHIP DOWN, and I also thoroughly enjoyed TALES FROM WATERSHIP DOWN.

As the much-anticipated continuation of Adams's original novel, TALES FROM WATERSHIP DOWN is a sequel mainly in the sense that it utilizes the same setting, motifs, and characters.

Attempting to directly continue the plot of WATERSHIP DOWN would have been anticlimactic and, quite frankly, a misstep. Instead, TALES reads more like a captivating collection of rabbit folklore.

The first part of the book presents a juxtaposition of Adams's rabbit folklore, with the rabbit folklore hero El-ahrairah taking center stage (although "The Rabbit's Ghost Story" is particularly noteworthy).

Part II narrates the stories of the journey home for El-ahrairah and his loyal companion Rabscuttle after seeking the assistance of the Black Rabbit of Inle, as told in the original novel WATERSHIP.

However, my favorite part by far was Part III. It delved deeper into the lives of the rabbits of Watership Down, providing additional stories and greater insights.

This part alone makes the book truly worth reading, if only to reunite with the beloved characters of the original novel and encounter some new ones.

Of particular interest is the expanded role that certain elements play in these stories. WATERSHIP DOWN has faced significant criticism from some for being sexist, chauvinistic, and inaccurate, as rabbits actually form matriarchal societies rather than the patriarchal ones depicted in the original novel.

Whether it is a response to the critics or simply a reflection of the changing times (TALES was published in the 1990s, over 20 years after the original novel), the attention given to the female rabbit perspective on life in Watership Down enriches and rounds out the intimate world that Adams has so masterfully crafted.

Super Review indeed! I wholeheartedly recommend TALES FROM WATERSHIP DOWN to all fans of the original and those who enjoy engaging and imaginative folklore.

Oh, Richard Adams really flopped with this sequel.

It's such a disappointment. One would have expected so much more from a writer of his caliber.

The story seems to lack the charm and depth that his previous works had.

The characters don't come alive in the same way, and the plot feels rather flat.

It's as if he just went through the motions without really putting his heart and soul into it.

However, we must remember that everyone has an off day, and perhaps this was just one of those for Richard Adams.

God bless his soul, and may he find inspiration again in the future to create more wonderful works like he did in the past.

Despite this setback, his contributions to the literary world will always be remembered and cherished.

Definitely not as good as the first book.

However, it is still good enough for me to recommend it to any fans of the Watership rabbits.

In fact, it almost doesn't feel like a sequel to me at all.

In a very, very vague (and short) way, it feels like the Silmarillion to the Lord of the Rings.

If you want to know about the lore of the rabbit's world, then this book is a must-read.

It offers a unique and interesting perspective on the lives and adventures of the rabbits.

Although it may not have the same charm and magic as the first book, it still manages to capture the essence of the Watership Down universe.

The characters are well-developed and the story is engaging, making it a great read for both new and old fans alike.

So, if you're a fan of the Watership rabbits or just looking for a good book to read, give this one a try.

You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

Remember sitting on your parent's bed, listening intently to the captivating stories from their childhood or of ancestors long gone but still vividly alive through words? Adams' "Tales" evokes a similar sense of wonder and nostalgia.

Just like the Bible, its narrative weaves together in a seamless and stretching arch from the very beginning to the end. There isn't a single, overarching conflict that drives the entire plot forward. Instead, it is the profound recognition that we, as human beings, are creatures of narrative, and we live our lives in accordance with the words and stories that shape us.

However, in this novel, the "we" is not us humans but rather a warren of rabbits. Adams invites his readers to suspend their initial judgment and not simply label this work as "fantasy" or "young adult lit." For, like any truly great story, the reader must be transported and immersed into a全新的 world in order to gain a fresh perspective on their own. Adams accomplishes this with remarkable ease and dexterity. He allows readers to escape into the enchanting world of the rabbits while simultaneously challenging them to return to their own reality with their imaginations fully ignited.

And as a result, I'll never look at rabbits in quite the same way again.

