|
No post today, or the coming week, as I am going on vacation! Chapters resume October 7th.
|
# ? Sep 27, 2023 08:12 |
|
|
# ? Jun 3, 2024 23:54 |
|
Wahad posted:No post today, or the coming week, as I am going on vacation! Chapters resume October 7th. A well earned break! Don't get kidnapped.
|
# ? Sep 27, 2023 17:51 |
|
Chapter 6: The Potions of Glew We're back! quote:AT THESE WORDS GURGI set up a wail and rocked back and forth, clutching his head. Taran swallowed his own despair as best he could and tried to reassure the frightened creature. They must've missed the "no trespassing" sign. quote:"Hullo, hullo!" Prince Rhun, beaming, stood in the doorway. Aside from looking a little sleepy, he appeared quite himself and altogether unharmed. "I hope you've got some breakfast with you," he added, rubbing his hands eagerly. "I'm nearly starved to death. Have you ever noticed how the fresh air sharpens one's appetite? Most surprising! Come in, come in," Rhun went on, while Taran stared speechless at him. "You'd be amazed how comfortable it is. Surprisingly snug and cozy. Where did the rest of you pass the night? I hope you slept as well as I did. You can't imagine..." Well, we've gone a bit Alice in Wonderland here, haven't we?
|
# ? Oct 7, 2023 12:57 |
|
Chapter 7: The Lair of Llyanquote:TARAN'S BLADE WENT spinning from his grasp and he threw himself to the ground to escape the onslaught. In a powerful spring, the creature passed over his head. The great beast screamed with fury as the companions scattered in terror to all parts of the hut. Amid the confusion of tumbling stools and benches, and as the dry leaves rose in a whirlwind, Taran saw that Fflewddur had jumped to a tabletop and, in so doing, had plunged into the spiderweb which now covered him from head to foot. Prince Rhun, having tried vainly to climb up the chimney, crouched in the ashes of the hearth. Gurgi had made himself as small as he could and had pressed into a corner, where he squealed and yelled, In the age old question of 'would you rather fight a horse-sized cat, or ten cat sized horses' I think our companions have found the right answer. quote:Taran in despair pressed his hands against his forehead. "Prince Rhun," he called softly after a moment, as Llyan began passing a paw over her whiskers, "stand up quietly. See if you can make your way to that broken corner of the hut. If so, climb out and run for your life." The Prince of Mona nodded, but no sooner had he risen to his feet than Llyan growled a warning. Prince Rhun blinked and quickly sat down again. Llyan glared at the companions. Play that kitty music, Fflewddur!
|
# ? Oct 11, 2023 18:54 |
|
Finally, Fflewdur finds an appreciative audience. I have to admit, while I remembered Llyan (but forgot her name), Glew had entirely leaked out of my memory.
|
# ? Oct 13, 2023 05:03 |
|
Darthemed posted:Finally, Fflewdur finds an appreciative audience. To be fair, it's not really until The High King where Glew starts doing things that really endear him to memory and by that I mean "make you really loving hate him". But that is all spoilers though. Llyan though is the best biggest kitty and her and Fflewdur are perfect together
|
# ? Oct 13, 2023 05:14 |
|
Two chapters today, because I was busy saturday! Chapter 8: The Harp of Fflewddur quote:FLY FROM HERE!" urged the bard, never ceasing to pluck his harp strings. "Begone! I've no idea how long she'll want to listen--- or how long I can keep playing!" A little self-awareness from Rhun is nice to see. quote:"If you want to, then you shall." Taran answered, suddenly and strangely touched by the Prince of Mona's frankness, and not a little ashamed of his own unkind thoughts about Rhun. "I ask your own forgiveness. If I envied your rank, it was because I believed you held it as a lucky gift and took it for granted. You speak the truth. For a man to be worthy of any rank, he must strive first to be a man." And we're back on the trail! Chapter 9: The Luck of Rhun quote:"HE'S FOUND HER!" Taran shouted, as thecompanions pressed around the frantic crow. And the kitty came back, the very next day... quote:"The raft!" Taran shouted. "Into the river with it!" He seized one end of the clumsy craft and struggled to haul it to the water. Still yelling, Gurgi ran to aid him. Prince Rhun toiled as best he could to help. The bard had already splashed into the stream, where he stood hip-deep in the current and heaved at the branches. Llyan's tufted ears cupped forward and her whiskers twitched as her glance fell on the bard. From her throat arose not a savage roar but a bell-like, questioning cry. Eyes shining with a strange glow, she loped forward on huge padded paws. Purring loudly, the mountain cat made straight for the frantic bard. One has to wonder how that keeps happening.
