Hi all! I am interested in diving into the world of Prydain, but have a quick question that I hope someone here can answer. I know that reading all the installments in a series like this in a chronological order is not always the recommended approach, so I tend to avoid doing so on a first read of a series. However, I really enjoy revisiting/rereading series and doing so in chronological order on this second round. So, it is my understanding the Prydain short story collection has stories that fit in various places on the chronological timeline of the world of Prydain. I've listed each of them below, and I am wondering if anyone here can tell me what order they happen chronologically in regard to both each other and the main books. Any insight would be appreciated; thanks in advance!

The Foundling
The Stone
The True Enchanter
The Rascal Crow
The Sword
The Smith, the Weaver, and the Harper
Coll and His White Pig
The Truthful Harp

We don’t actually find out that she’s a princess until the end of book 1. Knowing how many girls want to be princesses and call themselves one, it’s amusing to me that an actual princess doesn’t even bring it up (and iirc she wasn’t even the one who revealed it!). It’s something that countless people dream of being yet she doesn’t even consider it important enough to talk about!

Kinda random but thought it would be fun to see how do yall imagine Eilonwy's hair? I've seen lots of illustrations and fan fiction where she has like red auburn-like hair or more of a strawberry blonde. I wonder if they ever make a movie how they would do it since Disney made her blonde

In The Black Cauldron, the witches of Morva said they were fine parting with the Crochan because Arawn had spoiled it for doing anything else besides making cauldron born. There was an implication that the Cauldron/Crochan did other things but was no longer capable anymore.

Are there any hints at what he did? This always stuck with me as a kid and even now re-reading to my son.

I'm pretty sure I'm doing this for myself more than I am for them haha.

But they're quite into it so far, almost always asking for me to read another chapter when it's time to stop.

I remember borrowing this series from the school library when I was about 10-11 years old and just re-reading them over and over. It's been a long, long time since I last read them and while I do remember a lot of what happens, it's still very enjoyable to read through again, especially being able to experience it with my kids.

I haven't been able to find anywhere the time between the 4th and 5th book. Does anyone here know?

Came across the first three books at my mother's house, I guess I was given these as a kid but never realized or read them. A shame because I have heard that they're really good. Now twenty years later I'm wondering if these are worth reading?

I don't want to come to the Prydain sub and say "are these books just for kids" but...yeah

I do like fantasy like Tolkien and the Witcher

Forever obsessed with this series and looking for other books or series that are similar, along with characters like Taran and Eilonwy. What I love about their relationship is the sweet romance without any sex scenes or explicit thoughts. I'm not a prude, but I'm so sick and tired of these books that everyone raves about and then it's just obsession and sex. I love the depth to Taran and Eilonwy's relationship, and the sweet longing between them without all the unnecessary obsessive crap that you read in many of the books today. I don't know I just find it cheap and eye rolling. Does anyone know of any books that's similar to Prydain?

I have discussed my ideas about Disney remaking the Black Cauldron but I want to pass it on to you guys.

Aside from being more faithful to the books, what could be other things for a remake of the Black Cauldron to work out well?

How I imagine a Black Cauldron remake and who would voice Eilonwy and Taran, if they were recast

Since everyone agrees Eilonwy is essentially the Bruno of Disney Princesses, all thanks to how The Black Cauldron was sadly a financial and critical failure, here's how I picture a remake of it, along with who would play the characters.

Since many have criticized the movie for being too dark and lacking in humor, fantasy and whimsy seen in the original Lloyd Alexander books, along with the wonky pacing, I imagine that they would fix on those areas and make sure that those missing elements are added in, along with adding in some of Disney's signature humor but hopefully, it will all be balanced out and maybe add in some meta humor to poke fun of how the original turned out, like poking fun of Eilonwy not being a Disney Princess, like maybe using an Encanto reference and have other princesses often say "we don't talk about Eilonwy".

As for the animation as I don't want this movie to be another stale LA remake, have it done in the usual 3D style Disney is known for as it can work out for a story like The Black Cauldron or use a style similar to The Princess and the Frog if they want to make it in 2D, like the original.

Speaking of Encanto, since Disney incorporated very well the culture of Colombia in that movie, they should use the same approach for The Black Cauldron as it's based on Welsh mythology and they should make sure Welsh culture gets good representation like Encanto for Colombia.

As for who I feel should be cast as Taran, The Horned King, and especially Eilonwy, I feel that Michael Cera is best suited for Taran as he can do good at playing dorky characters and unlikely heroes and Taran comes across as dorky and likeable, good enough for Michael.

For the main villain, The Horned King, as John Hurt is no longer with us, my pick for someone to play him in a remake is Michael Keaton as I feel that because of his performance as The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, he would be great to play The Horned King.

Finally, for our forgotten Princess, I feel one actress who would do great in playing her is Hailee Steinfeld as due to her performance as Gwen Stacy, she can provide that good amount of spunk and attitude suited for Eilonwy.

What do you guys think?

Hope they do it and if so, it'll be good enough for Eilonwy to finally be a Disney Princess, along with Taran becoming as popular as other Disney heroes, like Aladdin, Kristoff, Peter Pan, etc.

