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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Voyaging, 22 Jul 2005
The second volume of the Narnia Chronicles closed with the possibility of Lucy and Edmund -- though not their older siblings -- returning to Narnia. "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" makes good on that story, with the intrepid pair (plus a whiny cousin) returning on a strange sea voyage.
After the events of "Prince Caspian," Lucy and Edmund are sent off to stay with their obnoxious cousin Eustace. But when they admire a picture of a strange ship, suddenly all three kids are sucked in -- and land in a Narnian sea. On board the ship is King Caspian, now fully grown, who is determined to find a bunch of knights exiled by his murderous uncle, even if he has to go to the edge of the world (literally).
Lucy and Edmund are thrilled to be back in Narnia again, but Eustance proceeds to make trouble any way he can, complaining and causing trouble among the crew. But there are problems more horrifying than any of them can guess, from dragons to sinister "gold water" to a region filled with their worst nightmares.
"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of Lewis's most original and tightly-written Narnian adventures. It's also a bit of a break from form. After two books of battles against evil tyrants, "Voyage" simply goes where no man/woman/mouse has gone before, and gives us a view of the Narnian world as more than one isolated little region.
And in some ways, it's also the darkest Chronicle. Lewis explores the theme of greed here -- greed for power, beauty, money and magic -- and has some scenes both chilling and majestic. But his archly humorous style peeks through in several places, whether it's pompous mouse Reepicheep or tea with a reclusive old wizard.
Edmund and Lucy are their usual plucky selves, albeit a bit more mature than before. But "Voyage" also introduces one of Lewis' most interesting characters in Eustace Clarence Scrubb. Like Edmund, Eustace is initially a peevish, lying boy who generally makes trouble, but slowly learns his errors. But unlike Edmund, Eustace doesn't have to ally himself to the baddie to learn that.
"Voyage of the Dawn Treader" was a turning point for the Narnia Chronicles, as well as the one that began venturing into darker territory. Engaging and tightly written.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a magical voyage to the ends of the Narnian world, 12 Jan 2003
I particularly love this book (and The Silver Chair)out of all the Narnia Chronicles because I went to a progressive school just like that of Eustace Scrubb. Eustace is the horrid cousin of two of the original four who found their way into Narnia in The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, and in this sequel to Prince Caspian all three are sucked into a picture in the spare room wall to join Caspian in his quest. He is searching for the seven seafaring Lords who left his wicked Uncle Miraz to search for the end of the world.
There are many marvellous adventures, including a fight with a sea-serpent and an island-pool that turns everything to gold, but the best chapters concern the reform of Eustace after greed turns him into a dragon.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never a dull moment, 3 Sep 2004
This is the fifth book chronologically, and the third published. After "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", it's probably the next most enjoyable of the series.Peter and Susan are now too old to enter Narnia, and this time it's Edmund and Lucy embarking on their last magical adventure. We rejoin them during their stay with their new age aunt and uncle, and obnoxious cousin Eustace. A painting of a Narnian ship literally draws all three children in to the next adventure, where we advance three Narnian years from book four, "Prince Caspian". Caspian, the boy King, is on a quest to find out what really happened to the seven lords who had been sent away by his evil uncle Miraz. This is the story of that perilous journey to the unknown Eastern Seas, and according to legend, the country of Aslan himself. Journeying into the unknown is always fraught with danger, but after many thrilling adventures and much adversity, they are successful in solving the puzzle of the seven lords, for better or for worse. Time and time again, they seek Aslan's help, and in his mysterious ways, he guides them through their darkest hours. Packed with excitement, adventure, magic and enchantment, pirates, dragons, treasure and invisible people, there's never a dull moment aboard the Dawn Treader.
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