Katherine Kurtz, Lloyd Alexander

Deryni Rising, Deryni Checkmate, High Deryni, Camber of Culdi, Saint Camber, Camber the Heretic, The Deryni Archives, by Katherine Kurtz

I used to have 8 other Deryni books, but when I took them out of storage, I discovered the series’ newer books gave me no joy, so I sold them. I remember buying the rest of them with relish, mostly from the pharmacy (Eckerd’s?) that used to be in the Plaza Del Rey. Many a time I’d have Mom drop me off there early and then stroll down to Mr. Gatti’s to do a little reading before I started work. These are fine entertainments, with covers by Darrell K. Sweet.

Ranking: Keepers.

File Code: Fantasy. Novels. Paperbacks.

The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King, by Lloyd Alexander.

The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron were squeezed into the most forgotten Disney animated movie ever made. “Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles (as is the series over-all name) deals with the life and adventures of Taran, a foundling boy, who begins life as a pig-tender and ends up as King of Prydain. These are good books; I enjoyed reading them, and sought out any related stuff, like The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain. But if the series suffers from any drawbacks it is that it is too perfect, too architecturally complete. There is little wiggle room for the imagination, all mysteries are explained; all the characters, admirable in themselves, learn their due lessons and fulfill their destinies. In the end, magic goes away, and the heroes must use the lessons they've learned in real life, yadda yadda yadda. The series ends, not with triumph or the sense of doors opening to elsewhere, but with weariness, drabness, and the prospect of hard labors to come. Realistic, perhaps, but hardly satisfying. Alexander builds his world almost like a model train. It is cunning, and crafted, and fascinating, and runs around the tracks as it is designed to do. As such, it is an admirable work of fun, but I don't think Alexander ever actually believes in it.” – Power of Babel.

Ranking: Keepers.

File Code: Children’s Books. Fantasy. Paperbacks.