Book Review: “The Wonders of Creation: Learning Stewardship from Narnia and Middle-Earth” by Kristen Page et al.

Both The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings are cemented into our cultural background. Even people who have never read them or seen any of the movies tend to at least know some of the basics of what each involves. Kristen Page, in The Wonders of Creation: Learning Stewardship from Narnia and Middle-Earth digs more deeply into each of these worlds in order to see how that wondrous landscape could inform our own concept of creation care.

The book is divided into three lectures with responses from various contributors. The first section is about finding insights into the real world in fictional landscapes. The second lecture is about responding to creation’s groaning and applying some of these insights into the real world. The third lecture is about renewal of wonder in regards to creation.

Fans of both Narnia and Middle Earth will be delighted to see these worlds explored with an eye towards the real world. Some of these reflections can be delightful, while others can be severe. For example, the question about the Clean Air act and how the U.S. stopped enforcing it for the sake of the economy set alongside the wonder of Edmund on the stirring of spring in Narnia is a stirring juxtaposition (50-52). Particularly lovely is the call to reinvigorate a love of creation and nature, found both in these fantastical worlds and in rediscovering myth and wonder for ourselves as adults (see, for example, the discussion on page 89 in which the enjoyment of landscapes stirs wonder in a childlike, Narnian way).

The Wonders of Creation is an exciting delve into two beloved fantasy worlds, applying the insights from the richness of each of their authors to our modern situation. I recommend it.

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SDG.

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