The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)

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The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia Publication Order #6)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 130,862 ratings · 4,212 reviews

When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagined.

Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter man

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Paperback, 221 pages

Published May 4th 2005 by HarperCollins Publishers (first published 1955)

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Jul 28, 2011 Keely rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, uk-and-ireland, reviewed

Suffers from the same problems as Lewis' other books, both his children's fantasy and his pokes at theology: Lewis' worldview is not sophisticated, and his sense of psychology has a large blind spot. However, it's not his faith that is the problem--it certainly wasn't a problem for Donne or Milton.

Lewis is simply unable to put himself in another's shoes, which is very problematic for a writer or a theologian. He cannot understand the reasons or motivations for why someone would do something he c...more

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Chris I find your review stretching beyond its ability. First off, it seems you are trying to review all of Lewis' work from the perspective of one book, wh...more
May 02, 2013 06:13am

Keely "it seems you are trying to review all of Lewis' work from the perspective of one book"

Actually, I've read quite a few of Lewis' works, and I find the...more "it seems you are trying to review all of Lewis' work from the perspective of one book"

Actually, I've read quite a few of Lewis' works, and I find they all tend to fall to the same errors.

"If you read the Problem of Pain I doubt you would say something like this. Your statement seems ludicrous in light of that book."

Well then, it's a good thing that this isn't a review of that book, which I haven't read.

"Now I'll take a stab at psychoanalysis of your review with little to no training to do so! I would bet you disagree with the traditional christian morality paradigm and Lewis represents that to you."

Actually, I don't think of Lewis as presenting a traditional Christian worldview at all, but rather his own odd, somewhat Calvinistic take on things. As I say in my review, I never had a problem with Milton's Christianity, or Dante's, or Petrarch's--because they still managed to tackle interesting and complex ideas within the framework of their faith.

Indeed, based upon the theologians I have spoken to, Lewis is not considered to represent a traditional Christian worldview. Indeed, Lewis himself discovered during his famous debate with Elizabeth Anscombe that his theology had numerous flaws. His friend and biographer, George Sayers wrote of the incident:

"'He told me that he had been proved wrong, and that his argument for the existence of God had been demolished....The debate had been a humiliating experience, but perhaps it was ultimately good for him. In the past, he had been are too proud of his logical ability. Now he was humbled....'I can never write another book of that sort' he said to me of 'Miracles.' And he never did. He also never wrote another theological book. 'Reflections on the Psalms' is really devotional and literary; 'Letters to Malcolm' is also a devotional book, a series of reflections on prayer, without contentious arguments.'"

And Lewis wrote the following to a friend:

"The lady is quite right to refute what she thinks bad theistic arguments, but does this not almost oblige her as a Christian to find good ones in their place: having obliterated me as an Apologist ought she not to succeed me?"

And another:

"I wish your project heartily well but can't write you articles. My thought and talent (such as they are) now flow in different, though I think not less Christian, channels, and I do not think I am at all likely to write more directly theological pieces. . . . If I am now good for anything it is for catching the reader unawares — thro' fiction and symbol. I have done what I could in the way of frontal attacks, but I now feel quite sure those days are over."

Which explains why, after that debate, he ceased trying to write theological works in favor of emotional appeals and such apologetics. Yet, even in his symbolic work, like that of Narnia, I feel the flaws in his theological reasoning continue to show through.

It's not the subject of theology in general I'm objecting to, it's Lewis' own unfounded and poorly-constructed worldview.(less)
May 02, 2013 04:09pm

Mar 18, 2012 jzhunagev rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: C. S. Lewis and Kid's Fiction

Recommended to jzhunagev by: the "Voice"

Shelves: adventure, award-winning-best-seller, childrens-or-middle-grade-books, classics, dark-chest-of-wonders, fantasy, inspirational, religion-books, 2011-reads, fiction-contemporary

The Creation of Narnia
(A Book Review of The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis)

For readers who have started their journey in the magical land of Narnia by means of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (and subsequent books in the series following the original order by publication), one can’t help but wonder how had this fantastical realm ruled by a majestic lion and inhabited by talking animals, fauns, dryads and naiads, along with equally ghastly creatures, came to be.