*Spoiler Alert for what follows*

Best Scene:

The stories from the life of El-ahrairah in the first third of the novel were truly the most enjoyable. Perhaps the strangest yet most imaginative of these was the tale of the three cows. El-ahrairah embarks on a journey in search of eternal youth, which is said to be held by the three cows. After years of arduous questing, he finally approaches the last cow. This cow is described as "herself the end of the world" and "in that land there is nothing that is not the Third Cow." The Third Cow represents time and has swallowed up everything in the world that has already transpired. As the narrator approaches the limit of what can be described, they simply conclude, "The Third Cow is beyond and beyond the reach of any rabbit's understanding."

The image of the heifer being the size of the entire world itself is truly mind-boggling to envision - much like trying to picture the character of Satan in Milton's Paradise Lost as he sits in shackles on the floor of hell, his enormous wings filling the entire abyss. For some reason, this defies our imagination. You have to feel your way through some of these stories, almost as if you were a child listening to a fairy tale or a biblical narrative.

Favorite quotes:

"In a way [El-ahrairah] felt glad that there was no choice but to struggle on, because if there had been, he would have taken it without hesitation" - 147

"In nature there are no rewards or punishments: there are consequences" - 155

The first section of the work wasn't particularly outstanding. However,

parts II and III were significantly better. They brought a glimmer of hope and excitement to the overall reading experience.

I truly wish that Adams had taken the initiative to write a proper sequel to the beloved Watership Down.

Instead of just presenting a collection of stories, a well-crafted sequel could have further explored the adventures and growth of the characters.

It was indeed nice to see some of the old characters make their reappearance.

Their presence added a sense of familiarity and nostalgia, but at the same time, it also made one yearn for more in-depth development and new storylines for them.

Overall, while there were some亮点 in parts II and III, the lack of a proper sequel left a bit of a void in the hearts of the readers who were longing for a more comprehensive continuation of the Watership Down saga.

Heavily relying on the reader having read the novel Watership Down prior, this work offers an engaging continuation.

The first two parts center around the bunny folk-hero, El-Alhrairah, and his thrilling adventures. It delves deep into the lore and mythology of the rabbit world, painting a vivid picture of his heroic deeds.

The last part is a captivating story sequence cum novella that explores the events in and around Watership Down after the conclusion of the original novel. It shows how the rabbits' lives have evolved and the new challenges they face.

If you craved more rabbit adventures after finishing the novel, this book is a must-read. Personally, I found the folk tales to be more enchanting than the new adventures of Watership Down. As I've surely mentioned before, language, history, and legend are essential elements of creating a convincing fictional world, and Adams understood this concept perfectly. His ability to weave these elements together makes this book a worthy addition to the Watership Down universe.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

Reading these tales truly warmed my heart to an extraordinary extent!

Watership Down remains my absolute favourite book throughout all of time. Its charm and depth are simply unrivaled.

Although Tales perhaps can't be directly compared to the masterpiece that is Watership Down, it nevertheless makes for an outstanding companion volume.

It offers a different perspective and a set of stories that, in their own way, add to the overall experience and enjoyment of the literary world.

Each tale within Tales has its own unique qualities, captivating the reader and taking them on various adventures.

Whether it's the vivid characters, the engaging plots, or the beautiful language, Tales has something to offer for every lover of literature.

It's a wonderful addition to any bookshelf and a great way to spend some quality time lost in the pages of a good story.

It's hardly shocking to say this doesn't have the charm of the original Watership Down. After all, the original is a classic that sets a very high bar to clear. And yet, unfortunately, this new work simply doesn't measure up.

It reads more like a collection of fragments that were written while the author was aimlessly noodling around, trying to find a way to write a sequel. These fragments were then bundled up and published, even though the author never actually found that elusive road into creating a proper sequel.

To be fair, the individual fragments are perfectly fine on their own. They have their moments of interest and even some good writing. But when taken as a whole, they just don't come together to form a cohesive and satisfying book.

In the end, this work feels like a missed opportunity. It had the potential to be something great, but it falls short due to its fragmented nature and lack of a clear direction.