It seems to me that other than the Chronicals of Narnia people have absolutely no idea what C.S. Lewis has done. They ignore the Ransom Trillogy, the screwtape letters and its related works, Hell most people have never even heard of "Pilgrims Regress".

So I really feel that I have to ask what people think about the less known works of C.S. Lewis. Which of his works stand out? Which do you feel fell flat? Do you feel it fair that history seems to have painted him as little more than Tolkien's contemporary and friend? Would you say that the emphasis he laid on his faith was something that held his work back or do you think it was one of the things that set him apart? Was Tolkien really supposed to be the main character of the Ransom trilogy or was it simply the usual everyman?

I do hope to find some more Lewis fans out there. I have to admit that Tolkien is my favorite author I think its sad that people fail to recognize the beautiful works of C.S. Lewis.

He's alright, but there are hundreds of better authors. I find his books shallow and they've never immersed me completely, probably due to the fact he knocked out books rather quickly in comparison to others. He could have toned down the religion as well. I mean, LoTR has loads of religious symbolism, but its a lot more buried.

I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

I read the Screwtape Letters on the insistence of one of my Christian friends. My god that was boring. Repetitive, lazy and preachy. By the end I was actively hoping for a magic wardrobe to open and swallow me.

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Lolwut? I remember there being a huge uproar in the Christian community when the movie was first released because the 'hidden message' is about killing God.

rossatdi:
I read the Screwtape Letters on the insistence of one of my Christian friends. My god that was boring. Repetitive, lazy and preachy. By the end I was actively hoping for a magic wardrobe to open and swallow me.

See I read it during my Atheistic phase and even then didn't find it boring at all. Then again I have read though the Silmarillion god knows how many times and have yet to find many people I know who have done it once.

To be honest I think the Screwtape letters were more interesting than Narnia though. Not as interesting as the Ransom Trilogy but quite good nonetheless.

TerraMGP:
It seems to me that other than the Chronicals of Narnia people have absolutely no idea what C.S. Lewis has done. They ignore the Ransom Trillogy, the screwtape letters and its related works, Hell most people have never even heard of "Pilgrims Regress".

So I really feel that I have to ask what people think about the less known works of C.S. Lewis. Which of his works stand out? Which do you feel fell flat? Do you feel it fair that history seems to have painted him as little more than Tolkien's contemporary and friend? Would you say that the emphasis he laid on his faith was something that held his work back or do you think it was one of the things that set him apart? Was Tolkien really supposed to be the main character of the Ransom trilogy or was it simply the usual everyman?

I do hope to find some more Lewis fans out there. I have to admit that Tolkien is my favorite author I think its sad that people fail to recognize the beautiful works of C.S. Lewis.

I love the Screwtape letters. There is also the Great Divorce. I don't see how the Screwtape letters could make a good movie though.

tijuanatim:

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Lolwut? I remember there being a huge uproar in the Christian community when the movie was first released because the 'hidden message' is about killing God.

I may have exaggerated a little bit (^^') but there are strong Christian themes in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Maybe the reason for why the movie sparked so much outrage was that maybe the film portrayed some scenes differently to what others had imagined; I wouldn't know, I didn't see the remake.

However, Aslan dying on the stone table bears a great link to Christ dying on the cross for our sins, and Lucy and Susan breathing life into the warriors somewhat resembles the Holy spirit coming on to His disciples, and the whole war at the end is pretty much spiritual warfare.

A good read, though. xD

TerraMGP:

rossatdi:
I read the Screwtape Letters on the insistence of one of my Christian friends. My god that was boring. Repetitive, lazy and preachy. By the end I was actively hoping for a magic wardrobe to open and swallow me.

See I read it during my Atheistic phase and even then didn't find it boring at all. Then again I have read though the Silmarillion god knows how many times and have yet to find many people I know who have done it once.

To be honest I think the Screwtape letters were more interesting than Narnia though. Not as interesting as the Ransom Trilogy but quite good nonetheless.

It was just obvious. I'd recommend reading Good Omens instead. As for "atheist phase", I've always swayed between agnostic and atheist. Its stuff like the screwtap letters that makes me want to believe, and then go and work for the other side (they have all the best music).

The chronicles of narnia were offensively christian enough for me to go off CS Lewis for life. The last battle is not only offensively racist but it's painfully propagandist too.

tijuanatim:

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Lolwut? I remember there being a huge uproar in the Christian community when the movie was first released because the 'hidden message' is about killing God.