|
# ? Oct 18, 2023 20:48 |
|
Wahad posted:Two chapters today, because I was busy saturday! Rhun has we we would call "Wile E. Coyote luck"
|
# ? Oct 18, 2023 21:12 |
|
I warned you about osiers bro
|
# ? Oct 18, 2023 23:14 |
|
Chapter 10: The Cavernquote:HEEDLESS OF FFLEWDDUR'S warning shout, Taran leaped into the pit and slid quickly past a mesh of torn roots. The hole widened a little, then dropped straight. Calling for the bard to lower a length of vine, he let himself fall, then scrambled to his feet and struggled to lift up the unconscious Rhun, who was bleeding heavily from a gash at the side of his head. The end of the vine dangled from above. Taran seized and lashed it securely under the Prince's arms, shouting for Fflewddur and Gurgi to pull him up. The vine tautened, strained--- and snapped. Earth and stones showered from the raw sides of the hole. Rocks - or in this case our merry band - fall, everyone dies. quote:A violent shock stunned him. Loose earth filled his nose and mouth. Lungs bursting, he fought against the weight pressing the life from him. It was only then he realized he had stopped falling. His head still reeled, but he twisted and clawed his way through dirt and pebbles. He heaved himself upward, breathing once again. Gasping and trembling, he dropped at full length on a sloping, rocky floor, in darkness so deep it seemed to suffocate him. At last regaining strength enough to lift his head, he tried vainly to peer through the shadows that filled his eyes. He called to the companions, but no answer came. His voice rang with a strange, hollow echo. In despair, he shouted once more. Hey, haven't we heard that name before?
|
# ? Oct 21, 2023 19:04 |
|
We draw closer to the secret of the bauble!
|
# ? Oct 24, 2023 19:06 |
|
Coca Koala posted:We draw closer to the secret of the bauble! And I'm damned if I can remember what it is! Or how this book gets to the conclusion, either.
|
# ? Oct 24, 2023 22:37 |
|
Chapter 11: King of the Stonesquote:GURGI FLUNG HIMSELF to the ground,covered his head with his hands, and whimpered piteously. The creature threw a long, spindly leg over the ledge and began slowly drawing himself upright. He was more than thrice as tall as Taran, and his flabby arms dangled below a pair of knobby, moss-covered knees. With a lopsided gait he shambled toward the companions. Glew may not be one of the Fair Folk, but he sure whines like 'em. quote:"I've never run so fast and so far in my life," he said. "I still dream of it, when I'm not dreaming of worse. Finally, I found a cave and into it I went. I hadn't a moment to spare," continued Glew, sighing heavily. "I swallowed the potion. Now that I've had time to think it over, I realize I shouldn't have. But it had made Llyan so much bigger, I thought it would do the same for me, so I might have a chance against her. And so it did," he added. Looks like the King's keeping his subjects.
|
# ? Oct 28, 2023 18:51 |
|
Hey, I loved these books as a kid! Amazing how it all comes flooding back when you re-read them.Genghis Cohen posted:This is one of the other things that I can no longer suspend my disbelief around as an adult, looking back at books for kids. There's always some reason the adolescent protagonist(s) have a critical role to play and can make big decisions. Whereas in real life almost any adult present would seize control of the situation - it's completely unreasonable the Fllewddur, who seems to be an eccentric but relatively competent chap, would just let the goodhearted but inexperienced pigkeeper make the decisions. Age and experience do matter, although I fully see the point of teaching young readers to believe in themselves and imagine they could be the hero given the chance. Replying to this post from months ago: that's a good point and that, I guess, is why Fllewddur's character is the way it is: to make the group dynamics work, Fllewddur is a rather childish person himself, who actively runs away from responsibility and happily goes along with whatever other people decide for him: "A Fflam never flinches from danger! / A Fflam understands when it's sensible to withdraw!" (delete as appropriate).
|
# ? Oct 30, 2023 16:39 |
|
Pistol_Pete posted:Hey, I loved these books as a kid! Amazing how it all comes flooding back when you re-read them. Fllewddur has such a unique place in the books and on the team because, like I said earlier, he is the closest thing to adult supervision whenever Gwydion's not around, yet that doesn't make him either responsible, nor an adult most of the time. He's trying to be, and that's what matters, but he still definitely knows that and is completely okay with Taran being in the one in the driver's seat... ostensibly, of course, because like 75% of the story is Taran running after the villains himself.
|
# ? Oct 30, 2023 17:21 |
|
I don't have a lot of deep thoughts but I'm really just enjoying the read - I can kind of see why this book feels like it's a bit slower and smaller than the other two, but it feels like good focus on the characters outside of an apocalypse.
|
# ? Oct 31, 2023 02:23 |
|
Coca Koala posted:I don't have a lot of deep thoughts but I'm really just enjoying the read - I can kind of see why this book feels like it's a bit slower and smaller than the other two, but it feels like good focus on the characters outside of an apocalypse. Like I said a while ago, it's basically just an anime beach episode or a vacation drama episode: a nothing plot that's used to flesh out the characters a little more. It's basically a book-length prologue to Taran Wanderer.
|
# ? Oct 31, 2023 02:29 |
|
My definition of YA literature is "The plot bends to make the kid characters more important and actualized than is realisically plausible"
|
# ? Oct 31, 2023 08:13 |
|
Chapter 12: The Tombquote:THE BARD, LIKE TARAN, had dashed headlong into the wall, and now struggled to his feet. Gurgi's yells rang above the screeching of the bats. Prince Rhun stumbled to Taran's side and threw his weight against the immovable rock. The bauble had rolled into a corner, but one glance, in the light of the glowing sphere, showed Taran there was no other way in or out of the chamber. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble... quote:"Dig, friends!" cried Fflewddur, drawing his sword. "Dig for your lives!" You're not so bad, Rhun.
|
# ? Nov 2, 2023 06:56 |
|
Chapter 13: The Ladderquote:WHY--- THEY'RE GONE!" Taran quickly flashed the golden light about the chamber. "Every one of them!" Maybe they can start a circus act if they all get out of here. quote:Fflewddur cried a warning and Taran felt himself falling. Dazed and breathless on the stones, he tried to regain his feet. It was utterly dark. He staggered against the bard who pulled him from what Taran realized was the entry to the chamber. A rush of chill air told Taran that Glew had pushed the rock aside, and he sensed, rather than saw, a darker shadow thrust into the opening. Taran unsheathed his blade and swung it wildly. It struck something solid. Rhun to the rescue!
|
# ? Nov 4, 2023 17:36 |
|
Glew is just a grade-A pillock.
|
# ? Nov 7, 2023 14:39 |
|
Chapter 14: The Empty Bookquote:HULLO, HULLO!" CALLED RHUN, hastening to the companions. "I've never been so surprised in my life. I didn't mean to disobey orders, but after I'd crawled out the passage, I--- I just couldn't leave you there to be cooked up; I simply couldn't do it. I kept thinking to myself that none of you would have gone running off..." He hesitated and looked anxiously at Taran. "You aren't angry are you?" Spooky magic book get! quote:Midday was long past when the companions reached the riverbank, but they rejoiced at their good fortune. The remains of the raft were still there. They set to work hastily to repair it. Prince Rhun, in better spirits than ever, labored unstintingly. For a time Taran had forgotten the Prince of Mona was to be Eilonwy's betrothed. Now the sad thought returned to him as he helped Rhun knot new vines around the raft. The bauble turns out to be powered by friendship. quote:THE HILLS HAD FLATTENED and given way to low fields of sedge. A scent of brine and brackish water reached Taran's nostrils. Ahead, the river widened, flowing into a bay, and beyond that to an even greater expanse of water. To his right, on the far side of towering rocks, Taran heard the rush of surf. Reluctantly he decided they dared go no farther until dawn. While Fflewddur roused Gurgi and Prince Rhun, Taran poled the rafter shore. The companions settled themselves amid a tall clump of reeds and Gurgi opened his wallet of food. Taran, still restless, walked to a hillock and peered toward the sea. Gwydion's back!
|
# ? Nov 8, 2023 17:44 |
|
Another nice lesson for kids that I completely brushed over as a child myself.
|
# ? Nov 8, 2023 22:42 |
|
I'm honestly surprised that Lloyd Alexander never bothered to write a "what cool stuff was Gwydion up to during the books?" set of side stories, because it seems like he'd be a fertile ground to explore that kind of stuff. Though he is the more traditional type of hero that stories like these usually follow, so him being off-screen for most of them in favor of unexpected ragtag heroes like Taran and co. is the main selling point of the series.
|
# ? Nov 8, 2023 23:01 |
|
The thing is Gwydion in the actual Mabinogion, and I assume in other traditional Welsh mythology, isn't really that traditional a hero. He's kind of an Odysseus figure, a man of twists and schemes. Which I guess isn't entirely at odds with his portrayal in the books, he does disguise himself etc.
