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Post by akathecentimetre on Dec 27, 2006 17:58:15 GMT -5
Hey everybody, I'm new - to the forums and to SRL, tho I hope to be reading more of his books in the future! I got Hood as an Xmas present and, after trawling my way through many Wikipedia pages in my frantic search for info on Celtic mythology, I came across something very interesting.... *spoilers!* From the Wikipedia page for Taliesin (you know, the chief bard of britain, yadda yadda) In the mid 16th century, Elis Gruffydd wrote a mythological account of Taliesin which drew from Celtic folklore...
According to the mythologized version of Taliesin's birth, he began life as boy named GWION BACH, a servant to the old crone Ceridwen...Remember the little boy following Angharad around? Yeah. His name was Gwion Bach!  |
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Post by dgan on Dec 28, 2006 1:47:37 GMT -5
Great to have you here, akathecentimetre! Glad you stumbled across our humble forum, and more importantly on a SRL book. Whoever gave you that Christmas present has great taste!  As you read more of his works, you will find that everything SRL writes seems strangely related in various ways. One of the most interesting things you will learn is his use of names, many Celtic in their origin, make their way into different stories located in different eras. For example, the name Bran has been used in at least two of his other series that I remember - possibly more. If you find Celtic lore interesting (or even if you don't), I highly recommend two of SRL's works as your next read: Pendragon Cycle - books include: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon, Grail, Avalon* Song of Albion - trilogy includes: The Paradise War, The Silver Hand, The Endless Knot * Some will say Avalon is not technically part of the Pendragon Cycle, but it is a continuation of that story. A must read if you enjoyed the previous five books.Those works are touted as Lawhead's finest by almost anyone you talk to. They are of the "can't put it down" variety.  Post loud - post proud! |
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Post by Dred on Dec 28, 2006 8:44:52 GMT -5
Great to have you with us. Like dgan said you'll find many celtic names in different books. Our beloved author has many ties that get you wondering where the links between series end.
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Post by Messenger of Eden on Dec 31, 2006 21:57:00 GMT -5
I run into ties with other (non-Lawheadian) traditions and stories. I can only assume that these are earmarks of a common origin of that particular event or name or whatever. For instance, the Merlins in both the Pendragon Cycle and CS Lewis' That Hideous Strength (The third of the Space Trilogy) both have (and use to a humorous effect) the ability to confound languages. Every once in a while I run into such a tie. The latest is the beginning of a fun conversation in the CS Lewis Into the Wardrobe Forum--only about a week ago! Here is a link to it, just for fun
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Post by hoodedwarrior on Jan 4, 2007 4:19:09 GMT -5
Woah! That's pretty cool! I like the sound of the welsh names. they roll off the tongue!
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Post by gracebridges on Nov 22, 2007 12:47:54 GMT -5
Yes, there must be a common truth behind it all. However, remember that Bran's time is centuries after Taliesin's, if we are going by SRL's timeline. I guess Gwion Bach was a popular name, probably due to the earlier legend.
Did anyone notice in Avalon there were a number of references to real people??
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