Previous instalments would...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Micheline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-stories-fairytales, classics, mystical-animal-protag, magic-witches-wizards, fantasy

Well isn't this a pleasant surprise! I should explain:I have been struggling for quite awhile with this series. Having not gone to an English speaking school, I never read The Chronicles of Narnia growing up. I have to admit I discovered the film versions first. Then,I attempted to read it right after 'The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe' came out, but at that time, I had a hard time with C.S.Lewis' style. He tends to constantly insert the author’s voice, and I found it broke the fantasy bubb...more Well isn't this a pleasant surprise! I should explain:I have been struggling for quite awhile with this series. Having not gone to an English speaking school, I never read The Chronicles of Narnia growing up. I have to admit I discovered the film versions first. Then,I attempted to read it right after 'The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe' came out, but at that time, I had a hard time with C.S.Lewis' style. He tends to constantly insert the author’s voice, and I found it broke the fantasy bubble for me and kept taking me out of the story. This time around, I begun with 'The Magician's Nephew', reading the story chronologically instead of by order of release. Maybe it's because I don't have the film version to taint my opinion, but I very much enjoyed this book.

The Magician's Nephew is the tale of how Narnia came into being. It takes place many hundreds of years before the events of 'The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe'. I found it really fascinating, since one of the main characters is the old Professor who takes in the Pevensie children in TLTW&TW (the one who owns the infamous wardrobe). You get to see the creation of Narnia, meet Aslan, and see how the evil White Witch came to Narnia. The idea of witnessing a world just beginning.... hardly any people, few animals... seeing places with no names; all of this was really fascinating to me.

The magic aspect of Narnia; it's a different kind of magic then I'm accustomed to, and I'm not sure how to explain it...kind of like it's the world itself that is magic; the magic exists in the very nature of Naria: in it's water, in it's trees, in it's animals. So it's fun to read about magic in different form than I'm accustomed to. All things considered, I really enjoyed this story. I've read up on The Chronicles of Narnia quite a bit, and I was looking out for the hints of sexism and christian subtext, and while both were there; maybe they weren't at their worst in this particular book...or maybe because I was ready for them it didn't bother me as much...we'll see how the next books hold up :)(less)

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Feb 29, 2008 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone - of all ages

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Magician's Nephew tells of how it all started. How Narnia was created. How the first Sons of Adam, and Daughters of Eve "traveled" to Narnia. And, how the wardrobe came to be. A wonderful read, full of magic, wit, adventure, and hope.

Next, Spoiler alert.

I noticed that CS Lewis seemed to point out similarites between Uncle Andrew and his nephew, Digory. That's not a good thing. Uncle Andrew was selfish, un-caring, and really, a blundering fool. While reading, I often found myself wondering if...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Cary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite, 2011, owned

Honestly, I thought I would find this book boring and uninteresting unlike the first book of the series. I have to stop at the end of first chapter because I find the story very slow and flat so I decided to try the Lion, the Witch and the Wizard first, and have a glimpse of Narnia through the adventures of the Pevensie siblings. I enjoyed the book as much as I enjoyed the movie that I decided to go back to the first book of the series and see the creation of Narnia.

My second attempt to read th...more

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Oct 21, 2007 AnnaMarie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this book was so beautiful.

Favorite quotes/parts:
"He put on a very high, shiny, stiff collar of the sort that made you hold your chin up all the time. He put on a white waistcoat with a pattern on it and arranged his watch chain across the front . . . He took his eye-glass, with the thick black ribbon, and screwed it into his eye; then he looked at himself in the mirror.
Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind. At this moment Uncle Andrew was b...more I thought this book was so beautiful.

Favorite quotes/parts:
"He put on a very high, shiny, stiff collar of the sort that made you hold your chin up all the time. He put on a white waistcoat with a pattern on it and arranged his watch chain across the front . . . He took his eye-glass, with the thick black ribbon, and screwed it into his eye; then he looked at himself in the mirror.
Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind. At this moment Uncle Andrew was beginning to be silly in a very grown-up way. Now that the Witch was no longer in the same room with him he was quickly forgetting how she had frightened him and thinking more and more of her wonderful beauty."

"When the great moment came and the Beasts spoke, he missed the whole point; for a rather interesting reason. When the Lion had first begun singing , long ago when it was still quite dark, he had realized that the noise was a song. And he disliked the song very much. It made him think and feel things he did not want to think and feel. . . . And the longer and more beautiful the Lion sang, the harder Uncle Andrew tried to make himself believe that he could hear nothing but roaring. Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. Uncle Andrew did."

