Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander
Jun. 17th, 2011 11:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganbmooreThis is another foray into “Things Megan Loved When Young: How Do They Hold Up?” So far, these adventures in consumption of fiction have turned out well, though I’m sure nostalgia is a factor.
Apparently, there was a time when I wasn’t so jaded that “farm boy with a destiny” type stories didn’t immediately alienate me, as this definitely one. Though I’m particularly appreciative of the fact that this particular farm boy is never revealed to have a Super Special Parentage or Super Special Powers/Links to the Villain that give him a special edge. Instead, he’s just a random kid who becomes the Destined Hero through hard work and good taste in friends. (Which actually does remove a lot of my issues with the trope.) There’s also a lot of subtle and so-not-so-subtle promoting of the virtues of hard work, though only Taran Wanderer really thwacks you over the head with it.
I loved all the Welsh mythology in the series when I was younger, but appreciate it a lot more as an adult, especially with Alexander’s prefaces about how he’s using mythology. It also manages to convey the needed sense of danger that something that’s intended to be an epic based on myth needs, and better than many, while still being safe for younger readers. The series suffers a lot from Only One Woman syndrome, and the minor female characters fall into very specific types. Though, I’m not sure if I realized that there were Things Going On with Achren (aka, Immortal Evil Queen) and Gwydion (Heroic Champion of Good) when I was younger, but wither way, I think I imprinted on it. Though, Eilonwy is basically a force of nature, so it’s actually easy to miss the lack of other women. Though, I now have to roll my eyes at how she was suddenly emphasized as a tomboy once she and Taran were old enough to notice hormones (well, once Taran started noticing, at least, I think she figured those things out a lot quicker) whereas before she was just Eilonwy. Though I’m glad her being shipped off to be turned into a lady resulted in virtually no changes in her personality or demeanor.
In order the books are:
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Taran Wanderer
The High King
There are some short stories related to the series, but I haven’t read them yet. I should though. Especially the one about Eilonwy’s mother.
Apparently, there was a time when I wasn’t so jaded that “farm boy with a destiny” type stories didn’t immediately alienate me, as this definitely one. Though I’m particularly appreciative of the fact that this particular farm boy is never revealed to have a Super Special Parentage or Super Special Powers/Links to the Villain that give him a special edge. Instead, he’s just a random kid who becomes the Destined Hero through hard work and good taste in friends. (Which actually does remove a lot of my issues with the trope.) There’s also a lot of subtle and so-not-so-subtle promoting of the virtues of hard work, though only Taran Wanderer really thwacks you over the head with it.
I loved all the Welsh mythology in the series when I was younger, but appreciate it a lot more as an adult, especially with Alexander’s prefaces about how he’s using mythology. It also manages to convey the needed sense of danger that something that’s intended to be an epic based on myth needs, and better than many, while still being safe for younger readers. The series suffers a lot from Only One Woman syndrome, and the minor female characters fall into very specific types. Though, I’m not sure if I realized that there were Things Going On with Achren (aka, Immortal Evil Queen) and Gwydion (Heroic Champion of Good) when I was younger, but wither way, I think I imprinted on it. Though, Eilonwy is basically a force of nature, so it’s actually easy to miss the lack of other women. Though, I now have to roll my eyes at how she was suddenly emphasized as a tomboy once she and Taran were old enough to notice hormones (well, once Taran started noticing, at least, I think she figured those things out a lot quicker) whereas before she was just Eilonwy. Though I’m glad her being shipped off to be turned into a lady resulted in virtually no changes in her personality or demeanor.
In order the books are:
The Book of Three
The Black Cauldron
The Castle of Llyr
Taran Wanderer
The High King
There are some short stories related to the series, but I haven’t read them yet. I should though. Especially the one about Eilonwy’s mother.
no subject
Date: 2011-06-20 05:04 pm (UTC)Thanks for reminding me they exist!! :)