The first review is here, by Marlies Bugmann, the artist who painted the wonderful picture for the cover art. She writes:
When I created the cover for 'The Making of a Forest Fighter' for Dr Bob, I was intrigued by the concept of the design as I received it from Zumaya Publications, but moreover, by the pertinent scenes that I read in order to create the image. Now that this book has won the 2002 Dream Realm Awards in its category, I found myself drawn to it even more and when Dr Bob asked me to write a review, I welcomed the opportunity 'de rigueur' to finally read it cover to cover, as I had put it off again and again - studies and setting up my own arts practice see me work almost 25 hours a day.
The author created (or rather re-created) a world long-gone, a world so mysterious that modern thinking may never grasp its entire 'raison d'être', other than it was a step of man's evolution toward what he is today. Ribtol soon becomes a persona that grips the reader with his secretly held terror that his own purpose in life, to be a warrior, bestows on him. His exploits, though, soon beg a comparison to modern warfare, that of cutting down entire forests to reach and destroy one's enemies, and in my way of thinking, the forest of the Doshis' enemies, the Midgets, are but a parable to our modern habitats, especially cities and large urban habitats, that, once destroyed see a people in flight, unable to exist coherently.
The heroic deeds of the Midgets soon sees the reader switch camp and secretly hoping that the Midgets 'win', no matter how likeable the Doshi appear. Ribtol and his kin give us a glance into a past way of life, especially domestic life, that hasn't so long ago also imprinted our Western culture, slavery and the 'buying' of women as chattel and breeders of strong warrior sons. Throughout the story, there is a surprising twist or chain of events at every turn of the page and the colourful battle scenes make for some fast-paced reading; details, such as the making of one's own arrows, or the application of protective body armour, sewn into the clothing, really bring the reader up close to Ribtol and his comrades.
The fate of the Doshi keeps the reader compelled to go on and the conclusion to their mighty battle against an enemy so fierce, yet hardly seen and full of unknown magic, the Ehvelen, is one that I had secretly hoped for. Anyone looking for a fast-paced action story with a brave young man who see himself as somewhat of a coward, mysterious beings that can talk to the trees and a journey into a colourful landscape, thousands of years past, will find 'The Making of a Forest Fighter' just the sort of refreshing new read that one hopes to find in a world full of cloned, plastic heroes who never sustain a scratch.
I enjoyed Ribtol's exploits and hope you will too.
Marlies Bugmann
http://www.tasmanianartist.com.
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