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Title: The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0-06-447108-X Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.59 (56 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: My favorite of the chronicles
Comment: This is the last of the Narnia books, both by publication date and in the sequence of events it depicts. The plot, in brief, concerns an ape who employs a false prophet to enslave the Narnians. The Narnian King and his cohorts attempt to fight back, but for once in this series, the outcome is not entirely predictable. The ultimate outcome (whether happy or sad, I couldn't or? wouldn't say) extends beyond the Narnian world into something more universal. The ending is satisfying in that it ties together the disparate threads from the prior novel, giving us a glimpse of characters immortalized at their 'best' moment.
Book 7 is unique in several respects. On the most basic level, the point of view is Narnian here, both in terms of the central characters and the setting. More striking though is the dark tone of this book, which goes in to far more detail in describing evil machinations, as well as death sequences, than any of the other books. This is but one of the reasons it might not, in contrast to the earliest books, be well recieved by younger children.
The central religious metaphors here concern the apocalypse and the day of reckoning. While this contributes to the ominous tone, Lewis ultimately offers a positive message for children. His message is that provided one courageously faces their fears, allows their inner voice to guide them to stand up against injustice, and chooses belief over cunning, all will work out well in the end.
Of course in the real world, none of these three are easy to do consistently. But in this tale, the ape, with his over-reasoned irony and sophistry, poses one clear threat to religious belief (was Lewis himself making an ironic statement against evolution by using an ape?). Another threat to religion here is posed by communism and fascism (thinly veiled); one character says, "true freedom means doing what I tell you."
But I believe these books should not be to heavily scrutinized on an intellectual level as they are meant to be simple parables to guide children in a positive direction. And they are for the most part very positive for children, I believe. They show children that they are unique in their willingness to believe, and that belief enables even the young and weak to accomplish a great deal. Of course, a problematic normative question remains, namely, "Which beliefs are to be encouraged, and which actions are positive?" But we can hardly fault Lewis for failing to provide the definitive answer to that one! (4.5 stars)
Rating: 5
Summary: Bringing the Series to a Close
Comment: King Tirian of Narnia is thrilled to hear the rumors that, after a couple hundred years of silence, Aslan has returned to the country. But when he goes to investigate himself, he discovers that no one is allowed to see the Lion. In fact, an ape is speaking for Him. The new pronouncements are just as puzzling, including the enslavement of the talking animals. What is going on? His few allies include Eustace and Jill from our own world. But can they defeat this new evil?
This book is different from others in the series because the story starts in Narnia and then brings the characters from our world into theirs. But the differences don't stop there. This is a stirring conclusion of a great series. The symbolism is strong, and I find this book one of the most interesting of the series from that standpoint. The story is probably one of the fastest in the series, with so much intrigue and fighting going on, it's hard to put down, even on a reread. The ending leaves me with a feeling of euphoria mixed with just a little bit of melancholy because the series is over.
While the order the other books in the series are read doesn't matter as much, this one must be read at the end to fully appreciate it. It's a wonderful ending to a wonderful series. Don't miss it.
Rating: 5
Summary: Great ending to a much beloved series(bit of spoilers)
Comment: The last book in a series of 7.
The final book starts as an ape, Swift, and his rather faitful but blockheaded donkey, Puzzle, find a lion. Ape then takes the skin and puts it on Puzzle, created a false Aslan. From here, Swift tells all of Narnia rather strange and disastrous deeds by saying Aslan speaks these deeds to Swift and Swift orders Narnians to do it(if you missed the Christian allegories, you're really not paying attention)and it's up to Tirian, the current king of Narnia and the heroes from the last 2, Jill and Eustace, to stop him and the war it starts. The ending seems almost tragic from a point.
Some questions are unanswered. For example, the very ending will have you wondering was everybody involved in that or just certain ones? And why is Susan, one of the main characters from 2 books, not allowed back in Narnia?
The other 6 I read liking them afterwards, when I read Last Battle, I finished all 16 chapters in one sitting, rather than 2-4 for the other 6. It's a fairly engrossing book and a fitting end to one of the best fantasy series written
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Title: The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0064471098 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (rack) by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0064471071 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Prince Caspian (rack) : The Return to Narnia by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0064471055 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0064471063 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 08 July, 1994 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Magician's Nephew (rack) by C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes ISBN: 0064471101 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 05 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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