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Five Years Later (Brian Jacques Tribute)

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As of last Friday, it’s been five years since Brian Jacques, a writer well known for being the author of the Redwall book series, passed away. It’s crazy to think already been five years. It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago, but I do remember the shock that went over the community when it happened. I think we all knew in the back of our heads it was going to happen one day, but maybe not that soon.

I wish I could have had a chance to meet Brian. His work has influenced me creatively more than anything else. While I think I just had an affinity for imagining woodland critters living together, cooking amazing feasts and fighting off baddies, a big part of the reason I got into the series was because I didn’t have a whole lot else. I didn’t really have friends when I was younger, or things to do, and school was a nightmare - I was an outcast amongst my peers.  The books, however, became a great source of comfort to me. Even if the characters didn’t see me, I still felt like I would be welcomed there, flaws and all.

It was almost by fate how I got into the book series. I saw Taggerung at a book fair once and was immediately drawn to it by the cool looking characters on the front. I didn’t have money to buy it, but I kept walking by it so I could look at the cover over and over until I had to leave. Then, months later, my Mom came home from the store. She said she bought two books for me that were on sale. What books were they? Taggerung and Marlfox, of all things. That was the first time she bought books for me by surprise, and she hasn’t since.

I’m a better artist now because of him and a big part of that was because his writings helped me learn how to vividly imagine things. He made me laugh, and cry, and made me see the value of so many different things, like not giving up even when things are seemingly at their worst. Also, now Redwall is finite. I know now that if I keep reading, eventually I’ll get to the last page of the last book and it’ll be over. There’s no new adventures coming out next year. Admittedly, it’s made me want to avoid reading the last book, but I doubt Brian would approve of that.

Even if his work isn’t infinite, his influence on anyone who reads his books can be. His work has spawned so many creations, either directly or indirectly. I’m sure many of us wouldn’t have gotten to where we are had he not inspired us or improved our quality of life back in the day. In a way he is living on through us and through our ideas. His influence is still traveling, like ripples on a pond, reaching out and touching anyone who dares get close enough.
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VulproFox's avatar
WHAT?!
Brain Jacques is dead?
what?

Great work. You can definitely tell that this mouse has had a good life so far.