THE SILVER CHAIR

In this sixth episode in the celebrated CHRONICLES OF NARNIA children's epic, Aslan the lion sends Eustice and Jill to Narnia on a quest to find a missing prince, guided by the amusingly gloomy Puddleglum the Marshwiggle. The mission avoids the more spectacular confrontations of their previous adventures, but the challenges are no less daunting. The usual array of fantastic characters and formidable dangers inspired by English rural folklore abound. Jeremy Northam gives a laid-back, grown-up interpretation, thankfully free from cutesiness, though he gives full vent to the author's humor and characterizations. He also conveys a whiff of the subtle piquancy hovering in the Narnian atmosphere. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]