Customer Reviews
A Wealth Of Imagination and Adventure 
2008-07-04
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is not one of my favorite books, but I will admit that this book is stuffed with great adventure. And it kept my attention. It's like you can't wait to see what they will see or go to next.
C.S. Lewis brings back Lucy, Edmund and Prince Caspian, but also a new character name Eustace. If C.S. Lewis was trying to make the reader dislike Eustace, then he did a great job when it came to me. I did not like him at first, but Eustace develops as a character, and I did eventually change my mind about him.
Every island they visited was different, and I really appreciated the fact that each island and each event was well written. Even little lessons are taught without really throwing it in your face.
I have written before C.S. Lewis is an excellent story writer, and this book proves that again. I hope you enjoy the book like I did.
Thanks.
My Favorite 
2008-03-18
Besides being such a great addition to the series, the book itself contains so much depth and plot that I believe the book is good enough to stand on its own. The voyages of Caspian, the Pevensie kids and Eustace created such a page-turning book that no one who reads their stories will leave without great joy.
Lewis' brilliance and careful construction of the story builds up the final conclusion (which is epic in itself) in such a beautiful way that I cannot help but claim that this book of The Chronicles of Narnia is by far my favorite.
Great Bedtime Story for Children, Ages 6-100 2008-01-02
THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, the 5th book in C.S. Lewis' THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series and the 3rd one published, follows Edmund and Lucy and their cousin Eustace Clarence Scrubb (whose name fits his character as well as possible) as they reenter Narnia. Upon being sucked into a painting at Eustace's house, the three of them join King Caspian and his crew aboard the Dawn Treader. The men are voyaging to find out what ever happened to the 7 great Lords of Narnia that left in hopes of discovering the Far East and Aslan's Country. Their adventures take them to several islands and get them into frequent trouble - slavery, dragons, mysterious sea creatures, Deathwater, invisible enemies, fearsome magicians, dark islands, magical banquets, and whatever awaits them at the world's end.
As quality goes, this installment of the series lies between PRINCE CASPIAN and THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. C.S. Lewis manages to illustrate quite a few powerful biblical themes through the adventures of the Pevensies and Eustace. Eustace's encounters with the great lion, Aslan, show him what it feels like to be changed into a new person, to have the old vainglorious self peeled away and rejuvenated. Lucy's encounters with Aslan teach her what it feels like to make choices and realize their effects on people's lives. The 7 Lords discover the danger that comes with greed and power. The many island expeditions lend themselves to various adventures and moments of epiphany for Reepicheep, Caspian, Edmund, and others of the crew. The story, as usual, does not exist solely for the message in the subtext. The journey is the just as important. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and fresh, this fantasy ride is broken up into manageable chunks that make a great bedtime story for children from ages 6-100.
--- Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens
Not Free SF Reader 
2007-09-03
The two older children from the other books have been given the arse from Narnia as they are now too old and boring to be allowed back. Different rules for lions, it seems.
Anyway, the two younger are staying with an annoying cousin, and end up on a ship with Caspain, now a king, and a talking rodent.
Ship quest time.
Journey to the utter East 2007-07-26
'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' is the third novel (in publishing order) of the Narnian Chronicles. It follows on the events of 'Prince Caspian' as Lucy and Edmund are visiting their obnoxious cousin Eustache. A picture of a sailing ship on the wall of Eustache's guest room grows and grows until the children fall into to it, entering Narnia once more. They find themselves on the ship The Dawn Treader, with (King) Caspian and Reepicheep the mouse. Caspian is voyaging east in search of seven lost lords who were driven from Narnia by his evil Uncle Miraz. Reepicheep is looking for no less than Aslan's land- which is reputed to be at the end of the great eastern ocean.
This much better than both 'Prince Caspian' and 'The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe'. Lewis really hit his stride with this one. After this, the rest of the series is uniformally excellent. The children have many adventures such as being captured by slavetraders, encountering a dragon, and even meeting a fallen star. The introduction of Eustache allows Lewis once again to show the redemption of a character, as well as make pointed comments on modern ideas of parenting. Again the Christian themes are very lightly hinted at- they will never again be as overt as in the 'The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe'.
Impossible to rank 2007-05-12
The Dawn Treader will take you places you never dreamed existed.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the 2007-04-09
In the 5th book of the Narnia series, "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" our adventure begins, when Lucy, Edmund and our new friend, Eustace are brought to Narnia and are taken aboard the Dawn Treader. Some familiar faces on the boat include Caspian, Reepicheep and Drinian.
On there quest to the end of the world, or the "Far East" they are looking for the lost friends and lords of Caspian's Dad. But they are slowed down by magicans, darkness, stars, dreams, lilies, dragons and Duffelpods. With, of coarse the help of Aslan, the Lion along the journey.
But will they reach the end of the world? Can they find the lost lords? And what surprise is waiting for Lucy and Edmund at the end of the story? ~It's all coming, but only on the mistical voyage of The Dawn Treader!!!
The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader 2007-01-26
The book I am reviewing is the Voyage of the Dawn Treader Written by C. S. Lewis.
