The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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Summary: A new visitor to Narnia
Review: Third in the series (as they were originally written), "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of my favorite books in the Narnia series. Edmund and Lucy return to Narnia (Peter and Susan are now too old to come back) and they bring an unwelcome (and unwilling) guest. Eustace, their cousin, plays a bratty child who can't think of anything but leaving Narnia, until he undergoes a remarkable change (you'll have to read to find out!). The three children join King Caspian at the beginning of an ocean voyage to explore the seas to the East of Narnia, and experience an exciting series of dangers and marvels. This book has many similarities to the adventures of Ulysses in "The Odyssey" by Homer, under different circumstances. And once again, Reepicheep proves to be the fearlessly brave mouse whose actions give him much greater credit than his size.

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Summary: An "Odyssey" for Children
Review: After reading the very first line, "There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it," I realized that I had made a huge mistake beginning "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" half an hour before bedtime. More exciting and adventure-packed than the two preceeding books (in the original ordering, of course), "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian", it is hard to put down.

The main characters that readers will recognize are King Caspian, Edmund, Lucy, and Reepicheep. Sadly, Peter and Susan have since become too old to reenter Narnia; but the story does amazingly well even without them. Here, Eustace, who will reappear in "The Silver Chair", is introduced for the first time. They are an interesting bunch, all providing something essential to the story, especially Reepicheep (whose character and personal history are developed further) and Eustace (who experiences a wonderful kind of redemption).

The Dawn Treader is a ship King Caspian built in order to fulfil an oath made on his coronation day to find the seven lords and friends of his father that his uncle Miraz had sent to explore the Eastern Seas. Every two chapters or so, the Dawn Treader stops at an island, where its crew and passengers have a small adventure-within-the-larger-adventure, discover the fate of each of the seven lords, and learn good moral lessons. For instance, one island, called the Dark Island, is a place where dreams come true. It may sound wonderful, until you realize that the dreams that come true are not the pleasant daydreams, but the nightmares. After the last island, the passengers even reach, or very nearly reach, the End of the World.

Though I compared this book to Homer's "Odyssey" in the title of this review, I must add that it can also be likened to John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". This voyage is not guided by fate and devoid of reason, but is blessed by Aslan (who symbolizes Jesus) and is full of meaning and purpose. It does not merely represent the passage through life, but the passage through life _as a Christian_. That may be why one reviewer complained that this novel is overly preachy. Yet we readers are human, after all, and in need of being preached to now and then. Another thing that may surprise readers is the chivalry with which Lucy, the only girl on the ship, is treated by the men. Though it not "politically correct," as Eustace himself points out at the beginning, it has a certain rightness to it.

Remembering how the March girls in Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" played at being good in imitation of the character Christian in "The Pilgrim's Progress", only to realize that their game was really a way of life, I can say that it would be wonderful if children today could apply the allegories in "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" in the same way. Parents, take note: it is easier to ask a child, "What would Edmund tell you about forgiving someone who has done wrong, like Eustace?" than to launch into a weary sermon about forgiveness that they may not remember anyway. There are more archetypes in this book, and in all stories about Narnia, than C.S. Lewis himself must have realized: and children can only benefit from knowing them as they grow up.

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Summary: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Review: This story is about Eudmund, Lucy, their cousin Eustace, Caspain, and their journey to find the 7 Lords that Miraz banished from Narnia. They go across The Great Western Sea, past the Silver Sea, and to what they think is Aslan's contry and the End of the world. They also meet two stars. this is the 5th Narnia book and one of the best.

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Summary: A beautiful quest story
Review: Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia and find themselves on the Dawn Treader, a true sailing vessel for a magical children's story, traveling with Prince Caspian on a quest to find the end of the world. However, when the children are returned to their favorite land, they bring along their cousin, the sour and demanding Eustace Scrubb.

Through many adventures at sea and during ports of call, Eustace makes the rather predictable transformation into an alright chap, but don't mistake the predictability of this end for cheap or sloppy story telling on Lewis's part. Eustace's transformation can be interpreted as the transformation of the unbeliever to a Christian, and the symbolism of his physical change is rich and compelling for adults and engaging and magical for children.

Our dear, brave friend Reepacheep is back, too, and shows his continuing bravery in a heartwarming ending that causes readers to feel great admiration for the little mouse with big courage.

The richest part of the novel is the well described climax in which the story takes on a mythical nature and our friends come close to the line between heaven and earth.

It's a lovely book, and as usual for the series, can be enjoyed on theological levels, but it loses nothing if the reader picks it up as pure fantasy for someone looking for a great tale!

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Summary: I never wanted it to end....
Review: I agree with others here that this was the best out of all the Narnia Chronicles. What a book! I am reading all these books as an adult and I can only imagine how more wonderful these would seem as a child. I do like the Christianity thrown in (Aslan being the Messiah). Some others I have spoken to do not like this in your face message of Adam and Eve and the Aslan's Kingdom. This book clearly states (SPOILER) at the end of the Kingdom (Heaven) being both in Narnia and in our world. It's a great book for an adventurer or someone who would like to explain how beautiful the boundaries of Heaven can be. This is the best book (haven't read the last one yet though) and I already want to read it again...absolutely enchanting.

