The Ruins of Gorlan (2005) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

Summary edit see section history

Write a summary of the plot or a synopsis of this book.

Characters edit see section history

• Will: Will was orphaned as a baby and sent to Redmont Castle to live. He is slight of build and fairly short, nothing like the makings of a great warrior. But his skills seemed to lay somewhere else. Swift of mind and body and able to climb and hide with ease all of which are good traits for a Ranger. Do he realise what he's got himself into?
• Halt: A middle-aged and short but clever and fit man who has and deserves his reputation as one of the greatest-ever rangers. He sees Will's potential as a ranger and recruits him as his apprentice.
• Horace Altman: Horace was orphaned at a young age but, unlike Will, he knew his parents briefly. They were both put into the same Ward with other orphaned children. His big build and other skills landed him in the position Will always wanted, Battleschool. He starts out being Will's enemy, but with time you discover he is actually a very kind, honorable and trusting young man- unless you get him mad. His obvious skill for the sword was evident on his first days in the Battleschool.
• Morgarath: Morgarath was the former Baron of Castle Gorlan, but after conspiring against the king he was banished to the Mountains of Rain and Night.
• Gilan: Gilan was one of Halt's few apprentices, and is, unlike any other Ranger, skilled in sword craft. He can be very kind and humorous. He was very attached to Halt and could never let the opportunity pass to try and outsmart the grim Ranger.
• Baron Arald: Arald is the Baron of Redmont Castle. He looks after Will. Slightly overweight and cheery, his jokes are often taken as serious comments. He is a skilled knight.
• Tug: Will's horse.
• Alyss Mainwaring: She is an apprentice to Lady Pauline in the Diplomatic corps. She marries Will in the Lost Stories, and is Horace's friend, as they grew up in an orphanage together.
• Jennifer Dalby: Will's former wardmate and friend who becomes apprenticed to Master Chubb, the chef. She's blond, pretty, and cheerful.
• George: Will's former wardmate and friend. He is small and skinny, and is apprenticed to the Scribe. He always had a way with words.
• Sir Rodney: Battlemaster of Castle Redmont and Horace's Craftmaster. Rodney is wise in the ways of weaponry and battle.
• Jerome: A second-year Battleschool apprentice who is always seen with Alda and Bryn.
• Bryn: A second-year Battleschool apprentice who is always seen with Alda and Jerome.
• Alda: A second-year Battleschool apprentice who is the leader to Bryn and Jerome.
• Lord Northolt: The former supreme army commander, he is supposedly killed by a bear.
• Merron: A Ranger.
• Paul: A senior cadet at the Battleschool.
• Sir Morton: Assistant drillmaster at Battleschool.
• Abelard: Halt's horse.
• Nigel: Master Scribe.
• Lady Pauline: Slim, grey-haired and elegant. Head of the Diplomatic Service in Redmont.
• Crowley: The Ranger Corps Commandant - organizes all of the Rangers.
• Ulf: Horse Master.
• Lord Lorriac: The former head of the King's calvalry; he was very good, so his death by "apparent" stroke is very unfortunate.
• Will: A orphan who knows nothing of his parents and want to follow in his fathers footsteps, or what he assumes they are, being a knight. This doesn't work out because he is too wimpy and he becomes a ranger's apprentice.
• Karel: One of the Battleschool teachers.
• Old Bob: Ranger horse trainer.
• Master Chubb: Master Chef.
• Wargals: Ancient, terrifying creatures from the Mountains of Rain and Night. They respond to Morgarath's telepathic commands.
• Kalkara: Dreadful ancient beasts in the Mountains of Rain and Night - allies of Morgarath. Something like a cross between a bear and a gorilla, but their fur is armor-thick. If you look into their eyes, you freeze. They will do anything for silver.
• Blaze: Gilan's horse.

Quotes edit see section history

• “"You're an apprentice. You're not ready to think."”

  Halt and Gilan

• “Halt added. "Can you cook, boy?""Cook, sir?" Will asked uncertainly. Halt raised his eyes to some unseen superior being."Why do young people invariably answer a question with another question?" he asked. Then, receiving no reply, he continued. "Yes, cook. Prepare food so that one might eat it. Make meals. I assume you know what food is- what meals are?"”

  Halt and Will

• “...he heard the Ranger say contentedly as he poured himself a mug of coffee and sat down again:"I'd forgotten how much fun having an apprentice can be."”

  Halt

• “"Hmmm. Not bad. Can see my own face in it," he said, then added, without a hint of a smile, "May not be such a good thing."”

  Halt

• “"Don't tell Halt that I told you he led the cavalry. I don't want him angry at me."”

  Arald

• “"Halt, Halt!"”

  Gilan

• “For, standing a little aside from the crowd, wrapped in his grey and green mottled cloak, his eyes shadowed by the cowl, was Halt.And he was smiling.”

• “One riot. One ranger.”

  Rangers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Redmont: The fiefdom of Baron Arald, the area is named for the way the sun makes the red rocks of the castle appear to be a red mountain.
• Solitary Plain: A vast, mostly flat area with very few trees. It's mostly covered with tall grass. Few people live there due to the constant wind that sets you on edge. Dismal and depressing.
• stone flutes: a ring of stones that whistle as wind blows through
• Ruins of Gorlan: The ruins of Castle Gorlan, Morgarath's former fiefdom

Organizations edit see section history

• The Rangers: A group of 50 skilled trackers, archers and tacticians who work for the King of Araluen. Many commoners believe that they use Black Magic to disappear into their surroundings.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Burning Bridge.

Followed by The Burning Bridge.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. John Flanagan (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Aurealis Award (Finalist, 2004: Best Children's Long Fiction)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PZ7.F598284 Ru 2005 FT MEADE
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

There are some very might fighting scenes and mentions of creepy creatures

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Action & Adventure
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Official Ranger's Apprentice Website: This site has information about the series, teacher's guides for the books, downloads, some information about the author, and info about the new movie.

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books Influenced by This Book edit see section history