Editing Redwall (section)

==Overview==
[[File:Brian Jacques1 crop.jpg|thumb|The ''Redwall'' series was written by [[Brian Jacques]].]]

The series chronicles the adventures of the [[anthropomorphic]] animals inhabiting Redwall Abbey and the surrounding countryside of Mossflower Wood, including [[mouse|mice]], [[mole (animal)|mole]]s, [[hare]]s, [[badger]]s, and other woodland species. Frequently the peace-loving creatures of Mossflower are called upon to become warriors to defend themselves from marauding bands of "vermin" such as [[rat]]s, [[weasel]]s, and [[fox]]es.

The novels in the series are set in many periods in the fictional history of Redwall and Mossflower; the chronological order of the stories is not the same as the order in which they were written, some taking place before the construction of Redwall Abbey itself or in far-flung locations beyond Mossflower. Some of the books focus on characters who, in other volumes, are legendary historical figures, such as ''[[The Legend of Luke]]''. Because of the widely spaced storylines, very few characters are mentioned in more than one or two novels. One notable exception is Martin the Warrior, one of the founders of Redwall Abbey, whose adventures are chronicled in several of the novels and who is frequently mentioned as an icon of heroism who inspires later Redwall denizens, occasionally appearing to them as a spiritual vision.

Despite the changing historical setting and absence of recurring characters, familiar character archetypes recur throughout the books, often characters in tribe-specific leadership roles, such the [[Badger]] Lords, the Skipper of [[Otter]]s, or the [[shrew]] tribe leader "Log-a-Log". Other recurring elements include "Dibbuns" (the Redwall name for infant woodlanders) and detailed descriptions of food.

Although the main setting is an [[abbey]], and several characters are referred to as [[monk]]s, [[friar]]s, etc., the series makes little mention of religious beliefs or practices. Early novels establish a St. Ninian's church near Redwall Abbey, but a later novel portrays that as a misnomer for a building that was never a church.

The  ''Redwall'' novels are characterized as [[fantasy fiction|fantasy]], but contain little in the way of [[Magic in fiction|magic]] or the supernatural, apart from the anthropomorphism of the animal characters. The sword of Martin the Warrior is believed by many characters to be magical, and vermin occasionally try to steal it for this reason; ''[[Mossflower]]'' reveals that it was forged from a fragment of a [[meteorite]] at the volcanic fortress Salamandastron by the Badger Lord known as Boar the Fighter. The role of "monsters" in the novels is played not by mythical creatures, but by real-world predators such as [[Viperidae|adder]]s, [[shark]]s, and [[wolverine]]s.