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Summary: "...Places you never dreamed existed..."
Review: Three years after Prince Caspian (of the 4th Narnian Chronicle 'Prince Caspian') was crowned King of Narnia he set out on a voyage to discover and if possible, recover, the seven missing Lords who left Narnia years earlier by order of his wicked Uncle Miraz. The only thing that is lacking though, it the presences of their royal majesties, Queen Lucy and King Edmund. However, that will soon change.
In England, Edmund and Lucy are unavoidably required to visit their Aunt, Uncle and cousin Eustace Clarence Scrubb for the duration of 16 weeks while Peter visits the Professor, and Susan tours the US with her parents. In a reverie of Narnia they happen to enter into the magical world as they had previously done several times before, and Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace are thrust into one of the most amazing adventures ever. The journey on board the majestic Dawn Treader takes them to the Eastern Islands, to the Silver Sea, and then further than any Narnian (or human) had ever been, toward the End of the World where Aslan's country lies.
There are so many more wonderful experiences and descriptions in this book that are possible to name. Yet, for example there are the hilarious Dufflepuds and their absurd antics, the valiant Reepicheep, the mysterious Ramandu and his daughter, and of course, the beautiful green and gold Dawn Treader. :)
The Dawn Treader is so full of adventure that you will long to read it again and again.

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Summary: Among the series' best
Review: The immediate follow-up to "Prince Caspian," "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of C.S. Lewis' classic Narnia series, and contains all the magic, wonder and adventure of the others in the series. Maybe more.

Like most of the Narnia books, "Voyage" takes little time to get moving. Edmund and Lucy are staying with their mean and arrogant little cousin Eustace (Peter and Susan are excised from the story for being too old), when the three children are pulled into the world of Narnia. Edmund and Lucy are delighted to have arrived, but Eustace is bitter at the situation. He is made even more bitter because of where they appear: In the middle of the ocean, where they are picked up by King Caspian on his ship, the Dawn Treader.

Caspian is in the midst of a grand journey in which he is trying to sail to the end of the world. Tossed into the mix is his quest to find seven companions of his father, who fled Narnia when the bad folks from "Prince Caspian" took over. The entire plot is little more than an excuse to sail to lands unknown and explore the most fantastic sights Narnia has to offer. The story does not fail in that endeavor.

While it begins as Another Narnia Adventure, "Voyage" quickly becomes an exploration adventure of the most classic kind, an archetype of a tale in which every action drives the characters towards the next episode and the next land of wonder. Like other timeless tales of this type, the device is remarkably effective in keeping the reader's interest and repeatedly engage one's sense of awe.

Naturally, there are Lessons thrown in for good measure. Lewis can occasionally grate with moralizing, but "Voyage's" moral tales are not grating in the least. Most are tales that have been told time and again throughout mankind's history. Each island has its own little moral message, but they are subtle, fit with the story well, serve the sense of wonder the reader feels, and never intrude on the tale. That's a welcome thing.

In the end, no terrible bad guy is vanquished. No kingdom is won. Nobody turns out to secretly be royalty. None of that. It simply ends when the quest is done. And that end satisfies.

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" may be the very best of the Narnia books and a journey for the ages. Here, Lewis crafts a classic tale of a fantastic journey, and he does so with a finely balanced sense of pacing. "Voyage" never fails to be engaging and will surely delight readers both young and old.

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Summary: A Voyage of the Best Kind
Review: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis is in my opinion, the best out of all seven of the Chronicles of Narnia.
It is like a cruise- in a book- you get a taste of various make-believe cultures. You even meet a Star and experience a vast endless sea adventure with good and evil, right and wrong.

Explore the shallows of the sweet waters where there are fierce yet valiant sea people. Search for the eight lords banished from Narnia by the evil 'king' Miraz. See Aslans country and look for the many biblical parallels hidden within that only make it more exciting with its familiarity yet different adventurous ways of portraying the prophesies.

This book is good for people of all ages, and is a good place to start with the fantasy genre.

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Summary: Terra Incognita
Review: Although the third volume written by Lewis, "Dawn Treader" falls fifth in the Narnian chronology. It can be thought of as a melding of the Quest/Cruscade theme (from the Horse and His Boy) with many of the characters from Prince Caspian.

Like in the Horse and His Boy, we have here an adventure that takes place amongst non-believers outside the Kingdom of God (Narnia). Here however the protagonists are actively seeking adventure while cruscading outside the realm. Their many adventures include abolishing slavery, freeing the invisible Dufflepuds from their 'medieval' enchantment, as well as more metaphorical visits to golden ponds, the isle of dreams, and dragon-infested lands. By the end of the book, the travellers have finally reached the boundary between heaven and earth; who will turn back and who will go on?

Despite the fact that this book included several adventures and was written for somewhat older children than some of the earlier offerings, I found this book to be somewhat slow going. Perhaps the already-noted episodic nature of the tales is to blame; somehow the religious and moral messages were not as compelling here, and Reepicheep was the only really fresh character in the bunch.

Nevertheless, this will be a good read for young and old alike who are looking to continue their Narnian adventure. (3.5 stars)

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Summary: A strong entry in the series
Review: The third book in the Narnia series, like with the expanding Harry Potter series, shows our heroes maturing as they return once again to Narnia to help Caspian find the seven lords of Narnia. I never bought into the whole Christian allegory. It's there, but I never felt it was beaten over the head of the reader the way some people feel. The story drags on occcasion, but when it picks up speed, it's a great ride. If you enjoy Harry Potter, read this series which is much an inspiration as J.R.R. Tolkien.