Written by Lloyd Alexander
SUMMARY:
Though the book was originally published in 1964, this 224-page Bantam Doubleday Dell paperback reprint was released in April 1990. Long ago, in the Wales-like ‘Land of Prydain,’ young Assistant Pig-Keeper, Taran, resides on a secluded farm known as Caer Dalben. Longing for heroic adventure, Taran is rebuffed by his elderly guardian, the wizard Dalben, and his more sympathetic mentor (and aging ex-warrior), Coll.
Suffering swollen fingers, Taran learns the impudence of indulging his curiosity by handling Dalben’s mystical Book of Three journal (which knows all past, present, and future). When word reaches the farm that the menacing Horned King and his troops are approaching on the warpath, Taran desperately chases after his terrified charge, the oracular pig Hen Wen, who flees into the forbidden forest.
By pure chance … maybe or it’s simply fate, Taran embarks on an unforgettable journey to recover Hen Wen. Among those he will encounter include: Prydain’s greatest champion, Prince Gwydion; an outspoken young sorceress, Princess Eilonwy, a courageous bard: Fflewddur Fflam, whose cursed harp retaliates whenever he lies; belligerent dwarf Doli; and the endearing yet perpetually hungry forest creature, Gurgi.
Not only must Taran and his newfound friends elude the wicked Queen Achren’s wrath, they must dare cross Prydain’s dangerous terrain to warn the far-off Sons of Don nobles of the Horned King’s deadly rampage.
REVIEW:
As timeless as Lloyd Alexander’s first ‘Chronicle of Prydain’ remains, The Book of Three could be best described as a bedtime fairy tale vaguely mixed with elements of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Even more so, the unlikely quartet of Taran, Eilonwy, Fflewddur, and Gurgi exhibit a similarly likable chemistry comparable to Luke, Leia, Han Solo, & Chewbacca in the Star Wars saga.
Including some characters (as well as their names) inspired by Welsh folklore, Alexander ingeniously conjures up his own enchanting world that is well worth re-discovery. It’s also one absolutely ripe for a scenic big-screen adaptation in the same league as Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
Alexander provides a short ‘Author’s Note.’
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Note: Disney’s animated 1985 adaptation of the saga’s second book, The Black Cauldron, is really a mish-mash with The Book of Three.