Title: The Saga of Moby Beast: Or The Redemption of Sir Robert
Author: Norrie Charles
Publisher: XlibrisNZ
ISBN: 978-1-4931-9180-2
Pages: 42
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Buy on AmazonPacific Book Review
In this splendid book titled, The Saga of Moby Beast: Or The Redemption of Sir Robert, one will see that author/creator Norrie Charles has no lack when choosing interesting words in her storytelling and if the words did not exist, she’d make them up. Using a combination of Old English vocabulary, slang and even making up some words, the book is put to a poetic foot of iambic syllables lulling a story to fit the mastery of a word smith seldom revealed in the genre nowadays – ever since the passing of Dr. Seuss. I was thinking how many words I did not know when, fortunately, at the end of the book there is a glossary admitting some words were made up to fit the prose.
As for the story, it is filled with action, suspense and honor laced perfectly with inherent humor. There is a town surrounded by a swamp where a Priest tells of the fable of a swamp-creature. With the townsfolk in disbelief, one day the daughter of the baker is taken by the creature into the swamp. The mayor chooses Sir Robert to go fetch the damsel in distress, outfits him in a steel clad suit of armor sending him off to rescue the lady and kill the creature. Sure, this sounds very gallant and noble, but Sir Robert has his own human frailties. So sets the scene for the adventure, trials and tribulations of Sir Robert, with the ultimate “living happily ever after” conclusion. Bravo, kudos and “a raised eyebrow” goes out to Norrie Charles by this reviewer – a full five star book and a fun filled story for all.
The Saga of Moby Beast is childish perhaps but suitable as an epic tale which would appeal to a multitude of age categories. Amazing in its “tightness in rhyming” and keeping within the pace, incorporating a sophisticated use of vernacular, Norrie Charles exemplifies the art of storytelling. Reminiscent of how, in times of old when knights were bold, people would travel from township to township telling tales of beasts and knights in combat as an art and profession, in a way to earn their room and board.
Here is an excerpt from the story – when Sir Robert sees a footprint in the mud, which he surmises was made by the creature:
This thing must be all
Of ten feet tall!”
Thought the knight as he gained an impression; “I must exercise caution,
And keep in proportion,
Fool’s valour against wise discretion.
The illustrations of detailed water colors in earth tones over a parchment type of scroll bring the Old English sense of style to the medieval age when swords were the weapon of choice. Even the galley text is superimposed over the background of aged parchment, keeping to the theme creating a period piece, thus imprinting into the reader’s mind the time period and imagery. The artful combining of such pictures, along with the immense word smiting, plus the most appealing use of vernacular – all masterfully put to the pace of a confident and humorous written voice, makes the The Saga of Moby Beast a book to adore, cherish and make a family keepsake for all youths and generations yet to come.