The book starts off with Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace sitting in a spare room when all of a sudden they are swimming for their lives toward the Dawn Treader. Another surprising twist is that Caspian, Lucy, Edmund, Eustace, and Reepicheep are all capture and taken away as slaves. Thankfully Caspian comes up with a way to save them. Now my favorite part is when the Invisible People capture Lucy and force her to make them visible. Once she saved them the magician revealed himself and aided the weary travelers. Another favorite is when Eustace turns into a dragon. Where they find the Third Lord is on a Dark Island where dreams come true. After they come to Ramandu's Island where the next three lords are found asleep. After stopping for food the Dawn Treader sails on East to the edge of the world. Once they get there Reepicheep, Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace sailed off to the edge of the earth on their own.
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend the entire set of the Chronicles of Narnia. This book is my favorite book of the Chronicles of Narnia, but I recommend for you to read them in order!
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2007-01-08
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is about three children, Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace, who get sent into the world of Narnia on a ship on its way to the end of the world. Edmund and Lucy have been there before. The ship that they are on, The Dawn Treader, is going to try and find seven lords, sent to the end of the world years ago. They find them in many places: a dark abyss, in a lake that turns anything to gold. They even find one in the form of a dragon. In the end, they reach the end of the world when suddenly, the three kids are sent back to their own world. I liked this book because of it's fascinating storyline, the fact that there is never a dull moment, and it has interesting characters.
I like this book because of it's fascinating storyline. For example, the suspense that builds the further that you get along in the story. It is the fifth book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, so it is full of many strange and magical lands and creatures. It also contains many unreal things such as: a table that replenishes itself with a feast each night, a pond that turns anything to gold, a dark area in the middle of the ocean that contains all of your nightmares, and an ocean that is clear that you can see all the way to the bottom.
Another reason that I like this book is because there is never a dull moment. Every chapter brought many different views and points of the story. The kids visit different islands with many unusual features such as: dragons, huge mountains, and a sea of flower petals. Lastly, they also visit an isolated island range that is rebellious to the King.
The last reason that I liked the book is because of its many interesting characters. Eustace is a very obnoxious, spoiled child. Prince Caspian is further developed in this story and I expect to learn more about him as I finish this series. Lastly, Lucy and Edmund become more mature on their third trip to Narnia.
I like this book because of its many interesting characters, fascinating storyline, and the fact that there is never a dull moment.
C. Copeland
Is this still relevant? 2006-12-14
In the world of young adult literature, fantasy is taking center stage through the emergence of Harry Potter fanaticism and the reemergence of Tolkien's fabled ring in film. This has brought a renewed interest in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. A film version of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was released Christmas of 2005, and other film recreations of later books are currently in production. The question remains, however, if later books, such as Voyage of the Dawn Treader are worthy of being restored in film. The Chronicles series by C.S. Lewis stands in glaring opposition to other popular fantasy literature. It is worth questioning whether this overtly didactic extended metaphor for Christianity is too distinctive from the rest to be relevant in today's post-modern and post-secular culture.
Voyage begins with the very modern character of Eustace Clarence Scrubb, a boy whose parents "up-to-date and advanced people. They were vegetarians, non-smokers, and tee-totallers, and wore a special kind of underclothes" (425). Eustace is the epitome of the modern child. He is ruled by reason, treated as an adult, and impervious to child-like play. At the same time, however, he is a friendless and short-sided know-it-all. This voyage of the Dawn Treader is also the voyage of Eustace as he grows and learns the importance of balance and humility.
Eustace's greed and arrogance reaches its peak when he is enticed by a gold bracelet found in a dragon's liar. Lewis continually narrates that if Eustace, as other children do, had read and heard stories of dragons, he would have known what to expect of the liar and the dangers therein. However, Eustace, having been raised a rational child, was never given the benefit of an education in other-worldly truths. In this way, Eustace is turned into a dragon by his greed. He is unable to help or change himself back to the boy he once was. This act of primal sin on the part of Eustace leads him down a path of which there is no human escape. He is greatly changed by his physical transformation and learns the value of humility and relying upon help from others. This is vitally important because in order for Eustace to regain his original form, he is forced to rely upon the God-like lion Aslan. Aslan tears into Eustace's form and the "very first tear he made was so deep that [Eustace] thought it had gone right into the heart" (474). The physical transformation of Eustace is an extended metaphor for the life of sin and the power of Christ to transform, painful though it may be.
Does this moralizing message continue to be valid in a culture such as ours? If Eustace does not rely upon himself, a magic wand, and destiny, is the book still worthy of acceptance? What is the present in value in a belief that the self is just not enough to save?
I believe this book is more relevant now than ever. Eustace was raised in a culture very similar to the culture of young adults today. He was not fooled by Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. His parents raised him to be rational, and yet, Eustace's character drastically lacked something vitally important to his ability to function in the world. Psychologists have found that play is essential to the budding identity and self-realization of children. When children are denied play and are forced too quickly into the world of reason and logic, their self-awareness and personalities do not fully develop. Eustaces' story is one of caution, not only to the would-be know-it-all child, but also to the parents who rear them.
The Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, provide children with necessary exercises in imagination. In addition, the lessons provided by the deeper metaphor of Aslan instruct children in the need for community and community affection in development. While Harry Potter exercises a child's imagination, the stories are generally about self-power. It is Harry's wand, destiny, or cunning which save himself and the world from doom. However, it is necessary now more than ever that children realize they cannot do it on their own. This reinforces the need for parents, guardians, and mentor figures which encourage and empower children. So, even though this book's moral metaphor is very different from other fantasy literature of the day, its message is still relevant. In fact, perhaps it is more relevant today than it ever has been before.
