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The Rats of Hamelin: A Piper's Tale
"In that scented, touch-filled Pipeworld, where notes speak clear as words, where connections are thick and countless, I felt the chaining up and circling together of other traces in my head. And as the Pipe amplified all sounds and souls, including mine, I heard my mind the mission is dead--No rat-kill, no reward, no liberation. No home, no Hofmanns, no Klara--It was all an illusion."
The Rats of Hamelin blends history and fantasy to reshape the hazy legend of the pied piper. After six years as a piper's apprentice, Hannes sets out on the mission that will make him a master in the guild. His orders seem simple rid Hamelin of a plague of rats and use the reward money for a charitable cause. Simple indeed, until he discovers that the real rats of Hamelin aren't the ones scurrying underfoot. Unsure who to count among his friends--the mayor's beautiful daughter, generous businessman, a precocious little girl? Hannes struggles against deadly enemies and thoughtless allies. Every step he takes comes down to a deceptively simple when to show mercy and when to bring justice.
Readers will be thrilled with this first novel by Adam and Keith McCune. This father-son team bring a wealth of linguistic and literary knowledge to bear on their retelling of the famous Pied Piper fairy tale. The story naturally lends itself to reflection on the themes of law and mercy, as well as the sometimes-complex nature of the relationship between fathers and sons.
The Rats of Hamelin blends history and fantasy to reshape the hazy legend of the pied piper. After six years as a piper's apprentice, Hannes sets out on the mission that will make him a master in the guild. His orders seem simple rid Hamelin of a plague of rats and use the reward money for a charitable cause. Simple indeed, until he discovers that the real rats of Hamelin aren't the ones scurrying underfoot. Unsure who to count among his friends--the mayor's beautiful daughter, generous businessman, a precocious little girl? Hannes struggles against deadly enemies and thoughtless allies. Every step he takes comes down to a deceptively simple when to show mercy and when to bring justice.
Readers will be thrilled with this first novel by Adam and Keith McCune. This father-son team bring a wealth of linguistic and literary knowledge to bear on their retelling of the famous Pied Piper fairy tale. The story naturally lends itself to reflection on the themes of law and mercy, as well as the sometimes-complex nature of the relationship between fathers and sons.
258 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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August 11, 2011This is a first novel and suffers the typical growing pains all first novels do: primarily, pacing, narration, and dialogue that are slightly awkward and clumsy. Having said that, this is an interesting take on the Pied Piper story, and I would recommend it to fantasy fans or fairy tale revisionism fans.
The authors (a father/son writing team) resist the temptation to fit their 13th century characters into medieval caricatures though I did find their language to drift into modern voice, and I don't enjoy anachronism in this type of novel. (In my opinion, it really only works well when it's done tongue-in-cheek.)
A fine first effort, and a decent addition to the growing ranks of the fairy tales re-imagined genre.
(Incidentally, this book was published by Moody, but I didn't see any overt or subtle references to Christianity, and once I realized who the publisher was, I was looking to see how the authors might work that in, but they didn't. Does not take away from the story, just a little side note.)
The authors (a father/son writing team) resist the temptation to fit their 13th century characters into medieval caricatures though I did find their language to drift into modern voice, and I don't enjoy anachronism in this type of novel. (In my opinion, it really only works well when it's done tongue-in-cheek.)
A fine first effort, and a decent addition to the growing ranks of the fairy tales re-imagined genre.
(Incidentally, this book was published by Moody, but I didn't see any overt or subtle references to Christianity, and once I realized who the publisher was, I was looking to see how the authors might work that in, but they didn't. Does not take away from the story, just a little side note.)
April 17, 2012
It was interesting to read a back story on the Pied Piper of Hamelin. But, the story was very confusing, disjointed and anti- climactic.
January 5, 2023
This is a complicated little story. A town at war with the pipers guild, a child at war with his father, both at war with memories of things from the past. All the people hold onto memories, stories and the past, and no one knows how to forgive or move forward. It is the story of justice and mercy. For too long Johannes the Master Pipers Apprentice, on his first solo mission focuses on justice and forgets mercy.
This is a great tale of mystery and suspense and redemption. The redemption is both personal and corporate.
In this story the Pipers Guild is the church and to enter the pipe-world through pipeing is to enter the spiritual realm through prayer. Though this story is not explicitly Christian much can be read into the story. It would be a great read for a Christian, a family, or the common man on the street. Barry Lopez in Crossing Open Ground states: “I felt exhilaration, and a deeper confirmation of the stories. The mundane tasks which awaited me I anticipated now with pleasure. The stories had renewed me in a sense of the purpose of my life.
