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Into the Wild (novel)

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Into the Wild
The cover of Into the Wild.
First edition cover
AuthorErin Hunter
Cover artistWayne McLoughlin
LanguageEnglish
SeriesWarriors
GenreFantasy novel
PublisherAvon, HarperCollins
Publication date
January 9, 2003 (Canada)
January 21, 2003 (United States)
February 2003 (United Kingdom)
Publication placeUnited Kingdom/United States
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages272 (depending on edition)
ISBNISBN 978-0-06-000002-8 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character
LC ClassPZ7.H916625 In 2003
Followed byFire and Ice 

Into the Wild is a fantasy novel written by Kate Cary under the pseudonym Erin Hunter after concepts and outlines created and developed by Victoria Holmes. The novel was published by HarperCollins in Canada and the United States in January 2003, and in the United Kingdom in February 2003. It is the first novel in the Warriors series.

The story is about a young domestic cat who leaves his human owners to join a group of forest-dwelling feral cats called ThunderClan. He is trained to defend and hunt for the Clan, becomes embroiled in a murder and betrayal within the Clan, and, at the end of the book, receives his warrior name, Fireheart, after a battle with another Clan. The novel's themes include family, loyalty, death, courage, and survival.

In 2003, HarperCollins asked Holmes to write a book about feral cats, but she thought the idea limited and responded with little enthusiasm. Nonetheless, she worked with the concept and produced enough material to create a six volume series. Kate Cary was brought on board to write the first volume after Holmes completed one story line. Holmes then remained behind the scenes to edit and supervise details. Several natural areas in England and Scotland (including New Forest and the woods about Loch Lomond) inspired the settings in the novel.

Into the Wild was critically well received. Booklist believed the book would appeal to followers of Brian Jacques' Redwall series. Among other awards, it claimed the third place 2006 Young Reader's Choice Award. The book has been published in paperback, e-book, and Amazon Kindle formats, and in eight languages.

Concept and development

In 2003, HarperCollins asked Victoria Holmes to write a fantasy series about feral cats, but, being more interested in dogs and not a reader of fantasy, she was less than enthusiastic.[1] She also "couldn't imagine coming up with enough ideas".[2] Nonetheless, she worked with the concept, expanding the storyline with elements of war, politics, revenge, doomed love, and religious conflict. Although the original plan was a stand-alone novel, enough material was created for several books, and the publisher decided upon a six volume series.[2] The first volume, Into the Wild, was written by Kate Cary under the pseudonym Erin Hunter, and was completed in about three months.[3] Holmes was behind the scenes editing and supervising details.[4]

Plot

See also: List of Warriors characters
The fictional forest of the novel was inspired by New Forest (above) and other locales in England and Scotland.

Into the Wild follows the integration of a house cat called Rusty into a group of feral cats living in a fictional forest inspired by the real world locales of New Forest[3], the woods about Loch Lomond, the Forest of Dean, and the Scottish Highlands.[5][6] The group of cats are called ThunderClan, and share the fictional forest with three other groups of feral cats called RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan.

The novel opens with a prologue that follows a battle between ThunderClan and RiverClan over a strip of land. ThunderClan is outnumbered and their deputy, Redtail, calls a retreat. Rusty has yet to appear in the novel, but a veiled reference is made to him in a prophecy ThunderClan receives from the spirits of their ancestors: "Fire alone can save our Clan."

Following the prologue, Rusty, makes his appearance in the plot. He accepts an invitation to join ThunderClan and trains to become a warrior under a new name, Firepaw, inspired by his flame-colored pelt. He learns Tigerclaw, an ambitious member of the Clan, murdered Redtail, and will stop at nothing to attain his goal of becoming Clan leader. Tigerclaw realizes Firepaw knows his secret, but he remains a trusted member of the Clan. In a battle against a rival Clan, Firepaw acts with courage and bravery, and receives his warrior name, Fireheart, in acknowledgement.

