The Last Battle

Lewis's not-so-hidden message rings loud and clear as characters from the six previous books about Narnia gather together in Paradise after victory in the greatest conflagration imaginable. In this rendering of the classic, who could argue the vocal prowess of famed Shakespearean actor Patrick Stewart, a.k.a. Captain Jean-Luc Picard of television's "Star Trek." Making audio chills run up and down the listener's spine, Stewart brings THE LAST BATTLE to life as he shifts seamlessly from one character to another. Whether assuming the supreme majesty of the beloved Lion Aslan or the quiet voices of the tiniest of animals, Stewart is truly the right reader for this timeless tale. D.P.M. 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

An evil ape and a good-hearted donkey introduce the final chapter in Lewis's classic allegorical series, The Chronicles of Narnia, in which all of Narnia's children come home and the great lion, Aslan, reveals his master plan. As it did in earlier installments, Focus on the Family pulls out all the stops with respect to casting, performance, and special effects. The shining star in this production has to be its casting. Each of the dozens of actors, from the main characters down to the most incidental field mouse, fully inhabits his part. Suspension of disbelief flows naturally from these stellar performances. Sound effects and music frame the story, supporting the plot perfectly without calling attention to themselves. What a fitting way to end the series! R.P.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2003 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine