Jadis and Her Sleigh, Part 1

Artwork by Anastasia Nestarov

Without bells, remember.

It’s one of the most iconic images from the first book and also iconic to the Snow Queen story, which inspired Lewis to include it in the first place.

Most artists don’t stray too far from the text. There’s a dwarf, at least two reindeer, and a luxurious sleigh which includes furs on the inside. The witch’s costume and the sleigh’s design varies, though it’s usually ornate and fanciful.

The pic above is typical, highlighting the witch’s malicious nature and Edmond’s greed.

Jadis the Witch and Edmund, by Elliot Hale

Here’s one that’s different. The witch wears a beret, looking like an aging Beatnik, while Edmond is shivering with the cold. I think the artist forgot the line about the sleigh being lined with furs. The dwarf wears a hunting cap with flaps which is different also. Most artists put the dwarf in a stocking cap.

Edmund and the White Witch, by The Hxverling

At least here Edmond is bundled up in furs. But the witch’s expression is oddly impassive as she offers him his doom — and he reaches for it tentatively. Her icicle crown is inspired by the Walden movie, though it looks more like fangs.

Edmund and the Witch, by Rogue Eidolon

In this decorative depiction the witch has small, round, dangerous, beady eyes, like the Predator creature from the movie franchise. Edmond is far from comfortable with her.

Artwork by Mahta Hedayat

All the character look way too innocent in this stylized “South Park” version. The dwarf especially seems to be having second thoughts about his employer.

Turkish Delight, by Melodie Stacey

The dwarf doesn’t get a seat in this version — he has to stand as he drives the sleigh, which has realistic high runners. The witch is determined, the bespectacled Edmond unsure. The childlike style works well with a good sense of speed and urgency.

Turkish Delight, by Patricia Pessoa

Another childlike version which is a lot sweeter. We don’t see a sleigh, but it’s inferred they’re in one. The witch seems to be saying “I’ll love and protect you for ever and ever schnookiekins” while Edmund has his doubts.

 

Worldbuilding Wednesday 6/18/25: Narnian Star Magic (Narnia LXIII)

Ramandu is one of those Narnian characters who plays a significant role in the book but not in artists’ depictions. Pauline Baynes’ original illustration remains the best one I’ve seen: a grave, elderly man in a robe of silver fleece, with a white beard that falls to his feet… which are bare, in the manner of the humble and the ascetic. He opens his mouth to accept a fire-berry from the beak of a White Bird of the Sun who has flown all the way there to shuttle it to him. The berry erases a little of his age, and when he becomes “as young as the child who was born yesterday” he will rise once again to Narnia’s night sky.

(As Narnia would be destroyed a mere 500 years later, let’s hope he got to sufficiently de-age himself before the final apocalypse.)

This was such an iconic image that when I googled it, I found dozens of similar pics… but they were of the Prophet Elijah, from the Old Testament, and he was being fed by a raven! I wonder if either the artist or Lewis himself had been inspired by this episode or the classical depictions of it.

In both stories, the elder received his food from God (or Aslan, in Ramandu’s case) and both received a benefit: a deepening of faith for Elijah, and a rejuvenation for Ramandu.

It’s not clear in the text if Ramandu is a magician like Coriakin, whom Caspian & Co. had met earlier on another island. But surely he must have a few magic powers. In that vein, here’s some spells for him or other characters to use.

 

Star Spells of Narnia

Banquet of Bonding: When cast on an empty table, a feast fit for royalty appears, with fine cuts of meat, pies, exotic produce, rare wines, and heavenly desserts. All the beings eating this feast unite together in camaraderie and forget their differences and petty grievances. The opposite of this spell is Banquet of Breaking, wherein the beings eating the food explode in feuds and arguments, sundering them.

Commune with Stars: Allows the caster to call upon the collective wisdom of the Narnian stars to solve problems. Note: the stars can refuse to help if they don’t like the caster or request.

