Reviewed by: The Goose
Friday, April 30, 1999

Yet again I have decided to turn away from the safe secure world of adult fiction to the untamed wilds of Juvenile monkey Fiction. The Book of Three is the introductory novel into the land of Prydain. Alexander takes the myths of the Welsh and weaves them with his own creations to create a richly textured land of yore.

There is no fancy iconography or complex themes to this story. It is a basic story of good, evil, sorcerers and swords, warriors and assistant pig-keepers. Oh yeah, of course there is a princess!

Taran lives on a farm called Caer Dallben with Coll, Dallben, and an oracular pig named Hen Wen. Dalben is a Seer, or Sorcerer, or Wise Man – Taran cannot decide. Coll is the big, jolly guy who is the farm’s handyman. Hen Wen is just a happy pig as far as Taran can tell. Nothing ever happens at Caer Dalben.Taran wishes for adventure.

And one day it happens. Hen Wen freaks out and escapes her pen. Taran chases off after her into the forest and then you have to read the rest! Along the way he meets Gwydion, prince of the House of Don, Eilonwy – Princess of the House of Llyr, Fflweddur Fflam – errant bard with a penchant for prevarication, and The Horned King (not a good guy).

This story is A LOT of fun, especially for the juvenile monkey just getting started with books without pictures. For the older monkey revisiting this enchanted tale it is still a good read. The symbolism may appear heavy-handed and the language simple (minus all the Welsh vocab) but the story will still grip you. The characters are enjoining if a little sketchy.

And the Saga continues! Like the Chronicles of Narnia, there are several books in this story that follow Taran through more adventures and through puberty!

It is a must read for the young monkey.

Paperback Reissue edition (January 12, 1999) Yearling Books; ISBN: 0440407028; Dimensions (in inches): 0.60 x 7.61 x 5.10