RIP Lloyd Alexander

Wow, I got a lump in my throat looking over Quin Hillyer's tribute to Lloyd Alexander, author of The Prydain Chronicles. That was great youth fiction, real swords and sorcery stuff that deserves a mention alongside The Hobbit and the Chronicles of Narnia. (It's probably comparable to Harry Potter, though I haven't read that either.) It deserves better than a mention: I never read past the first book of Narnia, finding it too twee and littered with weird anachronisms. But I recall ripping as fast as I could through the stories of Taran Wanderer over several lazy summer afternoons.

I've forgotten most of the story and the characters, but I still remember distinctly the chill I got when I read the words but the sword of Taran held.

I should probably pick up a set for my kids while it's on my mind.