Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, passed away on February 5th.

I'm sure other people here have read at least one of his books. Redwall, alongside Harry Potter, formed the core of my literary adventures during my teens, and had a huge impact on me as a person. The Redwall stories were sometimes deeply tragic and sometimes joyous, but always full of heroes who were usually very small. Originally written for children attending a school for the blind, the Redwall books were always highly descriptive, especially, it seemed like, the feasts.

Towards the end of high school and into college I didn't read as much Redwall, and never finished the last five or so books in the series. I think it's time to correct that.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-12380763

I read his books when I was younger and only recently decided to buy the remaining books he had written since that time. This news makes me sad

Edit: Tonight I shall start reading the new ones, in his memory.

Man. The Redwall books were some of the ones that originally got me into reading, a pastime that remains my favorite. Brian's books always entertained me. This is a loss.

I'm pretty upset over this news. Brian Jacques taught me how to write dialects and accents properly. I never got around to reading the newer books, either, but I think once I have the time to spare, I'll be reading his entire series again.

He was like the IRL version of Bollikin. Furrikin the world over will mourn.

Wow...this is depressing! Redwall was among my favorite series. Like others, I haven't read the newer ones, but that shall be remedied!

:'(

Very sad indeed. I bumped into him once at a English teachers convention in NYC. Wasn't quite sure what to say, I gave him a huge smile and went on my way. Would have loved to conversed with him on any topic. No, perhaps on desserts-- his description of feasts was surpassed by none.

Redwall books always, always made me hungry. He would have made a superb Lusternian cooking TM.

Wow, I grew up with his books. RIP Brian Jacques.

Quick, someone submit candied chestnuts IG.

I have a design that has one, actually. It's carved into the shape of a squirrel, even!

But a full platter of them, here I come! (Assuming, of course, the Charites will let me use some other commodity in place of them. We lack a 'nuts' commodity...)

Dangit, now I'll have to reread four of them until I find his own description of them!

For all y'all who haven't read the 'new' stuff, I'd reccomend Rakkety Tam, if you haven't read it yet. Fun story. (I haven't read the last two, myself... hmm. Time to do that.)

Aw, I remember being in middle school and trying to muster up the courage to write Brian Jacques a fan letter. I didn't, because it was handwritten and I was embarrassed about how sloppy it looked. But he was my idol for years and one of the people who inspired me to write. This is truly saddening.