The Book of Three

By Lloyd Alexander

Taran, the assistant pig-keeper longs to be a hero. He begins his journey with a strange assortment of companions on a dangerous mission to save his beloved land, Prydain. Packed with action, humor, romance, and gallantry, Taran’s adventures chronicle his beloed Prydain and his battle with the forces of evil.

Lloyd Alexander knows how to spin quite the yarn. His books have such an old feeling to them, as if they were written as legends even when they are new. Taran's story is familiar in that he is a boy wishing to be a warrior, and when he gets what he wants he realizes it might not be everything that he thought. It's funny how the premise of good vs. evil and a journey from an unlikely hero never gets old. This book is the first in the chronicles of Prydain, of which there are 5. You may also recognize it from Disney's movie "The Black Cauldron" which is the second book in this series. Have a peek, especially if you have never experienced Lloyd Alexander before. This book can be slow at times, especially if you're used to the fast-pace of modern stories that go for plot speed vs. character and story development. Give it a go and you might be surprised. Alexander's "The Iron Ring" is one of my favorites.