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The Chronicles of Narnia: Are you a Chronologist or a Publicationist?

Big Dick McGee

Big Dick McGee

If you don't know, now ya know
There's a pretty good website here that deals with the debate as to which order one should read The Chronicles of Narnia.

I personally believe that one should read Lewis' books in the order they were originally published, as follows:

C.S Lewis's famous series of children's stories were published between 1950 and 1956, in the following order:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian(1951)
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
6. The Magicians Nephew(1955)
7. The Last Battle (1956)


Not only did this order make sense to me as a child, it allowed me to understand concepts like prequels, flashbacks, etc. I also thought this was the order in which Lewis, himself, wished the books to be read. (The website, however, reveals that Lewis though the chronological order was better. I disagree, and the website's author states my reasons for disagreement most succinctly.) When my wife expressed interest in reading the books she had missed as a child, I bought her the boxed set, told her to ignore the numbers on the spine, and I put them in order for her. This just feels like the "right" way to read the books. I look forward to reading the books to my son in the order I read them, that is, publication order.

I know this probably picayune, and really doesn't matter. But those books meant a lot to me growing up, they introduced me to fantasy fiction, and paved the way for my enjoyment of LotR.

So, which are you: A publicationist, like me, or a chronologist, like the booksellers?
 
WOW! harsh, Sardy!!

Do you remember feeling like that when you first read 'em as a kid?

I read the series in grade five, and quite enjoyed them...funnily enough, I've been hearing from the kids in the neighbourhood who have discovered them because of the movie (as yet unseen) and they think the writing's sexist. Maybe it can't stand up to 21st century kids' sensibilities?
 
^I may take a trip down memory lane with my son and see for myself.
Not too long ago on a lazy rainy summer's day I picked up one of my beloved Nancy Drew mysteries to re-read for fun and was shocked at how racist it was.
Totally missed that when I was a kid.
 
Sardonica said:
Well, I don't think it matters WHAT order you read them in---they suck any way you stack em. The Narnia books (which I just reread prior to the movie---and which despite its great acting, great direction and great FX couldn't rescue the poor writing of C.S. Lewis) are quite possibly the most overrated, terribly written, ill-conceived, poorly executed, shallow and lacking in character development fantasy books ever written.

Stick with good fantasy: Thomas Covenant Unbeliever, Xanth, Prydain, Middle-earth, Oz, Shanara...
Click to expand...

Prydain was great, even though they were simply re-hashed Welsh mythology. I read them as a boy, largely because Alexander was based in Philadelphia, and I managed to get an autographed copy of The Black Cauldron.

Xanth was also good, but not great. Too "punny" for me, and I much prefer Anthony's short stories, and his "Horsemen" series.

I tried reading the Thomas Covenant series, but never got into it. Never read any of the Oz books, but my wife loved 'em all.

As for Middle-Earth...I hesitate to give you my opinion, but here goes: I honestly believe that The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most over-rated set of books ever. Yes, they were ground-breaking and more or less introdouced the concept of fully-formed fantasy worlds. And I do remember devouring them as a young boy (I think I was 10 or 11. 12, tops). But, come on, have you tried re-reading them as an adult? I have. I picked up my well-worn copy of The Fellowship of the Ring just before the film came out. I found it unreadable. It was like reading a history text where every fourth word was in Esperanto. Seriously, it's the most over-written, under-characterized series of books I've ever read. I think the trilogy endures merely because it's always been viewed as "ground-breaking". Which, by the way, is revisionist history. The books really didn't gain popularity until the swingin' sixties, when mind-altering subtances were used frequently. And don't even get me started on The Silmarillion!

Of course that's my opinion of those books, I am sure I'll be branded a blasphemer, or be told that I simply have no taste in books. FYI, Darthsikle shares my assessment of LotR. Unless you're 12, the books are crappy. Tolkien may have been a good storyteller, and has some tremendous ideas, but he was a poor writer. Edgar Rice Burroughs is the same. Great storyteller, poor writer.


I'll admit, I have not read any of The Chronicles of Narnia since I was 10 or 11. However, I must disagree with your assessment that the books have poor characters and were shallow. I mean, come on, Aslan is one of the most enduring fantasy characters of all time. Surely he's more enduring than Samwise Gamgee and Legolas, if not on the same level as Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn.

