Suggested order for the Redwall series?

Question

What is the most correct order in which to read Brian Jacques's series of Redwall books?

I read most or all of them when I was younger, but would like to know how to order them in case I ever return for a reread.

Answer 1

There are two most obvious orders in which to read them.

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Chronological order

The Badger stories, part 1

• Lord Brocktree

  ^{This is the only book which entirely predates both Redwall Abbey and Martin the Warrior.}

The Martin stories

The next three books are set during the time of the legendary Martin the Warrior, who makes ghostly appearances in almost all later books.

• The Legend of Luke

  ^{Although the surrounding story featuring the adult Martin comes after Martin the Warrior and Mossflower, the central tale of Luke predates both.}

• Martin the Warrior

  ^{Covers Martin's origins pre-Redwall.}

• Mossflower

  ^{Covers the backstory of the establishment of Redwall itself.}

The Badger stories, part 2

• Outcast of Redwall

  ^{This is pretty stand-alone, the story of Sunflash the Mace.}

The Mariel stories

The next two books are set during the time of Joseph the Bellmaker and his daughter Mariel, somewhere in between Martin's time and Matthias's.

• Mariel of Redwall
• The Bellmaker

The Badger stories, part 3

• Salamandastron

  ^{Another entirely stand-alone story, not even particularly focused on Redwall.}

The main series

• Redwall

  ^{The first Redwall book to be published.}

• Mattimeo

  ^{A sequel, Mattimeo being the son of Matthias, the hero of Redwall.}

• The Pearls of Lutra

  ^{Featuring Mattimeo's son Martin and the hedgehog Tansy (the first Redwall book I read).}

• The Long Patrol

  ^{A sequel to The Pearls of Lutra, featuring Tansy as the abbess and also Cregga Rose Eyes.}

• Marlfox

  ^{Linked to the previous book by the character of Cregga.}

• The Taggerung

  ^{Again linked by Cregga - this is the final book featuring her.}

• Triss

  ^{Set long after the previous book; Skipper mentions the Taggerung as his distant ancestor.}

• Loamhedge

• Rakkety Tam
• High Rhulain
• Eulalia!
• Doomwyte

• The Sable Quean

  ^{(Yes, that title is spelled correctly.)}

• The Rogue Crew

  ^{Published posthumously.}

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Release order

• Redwall (1986)
• Mossflower (1988)
• Mattimeo (1989)
• Mariel of Redwall (1991)
• Salamandastron (1992)
• Martin the Warrior (1993)
• The Bellmaker (1994)
• Outcast of Redwall (1995)
• Pearls of Lutra (1996)
• The Long Patrol (1997)
• Marlfox (1998)
• The Legend of Luke (1999)
• Lord Brocktree (2000)
• Taggerung (2001)
• Triss (2002)
• Loamhedge (2003)
• Rakkety Tam (2004)
• High Rhulain (2005)
• Eulalia! (2007)
• Doomwyte (2008)
• The Sable Quean (2010)
• The Rogue Crew (2011)

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Resources used: one, two.

Answer 2

TLDR, I would read Redwall first, the story has many "errors" that don't follow future stories. It's meant as the intro, from there you can choose either chronological or published order.

Q&A from Brian Jacques's website source

Webmaster's note: Although we recommend reading the books in the order in which they were written , the chronological order of the books is: Martin the Warrior

Mossflower

The Legend of Luke

Outcast of Redwall

Mariel of Redwall

The Bellmaker

Salamandastron

Redwall

Mattimeo

The Pearls of Lutra

The Long Patrol

Marlfox

Lord Brocktree

Taggerung

Triss

Loamhedge

Rakkety Tam

High Rhulain

Eulalia!

Doomwyte

Here is the publication order

Redwall

Mossflower

Mattimeo

Mariel of Redwall

Salamandastron

Martin the Warrior

Bellmaker

Outcast of Redwall

Pearls of Lutra

Long Patrol

Marlfox

Legend of Luke

Lord Brocktree

Taggerung

Triss

Loamhedge

Rakkety Tam

High Rhulain

Eulalia!

Doomwyte

Sable Quean

Rogue Crew