The Book of Three

Welcome to The Book of Three!

This is my graphic adaptation of the first book in The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of children's books by Lloyd Alexander, an award-winning American author. The Book of Three was first published in 1964.

This series of five books is a coming-of-age tale using the classic monomyth framework, a high fantasy written for children but often beloved by adults, who remain the most ardent fans.

My adaptation is a labor of love. It is unauthorized, and the original books are still under copyright. My only profit in its creation is the joy and satisfaction of making this world come to life in a visual format, and connecting with other fans of the series.

If you enjoy this comic, and want to read more, (because it's slow going and I'll never get around to all five books!) please purchase The Chronicles of Prydain and support these great classics. If I, through these pages, inspire one person to read them who otherwise would not, I consider this a success.

Final Note: if you remember the 1984 Disney animated feature, The Black Cauldron, you will find much you recognize. That film was based, extremely loosely, on the first two books of this series. While it was groundbreaking in terms of animation, it fails on every conceivable level as a faithful adaptation. Disney announced in 2016 that they had re-optioned the film rights and were planning live action films - however, as of January 2022, there has been no further news on this topic.

Aaaaaah I've loved this book since I was eight! This looks great! Excuse me. Gotta squee some more.

I have not even read page one of this, but I subscribed anyway. "Munchings and crunchings!" Awesomeness :D

This is mighty fine work which I only just discovered today, sorry for overlooking you!!

So pretty. Especially the blonde girl.

I love your work! I reread the series at least once a year, and I'm so glad that you're faithful to it. (One thought though, I was hoping to see a shaggier Gurgi.)

OMG!!!!!! I was totally thinking about doing something like this (in manga style) but seeing this is amazing! I am soooo looking forward to reading this! Fantastic art, and one of my FAVORITE stories (like, it's up there with The Hobbit and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles!!!)

Super cool (I'm really excited!)I hope you end up doing the whole series :D (no pressure, no pressure at all!)

Finally! I have time to myself to view your amazing work, Dawn. Now if I can only get some more stuff done...

This was my first fantasy series. A great pleasure in my life was making it my 2 sons' first fantasy series. We all love it.

Now I get the pleasure of introducing them to your wonderful adaptation. Thanks!

Hello Saeriellyn,

I was directed here by the below link. This has been/is one of my favorite series of books, right up there with LOTR and my all time favorite The Unlikely Ones. That book is really amazing.
I wanted to complement you on your artwork. Believe me, I know about passion projects, (Had a fourteen year adventure in LA trying to sell the screenplay to Unlikely Ones.) and this looks really cool.
Disney just bought the rights to the series, and as Producers really get drawn to Graphic Novels, (See what I did there?)
you might want to send Disney a link to your site. I've worked with illustrators, and you are as good if not better.

Best regards,

Greg



http://www.vox.com/2015/8/18/9166631/chronicles-prydain-alexander

that looks interesting subscribed *thumbsup*

My favorite book ever! I hope you get to The High King! Sub button clicked.

I love your Gurgi and Doli, so much better than the stupid Disney versions!

Just started reading the Chronicles of Prydain to my mum, and being also a lover of graphic novels, I am thrilled to find your site! I shall savour every page, and congrats on your fantastic and imaginative representation of an awesome book!

And this was the first page, when all begins to star :)

Starting from the beginning :)

This is truly amazing. I need this for our Library!

For doing this. Loved these books for 50 years. Seeing this strip is a dream come true!

Is it weird that I've never heard of this?

You've accomplished so much since I first stumbled upon your work in early 2015. That was back when I was working on my own Prydain labour of love. I'm amazed by how invested you are in all your Prydain wanderings, based on the evidence I've seen on facebook, and the brilliant art you create.

I do hope that whatever happens with any future Prydain ventures from Disney, they do justice to the material, as you have.

Cheers,
Brendan Wanderer

I love how you made the characters into a graphic novel i had read the original books and they are amazing! And what you did was a brilliant idea to make it into a graphic novel! I was wondering,will you ever get this published? When you you have it completed and everything.

Really cool idea. I feel like my childhood heroes are back! Thank you for bringing the stories into the public eye again.

Beautiful work.