This feeling, a inexplicable renewal of enthusiasm after story telling is familiar to many people.” These are the feelings this book invoked in me. Like other classics, This Present Darkness, or The Narnia Chronicles or many other. This is a book I will return to again and again and each time it will drive me deeper to prayer and to seek justice in this world but always justice tempered by mercy.
As Johannes states in the book “My life as a piper was going to be hard, harder than I had ever imagined. Apprenticeship was over – now the clubs and arrows were real. The grim weariness in the pipelord’s face, watchful for the next attack – now that would be my weariness. I would always be a pilgrim.” P. 255 I would r-write this paragraph for my life as “My life as a Christian is going to be hard, harder than I ever imagined. Apprenticeship is over – now it is time to enter the battle. Time to be on guard against the evil one who wanders to and fro in the earth. I will always be on a quest!” And with that this book calls us forth to enter the spiritual battle.
(First published in Imprint 2005-05-06 as 'Even Fear Factor fans will like this book.)
Note this was the first review I ever published in Print media.
This is a great tale of mystery and suspense and redemption. The redemption is both personal and corporate.
In this story the Pipers Guild is the church and to enter the pipe-world through pipeing is to enter the spiritual realm through prayer. Though this story is not explicitly Christian much can be read into the story. It would be a great read for a Christian, a family, or the common man on the street. Barry Lopez in Crossing Open Ground states: “I felt exhilaration, and a deeper confirmation of the stories. The mundane tasks which awaited me I anticipated now with pleasure. The stories had renewed me in a sense of the purpose of my life.
This feeling, a inexplicable renewal of enthusiasm after story telling is familiar to many people.” These are the feelings this book invoked in me. Like other classics, This Present Darkness, or The Narnia Chronicles or many other. This is a book I will return to again and again and each time it will drive me deeper to prayer and to seek justice in this world but always justice tempered by mercy.
As Johannes states in the book “My life as a piper was going to be hard, harder than I had ever imagined. Apprenticeship was over – now the clubs and arrows were real. The grim weariness in the pipelord’s face, watchful for the next attack – now that would be my weariness. I would always be a pilgrim.” P. 255 I would r-write this paragraph for my life as “My life as a Christian is going to be hard, harder than I ever imagined. Apprenticeship is over – now it is time to enter the battle. Time to be on guard against the evil one who wanders to and fro in the earth. I will always be on a quest!” And with that this book calls us forth to enter the spiritual battle.
(First published in Imprint 2005-05-06 as 'Even Fear Factor fans will like this book.)
Note this was the first review I ever published in Print media.
April 12, 2020
It is hard work to create and hold a fictional world. This is one that has not only elements of old tales but the ring of something unique. There is a coming of self that fights the prejudices of the self and the town. Good, strong story. Would love to read a sequel.
September 18, 2007
I LOVED this book! It's both fascinating and beautiful! Complex, and yet easy to understand! I highly recommend it!
Here's the Publisher's description:
'In that scented, touch-filled Pipeworld, where notes speak clear as words, where connections are thick and countless, I felt the chaining up and circling together of other traces in my headAnd as the Pipe amplified all sounds and souls, including mine, I heard my mind echoing: the mission is dead. No rat-kill, no reward, no liberation. No home, no Hofmanns, no Klara. It was all an illusion.' The Rats of Hamelin blends history and fantasy to reshape the hazy legend of the pied piper. After six years as a piper's apprentice, Hannes sets out on the mission that will make him a master in the guild. His orders seem simple enough: rid Hamelin of a plague of rats and use the reward money for a charitable cause. Simple indeed, until he discovers that the real rats of Hamelin aren't the ones scurrying underfoot.Unsure who to count among his friends,the mayor's beautiful daughter? a generous businessman? a precocious little girl?,Hannes struggles against deadly enemies and thoughtless allies. Every step he takes comes down to a deceptively simple choice: when to show mercy and when to bring justice.Readers will be thrilled with this first novel by Adam & Keith McCune. This father-son team bring a wealth of linguistic and literary knowledge to bear on their retelling of the famous Pied Piper fairy tale. The story naturally lends itself to reflection on the themes of law and mercy, as well as the sometimes-complex nature of the relationship between fathers and sons.