"'But please, please - won't you - can't you give me something that will cure Mother?' Up till then he had been looking at the Lion's great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion's eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory's own that for a moment he felt sure as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself.
"'My son, my son," said Aslan. "I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. Let us be good to one another."

"Do not fly too high," said Aslan. "Do not try to go over the tops of the great ice-mountains. . . . There will always be a way through. And now, be gone with my blessing."

"'Oh - Aslan, sir . . . I forgot to tell you. The Witch has already eaten one of those apples.' . . .
'Child,' he replied, 'that is why all the rest are now horror to her. That is what happens to those who pluck and eat fruits at the wrong time and in the wrong way. The fruit is good, but they loathe it ever after.' . . .
'I - I nearly ate one myself, Aslan," said Digory. 'Would I -'
'You would, child,' said Aslan. 'For the fruit always works - it must work - but it does not work happily for any who pluck it at their own will. . . . And the Witch tempted you to do another thing, my son, did she not?' . . .
'Yes, Aslan. She wanted me to take an apple home to Mother.'
'Understand, then, that it would have healed her; but not to your joy or hers. The day would have come when both of you would have looked back and said it would have been better to die in that illness.'
And Digory could say nothing, for tears had choked him and he gave up all hopes of saving his Mother's life; but at the same time he knew that the Lion knew what would have happened, and that there might be things more terrible even then losing someone you love by death. But now Aslan was speaking again, almost in a whisper:
'That is what would have happened, child, with a stolen apple. It is not what will happen now. What I give you now will bring joy. It will not, in your world, give endless life, but it will heal. Go. Pluck her an apple from the Tree.'"(less)

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Jan 22, 2013 Devlin Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've wanted to read this series since I was a child but I never got around to it. I decided now's a very good time. It took a bit of internet searching to locate the author's chronological listing for the series (I should have checked my GR friends first. It would have saved me some time.) ;)

Here's the reading list in chronological order:

The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle

I'm ver...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Alexandra Bello rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quería leer los libros de "Las Crónicas de Narnia" desde hace tanto, y por fin me digne a comenzarlos.

En el primer libro de Narnia, se ve el nacimiento de dicho lugar. Al principio el libro me aburría y no entendía nada, absolutamente nada, me decía "pero ¿qué tiene que ver el tío y el sobrino y la niña y el bosque ese? por Dios", en serio, no entendía nada, hasta que por fin apareció el León, y aprendí a comprender todo, en esta libro se ve cómo nació Narnia, quién la creo, como era antes de to...more

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Jan 15, 2008 Eyebright rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: 2008-books, classics

Despite the fact that The Magicians Nephew is the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia, strangely, it is frequently overlooked. People skip straight ahead to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and then, at a later date come back to this book.

