David and the Phoenix

David and the Phoenix is a 1957 children's novel about a young boy's adventures with a phoenix. It was the first published book by American children's writer Edward Ormondroyd.

David and the Phoenix
1958 edition
AuthorEdward Ormondroyd
IllustratorJoan Raysor
Cover artistRaysor
CountryUnited States
GenreChildren's fantasy novel, adventure fiction, humor[1]
PublisherFollett Publishing Company
Publication date
October 1, 1957[2]
Media typePrint (hardcover), audiobook (2002)
Pages173 pp[1][3]
ISBN1-930900-00-7 (2000 hardcover ed.)[3]
LC ClassPZ8.O7 Dav[1]
PZ7.O635 Dav 2000[3]

Premise

The story focusses on the friendship between the protagonist, David, and the phoenix. David is taught the ways of the mythical world.

Plot summary

David moves to a new house at the base of some beautiful mountains. The next day, rather than settle into the new house, he decides to climb the mountains. Upon reaching the summit, he encounters the Phoenix. They are, at first, frightened of each other, as the Phoenix had been chased by a scientist for several weeks and David had, of course, never seen anything like the Phoenix before. The Phoenix is flattered by David's attentions, though, and decides to educate David about the legendary creatures in the world.

The first adventure in the Phoenix's curriculum for David involves seeing the Gryffins. They first meet a witch who goads the Phoenix into a race. They are captured by the arrogant Gryffons, who sentence the Phoenix to death for bringing humans into their magic world.

They escape and the Phoenix keeps his appointment with the witch. David returns home to meet the unpleasant scientist visiting his parents. The two friends implement plans to avoid the scientist, firstly by finding some buried treasure with the help of a gruff but friendly sea monster, and spending the gold coins on magic items to foil the scientist's plot to capture the rare bird.

While visiting the magical world to buy necessities, David has a brief adventure with a prankster Leprechaun, meets a cantankerous potion-selling hag, and a faun. The Phoenix rescues David from remaining too long in this world, which could absorb those beings who are not magical.

The Phoenix and David sabotage the scientist's equipment and frighten him into leaving town. The old Phoenix celebrates his 500th birthday, and soon reveals he must "bow to tradition," and build himself a pyre of cinnamon logs. David tearfully complies with his friend's wishes, buying the necessary items from town.

The Scientist shows up and follows David up the mountain trails. The Phoenix is reborn, but as a hatchling, does not yet comprehend its peril. David appeals to the young Phoenix, who dimly recognizes a friend, and flies away to avoid capture. David watches as the old Phoenix's feather changes from blue to gold.

Characters
  • David – the protagonist, full of curiosity. He begins the story fascinated by the mountain and learns much about life from his adventures with the Phoenix.
  • The Phoenix – a mythical bird with a steak of arrogance. The Phoenix is wise and cares about David.
  • Scientist – The antagonist, seeks to capture the Phoenix for experimentation.

Developments

This book enjoyed a resurgence of popularity early in the 2000s in the wake of Harry Potter and the filming of Roald Dahl novels. As of October 2005, there had been negotiations between the author and a private animation-film company to produce a feature-length "David and the Phoenix" screen adaptation.

In 2002 Full Cast Audio released an unabridged[lower-alpha 1] recording of the novel read by a cast of ten actors and Ormondroyd as the narrator. The production was hailed by AudioFile magazine, which said, "Every line of the book's warmth, humor, and gentleness comes to life in [Full Cast founder] Bruce Coville's superb multicast production."

David Weber used the book as a recurring motif in the Honor Harrington novel At All Costs (2005), with a brief footnote about his own childhood love for the book. The original cover of At All Costs shows Honor Harrington reading from David and the Phoenix to her infant son Raoul. Weber's 2010 novel Out of the Dark also mentions the book as a favorite of one of the main characters' children.

Trivia

A 1967 Dark Shadows storyline featuring Laura Collins (Diana Millay), apparently a woman, but in actuality a phoenix, who tries to lay claim to a nine-year-old boy named David. Fans had speculated that this might have been inspired by the book. Writer Malcolm Marmorstein has not, to date, been asked about this.

Release details
At Project Gutenberg: index; title page verso (v of viii+173+2); final image.
  • 1981, US, Scholastic Paperbacks (ISBN 0-590-31276-6), June 1981, paperback
  • 2000, US, Purple House Press (ISBN 1-930900-00-7), September 2000, hardback[3]
  • 2001, US, Purple House Press (ISBN 1-930900-01-5), January 2001, paperback
  • 2001, US, Purple House Press (ISBN 1-930900-13-9), July 2001, hardcover
  • 2002, US, Full Cast Audio, unabridged recording[lower-alpha 1]
2007, Playaway edition (playawaydigital.com) of the Full Cast Audio production (ISBN 1-60252-525-0), May 2007
  • Year unknown, US, Scholastic Paperbacks (ISBN 0-590-72122-4), paperback

Notes
  1. According to the 2007 Playaway edition, "This recording is unabridged except for the deletion of some attributives (he said, she said, etc) made unnecessary by having a full cast. Not one single sentence has been omitted."

References
  1. "David and the Phoenix" [1957 edition]. LC Online Catalog. Library of Congress (lccn.loc.gov). Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  2. "David and the Phoenix by Edward Ormondroyd". Kirkus Reviews. Publication date missing; October 1, 1957, publication date for the reviewed book. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  3. "David and the Phoenix" [2000 edition]. LC Online Catalog. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
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