Customer Reviews

Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain)

5 star:		(200)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

There are books that you don't want to see come to an end.

There are books that rattle in your brain, heart and soul, and stay with you, never to be forgotten.

Lloyd Alexander's magnificent series falls into these categories. I first read them at the age of 13 and have just read them again at 35. This series was the first that I did not want to see end. It's what got me started on reading Tolkien, Lewis, Donaldson, Piers Anthony, Dune, and others. I'm glad to see so many people love these books as well.

And why not? The characters are dynamic, engaging and more real than the average fantasy ones. The stories move along nicely with few if any slow moments. The classic elements of good and evil are all here with some twists.

There were some aspects that I was too young to appreciate the first time. One was the humor, most noticeable in The Book of Three, as we see some of the characters getting to first know each other. The other aspect was the theme/message that the way of the warrior is not the only path to nobility, honor, and courage (or to adulthood). There is as much honor in taking care of a garden as there is in being a warrior, to very loosely paraphrase one of the characters. In this day and age, when so much of the culture says be the biggest, baddest, toughest, strongest, richest etc person who destroys or gobbles up things, the message of taking care of one's garden, creating something of beauty be it a woven cloak or a clay pot, or honoring a friend's request is refreshing and not heard enough.

To the other reviewers who feel Alexander borrowed characters and motifs heavily from Tolkien, these have been part of literature and mythology for a long time. Long BEFORE Tolkien. If Dallben is Gandalf, well, Gandalf is Merlin. And Merlin was borrowed from other myths or folktales. Alexander borrowed some from The Mabinogen, the Welsh treasury of mythology. Tolkien borrowed from Beowulf and other English sources. These stories have been recreated or recast for ages. Sure, there are similarities but then this is a genre where dwarves, wizards, and enchanted objects are the norm. But assistant Pig-Keepers, frustrated ex-giants who whine about their lack of stature, a traveling bard with a second job as a King, or a trio of witches with an unusual, unpredicable sense of logic who switch identities daily(they deserve a book of their own!)? Hardly. And where have you ever seen a character quite like Fflewdur Flam? (Well, maybe in Dickens or Mark Helprin's A Winter's Tale)

For the kids (or adults) who love Harry Potter: you've got till July before the 4th book is out. There are no Quidditch matches but Taran may remind you of Harry and Dallben may remind you of Dumbledore. Check these five books out. (But avoid the inaccurate animated version of The Black Cauldron)

I've read the Lord of the Rings twice and for a long time considered it the best book I'd ever read. But it doesn't hold quite the special spot in my heart that the Prydain books do. And at least Lloyd Alexander spared us his version of those boringly long elf or dwarf songs and poems.

I read this book for the first time about 30 years ago, when I was 10 years old. Recently I re-read the entire series, and was enchanted again.

The tale of Taran and friends has everything a great children's book should: adventure, danger, good, evil, love and death. And, there is lots of humor, too, which you don't always find in similar clasics. The writing is great throughout -- this is not Goosebumps -- and the child who has the privilege of reading the Chronicles will surely be changed. The story, based on Welsh legends, subtly explores the great mysteries of life, and teaches lessons about bravery, honesty, compassion and devotion, without ever being preachy or obvious.

These books belong on the same shelf as the L'Engle Time trilogy, Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising Sequence, the Narnia Books and a small number of others.

Buy this for a favorite kid (maybe one that has gotten hooked on reading through "Harry Potter"), but get it for yourself, too.

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...

The Book of Three marks the beginning of the PrydainChronicles, a great five part coming-of age tale. Thus begins thestory of Taran, an orphan who is raised by the wizard Dallben. Taran dreams of the outside world and of being a hero. Even though I have read Tolkien's masterpiece before I came across this book and the rest of the series, I can see why older readers can get nostalgic about the Prydain books. When the psychic pig Hen Wen escapes the farm, a simple search becomes a quest to save Prydain against the Death Lord and his champion. Readers can really relate to Taran, especially younger ones, as he is just barely a teenager. The protagonists are ones that the reader can't help but to just like, and there are not really any slow parts in the book. It has the necessary elements of a fantasy book, but it has a good amount of humor, and is thought provoking. The Book of Three is a quick and easy read, and it motivates you to read the rest of the series. And the Prydain Chronicles is not easily forgotten. If you haven't read any fantasy literature, or just didn't read the Prydain Chronicles, I would suggest to anyone interested to read them.

There are books that you don't want to see come to an end.

There are books that rattle in your brain, heart and soul, never to be forgotten.

Lloyd Alexander's magnificent series falls into these categories. I first read them at the age of 13 and have just read them again at 35. This series was the first that I did not want to see end. It's what got me started on reading Tolkien, Lewis, Donaldson, Piers Anthony, Dune, and others. I'm glad to see so many people love these books as well.

And why not? The characters are dynamic, engaging and more real than the average fantasy ones. The stories move along nicely with few if any slow moments. The classic elements of good and evil are all here with some twists.

There were some aspects that I was too young to appreciate the first time. One was the humor, most noticeable in The Book of Three, as we see some of the characters getting to first know each other. The other aspect was the theme/message that the way of the warrior is not the only path to nobility, honor, and courage (or to adulthood). There is as much honor in taking care of a garden as there is in being a warrior, to very loosely paraphrase one of the characters. In this day and age, when so much of the culture says be the biggest, baddest, toughest, strongest, richest etc person who destroys or gobbles up things, the message of taking care of a garden, creating something of beauty be it a woven cloak or a clay pot, or keeping a promise to a friend is refreshing and not heard enough.

