Are We Losing Another Gem Here? <br>"Coll and his white pig" <br> <small>by Lloyd Alexander </small>

ARE WE LOSING ANOTHER GEM HERE?

I HOPE NOT...
This work was published in 1965 and is still around to this day. There are reasons for this. To begin with, it is a well written story with a timeless quality about it. It is one of those stories of fantasy that simply never grow old.

Coll is a farmer in the mythological land and kingdom of Prydain. Coll had been and adventurer and warrior in his younger days but has reach the time in this life where he simply want to settle down, raise vegetables and tend his orchards. He made a plow of his sword and beanpoles from his old spears and sparrows nested in his leather fighting cap. He loved his vegetable plot and his orchards, but most of all he loved his best friend, his white pig, Hen Wen!

Now Hen Wen is not an ordinary pig by any means, no, no, no! Hen Wen also happens to be an oracle and when she is spirited away in the middle of the night my mysterious dark riders, Coll finds he has no choice but to begin another adventure...an adventure and quest to save his beloved white pig. Every hear of the "Lord of Land of Death?" Well, you will with the reading of this work!

On his journey Coll is joined by a cast which includes Oak-Horn, a timid stag, Ashwing, a clever owl; and Star-Nose, who happens to be the High King of the Moles. This band of friends begins an amazing adventure into the unknown and encounter magical enchantments, evil kings and warriors and much evil.

Talking Points:::
This is a rather short work, but one that packs a very good story into a very short space. Told in a mythological mode, it is enhanced by some wonderful illustrations by Evaline Ness.

This is an ideal book to introduce the young reader to the world of fantasy writing; of mythology and adventures and quests. On one hand it is a simple tale, but on the other it causes or forces the young reader to actually think. It can be, as it should be, a bit of a challenge and this is a good thing. There is no dumbing down here what so ever, something we see all too much of these days.

I like this book and do hope it stays available and is not lost as so many of the good old reads have been over the past several years. I do highly recommend this one.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks