LIFE

‘Book of Three’ started series craze in U.S.

Clara Martin

“The Book of Three” heralds the introduction of the modern series in America.

This book is for young readers who are voracious readers of series, i.e., “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” “Harry Potter” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Celebrating its 50th year in print this year, “The Book of Three” is the first book of “The Chronicles of Prydain” by Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007). A Tolkien contemporary, Alexander’s first installment in the series was published in 1964, 10 years after “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Instead of publishing “The Lord of the Rings” as a trilogy, it was published in three volumes to keep costs low due to post-war paper shortages.

Alongside C.S. Lewis and the “Chronicles of Narnia” (published at the same time as “The Lord of the Rings”), these authors introduced the modern “series” that is so ubiquitous today. Alexander is the American counterpart to those British authors of fantasy and mythology, living and writing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, except for his time spent in Europe during World War II, where he served as a member of the U.S. Army Intelligence.

Inspired by Welsh mythology, Alexander insists that “The Chronicles of Prydain” is not a retelling of Welsh mythology; rather, “Prydain is a country existing only in the imagination.” As I was re-reading “The Book of Three,” I found myself laughing at Taran, the hero of the series, who is unsatisfied with his work making horseshoes on a small farm where there are no horses. In fact, he seems very much like a millennial.

“What is the use of studying much when I’m to see nothing at all?” Taran retorted. “I think there is a destiny laid on me that I am not to know anything interesting, or do anything interesting. I’m certainly not to be anything interesting. I’m not anything even at Caer Dallben!”

“Very well,” said Coll, “if that is all that troubles you, I shall make you something. From this moment, you are Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper.”

Hen Wen is an oracular pig with a mind of her own. When she escapes, Taran must find her, and thus begins his journey. Taran learns many things about being a hero, mostly, that an Assistant Pig-Keeper is just as important as a High King. As Alexander writes, “Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepared. To this extent, we are all Assistant Pig-Keepers at heart.”

Clara Martin is a Lemuria Books employee.

Top reads

1. “Egg and Spoon,” Gregory Maguire, Candlewick, $17.99

2. “Where Do They Go on Gameday?’ Laurie Fisher, Mascot, $16.95

3. “Revolution,” Deborah Wiles, Scholastic, $19.99

4. “Goodnight Ole Miss,” Courtney Solon Brown, Ampersand, $18.95”

5. “Pete The Cat and the New Guy,” Dean Kimberly, Simon & Schuster, $16

Compiled by University Press of Mississippi

Reported by:; Lemuria Books (Jackson), Square Books (Oxford), Turning Pages (Natchez), Turnrow Book Co. (Greenwood)