Most fantasy aficionados have taken a lover’s stroll or two (or ten) down Lord of the Rings lane.  Even prior to the film franchise, Tolkien’s magical world was considered by many to be the epitome of fantasy, the ultimate literary escape into another realm.

I would agree. But I would add that there are plenty of other works worthy of a similar distinction, and one such series of works would be Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain five-part series.

I only just stumbled across the books recently, and I know had I known about them as a child I would have read them weekly, enchanted by the tales of wonder and adventure. If you’ve seen the Disney film The Black Cauldron (which is the name of the second book in the series), you are already familiar with the works (though only slightly so, as the adaptation is very loose).

The Book of Three, the first novel in the series, introduces us to a myriad of wonderful characters. Taran, a whiny “assistant pig keeper,” is the main character. Caring for an oracular pig seems like dreary work for the lad, who dreams of daring far-off adventures and sword fighting.

His cohorts during the adventure to find the missing pig (Hen Wen), warn the castle of an impeding attack from the Horned King, and not be killed by ruthless undead “cauldron-born” people include the curious enchantress Princess Eilonwy, the king-turned-minstrel Fflewddur Fflam, the strange shaggy creature Gurgi, and their grumpy and reluctant guide, Doli of the Fair Folk.

At first glance, many of these characters and situations seem to be the same as those depicted in Lord of the Rings. Taran is a lot like Frodo—a young man of an agrarian world who, once on the adventure, realizes that he misses home more than anything else. Gurgi is very much like Gollum as well—except he is loving and benevolent in nature instead of the greed-consumed Smeagol.

But after reading the first book alone, you’ll find that the Prydain books are filled with a distinctive humor that isn’t found as much in LOTR. Eilonwy in particular—though all of Taran’s companions have their mirthful moments—delivers laugh-out-loud lines that, you know as they come from her mouth, sound more airy and flippant than comic, yet are so laugh-worthy.

Though having a younger-crowd feel, the companions range in ages and abilities, and their triumphs are even more astounding than the ones we witness in Tolkien’s saga because—let’s face it—two older children, a bard-king, a forest creature and grumpy dwarf are a whole lot less imposing than a warrior dwarf, elf, and the Chieftain of the Dunedain.

A quick enjoyable read, The Book of Three—as well as the rest of the books in the Prydain series—is well worth checking out.