#the book of three

[enchantedbook]

Illustration by Belgian illustrator Jean - Leon Huens (1921 - 1982) from 'The Book of Three'

#jean leon huens #the book of three #Illustration

[highqueenofprydain]

“…but I think they must have forgotten about me by now.”

#prydain #eilonwy #fanfiction #fanart #taran #lloyd alexander #the book of three

[chernobog13]

Jean-Leon Huens' cover for the 1980 edition of The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander.

This was the first of five books in Alexander's excellent The Chronicles of Prydain series. The series is influenced by, and utilizes characters from, Welsh folklore and mythology. Though aimed at younger audiences, the tales are great reading for any age, and I still enjoy them to this day.

Unfortunately, if most people know anything about this series it's due to the lackluster Disney animated film The Black Cauldron. That film was based on the second book of the series, and used elements from other books as well, but it's best forgotten.

The books, however, are very highly recommended.

#The Book of Three #The Chronicles of Prydain #Lloyd Alexander #Welsh mythology #Jeon-Leon Huens #The Horned King

[bookfirstlinetourney]

Round 1

Let's star with the end of the world, why don't we? Get it over with and move on to more interesting things.

-The Fifth Season, N.K. Jemisin

The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He's got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out his third mission of the night. His uniform is black as activated charcoal, filtering the very light out of the air. A bullet will bounce off its arachnofiber weave like a wren hitting a patio door, but excess perspiration wafts through it like a breeze through a freshly napalmed forest, Where his body has bony extremities, the suit has sintered armorgel: feels like gritty jello, protects like a stack of telephone books.

-Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson

Taran wanted to make a sword; but Coll, charged with the practical side of his education, decided on horseshoes. And so it had been horseshoes all morning long. Taran's arms ached, soot blackened his face. At last he dropped the hammer and turned to Coll, who was watching him critically.

-The Book of Three, Lloyd Alexander

#tournament poll #polls #books #reading #round 1 #the fifth season #nk jemisin #snow crash #neal stephenson #the book of three #lloyd alexander

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

The Book of Three, cover art by Jean-Léon Huens (1921-1982)

#Jean-Léon Huens (1921-1982) #art #cover art #Knight #skeleton #skull #memento mori #The Book of Three #r.p.g. #r p g #r.p.g. aesthetic #illustration #artwork #cover books #tales #cover book #literature #fantasy

[haveyoureadthisfantasybook]

vote yes if you have finished the entire book.

vote no if you have not finished the entire book.

(faq · submit a book)

#fantasy #books #Lloyd Alexander #The Book of Three #The Chronicles of Prydain #poll #result: no #l: English

[art-ofprydain]

#prydain on film #my blog #60th anniversary of the book of three #the book of three #lloyd alexander #1964 #march 12 #2024

[the-dust-jacket]

Some lovely old Chronicles of Prydain editions, with cover art by P.J. Lynch.

#The High King #The Book of Three #The Chronicles of Prydain #Lloyd Alexander #P.J. Lynch #books #middle grade #cover art

[general-sleepy]

The adventuring party from the The Book of Three is amazing. Like, it's two children, one of who is an amateur sorcerer and the other is Just Some Guy, a small bigfoot, and an adult loser who is always ready to defer to said children. Also a horse who's the brains of the operation.

#the chronicles of prydain #the book of three #eventually joined by a constantly bitter dwarf #i call fflewddur fflam a loser with all the love in the world

[crudely-drawn-ben]

Continuing my "Book of Three as character design inspiration" exercise, I'm going to try drawing each character's introduction.

#chronicles of prydain #Prydain #The Book of Three #Coll ap Colfrewr #Taran #Hen wen #Assistant pig keeper

[darkcloud-kcalifornia]

Okay, there hadn’t been much in the way of humor thus far in this book. But then Achren tries to make a dramatic point/example to her prisoners by smashing Gwydion’s blade to bits against a pillar to show the prince what she’s going to metaphorically do to him… and fails to break the thing. So she tries the ground next and fails yet again. It isn’t until she injured herself grabbing the thing by the blade to cast a curse on it that she finally breaks the thing. Yeah, uh, real intimidating display there, Achren. You sure showed them a thing or two.