|
# ? Nov 9, 2023 12:42 |
|
Chapter 15: The Islandquote:THE PRINCE OF DON rose like a shadow from the sedge. Though he had discarded his headcloth and tools, he still wore the shabby raiment of his disguise. Perched on Gwydion's shoulder, Kaw blinked and ruffled his feathers, indignant at being awakened; seeing Taran, however, he bobbed his head and began croaking with excitement. Taran, startled, cried out. Prince Rhun, waving his sword with great vigor and making as fierce a face as he could, hastened to join Taran. As usual when Gwydion joins the party, it's exposition time! And I think we all knew Eilonwy wasn't staying at Spiral Castle, all the way back in book one, for any particular familial obligations on Achren's part, didn't we? quote:CAREFULLY GWYDION PLACED the book and golden sphere in his jacket and redoubled his efforts at the oars. Taran, clinging to the side of the boat, saw a high, dark mound loom ahead. Gwydion swung the craft farther seaward and now rowed steadily in a wide half-circle. The sea swell lifted the little vessel and drove it with evergrowing speed. The crash of waves rang in Taran's ears. Gwydion bent his strength to one oar, then the other, and Gurgi whimpered plaintively as the boat was flung forward into a narrow, foam-filled channel. The pinnacles of Caer Colur rose black against a dark sky. Mist rolled around the columns of stone which had been, Taran guessed, proud and lofty towers, but were now crumbled and jutting ruins thrusting upward like the shards of broken swords. As they came closer, he saw the heavy, iron-bound portals, reminders of a day when Caer Colur had been a fortress rooted on the mainland. The gates faced the sea, but, since the castle had sunk lower, they stood half-submerged in the restless water. Waves churned arid beat against them, as though to take the ruins by storm and wreak their last destruction. Don't ya hate it when you wake up to a stranger in your bedroom?
|
# ? Nov 11, 2023 21:01 |
|
Genghis Cohen posted:Another nice lesson for kids that I completely brushed over as a child myself. Yeah, reeds are really good for hiding in, more kids should know that.
|
# ? Nov 11, 2023 22:41 |
|
Chapter 16: A Meeting of Strangersquote:I AM EILONWY DAUGHTER of Angharad Daughter of Regat," continued Eilonwy, putting her hand to the silver crescent at her throat. "But who are you?" she repeated. "I haven't the least idea in the world what you're talking about." I think Achren's done quite enough helping, Eilonwy. quote:She ran to the portal of the chamber and into the corridor. Taran snatched up the rush light and raced after the fleeing Princess. Her sandals clattered down the shadowed hallway, and he glimpsed an edge of her robe vanishing around a corner. She had not ceased to call Achren's name. In another moment the castle would be roused and the companions discovered. Taran cursed himself for a blunderer. He had no choice now but to overtake the bewitched girl before every hope of escape faded. Already he heard a shout from the wall and the clash of blades. The rush light scorched his hand and he cast it aside. In the darkness he sped to the end of the corridor and flung himself down a flight of steps. The Great Hall of Caer Colur stretched before him, the crimson haze of daybreak filling its ruined casements. Eilonwy fled across the wide stretch of worn and crumbling flagstones and vanished again. A hand gripped his jacket and spun him around. A torch flared in his eyes. Showdown time!
|
# ? Nov 15, 2023 18:17 |
|
Chapter 17: The Spells of Caer Colurquote:TARAN'S HEART FROZE, and within him echoed the nightmare memory of another day when he had stood in terror before Achren. As if he were still the same frightened lad he had been, he trembled once again at the sight of the black-robed Queen. Her hair, unbound, fell in glittering silver tresses to her shoulders; the beauty of her features had not changed, though her face was deathly pale. At Spiral Castle, long ago, she had been decked in jewels; now, neither rings nor bracelets adorned her slender hands and white arms. But her eyes, hard as jewels themselves, drew Taran's gaze and held it. Gwydion had sprung forward. With a cry Taran followed him, sword upraised. Eilonwy shrank back and clung to Achren. A fair and just ruler, Eilonwy is turning out to be. quote:"She speaks with your voice," Taran shouted in anger. "With your words! In her heart she does not wish us ill." Dangit, Rhun.
|
# ? Nov 18, 2023 21:18 |
|
Achren is really trying to turn on the charm for Eilonwy here.
|
# ? Nov 21, 2023 18:53 |
|
Chapter 18: The Golden Pelydrynquote:PRINCE RHUN! BE SILENT!" Taran's warning came too late. Rhun himself realized his blunder and clapped a hand to his mouth; his round face filled with dismay and he glanced about him in confusion. Gwydion stood silently, his weathered features tight and pale; yet the glance he cast on the unhappy Prince of Mona was not of reproach but of sorrow. Prince Rhun's shoulders drooped; he bowed his head and turned wretchedly away. Before Rhun's outburst, while Gwydion had been speaking, Taran had sensed a shadow of fear over Achren. It had passed now and her lips parted in a subtle smile. Gasp! quote:The Prince of Don stood with his wolf-gray head flung back, his eyes blazing, and on his face a look of wrath such as Taran had never seen before. The warrior's voice rang harsh and cold through the Great Hall, terrible to hear, and Taran trembled at the sound of it. Achren started in a sudden movement. Seems like Caer Colur still had a few tricks up its towers.