Here's the Publisher's description:
'In that scented, touch-filled Pipeworld, where notes speak clear as words, where connections are thick and countless, I felt the chaining up and circling together of other traces in my headAnd as the Pipe amplified all sounds and souls, including mine, I heard my mind echoing: the mission is dead. No rat-kill, no reward, no liberation. No home, no Hofmanns, no Klara. It was all an illusion.' The Rats of Hamelin blends history and fantasy to reshape the hazy legend of the pied piper. After six years as a piper's apprentice, Hannes sets out on the mission that will make him a master in the guild. His orders seem simple enough: rid Hamelin of a plague of rats and use the reward money for a charitable cause. Simple indeed, until he discovers that the real rats of Hamelin aren't the ones scurrying underfoot.Unsure who to count among his friends,the mayor's beautiful daughter? a generous businessman? a precocious little girl?,Hannes struggles against deadly enemies and thoughtless allies. Every step he takes comes down to a deceptively simple choice: when to show mercy and when to bring justice.Readers will be thrilled with this first novel by Adam & Keith McCune. This father-son team bring a wealth of linguistic and literary knowledge to bear on their retelling of the famous Pied Piper fairy tale. The story naturally lends itself to reflection on the themes of law and mercy, as well as the sometimes-complex nature of the relationship between fathers and sons.
March 25, 2012
This book is entertaining and readable, but keeps going beyond expectations.
The biggest surprise was simply that it was so good overall, at least in the top 10% of books I've read in its genre. It compares favorably, and is similar in ways, to some books by Madeleine L'Engle and Ursula LeGuin. Richness and complexity are the features I found that set this book apart from many others.
Moral complexity is one feature. The tale explores themes of mercy. justice, and the tension between them, but not with glib answers. (And truthfully, I started reading the book expecting less depth.) A question it asks toward the end is who is responsible when a person who has received mercy harms others once again.
I kept thinking I had pegged the "moral" or simple message of the book and Hannes' development, only to be surprised again. For example, I thought of "would-be-messiah learns his lesson," "naive do-gooder encounters institutional evil," "young man learns that mercy triumphs justice," "good guy succumbs to the lure of seduction of power," and so on. Instead, I kept being surprised as the book and character kept breaking those stereotypes. In my experience, it's uncommon to find this level of complexity in similar books.
The story itself is likewise full of surprises, twists and turns, never gratuitous but well-woven. The writing and language are excellent as well.
In summary, an outstanding and unusual book, and one which makes you think.
The biggest surprise was simply that it was so good overall, at least in the top 10% of books I've read in its genre. It compares favorably, and is similar in ways, to some books by Madeleine L'Engle and Ursula LeGuin. Richness and complexity are the features I found that set this book apart from many others.
Moral complexity is one feature. The tale explores themes of mercy. justice, and the tension between them, but not with glib answers. (And truthfully, I started reading the book expecting less depth.) A question it asks toward the end is who is responsible when a person who has received mercy harms others once again.
I kept thinking I had pegged the "moral" or simple message of the book and Hannes' development, only to be surprised again. For example, I thought of "would-be-messiah learns his lesson," "naive do-gooder encounters institutional evil," "young man learns that mercy triumphs justice," "good guy succumbs to the lure of seduction of power," and so on. Instead, I kept being surprised as the book and character kept breaking those stereotypes. In my experience, it's uncommon to find this level of complexity in similar books.
The story itself is likewise full of surprises, twists and turns, never gratuitous but well-woven. The writing and language are excellent as well.
In summary, an outstanding and unusual book, and one which makes you think.
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September 4, 2007plot summary: what happens, when & where, central characters, major conflicts[return]we learn the story of hannes, an apprentice to the pipelord of the piper's guild, and how he first of all escaped poverty to become an apprentice and then was assigned to help the people of hamelin. he finds there is more to fix in hamelin than just the rat problem, there is a corrupt government and a "evil" piper working against him--and killing people. hannes befriends clara--the mayors daughter--and is assisted by her bodyguard and her precocious younger sister. he also has a quest to use the money gained from his task to free his mother/father and the rest of the serfs from an evil landowner in the next district. that is if he ever gets paid.[return][return]style characterisics: pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.[return]it was hard to get into a first, the time/place is well depicted but foreign and the reader is thrust into the middle of it. the simple pipers tale is fleshed out beautifully, especially with the cultural details and mystical elements woven in. the characters seem flat and somewhat lacking. wildly vivid scenes of the crowd's riots and the effect of the piping will stick in the reader's mind.[return][return]how good is it?[return]fans of folklore and those who enjoy new twist on old stories would enjoy it.
