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. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Eustace and Jill don't remember all the signs and directions given by the great lion Aslan, but he nonetheless guides them through their adventure in Narnia in search of the missing Prince Rilian. This sixth in Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series easily stands alone, particularly with its phenomenal production attributes. Perfect casting choices render every character to the letter, complete with background mumblings and assorted nonvocal sounds. Musical interludes both introduce segments and provide background tone, while exquisitely chosen sound effects lend a realism the listener will not believe came from a studio. Lewis's Chronicles have been fresh and compelling since he wrote them 50 years ago; this production achieves an equal standard for their treatment in audio. R.P.L. 2003 Audie Award Winner, Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

In this sixth tale in C.S. Lewis's celebrated Chronicles of Narnia series, Eustace Scrubb escapes a gang of school bullies and returns to the magic realm of Narnia with a new friend, Jill Pole, to search for an old friend, Prince Caspian. Following the signs given them by the great lion, Aslan, the young adventurers meet giants, follow an army of gnomes, and barely avoid being enchanted by an evil sorceress. This 1996 BBC Radio full-cast dramatization creates a tapestry of sound that weaves soaring musical themes and lush effects with the bright, earnest voices of the children and the warmth and enthusiasm of the superb character actors playing the knowing owl named Glimfeather and the dour, beloved Marshwiggle named Puddleglum. The entire series remains a stellar achievement in family audio entertainment. B.P. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine