My Fantasy Top Five

[Art by Dawnna Jean Pearson]

…Myth and fantasy can open the heart’s back door when the front door is locked.

(Finding God in the Lord of the Rings by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware)

Amen to that! Stories from the fantasy genre reach into a part of me that few others can. It’s like feeling free to be a grown-up and a child at the same time. Without further blathering, I want to share my favorite fantasy book series. These were the qualifiers for them to make the top five. They had to:

1. Come quickly to mind

2. Get me to read them more than once

3. Move my emotions

4. Teach me something

Some of the book series that made the list are well-known, others not so much. Two have been made into movie versions. Some have strongly influenced my own writing.

The Top Five are:

#1 The Chronicles of Narnia:

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

C.S. Lewis

What it’s about: Children from our world enter the magical realm of Narnia, where they encounter the great lion Aslan and have many life-changing adventures. (I’m assuming just about everyone who reads this is acquainted with the stories.)

Why I chose it: Unlike the other books on this list, I wasn’t introduced to Narnia in written form first. I’ve been told that my dad read the stories out loud to me when I was little, but I don’t remember. What I do remember is watching the old BBC miniseries over and over and over again. Despite cheesy acting and primitive special effects, they enchanted me and won my undying affection. Their massive puppet/animatronic Aslan seems more real to me than any recent CGI creation. Another great version of the Narnia stories is the audio drama series from Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. They keep C.S. Lewis’s brilliant dialogue and narration, while adding layers of sound that make you think you're watching it.

Narnia is imprinted on my mind and heart. I’ve read all the books at least twice, and watched and listened to the stories many times. Watching the BBC movies filled me with a sense of love and trust in Aslan, and I think that helped me learn to love and trust the One whom Aslan represents. I’ve gotten teary over the concluding chapter of the series, and always felt a deep ache for Susan, even as I was happy for the others. The books seem to teach me more the older I get. For example, the admonition to ‘remember the signs’ motivates me to keep memorizing scripture. I think the Narnia books are the modern equivalent of Pilgrim’s Progress, and will probably have an equally enduring legacy.

#2 Legends of the Guardian King:

The Light of Eidon

The Shadow Within

Shadow Over Kiriath

Return of the Guardian-King

Karen Hancock

What it’s about: Prince Abramm of Kiriath is seeking meaning in life by joining a monk-like religious order that worships Eidon. He is taught to dread the heretical Terstans and their mark of the golden shield. When he is betrayed and sold into slavery, he must transform into a gladiatorial warrior to survive his new life. Though Abramm loses faith, Eidon still has great plans for him.

This epic high-fantasy series is written by a Christian, and contains biblical parallels. The story shares similar elements with the history of Joseph and his brothers, and the fictional tale of Ben Hur, but does not imitate either. (Mature themes—recommended for teens and older.)

Why I chose it: From the moment I picked up the first book, I knew this was the sort of fantasy I loved and wanted to write. The world of the story is alive with intricate details, the plot moves quickly, and the word-craft is excellent. When I finished the first three books and then had to wait a while to get the fourth one, I was frantic about the fates of the characters I had come to love. I identified with Abramm and his struggles with living his faith and fulfilling his calling.

#3 The Chronicles of Prydain:

The Book of Three

The Black Cauldron

The Castle of Llyr

Taran Wanderer

The High King

Lloyd Alexander

What it’s about: Taran, an assistant pig-keeper, has been living a boring life as the ward of a sleepy enchanter, and longs for adventure and glory. When a mysterious warrior named Gwydion enlists his help, Taran gets much more adventure than he was bargaining for, and learns that becoming a hero is complicated and costly. A feisty red-haired princess, a fur-covered creature named Gurgi who is continually hungry, and a wild-haired bard with a lie-detecting harp are among the delights of this series. The stories are by turns hilarious and somber, taking place in a majestic setting inspired by ancient Welsh legend.

Why I chose it: I’ve forgotten how I first got started reading these books, but they have since become cemented as an enduring favorite. I and my family have greatly enjoyed listening to them in audio book format, narrated by the talented James Langton (Listening Library). Disney made a cartoon called The Black Cauldron, which is one of the darker, rather morbid films to be put out by the Mickey Mouse empire. It tried to combine several Prydain stories and tack on some trademark Disney jokes and charm…and let’s just say it didn’t turn out too well.

There is a dark tone to the Prydain stories that may make them too disturbing for some readers, and since the greatest good the characters can hope for has to come from within themselves, it sometimes feels bleak. However, for the biblically-grounded reader who hopes in Christ, there is a lot of good to enjoy in these stories. Some of the lessons Taran learns during his journey from boy to man are profound, and I think Book Four contains one of the best examples of mediation I've ever read, outside of Solomon.

#4 The Door Within Trilogy:

The Door Within

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord

The Final Storm

Wayne Thomas Batson

What it’s about: Aidan Thomas is a normal teenager struggling to settle into a new town. He misses his best friend and resents that his family had to move in with his sickly, oddball grandfather. Then he discovers some scrolls in the basement. These scrolls contain the story of another world, and will soon draw Aidan and his friends into adventures they never imagined. The stories shine with hope, humor, and robust faith.

Why I chose it: These books surprised me. The action drew me in, but at first I rolled my eyes at the clichés, the “Middle-Narnia” setting, and the simplistic, very American prose. Then, I slowly and steadily fell in love with the good-hearted characters, the unpretentious writing style, and even the slapstick humor. I began to care very much about the outcome, and the ending quite literally brought me to tears. And still does, every time I read it.

#5 The Dragon-Keeper Chronicles:

DragonSpell

DragonKnight

DragonQuest

DragonFire

DragonLight

Donita K. Paul

What it’s about: A girl named Kale discovers that she has a talent for finding dragon eggs. This draws her into an epic adventure with a group of companions from the many races of creatures that populate this imaginary realm. Danger, magic, intrigue, romance, and the fate of the world are all involved. The setting is colorful, the tone upbeat, and the lively humor tends to rely on the sense of the ridiculous.

Why I chose it: I’ll confess that I’ve only re-read the first few books in this series—the others haven’t motivated second readings yet. But there is still a lot to like. The Christian author weaves in threads of allegory and scriptural teaching. I especially appreciated one scene where she gives a comparison between magic and science—via baking a cake—that helped me come to terms with why I can accept magic in a fantasy world while firmly believing that witchcraft in this world is wrong. There is a contagious optimism and faith in the stories that does not deny the troubles of life, but promises that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.