March 4, 2011
Plot Summary: What happens, When & Where, Central Characters, Major Conflicts[return]We learn the story of Hannes, an apprentice to the Pipelord of the Piper's guild, and how he first of all escaped poverty to become an apprentice and then was assigned to help the people of Hamelin. He finds there is more to fix in Hamelin than just the rat problem, there is a corrupt government and a "evil" piper working against him--and killing people. Hannes befriends Clara--the Mayors daughter--and is assisted by her bodyguard and her precocious younger sister. He also has a quest to use the money gained from his task to free his mother/father and the rest of the serfs from an evil landowner in the next district. That is if he ever gets paid.[return][return]Style Characterisics: Pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.[return]It was hard to get into a first, the time/place is well depicted but foreign and the reader is thrust into the middle of it. The simple pipers tale is fleshed out beautifully, especially with the cultural details and mystical elements woven in. The characters seem flat and somewhat lacking. Wildly vivid scenes of the crowd's riots and the effect of the piping will stick in the reader's mind.[return][return]How Good is it?[return]Fans of folklore and those who enjoy new twist on old stories would enjoy it.
June 3, 2010
Oh. My. Word. I just finished this book (yup - though I had it marked as 'read' I really meant to have it as 'currently-reading' - but now that I'm done it doesn't matter lol) and it was GREAT!!!!
So cool! It was basically a retelling of the story of the Pied Piper, and it was written by a father-son team. The father and the mother are "missionaries, translating Scriptures and training leaders in the Philippines and the former Soviet Union' . . . and the publisher is "Moody Publishers" which is Christian . . . so yeah. I'm not sure what the father/son believe, but I'm thinking they may be Christians. I'll try to find out more about them and update this once I do.
It was great. Most of the story takes place over four/five days, and wow. There's so much packed into it that it's hard to believe it's only a couple days that the story happens in!
It was very creative, it didn't have cursing or anything inappropriate . . . it was just a really interesting, clean book. The plot was great too, and the other piper turning out to be Roth (who turns out to be Anselm) was quite unexpected.
I also just love the whole idea of the Pipeworld. It's so cool!
Aaaaaanyway, to stop rambling =), this is a great book, and I def. recommend it!
So cool! It was basically a retelling of the story of the Pied Piper, and it was written by a father-son team. The father and the mother are "missionaries, translating Scriptures and training leaders in the Philippines and the former Soviet Union' . . . and the publisher is "Moody Publishers" which is Christian . . . so yeah. I'm not sure what the father/son believe, but I'm thinking they may be Christians. I'll try to find out more about them and update this once I do.
It was great. Most of the story takes place over four/five days, and wow. There's so much packed into it that it's hard to believe it's only a couple days that the story happens in!
It was very creative, it didn't have cursing or anything inappropriate . . . it was just a really interesting, clean book. The plot was great too, and the other piper turning out to be Roth (who turns out to be Anselm) was quite unexpected.
I also just love the whole idea of the Pipeworld. It's so cool!
Aaaaaanyway, to stop rambling =), this is a great book, and I def. recommend it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2020
Set in the 13th century, the story-line taxed my visualization ability often. It was also what I call a "boy-book," with graphic descriptions of fights and injuries. Boys would love to recreate the fight scene in the butcher shop. It was made for movies. There was one true villain, but everyone else was revealed to be quite complicated in their motivations and actions. The delicate balance between justice and mercy, which was the piper's mission, tipped back and forth often. The authors did a fine job of bringing out the difficulty and necessity of this mission for everyone.
August 14, 2008
Really different to what I normally read, but well worth it... I was spellbound, couldn't put it down. A young man discovers that he is able to do far more than rescue a town from a plague of rats... Not just the childrens legend of the pied piper, but a tale of a rule of deceit and evil being conquered by justice and mercy.
December 22, 2010
Maybe a 3.5 but it was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Very different topic--at least I've never read one on the pied piper. So there was the magic of his pipe, his story, the town's story, the girl's....and the idea of mercy verses justice.
August 31, 2015
One day I thought about what a retelling of the Pied Piper's tale would look like, and saw this book in the op shop the very next day. I felt like I had to buy it. The plot is fast-paced and nice enough, but the writing is quite lacking - plain and uninspiring writing and poor characterisation.
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June 12, 2008Retelling of The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
May 29, 2011
An interesting retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
October 13, 2010
This was a hugely appropriate read for Estrella War, as it is set in the late thirteenth century and deals heavily with the ideas of justice and mercy. Fair but not dazzling.
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