The Silver Chair, the sixth book in the Chronicles of Narnia, is filled with all the fast-paced adventure of the other Chronicles and introduces Narnia fans to a host of new, remarkable characters, each of them brilliantly depicted by Pauline Baynes in her original, hand- coloured illustrations.This elegant, larger edition of the classic book, published to coincide with the centenary of CS Lewis, is a stylish addition to the highly collectible range and will bring sheer joy for anyone who has enjoyed previous visits to magical land of Narnia. --Susan Harrison

2005-02-26 Dark and tense

Unlike "Voyage of the Dawntreader", where Lucy, Edmund and Eustace were given a royal welcome and found themselves in a safe environment, "Silver Chair" harks back to "Prince Caspian". Just as the Pevensie children found themselves legends and unsupported in a land torn apart by civil war, Jill and Eustace are alone, with only Aslan's clues to guide them. Again, in contrast to "Voyage", there is barely any human interaction before they begin their quest - it is the animals and the creatures of Narnia who aid them. Puddleglum has got to be one of Lewis's best characters, because we all know someone like him - and the best bit is that he's considered 'cheerful' by the standards of his kind! The three of them have to journey out of Narnia, through giant country to find Rillian, meanwhile contending with the weather, the inhabitants and their own failings. I personally found the Green Lady far mroe unnerving than the White Witch ever was...