Page Count:  198

Author:  George Beahm

Publisher:  Hampton Roads

ISBN:  1-57174-465-7

Category:  A Non-Fiction book, about Fictional work.

Genre:  Fantasy

Review - Courtesy of Valerie Barnes (reprinted here with permission):  A charming little book! A very informative behind-the-scenes look at The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. If you plan on rushing to the theater on December 9, 2005 to see "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," you might want to stop in to Barnes & Noble a few days before, so you can read Beahm's "Passport to Narnia." If you're unfamiliar with C.S. Lewis's work, "Passport to Narnia" is a fabulous introduction.
     Lewis's The Narnian Chronicles is a collection of seven novels, entwining fantasy and Christianity. I'm not a fan of "fantasy" myself, but I do plan on seeing the movie. One glance at the movie's trailer is enough to get anyone wanting to see it. I'm also an animal lover, so the fact that one of the main characters is a talking lion, I'll be there, sitting in the front row. However, my lack of "fantasy knowledge" is limited. I have not read any of the Lewis books, which is why I picked up a copy of Passport to Narnia during my last trip to Barnes & Noble. I wanted my own "preview" of the movie, and "Passport to Narnia" served me well! I can now walk into the theater feeling confident, knowing exactly what to expect.
     In "Passport" you're given a look at Lewis himself, his body of work as a whole - and also broken down, book by book. You'll also learn about the various characters, the making of the movie, and Narnia collectibles. Beahm also lists many [other] great books and websites for further explanations/studies on the subject of all things Narnian.
     It hasn't influenced my opinion on fantasy... I just don't care for that genre... but "Passport" is definitely an entertaining look into that world and what it takes to create it.

Dove's Added Note:  TWO-THUMBS-UP!!!!