I have just found this and blew through it all in one sitting. So glad to find others who have such a love for this wonderful series. Please keep up the good work!

Wow. One of my favorite books of all time nxt to LOTR and Chronicles of Narnia. My first time encountering your work. Congratulations on the artwork keep up the good work.

Even though the 1984 Disney animated film made a poor adaptation to the books, I still appreciate the movie cause I got introduced to the books through the movie.

An accurate or close-to-the film adaptation to the books will be terrific to see. The story of Taran was so engaging has depth of wisdom. Lloyd Alexander was a master of his craft.

Wow, your artwork is exquisite. I love this story and you brought this to life. I have young kids who struggle with reading. However, your comic is making this book an exciting pleasure to read. Thank you so much. Thank you on behalf of my students.

I loved the series as a boy. Though I think the Disney version is underrated and am a bit annoyed that Eilonwy was snubbed as a Disney Princess, it's still wonderful to see a more faithful rendering of the original. Excellent work!

I am amazed at your skill, and appreciate the love and care you have demonstrated in what I have seen so far. This is my favorite book series of all time, and the books that helped me fall in love with books 34 years ago. Keep up the fantastic work. I look forward to more!

how it this not actually published??! it looks amazing. Thank you!!

Just discovered all this -- the books/ your work and my heart is in rapture. Your illustrations are so beautiful, thank you for this gift!!

I have enjoyed this so much it brought me to tears. I grew up with these books back in the 80s. I'm trying to find a way to sponsor you.

I remember reading The Book of Three back when I was a kid, but I never got around to reading the other four books. Now, as an adult, I read all the TvTropes entries on the Chronicles of Prydain, so I know how the entire story goes, but I just purchased the box set of the CoP and just finished rereading The Book of Three after catching up on your webcomic.

Now I'm reading The Black Cauldron and I'm going to finish the rest of the Chronicles properly even though I already spoiled myself at TvTropes. And it's all thanks to this webcomic that I finally got off my duff to finish this story properly. :-)

Just finished The High King a few days ago. I knew the ending was going to be bittersweet, but DAMN...

But the ending was so awesome, I reread the last few pages of THK five more times over the past couple of days just because I didn't want to say goodbye to Taran and Eilonwy and all the rest so soon. Looks like I'll have to try to find Prydain Fans United on Facebook soon!

The Scion at FanFiction.net in the Lloyd Alexander section, got it. Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXDNCNqDUvE&t=2s

Disney just bought the rights to the series, and as Producers really get drawn to Graphic Novels, (See what I did there?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXDNCNqDUvE&t=2s

Loved every panel!!! The Book of Three was given to me as a birthday gift from my brother. This book is special to me because the book got me to enjoy reading. I could not wait to get the rest of the Chronicles fast enough! It was wonderful to see your labor of love out here and bringing the beloved Companions to life! I believe you're spot on with your renderings of the characters. Much love from Virginia USA!!!

This book is amazing and I found out about it In language arts class, PS I LOVE THE WAY TARAN LOOKS

I've been following this graphic novelization for years, and I've been meaning to reread it from the beginning. I just finished a full reread of the series, so now seems like the perfect time! One often hears that artists always appreciate feedback even on older works, and I hope that's true, since I plan on commenting as I read.

I first found this comic when doing google image searches for fan art of Prydain characters, and yours kept appearing and it became clear that they were part of a larger work. Your designs do SUCH a good job of capturing the characters in an instantly recognizable way that feels right, even if they aren't always exactly how I imagined them myself. And in most cases, they are just as I pictured them! It can be rare to find fanart that meshes so perfectly with your own interpretation of the characters, so we are incredibly lucky that you have created such an excellent graphic novel of The Book of Three.

I love this! I've been a huge Alexander fan since first reading "The Black Cauldron" (I know, out of order) in 6th grade -- 40 years ago (ahem)! There is a fascinating documentary of Alexander online which has added tremendous depth to what was, for me, already an incredibly meaningful series. Like another commenter says, your Gurgi and Doli, and really all the companions, look great!

Awesome! (I registered and acquired a screen name in the meantime.) Will have to check it out again. What items of your art are in it? I have the DVD but it's also on YouTube as I'm sure you know.