#book banter #the chronicles of prydain #the book of three

[smalltownfae]

The Chronicles of Prydain Overview

Numbers: 5 books + 1 short story collection

The Book of Three

The Black Cauldron

The Castle of Llyr

Taran Wanderer

The High King

The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain

Why you should read it:

Similar to Lord of the Rings, but shorter and for younger audiences and it includes a brilliant main female character;

Inspired by Welsh mythology;

Traditional fantasy coming of age done brilliantly;

Acknowledges the importance of team work and asking for help;

Prophetic pig and the importance of being a “pig-keeper” (common person);

Cozy atmosphere and charming characters;

Beautiful and tender writing style with some great quotes;

Soft magic and lots of nature;

Really short books and quick to get through;

Pronunciation guide at the end of the book!

What is it about?

On the surface, it’s about a battle of good vs evil, but at it’s heart is about the understanding of human nature and the world around us. It’s a coming of age story about a boy that longs for adventure and finds out that there is nothing better than being with the people one loves and helping them. It’s about a boy trying to figure out who he is and what he values and finding out that the past doesn’t matter more than the possibility of the future. The side characters are also wonderful and fleshed out enough (the standout being Eilonwy, which is almost as important as Taran, the main character).

What I love about this series the most, besides the great journey towards knowing one’s self, is that it recognizes that great actions cannot be done alone and that there isn’t one single hero even if the story is focused on Taran. It recognizes the value of connecting with others and working as a team towards a common goal. In that way, it can get really emotional.

If you have watched the Disney animated movie and did not like it, fear not. Everyone seems to think it’s a bad adaptation that tries to combine the first two books in the series. I watched it once as a kid and it left no impression on me whatsoever. As always, the books are way better.

Fun fact: Taran Wanderer was written after the last book, The High King, which might explain why it feels more mature.

Quotes:

“A damp green scent filled the air. No bird called; no squirrel chattered. The forest seemed to be holding it’s breath.” (The Book of Three)

“Does it trully matter which one did what, since all shared the same goal and the same danger? Nothing we do is done entirely alone. There is a part of us in everyone else.” (The Book of Three)

“There is much to be known… and above all much to be loved, be in the turn of the seasons or the shape of a river pebble. Indeed, the more we find to love, the more we add to the measure of our hearts.” (The Black Cauldron)

“It is easy to judge evil unmixed. . . But, alas, in most of us good and bad are closely woven as the threads on a loom; greater wisdom than mine is needed for the judging.” (The Black Cauldron)

“There are those who have labored all their lives to gain the gift, striving until the end only to find themselves mistaken; and those who had it born in them yet never knew; those who lost heart too soon; and those who should never have begun at all. Count yourself lucky that you have understood this now and not spent your years in vain hope. This much have you learned, and no learning is wasted.” (Taran Wanderer)

#the chronicles of prydain #lloyd alexander #why you should read #the book of three #the black cauldron #the castle of llyr #taran wanderer #the high king #the foundling and other tales of prydain

[highqueenofprydain]

"Sometimes there's absolutely nothing to do around here..."

#eilonwy #prydain #fanart #fanfiction #lloyd alexander #the book of three

[autistfanatic]

After watching a review on the Black Cauldron i learnt this movie came from a book series called the Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander in the 60s.

Downloaded a Kindle sample and I'm pretty invested

The covers on the physical paperbacks are very eyecatching. (Plus its loosely based on Welsh mythos! I'm currently getting into Welsh mythology)

I hope i enjoy this as I did the movie as a kid. (I wasn't phased at all by the scary elements in said movie as a kid. Not even the Horned Kings death fucked me up.)

Eilonwy was my first introduction into feminist icons. (Despite needing Taran to use the magic sword to save her back at the black castle) because she aided Taran out of the dungeon. And tells Taran off for his sexism in one scene.

Tell him Eilonwy!!!

#chronicles of prydain #lloyd alexander #taran #the horned king #the book of three #the black cauldron

[booksquoteworld]

Love is Enduring.

“In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you.” -The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander The quote “In case you ever foolishly forget: I am never not thinking of you” from the novel The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander is a powerful expression of love and devotion that has resonated with many people. This quote is a reminder that true love is enduring and that even when we are…

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#book quotes #books #devotion #friendship #inspiration #Lloyd Alexander #love #love quotes #quote #Relationships #reminder #The Book of Three #thoughts

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Jean-Léon Huens (1921-1982) for The Chronicles of Prydain books, The Book of Three, The Black Caldron, Taran Wanderer, and The High King.

#Jean Leon Huens #80's #80s #1980 #Jean-Léon Huens (1921-1982) #The Book of Three #The Black Caldron #Taran Wanderer #The High King #fantasy #r.p.g #r p g #r.p.g. aesthetic #tales #adventure #illustration #art #paintings #artwork