Unexpected children's fiction post

[glenatron]

The other day my mum mentioned that Lloyd Alexander had died. His Chronicles Of Prydein ( which some of you may know only in it's watered down disnified form as The Black Cauldron ) are some of the most warm-hearted and funny books I have ever read. I go back to my increasingly worn down copies of them every few years, especially if I need cheering up and like all truly great childrens literature it is still just as easy for an adult to enjoy them and they have a depth and subtle thought-provoking quality that explores the real world without getting in the way of the story. I heartily recommend the whole series to anyone who has not read them.

When I found the obituary linked above I noticed that a nearby link was to an obituary for Pat O'Shea, author of The Hounds Of The Morrigan - another classic book that I loved when I was young, full of myth and magic and certainly one of the reasons that I am now so keen on writers like Mark Chadbourn, Tim Powers, Neil Gaiman and Robert Holdstock now.

Another writer who strongly influenced my reading in that direction was Susan Cooper, whose brilliant The Dark Is Rising sequence were built on a tantalising mix of myth, time travel and the modern world. From the first time I read them they absolutely fascinated me and I reread them time and again. Consequently, I'm slightly anxious about how the forthcoming film adaptation - can they really get it right? Are they going to make Will Stanton, from Buckinhamshire, American by any chance? Christopher Ecclestone as The Rider, yes I can see that, but Ian McShane as Merriman? Can we expect to see Tink and Eric ineptly assisting in the attempts to recover the signs of the light? Has some dodgy dealer swapped the Book of Gramarye for a ringbinder full of copies of heat?

I would love for the film to be made and for it to be great and they have a very solid writer and what looks like a pretty good cast generally, but somehow everything I have seen about it just makes me nervous.

Comments

[life-of-tom.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much thinking the same thing about the Dark Is Rising, yeah. I really want it to be good, and Christopher Eccleston gives me hope. I might try and watch a bit of Deadwood through naughty internet means at some point, to see if it alleviates my fears about the dreaded McShane.

It's interesting you mention Hounds of the Morrigan- I have a copy of that, and I haven't read it yet. It's in the pile (which is currently in a box in Cardiff), and I very much want it to be good when I get round to reading it.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

It will be good whenever you get around to reading it, it's warm-hearted and charming and funny.

[stu-the-elder.livejournal.com]

Deadwood - seen a bit (the first episode and a few others, disjointed-like), and then left it alone like the varmint it was. Hope you have a better experience with it.

- Crumpwright

[skiesfirepaved.livejournal.com]

"Hounds of the Morrigan"? Does that actually have anything to do with the goddess who goes by that name? :D

[stu-the-elder.livejournal.com]

Arr, it does.

- Crumpwright

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Yes, she turns up a lot in the kind of books I read.

I think (and this is a wild guess) that you would love Mark Chadbourn's books. The link on his name above is to a sample from one of them. Mystical vs modern in a very kick-ass way.

[stu-the-elder.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a pisser about those good authors copping it. I have both Alexander's and O'Shea's books, and I enjoyed them a lot. I haven't read the Dark is Rising sequence, but from the trailer I think they may have assraped the character of the young lead somewhat to make him palatable for non-Yurrupeens. Not literally, of course.

- Crumpwright

[life-of-tom.livejournal.com]

Oh, stu, you haven't read those? You really should, you know. If you liked Lewis, Alan Garner, or Robert Holdstock, Penelope Lively, or anyone who writes fantasy where the magical intrudes upon the modern day, then you really have to read The Dark is Rising sequence. The titular book is actually the second in the sequence, but much like it's better to read 'the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' before reading 'the Magician's Nephew,' you will appreciate 'Over Sea, Under Stone' much more if you've read 'The Dark is Rising' first.

[oifonly.livejournal.com]

oh wow, wow,wow, wow...I had NO idea that they're finally doing a film version of The Dark Is Rising. Those have to me the most-read books on my shelf - I've read them all at least once a year ever since I first discovered them as a kid. Desperately need new copies now, they're all falling apart. They are my favourite books of all time, ever, without a doubt.

But IAN McSHANE as Merriman???? The are kidding, right? Hmmmm.....Partick Stewart with a wig would have been better. Though I guess no-one would believe the wig. :-/

Blog called 'The Bricks in the Cave'.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello

I have a blog called 'The Bricks in the Cave'. It is a children's adventure story with an illustrated episode for every day in August.

Although it is a lighter, more 'summery' readthan the books you have been discussing here, on your blog, I thought it might be worth mentioning to you. I hope that is ok.

You can find it at

http://bricksinthecave.blogspot.com/

If you do happen to take a look at it, I would very much value your comments. (Bricks in the Cave has an email address as well as a place to leave comments on the blog itself.

Susan Harwood