Personally, I like this book just as well as any others in the series. I love to see how everything got started, the lamp post, the wardrobe, the White Witch. Not to mention the beautiful allegory of Creation. The Magician's Nephew also has good morals...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Prem rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The magician’s nephew begins with a boy and girl doing a dare, and about going into a abandoned house next door. The boy’s name is Digory and the girl’s name is Polly. They sneak into the house and go up top to the attic. They each split up and count all the rafters to know where they are going. They find a door that seems empty but filled with light. They both sneak in and discover three rings, two rings are green and the other is yellow.. A few short moments later they were both caught by Uncl...more The magician’s nephew begins with a boy and girl doing a dare, and about going into a abandoned house next door. The boy’s name is Digory and the girl’s name is Polly. They sneak into the house and go up top to the attic. They each split up and count all the rafters to know where they are going. They find a door that seems empty but filled with light. They both sneak in and discover three rings, two rings are green and the other is yellow.. A few short moments later they were both caught by Uncle Andrew. They both seemed sure they were in deep trouble but Uncle Andrew greeted them with a wicked smile and asked Polly if she would like to try on a ring. Uncle Andrew tells her to try on the green ring, as soon as she touched it she vanished into thin air. Digory and Uncle Andrew had a discussion of what just happened. It seems that the green ring teleports you into a new world and the yellow one would bring you back home. Uncle Andrew made this whole scheme so Polly and Digory could be test subjects for his experiment. Of course uncle Andrew can’t go because he’s too weak and fragile, so then Digory must go and get Polly. Digory goes through the journey to the other world. Digory comes out of a pool that is only a few inches deep. Coming out he is completely dry. In this new found world everything seems calm and peaceful. Digory hasn’t met Polly yet or has remembered anything. Soon they meet and recap about what has happened. Instead of going home they think that they can go to other worlds by going through more puddles. They end up going to a new world called charm. Digory and Polly end up in a room with a golden bell and golden hammer besides it, also a little poem: Make your choice, adventurous stranger; strike the bell and bide the edanger, or wonder, till it drives you mad, what would have followed if you had.
Once they both made up their mind Digory had striked the bell and beautiful lady arose. The lady went by the name of a jaidis. Soon after the whole building began to crumble. Jaidis took them both by their wrist and began furiously walking to the exit of the building. Both Digory and Polly began to struggle and reach for their pockets and grab the ring so they would go back home. Later when they got to safety jaidis told each of the children the story of charm. That she had had a battle over many people especially with her sister. Now she rules over the world. Digory then comments how cold it’s here on charm and in their world their sun is much warmer and much younger. Jaidis then realizes that she can rule over a world that is much warmer and much younger than the world of charm. Soon she finds out the two were sent by a magician. The two grab there rings and teleported back to the peaceful and calm world. It seems that the witch is powerless in this realm. She pleads and begs for mercy, but Digory Polly teleport home. The witch jaidis kept on to Polly’s hair and was teleported also with them. Back at Uncle Andrew’s house jaidis is there wreaking havoc. She has stolen a cab and the horse with it. She has broken a lamppost poll and is bashing police officers heads. Digory is frantically trying to grab hold of Jiadis so he can teleport her away. After many tries Digory teleported the witch along with the cabby, the cab horse, Polly, and Uncle Andrew. They are all teleported into a different area were its pitch black. Uncle Andrew tried many times to steal Digory’s ring but always stopped by jaidis. In a far distance they could see a light, also with a large lion singing a beautiful song. The witch is full with rage because she knows that the lion and the world have magic far more powerful than her. She has become so enraged she throws the lampposts’ bar straight between the eyes of the lion, but the bar just fell, as if the lion didn’t even notice it even touched him. The witch screamed in terror and ran as far as she could get away from the lion. The made as if the world as just sprouted. All sorts of animals were popping out of the ground. River god, satyrs and dwarfs were everywhere. The lion called two of not all animals but the smarter ones, and gave those voices and intellect. But of course if they would mess up of some sort they would be as dull as the other animals. He said that all those animals could rule over everything. Digory and the others were staring in astonishment. The place where the bar of the lamppost had fallen grew into a full lamppost. Uncle Andrew thought of this whole world as money making scheme, but of course that was foiled. Digory and the others were given gifts such as a golden and silver eggs and their uncle Andrew. There also was a tree of life that would give youth to its taker. The witch also got a hold of one and is now younger and stronger. Digory, Polly was teleported home. Digory took an apple of life and gave it to his ill mother. His mother had been given a full on recovery, the doctors could only say it was a miracle. His dad could also come home from India because he inherited the riches from Uncle Andrew because he died. Digory kept the core from the apple and later it became a huge slightly magical tree. One day a huge storm knocked over the tree. Digory instead of making the tree into fire wood he made it a wardrobe. The wardrobe is now a portal to Narnia.

I thought this book was a really good fun read. I was always recommended to read some of C.S. Lewis's works and i did. Turns out i love them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fun read and a good imagination.

(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 Paul Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I really should have read the Narnia books when I was younger. They're clearly written for a younger audience, and thus void of the mystery and hard magic and world building of most books in the genre. The writing is very transparent, obstacles are readily overcome, and the characters aren't complex to any unique degree.

And yet, I honestly liked this book. I probably shouldn't have, since I'm often quite hard on YA and children's books, but I found this book to be delightful. I think it's becaus...more

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May 11, 2012 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, fantasy, for-the-munchkins, five-star-fiction

Pure enchantment. It's nice when you get old enough to start reading fairy tales again.

