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| adaon45 |
Author has written 21 stories for Lloyd Alexander, and Harry Potter. An English professor at a midwestern university, I introduce students to other people's metaphors. It has been an absolute blast coming up with some of my own. While I love the scholarly writing I usually do, it's exhilarating to tap into other creative energies. As you can guess from the subject of my fics, I am a big-time, long-time (thirty-five years and counting) fan of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain chronicles, which consist of The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. (There are also two picture books and a story collection.) If you have not yet read these magnificent books, let me highly recommend them. It is rare to find writing so luminous with wisdom and beauty. Coming from me, that's a real endorsement. Whatever else I've done with my life, I have read a lot of books. As you can also tell from my fics, my favorite character in the series is Adaon, son of the chief bard Taliesin. (If you'd like to read more about what Adaon means to me, take a peek at the author's note to my fic "The Measure of Our Hearts.") I finally figured out--after more than three decades!--that if I wanted to read more about Adaon I'd better write it myself. I also wanted to flesh out the character of Arianllyn, Adaon's betrothed, whom we hear about in The Black Cauldron but, alas, never meet. As I have explored the history of these two young people, I have found myself, increasingly, going back to the older generation. I've discovered how deeply fond I am of Adaon's dad, so if you read my fics you will frequently encounter Taliesin. I have also grown extremely attached to Cerys, the female bard and wife I invented for Taliesin, and try to visit her whenever possible. My attempts to make the women in my fics as wise and heroic as their menfolk is very much in keeping with, and a tribute to, the groundbreaking representation of strong-minded heroines in Alexander's books. By the way, if you'd like to join online discussions of Prydain, please drop by the forum CompanionWanderer and I started several years back, "Bards of Prydain," open not only to those who writes Prydain fanfiction but anyone who wants to get into a good conversation about the books and characters. Here's the address: http://www.fanfiction.net/ft/816343/25368/1/. It would be great to generate some more thoughtful discussion of these worthy, and immensely fun, books. Come join us! An update, 5/22/07: To my great sorrow, I heard last Friday of Lloyd Alexander's death on the day before, Thursday, May 17, 2007. He was 83. I can think of no better tribute than to adapt his own words about my favorite character in the Prydain chronicles, Adaon: he had the heart of a true bard. The heart, not just the head. A consummate artist, Alexander wrote feelingly and urgently about the need to replace violence, greed, hatred, and the lust for power with love, compassion, and generosity. He was a truly great man--a great writer, and a marvelous human being. He will be sorely missed. Please honor his memory by seeking out his writing, not only the magnificent Prydain chronicles but many other books, such as The Iron Ring, The Arkadians, and The Gawgon and the Boy. And don't forget: in addition to being wise, he was a fabulous spinner of tales, one of the finest storytellers of our time. And I will cherish his quirky, gentle, and irreverent sense of humor as long as I myself draw breath. The quickest of updates, 2/20/2012: Yes, I know. I write Snape stories too. At some point, I'll talk about that a bit. | |||||||
1. Hope reviewsPrydain drabble. The death of Eilonwy's mother, as described by the evil Morda in ch. 8 of Taran Wanderer, but here from Angharad's perspective. Also draws on the backstory of Angharad's elopement in "The True Enchanter" from The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Drama/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 428 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 3-5-13 - Complete2. Myrtle's Revenge reviewsWhat did Moaning Myrtle do during the Battle of Hogwarts? Her role may have been small, but she did her part-and managed to settle a personal score while she was at it.Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 923 - Reviews: 11 - Published: 2-10-13 - Myrtle - Complete3. The Unsent Letters of Severus Snape reviewsThe letters Snape wanted to send but couldn't, from years 4 through 6 of Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts.Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Humor/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,553 - Reviews: 9 - Published: 8-12-12 - Complete4. A Far Better Thing reviewsReading Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, Snape realizes that he is both like and unlike Sydney Carton.Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Hurt/Comfort/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,794 - Reviews: 9 - Published: 2-20-12 - Severus S. - Complete5. I Show Not Your Face reviewsMy version of Snape looking into the Mirror of Erised, December 1991.