Publication history

Into the Wild was first published as a hardcover by HarperCollins on January 9, 2003, in Canada.[7] The book was released on January 21, 2003, in the United States,[8] and in February 2003 in the United Kingdom.[9] Into the Wild was released as a paperback in the US on January 6, 2004.[10] On September 4, 2007, the book was released as an eBook,[11] and on Amazon's Kindle.[12] The novel has been translated into Lithuanian, Czech,[6] Japanese,[13] Russian,[14] French, German,[15] and Korean.[16] A Chinese version was released on October 31, 2008, with a 3-D card of Firepaw.[17] Twenty percent of the novel is available online as part of HarperCollins' "Browse Inside" program.[18]

Themes

Themes include family, loss, honor, bravery, death, loyalty, and following rules.[19] Publishers Weekly noted that themes such as family, friendship and responsibility are also taught in the warrior code, the set of rules that the Clans must follow.[20] Another review added that "Death, survival, bravery, and courage are strong themes in this tale. Among them are deceit, betrayal, blame, and bias."[21]

Critical reception

Into the Wild received generally positive reviews. Booklist thought the novel "spine-tingling" and noted that "the cat characters are true to their feline nature, making this sure to appeal to fans of Clare Bell's long-popular Ratha's Creature (1983) and its sequels and also to followers of Brian Jacques' ongoing Redwall series."[22] Publishers Weekly wrote: "Certain to please any young reader who has ever wondered what dreams of grandeur may haunt the family cat."[20] Kirkus Reviews wrote the novel would "leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously"[23] Although School Library Journal thought the book not as well written as the Redwall series, it did note that the novel presented an "intriguing world with an intricate structure".[24] Children's Literature thought the writing dull.[25]

Awards and recognitions

Into the Wild claimed third place in the 2006 Young Reader's Choice Award.[6] The novel was listed on Booklist's Top 10 fantasy books for youth in 2003,[26] and was a Book Sense 76 Pick.[27]

References

  1. ^ Hunter, Erin. "Warriors FAQ". The Official Website for the Warriors.
  2. ^ a b "Transcript of Erin Hunter Post Chat 6". Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Transcript Of Erin Hunter Chat #1". Wands and Worlds. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  4. ^ "INTERVIEW: Erin Hunter". Writers Unboxed. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Kate's Blog: FAQ". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  6. ^ a b c "The Guttersnipe: Warriors Gossip (archived by archive.org)". The Guttersnipe. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  7. ^ "Amazon (Canada) catalog: Warriors, Book 1: Into the Wild (Hardcover)". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  8. ^ "Aamzon catalog: Into the Wild (Warriors, Book 1) (Hardcover)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  9. ^ "Amazon (UK) catalog: Into the Wild (Warriors) (Hardcover)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  10. ^ "Warriors #1: Into the Wild (Warriors) (Paperback)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  11. ^ "Warriors #1: Into the Wild (eBook)". Mobipocket eBook. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  12. ^ "Warriors #1: Into the Wild (Kindle Edition)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  13. ^ "ウォーリアーズ〈1〉ファイヤポー、野生にかえる (単行本)". Amazon.co.ja. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  14. ^ "Стань диким!" (in Russian). OZON.ru. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  15. ^ "Warrior Cats 01. In die Wildnis: Amazon.de: Erin Hunter, Klaus Weimann: Bücher" (in German). Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  16. ^ "Erin Hunter Chat #3 Transcript — part 2". Wands and Worlds. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  17. ^ "晨星網路書店Morningstar::│圖書基本資料│" (in Chinese). Morningstar. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  18. ^ "HarperCollins Publishers to Offer Select Books Online for Free". Wireless News. February 12, 2008. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  19. ^ "Transcript of the Second Erin Hunter Chat". Wands and Worlds. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  20. ^ a b "Into the Wild. (Fiction).(Book Review)(Children's Review)(Brief Article)". AccessMyLibrary. Publishers Weekly. December 23, 2002. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  21. ^ "booksforyouth Review". booksforyouth.com. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  22. ^ Estes, Sally (February 15, 2003). "Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild.(Book Review)(Young Adult Review)(Brief Article)". AccessMyLibrary. Booklist. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  23. ^ "Kirkus review: Into the Wild". Kirkus Reviews. 71 (1): 61. 2003. Retrieved 2008-08-21. Hunter debuts with a suspenseful animal adventure that will leave readers eyeing Puss a bit nervously. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Alpert, Mara (May 1, 2003). "Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild.(Book Review)(Children's Review)(Brief Article)". AccessMyLibrary. School Library Journal. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  25. ^ "Barnes and Noble: Into the Wild (Warriors Series #1)". Barnes & Noble.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  26. ^ Estes, Sally (April 15, 2003). "Top 10 fantasy books for youth. (Spotlight on SF/Fantasy).(Bibliography)". AccessMyLibrary. Booklist. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  27. ^ "Warriors #1: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2010-07-19.

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