: Good debate about Narnia, but there is an inaccuracy in the "chronological order" of the books presented here> _The Horse and His Boy_ takes place a few years after the main action of _The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe_, both some 1000 years prior to the main action of _Prince Caspian_.

: I read Humphrey Carpenter's biography of Tolkien recently. JRRT very much disliked the Narnia books, according to Carpenter both because he found them too light, not rigorous enough in their subcreation. He disliked the casual inclusion of elements from Greek myths, talking animals, the Middle Ages and the like, and found the nomenclature absurd. (Aslan is supposedly the Persian for Lion, which makes me wonder about the source for "Caspian."

: The Narnia books appeared during the time when Tolkien was negotiating the publication of the LR, and Carpenter hints that Tolkien saw them as a threat, as if Lewis was trying to undermine his market share. (Distressing to find heroes have flaws!)

: Tolkien's well known aversion to alegory surely played a role too. This was a period of cooling in their long friendship. Lewis however, warmly greeted the publication of the LR.

: In my view, appreciated for themselves, the Narnia book are quite enjoyable in themselves and have some powerful images and scenes.

Had it not been for Lewis, LOTR may never have been finished, for it was Lewis who stayed on Tolkien to keep writing it. I've never understood why Tolkien was suspicious and jealous of the Narnia books, because they don't horn in on Tolkien's territory at all. In their lightness of tone, their obvious allegorical content, and their different style and lack of detailed history and languages they are very different from Tolkien's works. They are very interesting and enjoyable to read, however. I read it first when I was 13 and again in my early 20s and it was amazing how much had gone over my head the first time around. The theological argument with the deceiving witch in The Silver Chair and the Platonic imagery in The Last Battle (the real England, e.g.) are two examples.