Category: Children’s Books

Written by Lloyd Alexander

SUMMARY:

The John Newbery Medal-winning finale of the five-part ‘Chronicles of Prydain’ was originally published in 1968.  This 304-page Bantam Doubleday Dell paperback reprint was released in April 1990.  Returning home from Taran Wanderer’s two-year sojourn, Taran & Gurgi happily reunite with Eilonwy, Dalben, Rhun, and Coll, among others. 

Fflewddur Fflam’s grim arrival reveals that Arawn’s minions have unexpectedly mugged a wounded Gwydion of his mystical blade, Dyrnwyn.  Suddenly, Arawn Death-Lord’s endgame to conquer Prydain has commenced.  Hen Wen’s last prophecy enigmatically foretells of how Dyrnwyn must be reclaimed. 

Having reached manhood, timeless lessons Taran has taken to heart in recent years come into play.  First, he must recruit all possible help the Companions can find from across Prydain.  Even more daunting for Taran is that he then must lead one of Gwydion’s armies into Annuvin (Arawn’s feared Land of the Dead) for a final and likely suicidal battle to the death.  Old friends and foes alike resurface, as Gwydion, Taran, and their scattered Companions (Eilonwy, Gurgi, Fflewddur, Coll, Rhun, Doli, etc.) all are forced to make life-altering decisions.  Among them is who must leave the realm of Prydain forever, and who shall fatefully remain behind to an uncertain fate.  As The Book of Three ultimately reveals, Prydain’s murky future will be at last be forged.  

REVIEW:

Even if its poignant finish is construed as a necessary cop-out, The High King deserves recognition as among the best children’s adventure stories of all time.  In a wonderful sense, author Lloyd Alexander satisfyingly offers pre-teens their own equivalent of Lord of the Rings or even a timeless fantasy-adventure akin to King Arthur and His Round Table’s final stand.  Memorable supporting characters from earlier Prydain volumes return to make indelible appearances helping complete the Companions’ epic last journey.  Nearly all the loose story threads are resolved, as Alexander ensures he has indeed saved the best adventure for last.  If any Chronicle of Prydain ever sees an epic big screen adaptation, let it be this one.

Note: 1973’s The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain is a collection of eight fable-like short stories that resolves some of the ‘mysteries’ left over from the saga.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Alexander provides a thoughtful ‘Author’s Note.’

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 10 Stars

Written by Lloyd Alexander

SUMMARY:

Though this fourth Chronicle of Prydain was originally published in 1967, this 272-page Bantam Doubleday Dell paperback reprint was released in April 1990. 

Longing to propose marriage to Eilonwy (who is still away on the Isle of Mona), Taran leaves Caer Dalben to discover his true heritage, one hopefully of noble origin.  Accompanied by the loyal Gurgi and Fflewddur Fflam, Taran’s two-year odyssey takes him across unexpected corners of Prydain where he gradually learns life lessons seasoning him for adulthood.  Some of these truths are fairly simple, such as resolving a local dispute between two of King Smoit’s feuding nobles. 

Others, such as confronting the malevolent sorcerer, Morda, or defiantly repelling the treacherous thug, Dorath, are far steeper challenges.  Yet, the most life-altering and heart-breaking changes unexpectedly await the young adventurer elsewhere on the rural plains of Prydain’s back country.  With the aid of some new friends, Taran finds that he must literally forge his own destiny, no matter where it leads him.  

REVIEW:

As the most contemplative entry of this five-part series, Taran Wanderer is a moderately-paced episodic fable.  Alternating between adventures and timeless insights of human nature, author Lloyd Alexander believably evolves Taran’s increasingly less-naïve perspective of adulthood.  As this storyline centers on Taran’s maturity, the book’s sole detriment is Taran’s occasionally condescending platitudes to Gurgi may grow tiresome.  Still, his plausible transformation by the book’s end proves most satisfying. 

The pivotal contributions of new characters, such as Annlaw the Clay-Shaper; Llasar the Sheepherder; Dwyvach the Weaver-Woman; Hevydd the Smith; Llonio the happy-go-lucky family man and scavenger; the reclusive Craddoc; and even the bullying Dorath imbue a welcome allusion of everyday reality in Alexander’s saga.  To their credit, Gurgi, Fflewddur, a cameo by Doli compensate for Eilonwy’s absence by providing the necessary buddy chemistry to boost Taran Wanderer out of morose scenes at the right moments.  Rewarding patient readers, this penultimate Chronicle of Prydain is perhaps its most underrated in terms of educational value re: role models.    

In terms of a potential big screen adaptation, Taran Wanderer is the saga’s most low-key work, as there’s more non-action than adventure.  It would be an intriguing prospect to see Taran’s journey as an epic film.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Alexander provides a short ‘Author’s Note.’

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                               8 Stars

Written by Lloyd Alexander

SUMMARY:

Though the book was originally published in 1966, this 206-page Bantam Doubleday Dell paperback reprint was released in April 1990.  Several months after The Black Cauldron, Princess Eilonwy is accompanied by Taran and Gurgi to commence her royal education on the pristine Isle of Mona.  Yet, an old foe unexpectedly resurfaces who threatens Eilonwy’s safety.  Despite their best precautions, a royal traitor carries out the feisty Eilonwy’s abduction. 

Reunited with Prince Gwydion and  Fflewddur Fflam, the Companions set out to rescue their beloved princess.  They must also simultaneously safeguard their new friend: the well-intentioned yet bumbling Prince Rhun.  During their journey, the Companions encounter new characters in the saga, including the gigantic orange tabby, Lylan, and a miserably self-absorbed giant named Glew.  Even as her fate remains unknown, Taran is increasingly disheartened knowing that Rhun, per his royal blood, is destined as Eilonwy’s future husband. 

Even so, rescuing a mesmerized Eilonwy from her ancestral home may prove far more difficult than imagined, as her latent magical powers stunningly come to life.

REVIEW:

Reverting to the charming fairy tale-style formula of The Book of Three, this third Chronicle of Prydain is refreshingly the series’ most old-fashioned.  It’s akin to The Princess Bride film adaptation, complete with wonderful touches of light humor (as seen in Rhun’s contributions).  Though it is his series’ weakest in terms of actual plotting and originality, author Lloyd Alexander admirably compensates by adding terrific new characters, as well as resolving loose plot threads left over from The Book of Three.  Further, Llyan’s sequences and Fflewddur’s ongoing feud with Magg the Chief Royal Steward make worthy new facets to Alexander’s saga.  A few hints of romance complete this entertaining return to Prydain.  Considering its crowd-pleasing moments, this third Prydain adventure needs a scenic big-screen adaptation worthy of epics like Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. 

If anything, The Castle of Llyr satisfies fans as a welcome treat after the macabre Black Cauldron and before moving to the far-more complex Taran Wanderer.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Alexander provides a short ‘Author’s Note.’

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                             8 Stars