THE SANDS OF TIME

Rare glimmers of wit aside, this tale has nothing to offer but trite dialogue, typecast characters, a plot built from lackluster set pieces and a bewildering array of odd names. After 76 pages of scene-setting, the adventure finally begins with the story of battered old chipmunk Birch Tentintrotter, a brilliant linguist who, years ago, was ruined and nearly killed by mysterious enemies after translating an ancient want ad from a supposedly-mythical Cat civilization. Inspired by new clues, Birch, joined by watchmaker Hermuk Tantamoq and adventuress/pilot Linka Perflinger (both mice), race nefarious con artist Hinkum Stepfitchler III and his intended victim, cosmetics queen Tucka Mertslin, to a lost library of the Cats, where, after predictable treachery, captures and escapes, everyone ends up about where you’d expect. Many members of this all-rodent cast appeared in a much-referred-to prequel; no doubt the series will continue until the author’s will (or money) gives out. Since it’s printed in a nearly illegible typeface, though, few readers will stay the course long enough to experience its many other faults. (Fiction. 11-13)