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heathengray 's review for:
Taran Wanderer
by Lloyd Alexander
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We rarely get to see a character in novels age, and change with those years. Often the character is the same, they never change. For example, Harry Potter is always the good mistaken hero. But ever since Lloyd got me to hate the snivelling Taran in the first few pages of his first book of Prydain, The Book of Three, then got me to love him a scant twenty pages later, I have treasured each of these books.
Here we find Taran a little older, but almost as unwise. Gone is the outraged complaining youth. A veteran of at least a couple of military campaigns and quests to help his friends (and save Prydain), he now looks inwards. Who is he? Knowing nothing of his parents, the thrust of the story is that he would dearly love to propose to Princess Eilonwy, this being made easier if he is infact also noble born.
Perhaps less well structured as the others, this book does indeed wander. Taran is blown like a leaf on the wind to different adventures and misadventures. Things conveniently work out. Gurgi of course returns and journeys with Taran, as does Ffleuddwr Fflam, and we meet a couple of old favourites along the way.
I've thought that this series was a big secret inspiration to the TTRPG Dungeons and Dragons, at least in how adventures unfold at the table. But I'm convinced this book alone is responsible for the feel and pacing of many video games.
Charmingly written, it strikes all the right notes for the genre. This book more than the others will have the most impact with growing child readers, as they realise it's ok the fail at tasks, so long as they never give up, nor look for easy answers.
Here we find Taran a little older, but almost as unwise. Gone is the outraged complaining youth. A veteran of at least a couple of military campaigns and quests to help his friends (and save Prydain), he now looks inwards. Who is he? Knowing nothing of his parents, the thrust of the story is that he would dearly love to propose to Princess Eilonwy, this being made easier if he is infact also noble born.
Perhaps less well structured as the others, this book does indeed wander. Taran is blown like a leaf on the wind to different adventures and misadventures. Things conveniently work out. Gurgi of course returns and journeys with Taran, as does Ffleuddwr Fflam, and we meet a couple of old favourites along the way.
I've thought that this series was a big secret inspiration to the TTRPG Dungeons and Dragons, at least in how adventures unfold at the table. But I'm convinced this book alone is responsible for the feel and pacing of many video games.
Charmingly written, it strikes all the right notes for the genre. This book more than the others will have the most impact with growing child readers, as they realise it's ok the fail at tasks, so long as they never give up, nor look for easy answers.