Commercialization and expansion of Narnia? ***BLECH***

www.theonering.net/perl/n.../991621905

"They have struck deals to license plush Narnian toys. The series publisher, HarperCollins, revealed plans to create new Narnia novels by unidentified authors, to the outrage of some devoted readers."
...
"Most striking of all, they have developed a discreet strategy to avoid direct links to the Christian imagery and theology that suffused the Narnia novels and inspired Lewis."
...
"By the fall of 2003 they expected to publish simpler picture books for younger children and a new Narnia novel."

Hellooo? Can anyone say boycott?

Geez, these marketing folks think Narnia is too closely associated with Christianity just because of its evangelically allegorical nature. They seem to think that only Christians read Narnia. And thus, they are trying to take a Harry Potter marketing spin on the Chronicles, which is now regarded as a "franchise", it seems. (I disapprove of Harry Potter marketing anyway - great books, poor commercialization)

What idiots.