This is a prequel, meant to be read before the others in the series, but I had never read it. Now I know why there is a lamppost in Narnia, and why the wardrobe is the way to reach Narnia, and how Jadis the Witch ended up there accidentally, and all manner of other important stuff. I have to admit I got a little sniffly at the end there when the origin of the wardrobe was explained.

I thought the dialogue in t...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Διόνυσος Ψευδάνωρ rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-wifes, lit-contemporary

It was very hard for me to give C.S. Lewis's very famous book The Magician's Nephew two stars. And no, it's not as though I faced great reluctance in relegating it down from, say, three or four stars to two because of some features that troubled me: on the contrary, it took everything I had to raise it up from one. The fact that it is ultimately merely a harmless book for children may have been behind the thin degree of mercy that I finally exercised toward it. This leads to an important questio...more

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Jun 10, 2011 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: Filipinos group

Shelves: childrens, series

I really liked how C. S. Lewis imagined how those things that he earlier introduced in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came into existence: the kingdom of Narnia, the professor, the witch, the wardrobe and the lamp-post. Wiki says that Lewis wrote this right after publishing that first book (in order of publication) but it took him 6 years to finish it. That's probably the reason why this became Book 6 (again in order of publication).

I am glad that I've read this as my third book and not th...more I really liked how C. S. Lewis imagined how those things that he earlier introduced in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe came into existence: the kingdom of Narnia, the professor, the witch, the wardrobe and the lamp-post. Wiki says that Lewis wrote this right after publishing that first book (in order of publication) but it took him 6 years to finish it. That's probably the reason why this became Book 6 (again in order of publication).

I am glad that I've read this as my third book and not the first. It gave me the chance to imagine and admire the efforts Lewis carefully put in coming up with a prequel to sufficiently explain to the readers who liked The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on how things came into being. I mean Book 1 must have been a great success and I would imagine the pressure from his fans who clamor for answers to their questions like what kind of world is Narnia? how come there is that wardrobe inside Professor Kirke's England house that is the gateway to Narnia? who is Professor Kirke? who is that evil witch? what is the significance of the lamp-post? among all the other questions. Reading the books in chronological order would have taken away the suspense of already knowing how those things came into existence in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The book's allusions to the Book of Genesis are subtle yet endearing in my opinion. Wiki says that Lewis did not intend to put parallelisms between his Narnia series and the Holy Bible. These just came out subconsciously. However, I think this Christian ingredients to the series nicely sets this apart from his friend J. R. R. Tolkien's LOTR since some of the elements in their stories could easily invite comparisons from their readers. Examples of this is the use of the rings to transport their characters to another world and Lewis' Wood Between Two Wolds is distinctly similar to Tolkien's Middle Earth.

After The Horse and His Boy got 2 stars from me, I thought it would be hard for me to finish the series. Now, this The Magician's Nephew has just given me enough interest to read Prince Caspian. Some of my friends say that it is the best book in the series because it has more action, i.e., fight scenes.(less)

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Feb 12, 2009 Endah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inilah bagian kedua dari tujuh judul serial The Chronicles of Narnia. Meskipun masih bercerita tentang Narnia, negeri dongeng dengan Aslan Sang Singa sebagai penguasa, tetapi Keponakan Penyihir (The Magician's Nephew) ini bukan merupakan kelanjutan dari judul pertamanya : Sang Singa, Sang Penyihir, Dan Lemari. Dalam bagian kedua ini, tak ada lagi empat orang bocah bersaudara yang menjadi tokoh utama di Sang Singa. Tetapi rasanya tak perlu harus urut menikmati Narnia. Kita bisa mulai dari judul y...more Inilah bagian kedua dari tujuh judul serial The Chronicles of Narnia. Meskipun masih bercerita tentang Narnia, negeri dongeng dengan Aslan Sang Singa sebagai penguasa, tetapi Keponakan Penyihir (The Magician's Nephew) ini bukan merupakan kelanjutan dari judul pertamanya : Sang Singa, Sang Penyihir, Dan Lemari. Dalam bagian kedua ini, tak ada lagi empat orang bocah bersaudara yang menjadi tokoh utama di Sang Singa. Tetapi rasanya tak perlu harus urut menikmati Narnia. Kita bisa mulai dari judul yang mana pun.

Kali ini, tokoh utamanya yang membawa kita menjelajah negeri sihir adalah Diggory dan Polly. Mereka dua anak yang tinggal bertetangga di London. Keduanya menyukai petualangan. Bersama mereka nanti kita akan sampai kembali di Narnia.

Diggory tinggal bersama ibunya yang tengah menderita sakit berkepanjangan. Tak ada dokter dan obat yang sanggup menyembuhkannya. Wanita cantik itu, ibu Diggory, hanya bisa berbaring sepanjang hari di rumah besar mereka.

Di rumah itu pula tinggal paman Diggory bernama Andrew. Paman Andrew seorang lelaki yang aneh : suka menyendiri dan ternyata diam-diam sibuk belajar sihir di kamarnya yang selalu tertutup dan tak seorang pun boleh masuk.

Pada suatu hari, tanpa sengaja, Diggory dan Polly berhasil masuk ke kamar misterius itu. Di sanalah berawal perjalanan mereka ke Narnia.

Paman Andrew dengan licik telah memperalat mereka berdua menjadi kelinci percobaan ilmu sihirnya. Ia memaksa Diggory dan Polly untuk pergi ke Alam Lain. Dengan menggunakan sepasang cincin ajaib berwarna kuning dan hijau, kedua anak itu memulai petualangan mereka untuk kelak berkakhir di Narnia.

Sebelum sampai ke negeri Aslan itu, mereka menjumpai banyak peristiwa dan kejadian aneh serba sihir. Salah satunya adalah pertemuan dengan Ratu Jadis penguasa Kota Charn. Dialah ratu jahat tokoh antagonis dalam kisah ini.

Seperti pada Sang Singa, Keponakan Penyihir ini pun disampaikan dengan gaya mendongeng yang asyik oleh sang penutur (penulisnya). Ia membuai, melenakan pembacanya dengan imajinasi dunia khayali yang hanya ada dalam dongeng. Resep klasik hitam-putih tentu saja masih menjadi andalan. Bukankah itu cara paling mudah untuk menyampaikan pesan moral sebuah dongeng kepada kanak-kanak sebagai pembaca utamanya?

Narnia memang dongeng indah kanak-kanak. Darinya, kanak-kanak (dan kita juga para orang dewasa) belajar tentang persahabatan, kejujuran, keberanian, keadilan, kasih sayang, dan tentu saja yang utama adalah penghiburan. Narnia mengajak kita melihat dunia dari sudut pandang kanak-kanak yang penuh fantasi tak terduga dan dengan hanya menyisakan dua pilihan moral : menjadi orang baik atau jahat.

Alangkah senangnya menjadi anak-anak. Seperti dalam lagu Story Book Children itu :

Why can't we be like story book childrenIn a wonderland there's nothing plans for tomorrow...

(less)

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Apr 01, 2008 Lauren P rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: April Goodreads Review

This was one of the most amazing books I read. Digory and his mother move to London because Digory's mother is sick. They are staying with Digory's Aunt and Uncle. Everyone thinks Digory's uncle is crazy, and they are right. The adventure begins when Digory and his neighbor, Polly, go exploring in Polly's house. They find a secret passage and find it leads to Digory's uncle's room. Uncle Andrew tricks Polly and digory into putting on magic yellow rings, which takes them to an in between place th...more

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Nov 10, 2007 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is sort of a “prequel” to the most famous Narnia book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (now a major motion picture!). I read that book last December and was pleased to discover that it was: a) much shorter than Tolkein’s acclaimed fantasy books (which I do not care for) and b) much less difficult to read than C.S. Lewis’s other books (Mere Christianity, for one … okay, fine, that’s the only other Lewis book I’ve actually completed! :-P) And, of course, I loved the symbolism in the stor...more

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Nov 08, 2007 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Magicians Nephew By C.L Lewis is the first of the Narina series. Digory Kirke (the old man in the Lion the Witch and the wardrobe.)and Polly leave to Narnia (a magical planet) Plummer because Digory's uncle, Uncle Andrew sends Polly away with a magical ring (that why is it called the Magicians Nephew because Digory is Andrews Nephew and Andrew is a magician.)

Main Characters

Digory Kirke- Brave, but endangers Narnia on its day of birth. He is in The Magicians Nephew and in The Lion, the Witc...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Jordan Gregory rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know for certain that I did not read this book as a child, and now I wish that I had.
It just might be my favorite Narnia book.
A creation story that shines beyond its source texts, I daresay.

