The Black Cauldron

This second book in The Prydain Chronicles follows Taran, the assistant pig-keeper, as he and his companions set off on a quest to destroy Arawn's greatest weapon, the black cauldron. Narrator James Langton brings a fine sense of pacing and tension to this rich, action-packed story. His character voices are colored with a multitude of accents, primarily those of the British Isles and the United States. Initially the variety is jarring, and Langton occasionally slips out of character throughout the production. Even so, the main voices come through, and listeners will be sucked into Taran's world. An introduction read by Alexander himself rounds out a production that will delight fantasy listeners. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

October 1, 2004
Gr 5-8 -The Black Cauldron (Holt, 1965) is the second book in the five book series by Lloyd Alexander, and is a Newbery Honor Book. It continues the story of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper of Prydain. Taran, with a band of warriors and friends, is called upon to find and destroy the Black Cauldron, which is being used by the evil Arawn, Lord of the Land of Death, to produce deathless warriors from the bodies of his fallen enemies. Throughout this quest, Taran and his companions learn about sacrifice, honor, and courage. Alexander reads an author's note at the beginning, explaining that his stories have some basis in the literary tradition of Wales, but that he wants readers to relate the stories to what is going on in their lives right now. The audiobook is ably narrated by actor James Langton who deftly creates distinctive characters and engages the audience. Listeners will must have read or listened to the first book in the series, The Book of Three (Holt, 1964; Listening Library), in order to sort out the numerous characters and place names and develop a bond with the characters and their plight. Libraries already circulating the first book will want to have this available for fans.-Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.