The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

**Nurvingiel** · 10-11-2004, 10:40 AM

Let's talk about another great Inkling - C.S. Lewis! He wrote many acclaimed non-fiction books, mostly about Christianity (and none of which I have read).

He also wrote one of the greatest children's book series - The Chronicles of Narnia.

I will warn to those who haven't read this amazing tale, that this entire thread will be full of spoilers. Go read the books, they're great!

One thing I've wondered about the series:
Timewise, books 3 to 7 fit in the timeline of the second book - "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe".

"The Magician's Nephew" (book 1) is the prequel to LWW. Then all books following that must be within LWW, because at the end Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter go back to Earth.

I hope I haven't confused people and put them off this thread!

What questions and/or discussion points do you have about these fine novels?

The Chronicles of Narnia
Book 1 - The Magician's Nephew
Book 2 - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Book 3 - The Horse and His Boy
Book 4 - Prince Caspian
Book 5 - The Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader'
Book 6 - The Silver Chair
Book 7 - The Last Battle

Here is the website: Narnia

inked · 10-11-2004, 11:25 AM

I advise folks to read the Narnian Chronicles in the published order the first time. Then re-read them in the chronological order. Then as your fancy takes you. Since I have been doing this for >3 decades, I have lots of thoughts in regard to the works.

First, they are rollicking good stories.
Second, they are rollicking good stories!
Thirdly, they ARE rollicking GOOD stories!

There is of course a lot to mined from them in many areas of interest. Since I have read many other of CSL's works, including some scholarly ones, it is amazing to me the actual breadth and scope of the series.

The BBC produced adaptations that are available on DVD and video and which are quite good for those who like movie versions. And there was an animated version in the 70's which is still available for LWW.

I must confess, that though I enjoyed PJ's LOTR movie series immensely, I have reservations regarding the upcoming productions in process now. The potential for CGI and special FX is awesome these days and I wouldn't want it to overtake the fact that these ARE ROLLICKING GOOD STORIES!

How's that, N?

**Nurvingiel** · 10-11-2004, 11:36 AM

Brilliant post Inked! Cheers. I have mixed feelings about the movies, largely based on my feelings around the LOTR and Harry Potter movies, which may or may not be fair.

They are great stories. I read the books in order of publication, and I feel that's the best order. "The Magician's Nephew" is a brilliant prequel, and precedes LWW excellently. It's almost a seamless transfer even though there are 40 Earth years and about 1000 Narnian years between them. (Diggory rules!)

I agree, they are rollicking good stories.

***Rían*** · 10-11-2004, 04:07 PM

*checks out website*

Sheesh! Why do they have dark blue text on black?!?! Can't read it

On the books - well, I've only been reading them for >2 decades, but I agree they're rollicking good stories!

On the movies - I'm a bit worried - I mean, carrying out 1 major CG character (Gollum) is one thing, but the sheer amount of talking animals in Narnia makes me worried that it will come off as dorky. And Aslan will obviously have to be CG ... I can't get that unfortunate BBC Aslan out of my head ...

I've had favorites among the books over the years - my current fav. is Silver Chair. There's many, many great quotes and imagery in the books. I love the safe/good quote that's in inked's sig. What does the "LWW" mean, tho, and why is the quote altered a bit, inked?

Telcontar_Dunedain · 10-11-2004, 04:24 PM

I love these book's. It's a while since I read them though, so my memory isn't to fresh.

inked · 10-11-2004, 04:34 PM

Rian,

Narnia was my entrance to faerie. I wore a T-shirt in college and graduate school that said "Aslan is not a tame lion." So we are talking longterm fan when fanatic was usually associated with football and bands!

LWW is my abbreviation for The LION, the WITCH, and the WARDROBE.

The variation on the quotation is really the fault of memory. The original is, IIRC, in the conversation between Mr. Beaver and the Pevensies at the beaver home. Aslan, they are told, is not a tame lion. Is he safe, Lucy asks.
Safe? 'Course he's not safe, but he's good.

My inadverdent switch is also true, as we who have followed the White Stag into our world (as Aslan instructed) know.

By the by, are either you, Rian or Nurvingiel, familiar with the Harry Potter series? I think JK Rowling is an Inkling two generations removed. Now that could be a fun thread or two, eh?

***Rían*** · 10-11-2004, 04:46 PM

I haven't read Harry Potter yet - actually I think I might pick it up today, I'm off to the library in a few minutes. From the little I've heard, tho, there's a major underlying difference between her works and those of JRRT and CSL - no underlying source of authority/goodness, basically. More of a dualistic approach. What's your opinion on that?

There's a bunch of threads on HP somewhere on the Moot, tho

10-11-2004, 11:25 AM	#2
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	I advise folks to read the Narnian Chronicles in the published order the first time. Then re-read them in the chronological order. Then as your fancy takes you. Since I have been doing this for >3 decades, I have lots of thoughts in regard to the works. First, they are rollicking good stories. Second, they are rollicking good stories! Thirdly, they ARE rollicking GOOD stories! There is of course a lot to mined from them in many areas of interest. Since I have read many other of CSL's works, including some scholarly ones, it is amazing to me the actual breadth and scope of the series. The BBC produced adaptations that are available on DVD and video and which are quite good for those who like movie versions. And there was an animated version in the 70's which is still available for LWW. I must confess, that though I enjoyed PJ's LOTR movie series immensely, I have reservations regarding the upcoming productions in process now. The potential for CGI and special FX is awesome these days and I wouldn't want it to overtake the fact that these ARE ROLLICKING GOOD STORIES! How's that, N? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

10-11-2004, 04:07 PM	#4
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	checks out website Sheesh! Why do they have dark blue text on black?!?! Can't read it On the books - well, I've only been reading them for >2 decades, but I agree they're rollicking good stories! On the movies - I'm a bit worried - I mean, carrying out 1 major CG character (Gollum) is one thing, but the sheer amount of talking animals in Narnia makes me worried that it will come off as dorky. And Aslan will obviously have to be CG ... I can't get that unfortunate BBC Aslan out of my head ... I've had favorites among the books over the years - my current fav. is Silver Chair. There's many, many great quotes and imagery in the books. I love the safe/good quote that's in inked's sig. What does the "LWW" mean, tho, and why is the quote altered a bit, inked? __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

10-11-2004, 04:24 PM	#5
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	I love these book's. It's a while since I read them though, so my memory isn't to fresh. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

10-11-2004, 04:34 PM	#6
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Rian, Narnia was my entrance to faerie. I wore a T-shirt in college and graduate school that said "Aslan is not a tame lion." So we are talking longterm fan when fanatic was usually associated with football and bands! LWW is my abbreviation for The LION, the WITCH, and the WARDROBE. The variation on the quotation is really the fault of memory. The original is, IIRC, in the conversation between Mr. Beaver and the Pevensies at the beaver home. Aslan, they are told, is not a tame lion. Is he safe, Lucy asks. Safe? 'Course he's not safe, but he's good. My inadverdent switch is also true, as we who have followed the White Stag into our world (as Aslan instructed) know. By the by, are either you, Rian or Nurvingiel, familiar with the Harry Potter series? I think JK Rowling is an Inkling two generations removed. Now that could be a fun thread or two, eh? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

10-11-2004, 04:46 PM	#7
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	I haven't read Harry Potter yet - actually I think I might pick it up today, I'm off to the library in a few minutes. From the little I've heard, tho, there's a major underlying difference between her works and those of JRRT and CSL - no underlying source of authority/goodness, basically. More of a dualistic approach. What's your opinion on that? There's a bunch of threads on HP somewhere on the Moot, tho __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

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