Are you sure you don't mean The Golden Compass?

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Only if you read it as such. I've read those books several times and the Christian bit doesn't run any deeper than the usual good God bad God stuff. That and the resurrection crap, Deus ex Machina for the win!

TerraMGP:

rossatdi:
I read the Screwtape Letters on the insistence of one of my Christian friends. My god that was boring. Repetitive, lazy and preachy. By the end I was actively hoping for a magic wardrobe to open and swallow me.

See I read it during my Atheistic phase and even then didn't find it boring at all. Then again I have read though the Silmarillion god knows how many times and have yet to find many people I know who have done it once.

To be honest I think the Screwtape letters were more interesting than Narnia though. Not as interesting as the Ransom Trilogy but quite good nonetheless.

I've read The Silmarillion 5 or six times so you are not completely alone. :)

I bought a book containing all the Narnia stories a couple of years back, but I haven't even finished The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe yet. The story just does nothing for me. I can't be drawn in. So when I don't even feel like reading his Narnia stories I figure I shouldn't attempt to read the rest of his works. Though I might do so at some point.

You know, it actually never really crossed my mind to check out any of his other stuff.

I could never really get into the Narnia stuff at all. Not sure why, just never really gripped me, which is probably why I never got into any of his other work. Any suggestions Terra?

Like some others, I haven't been able to really get into his works because of the huge christian theme in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. That was enough to make me steer clear of his other works. If they are any different, I might give those a go.

Well the chronicals of narnia is a 7 book trillogy - and Lion witch and Wardrobe is not the best of them. The horse and his boy is by far the best.
I wouldnt say related C.S lewis to Narnia to be a bad thing, just assuming that he has no other works is bad.
As i said before it is 7 books, which is no small acheviemnt and it happens all the time.
When i say Rowan atkinson everybody says Mr Bean or Blackadder...

Archaeology Hat:
The chronicles of narnia were offensively christian enough for me to go off CS Lewis for life.

One could also construe that about the film 'E.T.'. That has some very strong analogues to Christianity, as well.

rossatdi:

tijuanatim:

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Lolwut? I remember there being a huge uproar in the Christian community when the movie was first released because the 'hidden message' is about killing God.

Are you sure you don't mean The Golden Compass?

That's what I was thinking.
Every church I knew was promoting The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

And of course it was an advertisement for Christianity! The whole thing is an allegory on the death and resurrection of Jesus!

I've enjoyed a few of C.S. Lewis' books. The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Problem with Pain. While I enjoyed those books, I never got too into his works enough for me to go scrambling after more of his writings.

Like I said, though, I did enjoy the books I read and if I saw another by him on a topic I was interested in, then I would probably be all for reading it.

Despite my dislike of his preachiness I will admit that Lewis is a considerably better writer (in prose) than Tolkien was, he's much more easy and fun to read. That and I keep seeing the Narnia movies because I really want them to make The Magicians Nephew, damn do I love that book.

EDIT: Also I really ended up feeling sorry for The Authority (God) in The Amber Spyglass, because he's depicted as a broken and frail old angel who has been taken advantage of by the more ambitious Metatron

Its so vague a memory, but all I remember enjoying A Horse and his Boy.

Tolkien is a good author for a plane ride, or a long bus ride. I have to feel in the mood for an old epic poem for his writing to immerse me.

rossatdi:

tijuanatim:

Crystal Cuckoo:
I agree with AuntyEthel... Especially in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is pretty much an advertisement of Christianity.

Lolwut? I remember there being a huge uproar in the Christian community when the movie was first released because the 'hidden message' is about killing God.

Are you sure you don't mean The Golden Compass?

After further review of the play I concede to the fact that I am an idiot. I am indeed thinking of The Golden Compass. This should teach me a lesson about posting at 4:30 in the AM........but it probably won't.

C.S. Lewis gets a bad rap because The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is kiddie Christian propaganda, easily as bad as the first Harry Potter book. The Ransom Trilogy at least has interesting concepts, but isn't very good science fiction.

His writings as an amateur theologian, on the other hand, are very insightful, much easier to read than his competitors, and display a genuine concern for humanity - with Screwtape Letters, A Grief Observed, and Mere Christianity as highlights.

His Dark Materials (not by Lewis) starts really well with The Golden Compass, with a perfectly serviceable fantasy world, but ends up even worse than Narnia. We're talking about a bomb that blows the floor out of hell here, folks.