Rating: 
Summary: The first of a classic series
Review: "Book of Three" kicks off the classic Prydain Chronicles, a six book cycle of stories set in Prydain, "where evil is never distant." In the first book, author Lloyd Alexander sprinkles his story with Welsh mythology, then tempers it with humor, action, and a unique coming-of-age story.
Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper at Caer Dallben, is bored stiff by his duties -- caring for the oracular pig Hen Wen. Though both the crabby enchanter Dallben and the gentle ex-warrior Coll tell Taran that he shouldn't complain, he wants to be a hero. Taran inadvertantly ends up in an adventure when he chases Hen Wen into the woods - only to be chased by a masked, horned man on horseback.
Taran is rescued by Gwydion, Prince of Don, who agrees to bring the overeager young man with him to another city to warn them about the Horned King, who is a servant of Arawn Deathlord. But the undead Cauldron-born capture Taran and Gwydion and bring them to Spiral Castle, the home of the enchantress Achren. Achren imprisons Taran; but he is set free by her "niece," a flaky-seeming but very sharp girl named Eilonwy. With Gwydion presumed dead, Taran must set out to warn his allies about the growing threat of the Horned King. Going with him is Eilonwy, a pleasant bard-king who frequently stretches the truth, the twiggy and ever-loyal Gurgi, a crabby dwarf, and a very special sword...
There are virtually no epic adventures for kids, let alone ones that adults can find absorbing as well. But the Prydain Chronicles definitely fit the category. Even though the action focuses primarily on Taran and his friends, the repercussions and events in them stretch all across Prydain, and Alexander never lets you forget it. And Gwydion's presence gives the feeling that rather than being the pivot of the conflict between good and evil, Taran is one of many cogs in a larger machine.
Alexander is at his most versatile in the Prydain Chronicles, varying between a formal "ye olde" style and then switching to one of the comical arguments between Taran and Eilonwy. Eilonwy and Fflewddur Fflam add humor, with Fflewddur's frequent fibs causing his magical harp strings to break and Eilonwy puncturing Taran's ego when he gets a little too pompous. Yet Alexander includes sinister moments as well as well: The evil Horned King, and the silent, unkillable Cauldron-Born.
Taran is an entirely human hero -- he longs for adventure but doesn't know what it's really like, takes himself too seriously, botches things, misjudges others, and has to learn from his mistakes. Eilonwy is a great counterpart, who keeps us from getting bored with Taran and by providing witty commentary on the proceedings. Gurgi initially seems sinister, but shows beginning signs of his steadfast loyalty.
Though Lloyd Alexander informs readers that Prydain is NOT Wales, it definitely has the the Horned King, Gwydion, and the sword Dyrnwyn are carefully woven into the plot. But as J.R.R. Tolkien did, Alexander doesn't simply cut-and-paste them from a mythology book. Instead, he makes them essential parts of the story, and thus makes them his own.
"The Book of Three" is not quite the same as its sequels -- it's not quite as grim, and it has a "younger" feel to the story. But the solid adventure, excellent writing and mythic clash of good and evil make it a good start to a classic series.
Rating: 
Summary: As a fantasy fan, I recommend it
Review: I grew up with fantasy books, totally on my own. The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings were my favorites, and were the books that I thought defined the genre. I vaguely remember coming across the Chronicles of Prydain in a library catalog while I was looking for something to read, and my take on fantasy has never been the same since.
The five books in this series are usually marked as "Young Adult," But as a thirty year old man, I have just read them for the umpteenth time and been totally enchanted. Yes, they are written for youngsters, but that just makes an adult voracious to read them faster. What drives these books are the characters, hilarious and tragic at the same time. Alexander's chronicles will always hold a place in my bookshelf as long as I live.
Rating:
Summary: introduction to a fine fantasy series for middle readers
Review: I hadn't heard of these books when I was growing up, but I am now beginning to look at books of future interest to my son, and I would say that this is definitely a book and series that we will enjoy together in a few years. This book came out ten years after Tolkien's trilogy, and though it would be difficult to avoid all similarities to that archetypal work, there are some surprisingly similar elements -- but also some that are very imaginative and original (an oracular pig!).Taran is a pre-teen boy who is bored with his job and friends and village. He longs for adventure and, as he soon finds out, he should be careful what he wishes for! Looking for a runaway pig, Taran soon runs into danger, and must venture far from his home. Along the way he meets characters such as Eilonwy and Gwydion who will help him, and others he must fear. Sometimes Eilonwy's ubiquitous use of metaphors gets tiresome, and the volume would benefit from the inclusion of a map, but overall this is a highly readable story with an interesting cast of characters, good pacing, minimal violence, positive character development, teamwork and cooperation, adventure and lessons about the consequences of choice.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant fantasy
Review: I have often jokingly told people to read this before reading JRR Tolkein because it's "Hobbit"-lite. But my jest is with all affection. "The Book of Three" is the first of five books (not including the 6th of short stories) involving the fantasy world of Prydain. Lloyd Alexander borrows heavily from Gaelic and Welsh mythology to create the tale of Taran, Assistant Pig-keeper for the enchanter Dallben. In this book we are introduced to Taran, a boy on the cusp of manhood eager to take part in the adventures of the world. Dark forces under the direction of Awran, the Death-Lord threaten the lives of all in Prydain, and none is more feared that the gruesom "Horned King". After leaping "headfirst into a thorn bush" young Taran finds himself face to face with this dreaded champion of darkness who has come from Annuvuin in search of Hen-wen, the oracular pig under Taran's charge. I won't spoil any more of the story except to say that this book introduces many of the characters that appear later on in the rest of the series: the stubborn and lovely Princess Eilonwy, the king-who-wants-to-be-a-bard Fflewder Flam, the cantankerous Doli of the fairfolk, Coll- the warrior turned farmer, and more. Lloyd Alexander's fantasy tale, in my opinion, rivals that of Tolkein as a richly crafted work with wonderful images and a deep understanding and appreciation for the thoughts and feelings of a young man like Taran. The text is easy to read, and the story flows smoothly along. Each book can stand alone, but together create a magnificant epic tapestry. The names of the characters are a little hard to get used to, but not impossible. This is the kind of book you can read out loud at bed-time to young childern. The plot is engaging enough for the little ones and deep enough for adults to appreciate. I recommend this book to just about anyone, and especially for children who are old enough to be reading completely on their own and have reached that point where they are "into" adventures. The best thing about this book (and the series) is that what little violence there is is not glorified, there is no gratuitous sex, and there are morals espoused without sounding preachy. And its the kind of story that girls and boys can enjoy and its perfect for pre-teens and early teens. As the books progress, young teens can "grow" along with Taran, and understand some of his angst. All around, a most excellent novel, and only the begining of a fantastic story...
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THE PRYDAIN CHRONICLES!!!
Review: I learned to love reading through The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander... They also inspired me to become a Writer. If I ever get the chance, I would like to met Lloyd Alexander simply so I can say "Thank you for writing these wonderful books - They mean so much to me!"
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed it, but it's not as good as the next four.
Review: I'm a real fantasy fan. I've read so many fantasy books that I've lost count. There's just something about magic and traveling warriors that captures my imagination and sends chills up my spine. The Prydain Chronicals are my absolute favorite. There are actually six books in all, though everyone thinks that there are only five. There's "The Book of Three", "The Black Cauldron", "The Castle of Llyr", "Taran Wanderer", and my personal favorite,"The High King". Those are the most well-known ones. There is actually one more, called "The Foundling". It contains a number of short stories about the land of Prydain, such as how Fflewdder Fflam got his harp, how Dallben was raised by Orrdu, Orwen, and Orgoch, how Coll saved Hen Wen, and many others. I would recomend reading this one first. Anyway, back to "The Book of Three". I really liked this book, but I don't think it's the best of the series.
