Magic

[HeadInAnotherGalaxy]

Aye, magic vould ruin it. Ah like ze vay Brian Jacques kept the magic at a zubtle prezence, like Polleekin'z future seein' or Martin'z appearin' in beaztz' dreamz tae guide zem. Ah zink viz regardz tae ze poverz o' Ublaz zat it iz more like Azmodeuz' hypnotic ztare. It iz intereztin' tae read Fan Fiction zat inlcudez lezz zubtle magic, an' ah love ztuff like Welkin Weasels (Especially ze Weasels, an' alzae ze Weasels!), but ah love Redwall juzt ze vay it iz.

[Ungatt Trunn]

There are Seers and fortune tellers in the Redwall series, though they are more like communicating with spirits rather than magic. And I think that the Redwall series just wouldn't have the same charm if there was any magic.

[WoodlandWarrior]

I'll have to check out this Welkin Weasels.

Yes, I too like the mystic element, I guess one could call it that, that the seers and the like seem to possess.   And as said early, the hints at the spiritual elements are a nice touch as well.

Now I cannot recall every specific book but has there ever been anything like a shaman or druid, one in "tune" with nature in any of the books?  That seems like it would fit more than say a fireball hurling mouse!  

Edit-

Thanks for the information Romsca.  I'd be interested in seeing how your story turned out!

[Kitsune]

Sela was kind of "in tune" with nature, or just doing an act.

[Romsca]

I'm still in the process of writing notes on the basic plot

[phoenixfoden]

Magic would RUIN the series. PERIOD!

I agree if there was magic in Redwall then I wouldn't be allowed to read them  if you want to read about animals doing magic then read a series called the Welkin Weasels 

my favorite books! 

[Aldeneg]

I personally love the idea of magic as long as it doesn't get too... _{what's the word...} necessary, I guess is the word I'm looking for. I mean, I personally love reading books about magic (although Brian Jacques didn't really enjoy it) but if the characters use magic to get through EVERYTHING, then the books become slightly boring.

But as I said before, Brian Jacques didn't like books with sorcery (said here- http://web.archive.org/web/20020808053202/http://www.redwall.org/dave/answers.html  Question #12) And I have to agree with the point that hardcore magic would be strange to see in the world of Redwall. Not exactly bad, but strange.

But if you want to do it, go right ahead!

[Rusvul]

Yeah. The main problem I have with Harry Potter is, despite the fact that it's well written, and pretty much creates its own world, the degree of magic seems to be very much overpowered. I mean, there's a baddie, why not just Avada Kadavra, problem solved. I don't understand the epic struggles, when people have such powerful spells at their fingertips. Though, I do approve of Wingardium Leviosa, I think you could solve just about every problem with it.

[HeadInAnotherGalaxy]

Yeah. The main problem I have with Harry Potter is, despite the fact that it's well written, and pretty much creates its own world, the degree of magic seems to be very much overpowered. I mean, there's a baddie, why not just Avada Kadavra, problem solved. I don't understand the epic struggles, when people have such powerful spells at their fingertips. Though, I do approve of Wingardium Leviosa, I think you could solve just about every problem with it.

Zomezin' zat ah remember vone o' ze characterz zayin' from vone o' ze bookz vaz ze reazon vhy it vaz zae difficult tae get ze baddiez iz becauze zey 'ave magic taae. An' ah zink zeveral o' ze zpellz required different ztuff, like deep hatred, luzt for pover, or great concentration. Az it zaid in ze firzt book, it vaznae juzt zayin' a fev magic vordz an' vavin' yer wand around. Ye 'ad tae really focus (an' nae break yer vand tryin' tae get an enchanted car tae "ztop").

[Buzz_Bumble]

I've never seen the movies, but I have played the Harry Potter Gameboy games and once you get to a certain point in the game where you've learned all the spells, you realise that most monsters only needs a few hits with their "ultimate foe spell" to get rid of them (for example you meet a fire monster so you use the water spell, or you meet a water monster so you use the fire spell).

There's a certain point where magic or technology simply becomes a boring way to solve every problem. Some people complain about Doctor Who basically using his sonic screwdriver as a "super problem fixer", Star Trek used a lot of techno-babble or simply reset the entire universe to get out of a problem.

I don't think magic is needed in Redwall any more than the very limited way it already is (medicines, the hypnotising snake, etc.).

[Rusvul]

Yeah. The main problem I have with Harry Potter is, despite the fact that it's well written, and pretty much creates its own world, the degree of magic seems to be very much overpowered. I mean, there's a baddie, why not just Avada Kadavra, problem solved. I don't understand the epic struggles, when people have such powerful spells at their fingertips. Though, I do approve of Wingardium Leviosa, I think you could solve just about every problem with it.

Zomezin' zat ah remember vone o' ze characterz zayin' from vone o' ze bookz vaz ze reazon vhy it vaz zae difficult tae get ze baddiez iz becauze zey 'ave magic taae. An' ah zink zeveral o' ze zpellz required different ztuff, like deep hatred, luzt for pover, or great concentration. Az it zaid in ze firzt book, it vaznae juzt zayin' a fev magic vordz an' vavin' yer wand around. Ye 'ad tae really focus (an' nae break yer vand tryin' tae get an enchanted car tae "ztop").

Yeah. And then tape it back together and make a fail professor lose all his memory when it backfires. And about how everyone has magic, well, for that to be fully effective, everyone would have to have a ward, all the time.

[Russano the Wise]

Although I do enjoy books with lots of magic I believe that it wouldn't have been right for Redwall. I like that, while BJ did include certain things that could be considered magic (ex. Martin appearing as a spirit, the seers, ext.), he didn't make it the main way the protagonists solved the problem. BJ added just a little bit of magic here and there to give a scene the right atmosphere but I don't believe he went overboard with it.   

[rachel25]

I hate magic as I said earlier if there was magic in Redwall then wouldn't be allowed to read them  I've never watched Harry Potter and don't want to because my mum did some research and found out that the spells in Harry Potter are real magic spells magic isn't pretend it's real and is the power of dark spirts and I don't want to fill my head with such things so sorry Romsca I was going to read your story but now if I do I'll get in a lot of trouble with my mum and dad so I won't be reading it sorry  but I can't go against my beliefs 

[Kitsune]

I kinda put magic in the story I was writing about Romsca... oh well...

In what way?

[WoodlandWarrior]

I hate magic as I said earlier if there was magic in Redwall then wouldn't be allowed to read them  I've never watched Harry Potter and don't want to because my mum did some research and found out that the spells in Harry Potter are real magic spells magic isn't pretend it's real and is the power of dark spirts and I don't want to fill my head with such things so sorry Romsca I was going to read your story but now if I do I'll get in a lot of trouble with my mum and dad so I won't be reading it sorry  but I can't go against my beliefs 

No need to be sorry!  I'm sure your mom and dad are very proud of you keeping your word to them and sticking to your beliefs!