Dark Forest

[Taggerung_of_Redwall]

To throw out there:

The series was never technical on anything.

[Galedeep]

Well, we know he was a big fan of Homer and the Iliad, perhaps he was a big fan of Dante's Inferno as well, which feature the gates to hell with the inscription "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

That might be it, assuming he read Dante's Inferno.    

[Captain Tammo]

Well Brian also used an abbey, yet said he didn't put religion in the books, and st. Ninian's church as well. Maybe he was including the places, just removing any religious ceremonies and stuff. That's why we never read in any detail about weddings, and birth. Just "o yeah, they got married and had a baby"

[Galedeep]

Well Brian also used an abbey, yet said he didn't put religion in the books, and st. Ninian's church as well. Maybe he was including the places, just removing any religious ceremonies and stuff. That's why we never read in any detail about weddings, and birth. Just "o yeah, they got married and had a baby"

Yes, he was sort of brief on that sort of thing, wasn't he.

[Osu]

I don't get it, how can Hellgates not be a reference to hell? I just don't quite understand your point.

It probably was in the first Redwall novel, but as there is no religion in the series, Hell isn't present. If it were meant to be the Christian Hell, it would have been referenced as such. But it never is - "hellgates," one word, is the Redwall version of "bad afterlife place." Erm, does that make a little more sense...?

Taggerung - Indeed it isn't. XD But we all know technical would just ruin the mystery. And then what would we the fans argue about here? Yarr, indeed, 'tis better this way, after all, I suppose. 

[Taggerung_of_Redwall]

Yeah, that was an obvious point, by nature.

[Wot Wot!]

I don't get it, how can Hellgates not be a reference to hell? I just don't quite understand your point.

It probably was in the first Redwall novel, but as there is no religion in the series, Hell isn't present. If it were meant to be the Christian Hell, it would have been referenced as such. But it never is - "hellgates," one word, is the Redwall version of "bad afterlife place." Erm, does that make a little more sense...?

Taggerung - Indeed it isn't. XD But we all know technical would just ruin the mystery. And then what would we the fans argue about here? Yarr, indeed, 'tis better this way, after all, I suppose. 

Good bally point there, Osu, wot!

[Osu]

Why, thank you, Wot Wot!

[Taggerung_of_Redwall]

I've been reading Ask Brian files recently:

From Volume 1:

"I try not to have any religious connotations at all, therefore no comparisons are intended. I have creatures die and to my mind they go on but who knows where? Dark forest is meant to be mysterious rather than menacing."

[Galedeep]

I've been reading Ask Brian files recently:

From Volume 1:

"I try not to have any religious connotations at all, therefore no comparisons are intended. I have creatures die and to my mind they go on but who knows where? Dark forest is meant to be mysterious rather than menacing."

Hmm, that's interesting

[Osu]

"I try not to have any religious connotations at all, therefore no comparisons are intended. I have creatures die and to my mind they go on but who knows where? Dark forest is meant to be mysterious rather than menacing."

Whelp, that solves it, to my mind. Mysterious rather than menacing, no religious connotations. I guess hellgates and the sunny slopes are just euphemisms for dark forest as well, or vice versa.

[Icefire]

I've been reading Ask Brian files recently:

From Volume 1:

"I try not to have any religious connotations at all, therefore no comparisons are intended. I have creatures die and to my mind they go on but who knows where? Dark forest is meant to be mysterious rather than menacing."

I see where he's going with that...unfortunately, with my background I don't think I'll ever be able to read anything without religious connotations attaching themselves in my mind.

[Redwall Musician]

Well, think about it. Do mice really have religion? It would be a little strange.

[Taggerung_of_Redwall]

Well, think about it. Do mice really have religion? It would be a little strange.

Okay, I seriously don't follow that in the remotest degree.

[Tiria Wildlough]

They certainly don't have any religion. When they say 'grace', it's just a little song to the seasons thanking them for the food. Which I think is a little strange.