To the other reviewers who feel Alexander borrowed characters and motifs heavily from Tolkien, these have been part of literature and mythology for a long time. Long BEFORE Tolkien. If Dallben is Gandalf, well, Gandalf is Merlin. And Merlin was borrowed from other myths or folktales. Alexander borrowed some from The Mabinogen, the Welsh treasury of mythology. Tolkien borrowed from Beowulf and other English sources. These stories have been recreated or recast for ages. Sure, there are similarities but then this is a genre where dwarves, wizards, and enchanted objects are the norm. But assistant Pig-Keepers, frustrated ex-giants who whine about their lack of stature, a traveling bard with a second job as a King, or a trio of witches with an unusual, unpredicable sense of logic who switch identities daily? Hardly. And where have you ever seen a character quite like Fflewdur Flam? (Well, maybe in Dickens or Mark Helprin's A Winter's Tale)

For the kids (or adults) who love Harry Potter: you've got till July before the 4th book is out. There are no Quidditch matches but Taran may remind you of Harry and Dallben may remind you of Dumbledore. Check these five books out. (But avoid the inaccurate animated version of The Black Cauldron)

I've read the Lord of the Rings twice and for a long time considered it the best book I'd ever read. But it doesn't hold quite the special spot in my heart that the Prydain books do. And at least Lloyd Alexander spared us his version of those long boring elf or dwarf songs and poems.

This first book in Lloyd Alexander's five-book series introduces most of the characters we come to know and love in the later books: Taran, Eilonwy, Hen-Wen, Doli, Coll, Dallben, Gurgi (with his many munchings and crunchings), Gwydion; and the evil players, Arawn, Achren, the Huntsmen of Annuvin, Gwythaints, the Cauldron Born, and the chief antagonist in this book, the Horned King (depicted on the cover).

Alexander draws deeply from Welsh mythology to bring us one of the finest fantasy series ever written, teeming with colorful wizards, princes, dwarves, and assorted monsters. It's heavily laden with virtue and positive messages without ever preaching. In The Book of Three, our hero, Taran Wanderer cuts his teeth in adventure and battle against the Horned King, showing early hints the greatness to come.

This first book is not by itself one of the great literary works, but is a worthy and required warm-up to the genius of the complete work. I believe these tales of the land of Prydain rank with Narnia and Tolkien's Middle Earth. Personally, I rank the Prydain series as number two behind the Ring Trilogy, and slightly better than the Narnia Chronicles. Alexander's books are easier reading than Tolkien's, but lack the depth. Of course, that's like saying K2 isn't as high as Everest. Who cares? --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

This book begins Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, the books that turned me on to fantasy when I was about 10. At 36, I'm re-reading them, and they definitely stand the test of time.

Though set in an imaginary medieval kingdom, the Prydain chronicles remind me of Star Wars -- or, to be more exact, Star Wars reminds me of the Prydain Chronicles, which I read before Luke ever heard of the Force. A naive, headstrong boy of unknown parentage dreams of glory while spending his days in dull farm chores -- until he unexpectedly finds himself in the midst of a cosmic battle between good and evil. He journeys away from his home and discovers beauties and terrors he never dreamed of. Although the adventuring life isn't at all what he expected, and his mistakes are many, he eventually discovers his own inner strength in ways he never imagined.

These wise and witty books are gorgeously written. Adults with an ear for poetic language may recognize this; children may appreciate it without being able to identify exactly what makes this book more than just another sword and sorcery adventure.

Although the Book of Three is probably the weakest of the series, it is the introduction to the marvelous world of Prydain, so it's worth finishing to be ready for the full flavor of the other four. However, you can still pick up the series in the middle: I started with the last book & still got hooked!

Am I the only person who sees amazingly tight parallels with STAR WARS in these books? It should be noted that Lloyd Alexander's books were composed first, before Chewbacca coughed up his first hairball.

Consider the similarities:

Taran/Luke works on a farm. He hates it there, and wants to be a hero. One day, his pig HenWen/his droid R2D2 runs off and this engages our young hero in an adventure where he meets a sage old wizard/jedi knight, a rogue-ish fflam/han solo and giant hairy sidekick gurgi/chewbacca. THEN, they go off to save the willful, mouthy, brave princess eilonwy/leia from the evil horned king/darth vader, who has countless soulless soldiers/stormtroopers at his disposal.

interesting, huh? when i was a 7-year-old star wars addict, i stumbled across "the book of three" in my school library. when i saw that the book could have been the source material for the best movie of my young life, i became obsessed with all five books, and gobbled them all up enthusiastically.

each book is wonderful. the characters are charming, the stories just go and go and go, and you don't want the five books to end. and, for star wars geeks out there, ya gotta check out the similarities. it's certainly interesting...

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.

When Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dalben, sets out to rescue the oracular white pig, Hen Wen who has been stolen by the Horned King, servant of Arawn Deathlord, he has no idea of the eventual end of the path on which he is taking his first, hesitant steps, nor of the life-long friends and companions he will meet.

Many believe that Alexander's "Prydain" books are derivative of J.R.R.Tolkien -- they aren't.

Rather, to a great extent, both derive from the same source, the ancient Welsh legends of the Mabinogion.

Personally, i prefer the use that Alexander has made of the material -- it is more human and alive, focused tightly on the characters rather than concerned primarily with a grand narrative sweep.

I was 26 when i came to these books; i'm 51 now, and in the intervening twenty-five years i have given away about eight or ten sets of them to family, friends and even chance acquaintances.

After twenty-five years, i still believe that there have been Very Few better works of children's/YA fantasy than these books... and not a lot even as good, for that matter.

If Harry Potter has left some young person you know with a hankering for the Good Stuff -- here it is.