The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy
Edited by Gregory Bassham
and Jerry L. Walls.
Open Court (Chicago, 2005).
288 pp., $17.95.

The C.S. Lewis Chronicles:
The Indispensable Biography
of the Creator of Narnia
By Colin Duriez. BlueBridge (New York, 2005). 298 pp., $14.95.

A Reader's Guide Through the Wardrobe: Exploring C.S. Lewis' Classic Story
By Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Mead. InterVarsity Press (Downer's Grove, Ill., 2005). 192 pp., $13.

Into The Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis a
nd the Narnia Chronicles
By David C. Downing.
Jossey-Bass (San Francisco, 2005). 238 pp., $19.95.

C.S. Lewis and Narnia for Dummies
By Richard Wagner. Wiley (Hoboken, N.J., 2005). 364 pp., $19.99.

The Way Into Narnia: A Reader's Guide
By Peter J. Schakel. Wm. B. Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, Mich., 2005). 212 pp., $14.

It all started with an image within an author's imagination --- a faun in the snowy woods carrying parcels and an umbrella.

After carrying that image in his head for a few decades, Clive Staples Lewis ("Jack" to his friends) crafted seven books in the series "The Chronicles of Narnia." Although he was an unmarried Oxford professor in his 50s who had no children of his own, Lewis wrote the stories for children. It was not expected to be a hit, yet the seven books, published each year from 1950 to 1956, sold well and continue to fascinate readers young and old.

The popularity of the books is not lost on Hollywood. The first published book of the chronicles, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," opens Dec. 9 in a movie directed by Andrew Adamson (director of "Shrek" and "Shrek II"). And the longevity and beauty of the work is not lost on scholars who have written volume upon volume on Narnia and its creator.

Six new books offer insight --- philosophical, literary and religious --- on the series that began with the line, "Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy."

"The Way Into Narnia: A Reader's Guide," a basic introduction to the series, is Peter J. Schakel's third book on Narnia, following two more specialized books about Lewis' works, including one that delves into his use of Christian themes. The guide reads fast and is tight, insightful and informative on Lewis' progress and inspirations.

One chapter examines the "controversy" about the order in which the books should be read --- by order of publication or by the chronology of Narnian history. Lewis himself is recorded as stating, "It doesn't matter which order the books are read." Schakel agrees, but suggests that "The Magician's Nephew," which is chronologically the first book, is best read as a "flashback."

He reasons it is best to begin with "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" because it introduces readers to the world of Narnia in such a beautiful and welcoming manner as Lucy first enters the wardrobe. In contrast, "The Magician's Nephew" mentions Narnia only twice within the first nine chapters. Schakel's knowledge and intelligent synopsis inspires his readers to truly appreciate Lewis' work.

Each chapter in "A Reader's Guide Through the Wardrobe: Exploring C.S. Lewis' Classic Story," by Leland Ryken and Marjorie Lamp Mead, corresponds with one chapter of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The authors offer readers conclusions on literary techniques, symbols and themes and then "study questions" to gain more personal insight on the text. The guide reads like a good textbook from an interesting class you are glad you took --- all for the "tuition" of paying for a paperback.

History buffs might especially enjoy "The C.S. Lewis Chronicles: The Indispensable Biography of the Creator of Narnia, Full of Little-known Facts, Events and Miscellany." Author Colin Duriez compiled this journal of short entries for significant days in Lewis' life, beginning with the day he was born --- Nov. 28, 1898. Along with tidbits from Lewis' letters and quotes from colleagues, Duriez assembled a ton of historical research to chronicle the events in Lewis' world. Political unrest and pop culture references are among the dated listings. Duriez is also the author of "The Field Guide to Narnia" and "The C.S. Lewis Encyclopedia: A Complete Guide to His Thought, Life and Writings."

There is a more conversational tone to "The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy." There is nothing stuffy about philosophers who would write that "even small sounds, like the soft plop of pigeon poop on our shoulders, can make us cringe." That's the charm of this book --- it's comfortably casual. Edited by Gregory Bassham and Jerry L. Walls, the writers' text reads like stream of consciousness. The text is thoughtful but can be hard to complete due to wandering attention.

"C.S. Lewis and Narnia for Dummies" tries to be something for everyone. And in that the book fails. Richard Wagner obviously knows his stuff, but the text is written in an immature --- and sometimes condescending --- tone. Information is stored in shaded boxes, and little icons signal nuggets of information as tips, trivia or technical stuff. There is a lot of information in this book, but there are so many formatting clicks and buzzers that it is distracting. If readers can get over the flash, they might enjoy the book.

"Into the Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles," by David C. Downing, has sections on the spiritual vision of the series, the medieval and classical elements and an especially good segment on the names in the Narnia series and the references and allusions they evoke. It also has a segment on Lewis' life, a timeline and a useful appendix of Narnia terms.

Jean Gonzalez is projects editor for The Florida Catholic newspapers.