“In the last days of Narnia, far up to the west beyond Lantern Waste and close beside the great waterfall, there lived an ape.”

From C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle.

After a somewhat absence from Aslan the Lion, a gorilla named Shift uses trickery to act as Aslan’s spokesman and lead people to cut down the magical Talking Trees, which Shift then sells to people from Calormen… collecting the profits and control with deadly force.  Tirian, the king of Narnia, is warned of the growing evil that is taking place throughout Narnia, so the king and his unicorn friend, Jewel, head to confront those destroying the Talking Trees.  After losing his temper, Tirian kills two violent Calormenes and decides that he needs to see Aslan for his punishment.  However, Tirian quickly realizes that Shift’s Aslan is nothing more than a dangerous disguise, but his accusation results in Shift capturing the king.  When the Narnians won’t free Tirian, he calls out and asks Aslan for help, which results in Eustace and Jill being summoned from their world to Narnia.  Eustace and Jill free Tirian and Jewel, stop Shift’s hapless accomplice, and gather a small handful of allies; however, when they learn that Tirian’s army has been defeated and that Shift’s work has summoned an evil force, all seems lost.  Refusing to give up, Tirian and the others prepare for a battle for Narnia’s future, but it is impossible until brave warriors from the past arrive to help.

The seventh and final book in Lewis’ famed Chronicles of Narnia series is full of fantasy, wonder, and adventure.  Despite the original publication date, this series is still captivating and unique for today’s readers.  The Last Battle brings the familiar world to a solid conclusion for the series, and is not to be missed.