I remember Lewis going into great detail about the characters and surroundings of Narnia. I also remember being captivated by the writing, which seemed aimed at my level. It never "talked down" to me, nor did it pretend to be anything more than it was: A fairy tale. Perhaps the fact that the characters have but one name, instead of fifteen, and the fact that they all speak English, instead of some bizarre, made-up language prompts you to call the books "shallow"?

Listen, I don't mean to infer things that aren't in your original post. However, I've found that adults who decry The Chronicles of Narnia in the manner you do have an underlying problem with the overt Christianity of the novels. The Prydain stories were taken from Welsh tales, the Narnia books were based on Christian teachings and stories. They're no different.

I found The Chronicles of Narnia to be wonderful, beautifully-written fairy tales. I very much look forward to reading these books to my son in a couple of years. Will I tell him about the Christian allegory? Nope. I didn't understand that aspect of the books until I was adult, I don't want it influencing his sense of wonder at exploring Lewis' wonderfully rich world.

Just for frame of reference, here are my favorite writers, in approximate order:

1. Kurt Vonnegut
2. John Irving
3. E.L. Doctorow
4. Edgar Rice Burroughs
5. Chuck Pahalaniuk
 
I have no idea which order I originally read them in (but I THINK Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was first) and I haven't reread them in 15 years. But if I was going to re-read them in would be in publication order.

I'm still amused that Susan didn't get into heaven because she started going to parties.

Oh, and I read part of (probably the first) Shanara book and it was UTTER SHITE. It was as if the author had copied and pasted Lord Of The Rings and changed the character names slightly...then made it SUCK. Probably unfair as I didn't even finish the whole book, so angry I was, but life isn't fair!
 
^^Duh, how could I forget to add King to my list?? I would swap out King for ERB, although there is a certain "sameness" to ERB's work that I find, frankly, reassuring.

And the Amber books kicked ass. You were referring to Zelazney's work, right? Or is there another series of books called "The Amber Spyglass"?

I agree that as you mature your taste in fiction should mature. I don't expect simplicity of characters or situations in the books I read. However, over-complicating things is just as bad, IMHO.
 
^^Have you read any of Vonnegut's work? God I love his books. I think Galapagos is my favorite. I really need to start collecting his work in hardcover, all the better to re-read it.
 
I gotta start re-reading his books. I also loved God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and Cat's Cradle. But all of his books were fantastic, IMHO.

I gotta give credit to Ms. Jennifer Coombs for turning me on to Vonnegut. We were dear friend all through college, and she had a cat named Eliot, after Eliot Rosewater. I read her copy of the book and immediately checked out all his other books from the student library. I think he's one of the best American satirists, easily on par with Twain!!
 
I was in my local Barnes & Noble the other day with my family (my son LOVES to be read to, thank goodness, so we go there quite often to buy him books) and I left them both in the Children's area while I perused the store.

This B & N is huge, with a pretty decent SF&F section. I ambled over, since I am between books, hoping to find a book that would intrigue me. Not only was a large portion of the section devoted to series like Elfquest, D&D, Buffy, Angel, etc., but I wasn't able to really find anything else appealing.

Can someone recommend a good Fantasy book?
 
I'm not a gamer, but I enjoy the Dungeons & Dragons "DragonLance" series of novels, immensely.

They are the spiritual grandchildren to LOTR.
 
Oh, geez, how could I forget!! James Clavell is another of my favorite writers! His books are truly, truly epic in both scope and in his breathtaking prose!
 
Has anyone read any of the Artemis Fowl series? Along with the Philip Pullman and Lemony 's A Series of Unfortunate Eventsbooks, they seem to be the ones the kids around here like.
(well, and Harry Potter, whom we've already discussed elsewhere).
 
BDM --

DEAD WITCH WALKING by Kim Harrison. It's the first in a series, written in first-person, and really funny.

The Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. Another funny vampire series.

I've been re-reading SF lately, and I'm on the third of the Stardoc novels by SL Viehl. Highly recommend anything by her.
 
My wife's aunt mentioned Artemis Fowl when she visited over the summer. She had been reading it to her grandchild and, apparently, it was a favored series.

So, I've only heard good things.
 
LOL - good for granny!
I thought the idea of a criminal mastermind as the protagonist for a kids' series was wonderful! The Butler rocks, too! Who would they pick to portray him in a movie? Vin Diesel?
....And of course I loved the kickass female Elf....
 
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