Rating:
Summary: A quality start to a classic series
Review: Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles are one of the key series in children's fantasy literature, walking the fine line between being accessible to young readers and being appealing and engaging enough for adults to enjoy. The five wonderful books in this series feature an interesting cast of reoccurring characters, all centering on Taran, a pig keeper destined for great things. Others, including a stereotypical spoiled princess, a crazed Gollum-like creature, and a hapless bard, take part in a series of increasingly epic adventures. Because Alexander drew his stories from ancient myths and legends, the themes and situations always feel familiar. These will feel like stories you've read many times before, but never in a tiresome way. They're "comfortable." And that's a welcome trait, especially when so many books try so hard to be different. This first volume if five, "The Book of Three," is probably the weakest of the series (though it is by no means bad, or even average). Taran seems to get caught up in his adventure rather too easily, and initially, before we become comfortable with the characters, some of them are a little grating. Gurgi is almost a downright annoyance. But then the story really kicks into gear and develops into a nice adventure tale, setting the stage for the better Prydain books to come later. What "The Book of Three" does best is put in place the pieces of the great big puzzle that is put together throughout the next four books. And who couldn't love the delightful early stages of Taran and Eilonwy's relationship? Delightful and funny is every way. Children will relate to the characters and the way they pick on each other, while adults will smile knowingly as Alexander winks and nods. The writing is direct and lively throughout, and the pacing absolutely perfect. Just when one suspects a lull in the action is looming, Alexander races us forward and advances the adventure some more. Things are always progressing, always pushing forward, offering a tale that one is hard-pressed to put down. One of the great joys of this series is the steady progression from pure children's fantasy to more adult themes and a grimmer, more mournful tone, allowing the reader to grow along with the characters. The first book does not well reflect the last. What begins as a light fantasy becomes very serious. And that is a good thing. "The Book of Three" and the rest of the Prydain Chronicles are recommended reading for anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially classic children's fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: A review of the first installment of Lloyd Alexnder's series
Review: Mason Souza 11/30/03
The Book of Three, Llyod Alexander
Has something ever happened to you that seemed small at first, but then snowballed into a major problem involving many people? That is exactly what happens in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy epic, The Book of Three. In the land of Pyrdain, Taran is a nobody living in a small, sleepy village called Caer Dallben. One day the psychic pig, Hen Wen wanders off. Taran tries to find her, but instead meets Lord Gwydion who tells him about the Horned King who plans to take over the land of Pyridaian. This book was very good and very easy to read. It changed very frequently which made it easy to move along. It was easy to concentrate on the story because you were sometimes given a vague description of a certain place, like if the characters were in a dark cave or grotto. This made you pay more attention to details than with other books and that is why I like that particular writing style. There were also surprises that you had to keep reading to find out about. All of this helped keep it from getting boring. And even though the story wasn't incredibly original, it did offer some unique twists that set it apart from other books. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and doesn't want anything to be revealed too early in the story. I also think that fans of series like The Lord of the Rings should get this book, or even a realistic-fiction fan that is looking for something a little different.
Rating:
Summary: The Gateway to My Love of Fantasy Novels
Review: More than any other series (other than Tolkien) this series of books firmly solidified my love of the genre at an early age. I read them over and over again in the late 1970's and into the 1980's, and still have my original copies that i plan on giving to my son when he is old enough...
Rating:
Summary: It's Gurgi that sold me, with his crunchings and munchings
Review: Never have I read a series of books that has commanded as much of my attention or affection as Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles. I was a fan before I even read the books, having been told about them by my older brother whose third grade teacher would read them to her class every day after lunch. At the mention of Gurgi's name, and hearing the phrase "crunchings and munchings," I HAD to read this book, and soon thereafter swiped a copy from an aunt. And the book itself didn't disappoint! Taran leaves the safety of his home to find his runaway pig, only to encounter his hero, Prince Gwydion, and the most terrible warlord in all the land, the Horned King. After he and Gwydion are captured by the evil queen Achren, Taran is joined by the Princess Eilonwy, bard Fflewddur Fflam, and simple-minded creature Gurgi on a quest to warn Gwydion's people of the Horned King's threat. The excitement continues all the way to the end, Taran becoming older and wiser with each new experience he faces and person he meets. Entertaining for all ages, and a perfect introduction to the land of Prydain. I can't recommend this highly enough.
|
