# Poll: your favorite Chronicles of Narnia book? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880 "2018-12-10T06:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/61 "2018-12-14T00:59:25Z")
I voted for _Voyage of the Dawn Treader_ because I think it has the most overall moments that have stuck with me. And I definitely would not vote for _Prince Caspian_ (which I enjoy, particularly the time travel aspect), _Magician’s Nephew_ (a definitely fun read, but not enough of the Narnia we love) or _The Last Battle_ (boring, way too preachy and Christian for me). On another day I might have voted for: _Wardrobe_ introduces all the best characters, and is a remarkable work of standalone fantasy, with heroes and a villain and world building and whatnot _Silver Chair_ has the best overall plot arc and plot twists and so forth, plus puddleglum and many memorable scenes. I think it would actually make a GREAT movie, and not need all the extra crap tacked on to have a nice digestible conflict the way _Dawn Treader_ did _Horse and his Boy_ does the best job of taking the world and then telling a completely different story in a new place, but one which still feels like (and ends up intersecting with) Narnia. Plus some truly great moments. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/62 "2018-12-14T12:32:14Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > _Silver Chair_ has the best overall plot arc and plot twists and so forth, plus puddleglum and many memorable scenes. I think it would actually make a GREAT movie, and not need all the extra crap tacked on to have a nice digestible conflict the way _Dawn Treader_ did. I’m rather disappointed that they didn’t get to this one while Will Poulter was young enough to keep playing Eustace. But like you, I was also disappointed at the changes they made to Dawn Treader in the film, so maybe we dodged a bullet here. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/63 "2018-12-14T18:16:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’m rather disappointed that they didn’t get to this one while Will Poulter was young enough to keep playing Eustace. But like you, I was also disappointed at the changes they made to Dawn Treader in the film, so maybe we dodged a bullet here. I was so angry about the changes the films made to _Wardrobe_ and _Caspian_ (which isn’t even one of my favorite books!) that I couldn’t even bring myself to watch _Dawn Treader_ at all. I was really peeved that the movie version of Caspian omitted my favorite bit of dialogue in the whole series, when Lucy finally re-unites with Aslan: “Aslan" said Lucy “you’re bigger”. “That is because you are older, little one” answered he. “Not because you are?” "I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.” ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/64 "2018-12-14T18:33:22Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I was so angry about the changes the films made to _Wardrobe_ and _Caspian_ (which isn’t even one of my favorite books!) that I couldn’t even bring myself to watch _Dawn Treader_ at all. Yeah; I thought the movie version of _Wardrobe_ was pretty decent, but quality went downhill from there in spite of what I thought was pretty good casting. I don’t think I had the heart to watch Dawn Treader either. Or if I did, I have blotted it from my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/65 "2018-12-14T20:04:09Z")
_Dawn Treader_ was the worst adaptation because they completely subverted the entire premise of the book - and I still can’t figure out if they trashed it on purpose. The original book is probably the most medieval children’s book published in the modern era. It’s a fantasy-land Grail quest, and like in the original Grail quest, the point is the journey not the destination. Although they will do their best to find the ‘Grail’ - news of the seven lords - its more important to conduct the quest honorably, to ‘take the adventure Aslan sends’ and, essentially, to pursue personal growth. This is the point Reepicheep makes when he shames the crew into sailing into the shadow around the Isle of Dreams - there is no practical value in it at all and _that’s exactly why they have to do it._ And it’s THIS book into which the producers shoehorn some bloody McGuffin about saving the world by rounding up a bunch of rusty old swords! Aslan wept! I’ll send the mice in to skewer them in the kneecaps :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/66 "2018-12-14T21:02:47Z")
…I don’t remember anything like that from the movie. That’s probably for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/67 "2018-12-14T21:40:02Z")
[More information than you would ever want to know…](https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Seven_Swords) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/68 "2018-12-15T00:24:31Z")
I liked all of the books, but the first one, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe was the best because it started the whole story. The Last Battle made me a little sad, because Susan would not be going on to the _ **real** _ Narnia. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/69 "2018-12-15T00:32:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Somehow, I missed all these books; just never heard of them until my 20s. Worth checking out as a 43 year old? I first read them as an adult and I love them dearly. As an adult I saw the symbolism being presented, I don’t know if a kid would. It was the same with the Judy Garland bersion of The Wizard of Oz. As a child they were a grand but scary story, as an adult I got the jokes I didn’t as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/70 "2018-12-15T01:07:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Somehow, I missed all these books; just never heard of them until my 20s. Worth checking out as a 43 year old? Absolutely, I still re-read my set every once in a while and I’m 43. I’m surprised there isn’t more love for _The Magician’s Nephew_. That’s my favorite of the series. The Wood Between the Worlds always fascinated me. And I still love the quote on the Charn Bell. “Make your choice, Adventurous Stranger; Strike the bell and bide the danger, Or wonder, till it drives you mad, What would have followed if you had.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/71 "2018-12-15T01:20:46Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Yes and no, especially on the misogyny. I read them as a child in the 1970s, and looking back, I think part of my massive love of them comes from most of the books actually have female protagonists and/or strong female characters (both good and bad). That’s not really common in books from that era; in contrast, Tolkein’s books have pretty much zero women. Consider The Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I haven’t done anything approaching a scientific count, but it seems to me that strong female protagonists are at least as common in classic children’s fantasy as they are in modern children’s fantasy. (Alice is an astonishingly cool character, in my reading. I love that kid.) ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/72 "2018-12-15T01:38:18Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Aha! The poll now includes the first vote for _Prince Caspian_! Ha!, that was me! I was surprised to see that I was the only vote at the time (happy to see one more person joining me). It has been many, many years, so maybe I should go back and re-read them, but when I was a kid, I liked Caspian, I thought the interaction between Telmarines and Narnians was interesting, I liked the scene where the children find their old castle, I liked the character of the old professor, and several other things. Maybe adult me would see it differently. I struggled between Caspian and “The Horse and His Boy”. In both of these books, you see how a different culture reacts to Narnia, so maybe that’s what attracts me to them. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/73 "2018-12-15T03:37:02Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Yes and no, especially on the misogyny. I read them as a child in the 1970s, and looking back, I think part of my massive love of them comes from most of the books actually have female protagonists and/or strong female characters (both good and bad). That’s not really common in books from that era; in contrast, Tolkein’s books have pretty much zero women. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Consider The Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. I haven’t done anything approaching a scientific count, but it seems to me that strong female protagonists are at least as common in classic children’s fantasy as they are in modern children’s fantasy. (Alice is an astonishingly cool character, in my reading. I love that kid.) British literature seems to have had a fairly strong tradition of books involving groups of boys and girls (often siblings) having adventures together, as in the works of E. Nesbit, Arthur Ransome, and Enid Blyton; and I think Lewis was thinking along those lines when he wrote _The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/74 "2018-12-15T07:08:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Somehow, I missed all these books; just never heard of them until my 20s. Worth checking out as a 43 year old? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2018, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/75 "2018-12-15T07:15:13Z")
_The Magician’s Nephew_ is my favorite. I think the description of Aslan singing Narnia into existence is beautiful. This is the funniest of the books. The scenes with Uncle Andrew and the animals and Jadis loose in London are hilarious. I like the Well of the Worlds and the children’s exploration of Jadis’ world. Aslan gets some of His best lines. One is when he tells Polly and Digory that this world is not yet as bad as the Empress’, but they should beware lest society get that evil. That’s an observation the US would do well to heed. The second is when he tells Digory: “As yet, you and I are the only ones in this world who understand sorrow. Let us be good to one another.” ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/76 "2018-12-16T18:51:29Z")
I just re-read _The Magician’s Nephew_; knowing that Lewis lost his own mother to cancer when he was 6. it’s very touching to look at the scenes with Diggory and his mother as well as Aslan’s lines quoted by _ **Peyote Coyote** _ above. And again it strikes me that while it’s a wonderful prequel, it shouldn’t be read first before all the others. Maybe I’m prejudiced by remembering my own discovery of the books starting with _The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe_ when I was 8, but I really don’t see any advantage to reading _Magician_ first? Anyone want to weigh in on this? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/77 "2018-12-16T20:37:14Z")
I used to hang out on a C S Lewis appreciation board, and “Publication Order versus Chronological Order” was pretty much the “shoes on or off inside the house” or “declawing cats - yes or no?” of the place. I’m a Publication Order woman myself. Welcome to the Dark Side - we have Turkish Delight! ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/78 "2018-12-16T22:23:04Z")
Publication order first; absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/79 "2018-12-17T00:15:01Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > And again it strikes me that while it’s a wonderful prequel, it shouldn’t be read first before all the others. Maybe I’m prejudiced by remembering my own discovery of the books starting with _The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe_ when I was 8, but I really don’t see any advantage to reading _Magician_ first? Anyone want to weigh in on this? Publication order. The world-building in The Magician’s Nephew made me feel like I was visiting Narnia for the first time and made me excited for anyone reading The Chronicles of Narnia the first time, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880/80 "2018-12-17T03:10:54Z")
Personally, I hold that publication order is self-evidently the order that Lewis preferred, because if he preferred some other order, that would have been the order he would have published them in. This is not changed by the fact that he was too much of a gentleman to tell a little girl that she was reading his books wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-your-favorite-chronicles-of-narnia-book/825880.md?page=5)