Writing A Children's Fantasy Similar to Narnia

[jasmine tarkheena]

There are multiple fantasy series out there, though it may seem like they have fallen out of favor for a time.

I was wondering if it was possible for anyone to write a children's fantasy similar to Narnia (maybe not exactly like it, but similar, possibly with four children then two children who travel to another world). There could be a blend of mythical creatures and possibly some talking animals like Narnia. Our world could even be set during the present day, and that would be fine.

So is it possible for anyone to write a children's fantasy similar to Narnia in our day?

 

[wonderings]

Sure it is possible, but it really just sounds like you want more of Narnia. There are other stories with characters that travel to strange and distant places. A Wrinkle in time stands out to me. It has been many years since I read the books but it is a number of kids on a great journey. The movie was terrible, the book fantastic. There is nothing wrong with going back to enjoy the rich and beautiful stories Lewis crafted, I usually read the series once a year, they are comforting and uplifting even as an adult.

 

[MrBob]

The thing is that if it were too close to Narnia, it would be compared to it and likely the author criticized for copying the story. Even though His Dark Materials is unpopular here, it had talking animals but lacked the mythological creatures and it was set in present day. Even Harry Potter had a similar aspect with Harry going into a different world (the wizarding world) every school year where there are mythical creatures and talking animals (specifically the acromantulas).

 

[The Prince]

I don't think I would tread too close to Narnia if I was writing a modern fantasy. However, Lewis himself acknowledged that there are probably other worlds. And I don't just mean in his stories, though there are certainly other places to go to from the Wood Between The Worlds. I think something might be done, once Narnia enters the public domain, where a child from this world who loves Narnia goes to another world and must meet and learn to know Aslan there by another name.

 

[wonderings]

I don't think I would tread too close to Narnia if I was writing a modern fantasy. However, Lewis himself acknowledged that there are probably other worlds. And I don't just mean in his stories, though there are certainly other places to go to from the Wood Between The Worlds. I think something might be done, once Narnia enters the public domain, where a child from this world who loves Narnia goes to another world and must meet and learn to know Aslan there by another name.

I personally dread Narnia entering the public domain. Few if any would actually do justice and not bastardize what Lewis created. I don't want anyone else writing/mimicking for Narnia or anything Lewis wrote. This insatiable desire for more more more is a huge part of the problem in Western culture. A story can and should have an end This craving for more reminds me of addicts, needing another hit, but that new hit will never match the first hit. The analogy fails because the first "hit" of Narnia can be relived and it can grow into something even better with time, with zero negative side effects. Narnia has ended, Lewis wrote the ending, there is no going back and there is nothing that needs to be said that does not stem for our selfish desires for more more more!

 

[MrBob]

Based on some of the recent movies that have come out of books/characters that have entered the public domain, the fear should be a horror-based Narnia film. With Winnie the Pooh and a recently released "Peter Pan's Nightmare" as a part of a group of films in the Twisted Childhood Universe, they are taking beloved characters and turning them into murderous bad guys. Bambi and Pinocchio horror movies are soon to come.

 

[wonderings]

Based on some of the recent movies that have come out of books/characters that have entered the public domain, the fear should be a horror-based Narnia film. With Winnie the Pooh and a recently released "Peter Pan's Nightmare" as a part of a group of films in the Twisted Childhood Universe, they are taking beloved characters and turning them into murderous bad guys. Bambi and Pinocchio horror movies are soon to come.

I think more of what we might see is a back story for Jadis, we find out why she did what she did and how it really was justified because the evil King actually did horrible things to her or her family when she was younger. So she would have justification and sympathy and really not be all that bad, just misunderstood. You would then find that Susan was really the leader of her siblings, the brains, the courage, the one pushing the rest on to do great things, but they are all done thanks to Susan. Aslan as a male presenting lion will have a female voice to show how inclusive God is. This is the horror of what could be!

 

[The Prince]

That actually sounds about par for the course.

 

[MrBob]

They would have to completely change the story on Charn to even begin to place any justification of Jadis' eradication of all life on her planet just because she was about to lose a war.