My only qualm is the magical tree planted to protect the Narnian kingdom. I wish this idea could have been explored more throughout the series, as Aslan predicted that its destruction would bring about the White Witch's reign; I would have liked to have known how that came about (and, to be honest, I wou...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Elise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"This is a story about something that happened long ago when your grandfather was a child."

Narnia, oh Narnia, my heart belongs with this series. My favourite thing about TMN is the creation of Narnia itself. It still stands as my favourite scene in a book ever, it's just so magical.

I'm not sure if it's an unpopular opinion or not but when it comes to reading about Uncle Andrew I get angry, I really dislike him. He's sleazy, creepy and disgusting. Probably one of the most vile fictional character...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Les rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Listening to this with Jude and Claire on the rides to and from the lake. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh!

5 as a kids book and 4 overall. More depth and humor than I remember. Kids love it and we are looking forward to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Branagh reads no further so I think we are going to read from here on out.

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Sep 10, 2007 Rand added it · review of another edition

I read this book and the next in the series to my daughter. I have decided to not continue the series due to theological concerns. Although the stories are interesting and fun and captivating, there is a big emphasis on magic used both by the evil witch (black magic) and by Aslan (presumably "good magic"). Also, there is clearly a deification of Aslan (his song brings the new world of Narnia to life, hence he is "the creator" of life there); even to the point of using the phrase "By Aslan" (i.e....more

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Jul 09, 2011 Ayban Gabriyel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

'Eto yung unang libro sa Chronicles of Narnia na nabasa ko. Napanuod ko yung movie adaptation nung The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, ang akala ko noon ay yun ung unang libro, nagkamali ako The Magician's nephew muna pala. haha, kaya nung nakakita ako ng libro nito sa Booksale 'di na ako nagdalawang isip at binili ko na, ewan ko kung bakit, pero naging interesado lang siguro. Yung pala dito pala sa librong ito makikita ang simula, simula ng lahat.

Kung nakapanuod ka na ng movie nito, sigurado...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

CS Lewis is the best. I have read more of the adult books and decided to read the Narnia books, as i did not read them as a child. I would have given this 5 stars, but I think his adult writing is even better. I did love the story and it has so many layers for adults to grasp above and beyond what the typical young reader might. Very enjoyable.

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Jan 12, 2013 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Just finished rereading this book for about the fifth time. And as always, I enjoyed it. Such a lovely fantasy. Sweet and magical and thought provoking. LOVE IT.

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Jan 05, 2012 Ms. Library rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gods-and-men, children-s-fiction

Plot: This is the beginning of the Narnia tales. It takes place when Narnia is first made, and when the Witch is introduced to the perfect society. It follows Digory and Polly, two English schoolchildren who, through Digory's Uncle Andrew's meddling, get sent to another world via magic rings. This world is Narnia. This is the set up for the rest of the series, though Lewis wrote it later.

Positives: Its a fun adventure story, and I always wanted to go to Narnia as a kid. There are talking animal...more

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Dec 23, 2008 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens

This was one of the first books I can clearly remember reading as a child and since then I've read it any number of times for my own pleasure and that of my children. Recently, I thought I'd revisit it and I wasn't disappointed. Everyone knows the story so I won't rehash it here but what struck me at this reading was the humour which,as in the best children's books is so often based around the absurdity of adult behaviour. Like the passage in The Magician's Nephew when Digory and Polly return fr...more

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May 10, 2013 Harsh Rakesh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-read-books

I was reading about the movies to come of Narnia (I already knew that the movies were based on the books by C.S. Lewis). I saw the third movie and suddenly I clicked the page which gives the overview of the series (I deliberately did this as I was confused: how an another world can be kept hidden in a wardrobe?). This gave me a very unique list altogether... The sequence of the book is different as compared to the sequence in which the movie is being produced. The second sequence claims "The Mag...more

