The Silver Chair

C.S. Lewis

Eustace Scrubb finds Jill Pole crying behind the gym at their "progressive" school. He knows she is being chased by the bullies who run the student body. They try to escape through the door in the wall. On the other side they are in Narnia. Eustace is excited to return. But Jill is the cause of an accident that could have killed Eustace. She meets Aslan who saves Eustace and sends both of them to Cair Paravel. He gives her directions for a task for them - to find the missing Prince. King Caspian's son, Prince Rilian, has been missing for ten years.

Eustace and Jill head for the north following Aslan's orders. They are joined by Puddleglum, a Marshwiggle. The Prince had been enchanted by a beautiful lady and had disappeared. Many knights had left Cair Paravel on a quest to find Prince Rilian without returning. The King finally commanded that no one else emperil their life in the quest. Eustace, Jill, and Puddleglum sneak away before the Regent knows what they are doing.

The trio is directed to the northern lands of the giants. Aslan had given Jill indicators to help them complete their quest successfully. But will she recognize the signs when they appear? She had already muffed the first one upon their arrival at Cair Paravel. Prince Rilian and Narnia's survival depends on the children. The signs will lead them to Rilian and victory.

Aaaah, I love Narnia. The Silver Chair is another novel in the Narnia series, starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It is almost as strong and exciting to follow as the other stories with the Pevensie and Scrubb children. This has some fun scenes. Puddleglum is a wonderful character. Jill and Eustace defined nicely, especially Eustace's change from the boy he was at the beginning of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

In The Silver Chair the reader discovers a new land north of Narnia. The land of the giants is fun and scary at the same time. The reader also discovers the Underworld - a world dark and hard to see, even in the mind. This book stands alone nicely, but is better if you've already visited Narnia.

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

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