Death of a Hero

Fri, 18 May 2007 19:21:48 GMT

Lloyd Alexander is dead.

No other author had as great an influence on me and my writing. I was writing fan fiction for and original stories inspired by The Chronicles of Prydain as early as second grade. The porcelain Egyptian cat in my home office is named Gareth, after the protagonist of Time Cat. I still unconsciously measure my work against The Westmark Trilogy when it comes to believability. Before Harry Potter was even a glimmer in J. K. Rowling's eye, there was Vesper Holly.

My only consolation is that I had the opportunity to shake his hand and thank him a few years ago. He will be sorely missed.

James turned away from the garage door and regarded the rough oblong shape beneath the dropcloth one last time. Rusted tank treads and flat tires, arranged in a seemingly random fashion, were visible below the cover's tattered edges, and in places the few dull teeth left on the time machine's ram had worried through the heavy fabric at the front of the vehicle. The Lloyd Alexander had made its last crosswise trip on the fabric of reality. With a sigh, James turned out the light.

(PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lloyd Alexander, a prolific writer of children's books including the five-book series The Chronicles of Prydain, died Thursday. He was 83.)

Where I Lay My Head

Death of a Hero