Pyridain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Fri August 13th, 2010, 8:21 am

hey MLE, just to note, i think it was the last book "the high King" that won the award but id have to check. I think i remember that because that was my favourite book of the series (and the most epic). I cant think of any other series where each book is better than the previous, for me anyway.

I had a nice hard cover omnibus of this series which might be the surest way to collect the series.

Im glad this is well known but im surprised its not as talked about as other series. it probably suffered from the attempt to Disneyfy it in the 80s (ugh).

have to stop talking about it or ill want to re-read it.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Fri August 13th, 2010, 1:34 pm

I'm almost sure it was the High King as well. I didn't like Taran Wanderer as much.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Fri August 13th, 2010, 2:31 pm

You're right, I just checked -- it was the High King--1969. And the Black Cauldron was an honor winner two years before. Well, the brain ages and little bits of memory break off.

Alex Worthy · Post by **Alex Worthy** » Fri August 13th, 2010, 3:01 pm

Thanks Divia and MLE.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Fri August 13th, 2010, 4:01 pm

I have the series (somehow managed to miss it as a kid) and was hoping to read this with my daughters one of these days. We'll get around to it eventually. Also have some of Alan Garner's books, too, which I hope to read with them.

I tried to get my daughter interested in Time Cat (another Alexander novel) a few years ago, but she was just a tad too young to appreciate it. Sometimes, you have to get them at just the right time or age.

parthianbow · Post by **parthianbow** » Wed August 18th, 2010, 10:53 am

Hey Keny, thanks for posting about these books! What a blast from the past. I too loved these books as a boy. It's so funny that so many other members liked them too. I haven't read them as an adult, but as I still have them (I kept all the best of my fantasy books), I must get them next time I visit my parents.

annis · Post by **annis** » Wed August 18th, 2010, 7:50 pm

I was interested to note that Philip Reeve (whose teenage historical novel Here Lies Arthur I've just mentioned in the Young Adult Historical Fiction thread) says that Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, along with Tolkien and Rosemary Sutcliff, were a major influence on him when he was young.

Kveto from Prague · Post by **Kveto from Prague** » Thu August 19th, 2010, 10:21 am

[quote=""parthianbow""]Hey Keny, thanks for posting about these books! What a blast from the past. I too loved these books as a boy. It's so funny that so many other members liked them too. I haven't read them as an adult, but as I still have them (I kept all the best of my fantasy books), I must get them next time I visit my parents.[/quote]

no problem, Ben. I'm a bit surprised so many members remember and enjoy these too. and they definately hold up well when you read them as an adult.

juleswatson · Post by **juleswatson** » Fri August 20th, 2010, 8:28 am

I adored these books and well remember weeping copiously at the end of High King. I also devoured Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising" series and Alan Garner's books as well. Those three series triggered off my love of Celtic fantasy, actually, when I was a child, then later I moved on to Tolkien and Mists of Avalon. I re-bought Dark is Rising and Alan Garner in a fit of nostalgia but had not tracked down Prydain. I must get them, especially if they have been reissued - they can complete my nostalgia fest! Thanks for the reminder

parthianbow · Post by **parthianbow** » Fri August 20th, 2010, 10:03 am

[quote=""juleswatson""]I adored these books and well remember weeping copiously at the end of High King. I also devoured Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising" series and Alan Garner's books as well. Those three series triggered off my love of Celtic fantasy, actually, when I was a child, then later I moved on to Tolkien.[/quote]
How funny! The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and the sequel The Moon of Gomrath were two of my all time favourites, as were the Susan Cooper books. Incidentally, Jules, did you know that the 2nd book, The Dark is Rising, was made in to a film about 1 or 2 years ago? Not seen it, but my dad said it was quite good.