Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia [Paperback]

Mark Eddy Smith (Author)

Book Description

I'm told there is a lion who wants to meet with me. I am told that he is fierce and unpredictable and very large. I have known about him for most of my life, and at times I've believed I caught a glimpse of his shadow, but I have yet to actually meet him face to face. His name is Aslan, and it's possible that you've heard of him.C. S. Lewis has created a wonderful place, a place where anything can happen. Even the stones can talk. In Aslan's Call, Mark Eddy Smith shows you how--in this fanciful world--you can discover the truest reality. In the children who travel to Narnia you can find yourself. In Aslan you can find Christ. And in the place of Narnia you can find the very adventure for which God made you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This breezy personal narrative by a man obviously in love with magical representations of biblical stories is part exegetical reflection and part personal spiritual memoir. Smith, a graphic designer for InterVarsity Press and author of the popular Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues, offers his interpretation of the characters and events found in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and then some. Embedded within his Chronicles interpretations are stories of his own moments of spiritual enlightenment—such as when his feral cat-buddy Fernando leapt to greet him on his balcony one day, showing him what it was like to feel deeply loved in the way that Aslan loves. These heartfelt, essay-style reflections have only one drawback—in most cases, readers must already be familiar with and fascinated by the Narnia characters to appreciate Smith's analysis. For Smith, Aslan is a Christ figure who hides his true nature and name because "too many people in this age have become confused and roll their eyes at the mere mention." In the character of Aslan, Smith finds "words of comfort, acceptance and challenge." The children in the Chronicles represent our own childlike journeys through dangerous and difficult adventures. This book is likely to resonate deeply with Christian fans of Lewis, especially ones keen on making connections between the Chronicles and the story of Jesus. (May)

From the Author

IVP: Who is Aslan and how did he come to be?

Mark Eddy Smith: C.S. Lewis hosted children who were evacuated from London during World War II. He wrote The Chronicles of Narnia to entertain these children. He began with an actual wardrobe and an image he had held onto since he was sixteen of a faun standing in the snow holding parcels. It was not until he was well into writing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe that Aslan came bounding in. I don't know how long it took before he ascertained the lion's true identity, but while it may seem strikingly audacious for any author to introduce the God of all creation as a character in a children's story, I like to believe that it was the Lion of Judah himself who leaped into these stories of his own volition and for his own purposes, and Lewis was wise enough to stand back and let him in. IVP: How has Aslan influenced your own life and faith?

Smith: The lessons I've learned from and about Aslan are ones I need constant reminding of. I always approach him with the fear that he will be angry for things I've done and left undone, but in Narnia he is always primarily concerned with joy and second chances. IVP: Who were you picturing as you wrote Aslan's Call, and what were you hoping they would find within the pages?

Smith: The most difficult part of writing this book was deciding who the audience was. The Chronicles of Narnia have touched so many people with so many different ideas about the world that I couldn't begin to narrow the field. I subsequently decided that my primary audience, the only one I was capable of writing for, was myself. At the end of every page, I was always hoping to find Aslan himself. Imagine my surprise at the end when he actually showed up!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (May 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830832424
• ISBN-13: 978-0830832422
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,005,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unraveling Narnia, February 7, 2006

By 

L. A. Brentt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia (Paperback)

I loved this book. Mark Eddy Smiths breakdown of the stories of Narnia and their significance and symbolism to Christianity is excellent. His writing is succinct and declarative without overly simplifying the concepts. He interjects humour where appropriate and keeps an easy to read text. I originally got this book from the library but I want my own copy...so amazon here I am.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved Aslan's Call, March 27, 2007

By 

Helen E. Clark "Helen E. Clark" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia (Paperback)

I am really glad I bought this book. it really helped bring the Chronicles into perspective for me in a much better way. The author just had a way of explaining it all that was great. I totally recommend this book...Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to NarniaThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Signature Edition (Narnia)Companion to Narnia, Revised Edition: A Complete Guide to the Magical World of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia40 Carats

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, June 15, 2006

By 

The Evolving Empire (The World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia (Paperback)

This is a very good book. The author tells the stories and helps readers make the connections between the stories of Narnia and Christianity in a very clear and concise manner. For very young children, however, I recommend Kenneth McIntosh's Finding Aslan: A Book of Devotions for Children Based Upon the Chronicles of Narnia. They complement each other well.