I don't know how many people feel the same way, but I'm starting to tire of the way in which Hollywood is pillaging the books of my childhood for the next blockbuster. Peter Jackson I can deal with, because his adaptation of Tolkien's trilogy was a labour of love; I wouldn't really say the same thing about the Narnia movies. I haven't even seen the film adaptation of this book, because I still treasure the old memories and associations.

It's hard to review this book objectively, I suspect - for me, I see it through the lens of my childhood; for an adult, how can an adult judge a book meant to impart a special kind of magic for the young?

This book is my favourite of the Cooper series, although it is technically the second book in the series. It introduces Will Stanton, who goes on to play a major role in the series overall. Although some might find the plot and imagery simplistic, I find that Cooper taps into some major archetypes, and that they are enriched by Cooper's liberal drawing from Celtic and Arthurian mythology. For me, the book maintains a special kind of magic.