Watership Down

These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, world-building, and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "for the resistance"; the genres "fantasy fiction" and "page to screen"; and the subject "imaginary kingdoms."

These books have the appeal factors world-building, and they have the theme "for the resistance"; and the genres "fantasy fiction" and "epic fantasy."

These books have the appeal factors world-building, and they have the themes "for the resistance" and "dark lord"; and the genres "fantasy fiction" and "epic fantasy."

These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, and they have the theme "dark lord"; and the genre "fantasy fiction."

The social and political worlds of animal communities--owls in The Capture and rabbits in Watership Down--are of major importance in both of these attention-grabbing fantasies. Watership Down, however, is a more complex and challenging read. -- Ellen Foreman

Fans of Watership Down will appreciate this similarly thought-provoking and suspenseful adventure story starring anthropomorphic rabbits; both feature extensive world-building, but Watership Down is a novel while Cottons is a graphic novel. -- Summer Edward

Although the hive environment of The Bees is more dystopian than Watership Down's rabbit warrens, both compelling, suspenseful novels explore how group dynamics change when individual members question the status quo, while subtly drawing parallels between animal and human societies. -- NoveList Contributor

In these world-building works of speculative fiction centered on anthropomorphized animals, rabbits set out for a new promised land (Watership Down) and a clever fox leads a motley crew of animals to the gates of Hell (Navigating Fox). -- Michael Shumate

Both of these fantasy stories build intricate worlds and complicated, sometimes violent relationships between groups of animals as an allegory for the ways humans help and hurt each other. -- Stephen Ashley

Told from the viewpoint of fictional animal characters, these stories feature charming, complex protagonists and trenchant social commentary. Although Only the Animals has a markedly darker tone than Watership Down, both offer satisfying adventures that operate on several different levels. -- Mike Nilsson

Each of these thoughtful, allegorical fantasies has strong world building; richly descriptive writing, which includes invented language and a host of stories interwoven into the main narrative; and well-realized characters, dangerous authoritarians among them, as well as loyal companions. -- NoveList Advisor

Intelligent creatures who are also true to their animal natures populate these riveting fantasies where beasts fight for survival. Into the Wild has untamed cats, the allegorical Watership Down, homeless rabbits. Each story combines suspense with mysticism. -- Julie Corsaro