I just finished reading The High King last night, and it’s got me in this weird funk. All the important characters leaving Prydain at the end seemed to come out of nowhere.

I’m glad that Eilonwy at least chose to stay with Taran, but I would’ve expected Gurgi and Fflewddur to stay too… I mean, they’re all a team! It feels like they’ve always been together on their adventures! And then they just pack up and leave!

It might not have seemed so jarring if it had been set up beforehand or had more time to sink in, but it really dampened how I felt about the rest of the book, and the series. It’s such a melancholy way to end things.

I remember hearing Taran is about 14 in the Book of Three, but I’ve had trouble imagining what age he is across other books. Does anyone know how far apart the books take place in terms of time?

If you never read the books, their ‘80s version of The Black Cauldron was good, but not great. And since they seem to have run out of ideas, I think it might be worth a revisit for them to do the entire series in 5 movies, only they need to stick to the books a little better. Thoughts?

i had just finished demon copperhead, which couldn't be more different, and was struggling through THAT book hangover, when my husband and i decided to watch the black cauldron - the only animated disney movie we'd never seen.

i found it charming and i really enjoyed it. my husband pointed out the part in the credits noting that it was based on a written series, and while i'm not generally a fantasy person (i read 90% horror), i've been trying to expand my horizons and thought, why not?

i didn't know what i was in for. i did NOT expect to get so wrapped up in these characters! how have these books never dinged my radar before? the life lessons (inspiring, still relevant, and sometimes heart-wrenching), the lovable and well-developed characters, both enjoying and mourning taran's growth and disillusionment, a poignant combination we all experience as we age and quest for our place in the world...i know it's widely seen as YA, and i can see why, but i believe i enjoyed the books now as much as i would've when i was in the target age demographic.

i finished the high king last night, and was in tears. i still have the little short story collection to keep me at least prydain-adjacent for a bit, but i dearly wish there was more. i'd love to read dallben's background, more about the sons of don, gurgi's origin story, fflewddur fflam and the fflams in general...i've read posts and i do agree the ending was definitive, but...i can't help wishing we had the opportunity to dive deeper. perhaps it's the cat lady in me, but even the adventures of llyan would have been fun!

i've also read many of your recommendations for similar reads, which i will be exploring, and will offer one of my own - the once and future king, by t. h. white. it's different - based in arthurian legend - but similar in whimsy and humor. i read the book for the first time outloud to my husband...geez, 15 years ago now? we adopted a cat around the same time and named him pellinore, after one of the comic relief characters, and our own pellinore is cuddled up next to me on the couch as i type.

anyway - i know this sub isn't particularly active, but wanted to share, and officially join the ranks of those forever enchanted by prydain, despite the prophecy best efforts to spirit all of the world's enchantments away ❤️

I'm rereading Castle of Llyr and I can't remember if we learn how Glew gets the book of spells (the one that Rhun finds and thinks is "empty" because you need the Pelydryn to read it). Do we learn this in one of the short stories in The Foundling? Or in Taran Wanderer when Taran learns about how Angharad died? (Or later in COL and I'm just not there yet?)

I can't recall seeing his age mentioned in any of the books. He can't be as old as the one in the animated movie. I think he is in between his 25-early 30 based on his personality. It is also mentioned that he is blonde, so he can't be that old am I right?

I like to imagine that he looks like the author himself (Lloyd Alexander) or like the old uncle from Narnia (Andrew Ketterley) but blonde.

This has got to be the most annoying character I've encountered. This way she treats Taran is absolutely terrible! Why would he want to spend any time around that girl is beyond me.

If she's like 11 years old her attitude would make sense and I could forgive the behavior.

Is there some type of trope this type of character embodies? Tsundere or something?

I hoped that as the books were written I believe all in 1960es (and then Lloyd added the stories from Prydain later on) that he would eventually write more stuff from Prydain, perhaps something like Tolkien who actually died mid-way through one of the "new" stories from Middle-Earth. However, after finishing CHOP which is my favorite fantasy I felt a little bit depressed or what is now being called as a "book hangover". Lloyd supposedly felt depressed after finishing CHOP, he said it was like a death in the family.

So I believe that maybe he overcame this and made his peace with his beautiful magic world already being fine as it is "even without him" if it makes sense, not needing any returning to it.

But I still had hoped Lloyd wrote some more and I am sorry I found out there's nothing more. But I definitely will keep returning to Prydain once in a while, I would like to reread it immedietly actually, haha

Am I an idiot or is Taran's parents not revealed at all in the book? I have read the 5th book (all of them actually) 10+ times, and I can't figured out who they were. I read the "Farewells" chapter in the 5th book 20+ times, and I can't find out who his parents are. Am I stupid?

Um, this is not a spoiler right because I am asking something?

If it is I will mark as Spoiler.

I can't help wondering if Gurgi may have been the inspiration for Jar Jar Binks. (But actually becoming likeable by the end unlike Jar Jar.)

I grew up reading Chronicles of Prydain, and I'm chomping at the bit to read to my 5yo. We've done illustrated Harry Potter 1&2, as the pictures help keep him engaged; anyone know of something similar for The Book of Three? I'm coming up dry on Google.

Why didn't the Prydain books from the 80s come in a physical box, like the Narnia books?