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May 02, 2013 Perry Whitford rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Narnia books were very visible around me as a child, yet I do not recall ever actually reading one of them. I went to a Catholic school, my mother is a devout Christian, so you can see why these novels were positively discriminated towards by the adults responsible for my education. Of course I didn't recognize them then as the thinly veiled Christian allegory they most certainly are, and I loved the illustrated covers to the Puffin republications from the 1970s - bright and beguiling, yet c...more The Narnia books were very visible around me as a child, yet I do not recall ever actually reading one of them. I went to a Catholic school, my mother is a devout Christian, so you can see why these novels were positively discriminated towards by the adults responsible for my education. Of course I didn't recognize them then as the thinly veiled Christian allegory they most certainly are, and I loved the illustrated covers to the Puffin republications from the 1970s - bright and beguiling, yet containing more than a hint of secret dread also - but I never read any of them.
I saw the 1979 animated feature film of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe many times though, was much taken by it, and vividly remember being close to tears when Aslan was killed, though I couldn't quite understand the reason for his sacrifice. I mean, if he was ultimately all powerful, why allow all the fighting and bloodshed that precedes his eventual resurrection and victory?

Many years later, my fortieth year not far away, I still feel precisely that way about the story of Christianity, so maybe my instincts as a child were relatively fully formed. I mean, why would Jesus let himself be killed so that we could embark on two thousand years (and counting!) of darkness, where his name would be continuously evoked to justify the worst excesses of history, with only the promise of a gift that can't be received before you die?
My atheism aside, I now find myself drawn to the Narnia books like never before and have made up my mind to read through the series. The Magician's Nephew was not the first book to be written or published, but it is the first chronologically, and C.S. Lewis himself recommended that the series be read in this way, which is good enough for me.

As you expect in the first of a series of stories allegorizing Christianity, The Magician's Nephew is essentially a Genesis rewrite. Two newly acquanted children with a thirst for adventure are tricked by a nasty uncle into experimenting with some magic rings made from Fairy dust, which can transport anyone who touches them to a portal between worlds. They visit the home world of the White Witch, inadvertently bring her to London where she wreaks some knockabout mischief, then whisk her away again to a world of nothingness from which, in a memorable scene, Aslan creates Narnia with a musical, sonorous roar.
To complete the Genesis motifs, the magician's nephew of the title, named Digory Kirke but referred to as "the son of Adam" by Aslan, is sent on a quest to obtain but not bite into a magic apple, the seeds of which will grow the tree that will protect the inhabitants of Narnia from the evil that exists in the land from its very creation, by virtue of the presence of the Witch.

I have to admit, before deciding that I wanted to read -at long last-these books that I had ignored despite their accessibility in my early school years, I did not actually know that The Magician's Nephew was the first installment. I thought the series started with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. This is very much an origin piece however, simultaneously recasting the first book of the Bible whilst establishing the cosmogony of Narnia itself, and in a highly pleasing fashion.
If this opening edition is anything to go by, I think that - plummy Edwardian vocabulary of the children aside - the series has weathered extremely well (and the recent films saw little necessity to modernize that aspect of the storytelling for the contemporary audience). The writing is appropriately spare yet rich in imaginative opportunities for a young reader, with the same dichotomy of light and shade I sensed in those covers imbuing the text with sneaky depths. Sensations are subtly portrayed, with silences described as alternatively "soft and warm" (the wood between the worlds) or as "dead, cold, empty" (the city of Charn), whereas adults can be alluring as well as evil, with the children having to use their wits to work out what is the best thing to do.

The ultimate test of an old children's book is, of course, would I still read it to my children? (or, in my case, nieces and nephews.) In this instance the answer is assuredly yes, and furthermore I can't wait to read the rest of the series myself!

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Apr 23, 2013 fuad rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Judul Buku : The Magician's Nephew
Penulis : C.S. Lewis
Penerbit : Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Tahun Terbit : 1994
Halaman :282

Novel ini sangat imajinatif yang menceritakan seorang anak yang bernama
Diggory dan Polly, yang awalnya "penasaran" dengan ujung dari kasau kasau yang ada dirumah mereka. Nah, gara-gara petualangan sembrono inilah mereka malah tidak sengaja masuk ke ruangan paman Diggory yang bernama Andrew yang terletak diloteng rumah Diggory.

Di ruang Paman Andrew ini ada berpasang-pasang cincin,...more

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About C.S. Lewis

CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898–1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more th...more

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Books by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Chronicles of Narnia, #1)

The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia #1-7)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #3)

Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)

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“Now the trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.” — 960 people liked it

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The Magician's Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia Publication Order #6)

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