|
# ? Nov 22, 2023 17:38 |
|
I think Achren's threat to kill Eilonwy if the heroes don't comply rings a bit hollow. I mean her whole world domination plan is based on leveraging Eilonwy's power. So surely killing her would be self-destructive? I'm surprised Gwydion doesn't call her bluff.
|
# ? Nov 23, 2023 16:24 |
|
I read it more as a dead man's switch kind of thing, that Achren's enchantment on Eilonwy also links their lives, causing Eilonwy to die if Achren would. If Achren's dead she can't rule, so she'd take Eilonwy with her as a last stab at the heroes; and she knows that Gwydion won't kill her if it means Eilonwy is collateral damage.
|
# ? Nov 23, 2023 18:18 |
|
Chapter 19: The Floodquote:GWYDION LEAPED FORWARD. "Your power is ended, Achren!" he cried. The livid Queen staggered for an instant, then turned and fled screaming from the Great Hall. Taran raced to Eilonwy's side and, heedless of the flames, struggled to raise the girl's limp body. Gwydion sped to overtake Achren. The bard followed them, his sword drawn. Magg had vanished. Gurgi and Prince Rhun hastened to aid Taran. Within moments Fflewddur returned. His face was ashen. Glub, glub. quote:TARAN AWOKE UNDER A GRAY SKY. The roaring in his ears was not the surf. Two enormous yellow eyes peered into his own. The roaring grew louder. Hot breath was on his face. As Taran's sight cleared, he saw sharp teeth and a pair of tufted ears. He realized in confusion that he was lying flat on his back and Llyan was standing over him withone huge, padded paw on his chest. He cried out in alarm and struggled to free himself. Llyan's back, Achren's defeated, and Eilowny is...alive?
|
# ? Nov 25, 2023 16:00 |
|
The tail end of this book is doing a pretty decent job of setting up some of the questions that will get tackled in the next two, iirc - Taran is beginning to observe that being an assistant pig keeper will be as limiting as he allows it to be and wondering if there’s anything else for him. Edit: also achren staying alive will surely have no consequences for anybody down the line, I’m sure!
|
# ? Nov 25, 2023 21:35 |
|
Coca Koala posted:The tail end of this book is doing a pretty decent job of setting up some of the questions that will get tackled in the next two, iirc - Taran is beginning to observe that being an assistant pig keeper will be as limiting as he allows it to be and wondering if there’s anything else for him. Achren effectively becoming Dallben's housekeeper for Books 4 and 5 is hilarious and I wish Alexander devoted a little more time to it because again, the idea of two ageless impossibly powerful sorcerers living together on a backwater farm and who hate each other but are both in a kind of magically hamstrung stalemate so they can't hurt each other is very amusing. So Dallben's just like "clean my pots, lady." and Achren can't do poo poo about it is one of the weirdest and most intriguing twists in the story.
|
# ? Nov 25, 2023 22:06 |
|
Chapter 20: The Pledgequote:THE PRINCESS SAT UP and looked curiously at the companions. Leave it to a bird to pick up the shinies. quote:GWYDION AT FIRST had decided the companions should rest until morning, but Prince Rhun was eager to return to Dinas Rhydnant. And with that we come to the end of the third book! All's well that ends well. Saturday, we continue on with my (and many other people's) favorite book in the series, Taran Wanderer.
|
# ? Nov 29, 2023 18:09 |
|
Wahad posted:And with that we come to the end of the third book! All's well that ends well. Saturday, we continue on with my (and many other people's) favorite book in the series, Taran Wanderer. Aww yiss. This is the big one, folks.
|
# ? Nov 29, 2023 18:17 |
|
I haven’t read Taran Wanderer in years and oh man, I wonder how this one is gonna hit now that I’m in my thirties instead of ten.
|
# ? Nov 29, 2023 19:29 |
|
|
# ? Jun 3, 2024 23:54 |
|
Castle of Llyr was pretty good, better than I remembered. I still find the miss/lack of communication at the start a bit annoying but that's just preference. I'm quite excited for Taran Wanderer, I remember very little besides enjoying it, and the mirror.
|
# ? Nov 29, 2023 20:26 |