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,186 - Reviews: 12 - Published: 9-1-11 - Severus S. - Complete6. Hunger reviewsA missing scene from chapter 4 of OotP. Attending an Order meeting at Grimmauld Place but, as usual, not staying for dinner, Snape meditates on the connections between food, hunger, and community.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Angst/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,915 - Reviews: 12 - Published: 8-25-11 - Severus S. - Complete7. Petunia Weeps reviewsLearning of Snape's death, Petunia Dursley confronts her feelings about her sister.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Angst/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,651 - Reviews: 18 - Published: 8-19-11 - Petunia D. & Severus S. - Complete8. A Lesson in Charity » reviewsSpoilers for Deathly Hallows. Responding to Charity Burbage's death, Snape finds in her life inspiration to help him cultivate the quality for which she is named.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Hurt/Comfort/Friendship - Chapters: 2 - Words: 9,521 - Reviews: 15 - Updated: 12-1-10 - Published: 11-11-10 - Severus S. & Charity B. - Complete9. Slughorn Notices reviewsSlughorn is saddened by the rupture in the friendship between his two star sixth-year Potions students.Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,005 - Reviews: 15 - Published: 11-29-10 - Severus S. & Lily Evans P. - Complete10. Darkest Night, First Light reviewsOn the Isle of Mona, Eilonwy remembers Adaon. Spoilers for The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, and The Castle of Llyr.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: T - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 6,121 - Reviews: 12 - Published: 8-22-08 - Complete11. The Last Enemy reviewsPrydain chronicles: a missing episode from The Book of Three. Gwydion overcomes despair in the prison of OethAnoeth.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Drama/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,175 - Reviews: 10 - Published: 12-13-07 - Complete12. Inspiration » reviewsPrince Fflewddur is inspired by the bardic calling when he meets a character from some of my other Prydain fics.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Drama/Fantasy - Chapters: 4 - Words: 9,515 - Reviews: 17 - Updated: 6-19-07 - Published: 5-18-07 - Complete13. Out of the Ashes reviewsBased on The High King. The fall of Caer Dathyl, from Taliesin's perspective.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 8,516 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 12-15-06 - Complete14. Revelation reviewsBased on The Black Cauldron. Captured by Morgant, Ellidyr is forced the confront the consequences of his behavior.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 5,654 - Reviews: 9 - Published: 11-6-06 - Complete15. The Power of Joy » reviewsBased, like my other fics, on the Prydain chronicles. After leaving Caer Dathyl on his travels, Adaon returns to Taliesin and Arianllyn.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: T - English - Fantasy/Romance - Chapters: 3 - Words: 16,453 - Reviews: 14 - Updated: 10-29-06 - Published: 10-14-06 - Complete16. Anticipation » reviewsGood news for Adaon's parents Taliesin and Cerys, as well as premonitions of tragedy and hope to come.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: T - English - Fantasy/Romance - Chapters: 2 - Words: 4,475 - Reviews: 8 - Published: 10-6-06 - Complete17. Taliesin in Love » reviewsMore about the love story of Adaon's parents, Taliesin and Cerys.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: T - English - Fantasy/Romance - Chapters: 3 - Words: 8,504 - Reviews: 8 - Updated: 10-1-06 - Published: 9-22-06 - Complete18. Love Most of All reviewsTaliesin remembers the death of Adaon's mother.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,486 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 9-14-06 - Complete19. A New Life reviewsA spinoff of my fic The Measure of Our Hearts. Adaon's birth, and more about his parents Taliesin and Cerys.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,969 - Reviews: 2 - Published: 9-11-06 - Complete20. In the Garden reviewsA companion piece to my fic The Measure of Our Hearts. Adaon and Arianllyn meet for the second time at Caer Dathyl.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,023 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 9-8-06 - Complete21. The Measure of Our Hearts » reviewsBased on events in the second of the Prydain chronicles, The Black Cauldron, this story shows Taliesin and Arianllyn coming to grips with their sorrow at Adaon's death. Ch. 2, the author's note, explains how I came to write the fic.Lloyd Alexander - Rated: K+ - English - Fantasy/Drama - Chapters: 2 - Words: 8,140 - Reviews: 9 - Updated: 8-21-06 - Published: 8-15-06 - Complete
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