The World According to Narnia

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AUG 29, 2005

Christian reflection on C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series has become a cottage industry, but Rogers distinguishes himself as a fellow fantasy writer (theWilderking Trilogy) presenting a narrative analysis and exegesis of the Chronicles. This is no introduction to the series. Rogers's reflections like many other books about Lewis's fantasy writing assume the reader already knows and loves the stories of Aslan (the great lion a trope for Christ), the adventurous Pevensie children who travel to the land of Narnia and the many magicians, dark figures and supernatural creatures who roam there. Of primary importance to Rogers is that readers perceive Aslan's transformative nature, pointing out that "to come face to face with Aslan is to realize that you aren't who you thought you were." Several times Rogers tells us Aslan is "not a tame lion," which he interprets as another way of saying "God's ways are not our ways," a reference to Isaiah 55:8 9. Readers who feel they need a guide to the Christian symbols and metaphors in Lewis's Chronicles will appreciate the scriptural and theological connections in this earnest and accessible book.