Glorious Feast: Convinces creatures they are imbibing in a king’s feast complete with golden plates, a velvet-clad table, and sumptuous dishes, when in reality they are eating mundane food.

Moonblade: Changes a shaft of moonlight into a magical +1 silver sword for the spell’s duration.

Mystic Mead: This magic drink temporarily increases all imbiber’s Wisdom scores by +5.

Reverse Eclipse: A very powerful spell, used only by the elder stars, used to stop or reverse a solar eclipse.

Ring of Selene: This ring is made of silver set with a band of gray gems. It makes the wearer’s intelligence and wisdom go up by one point as long as moonlight is shining on them.

Shield of Starlight: With a two-armed gesture, thousands of tiny sparkling points of light form a +10 shield in front of the caster’s body that physical weapons and evil magic will not affect.

Solar Avian Whistle: This slim golden pipe whistle summons the Narnian Birds of the Sun when blown during daylight hours. The single note is ear-piercingly shrill.

Starburn Command: Briefly intensifies the light of a star, rendering it bright enough to read by.

C. S. Lewis Keycard

Graduate Hotels specializes in lodgings near universities and college campuses — Princeton, Annapolis, New Haven, and the like. Its rooms use keycards shaped like facsimilies of student IDs of notable graduates or professors. This Graduate Hotel, near Oxford, includes one of C. S. Lewis, even though student IDs didn’t exist in his time. Pretty neat huh?

Narnia Church Sculptures at St. Mary’s

We all know who this lion is, right?

This is a bit of old news, but in 2020 fifteen sculptures were created and then consecrated to decorate the interior of St. Mary’s Church in Beverley, Yorkshire in England. Before being hoisted into the clerestory, they were displayed at ground level so churchgoers could see them up close. Visit the church’s site for more pictures.

The church makes clear that not any church can create Narnia images, despite their association with Christianity. They had to get permission from The CS Lewis Company Ltd. first.

Worldbuilding Wednesday 6/11/25: What’s New in Narniaworld for 2025 (Narnia LVII)

The new Queen Charlotte hotel in Narniaworld is based on Victorian seaside resorts like this one.

It’s been a whole year since Narniaworld, the theme park and resort based on C. S. Lewis’ famous book series, was introduced to the public on this blog. Let’s see what new features and activities are planned for this summer.

Previous Narniaworld posts are here.

Narniaworld, Part 1 (Food)

Narniaworld, Part 2 (Rides)

Narniaworld, Part 3 (Shows and events)

Narniaworld, Part 4 (Shopping)

Narniaworld, Part 5 (Guest Services)

Narniaworld Extra Credit (AI generations of the park)

First of all, The Great Souk of Tashbaan is finally open. Located on the south side of park, the Souk offers all the delights of an open-air Middle Eastern marketplace, including stalls selling leather goods, jewelry, incense, and imported textiles. Stop for shish kebab or shawarma, or, if you’re not so hungry, pita bread with a hummus dip makes a quick snack. Be sure to buy a box of authentic Turkish Delight or baklava to take home!

Also new this year is The Tisroc’s Baths, located to the left as you enter the Great Souk. Rent a locker and towel to enjoy relaxing in the beautiful tiled pools lined with tropical plants. For an extra charge, you can have a massage or other spa treatment. (Note: Adults only, and swimsuits are mandatory.)

Across from the Baths is Lasaraleen’s Treasures and Trinkets, which has moved here from its former location in Archenland. The new store is larger and now includes women’s fashions and shoes. A little further down is another new shop, The Seven Isles Mercantile Co., which sells goods from all over the world. Linger here to take it in its ship-based maritime decor. Linger longer to watch the wandering street magicians and storytellers — or even visit Shasta and Aravis as they trade quips with (the animatronic heads of) Bree and Hwin in the Royal Stable.

Other news:

We are sorry to say that Queen Swanwhite’s Paddle Boats will not be returning this season after a January storm destroyed its pier and many of the boats. The area will be re-developed for other use.

A new hotel, the Queen Charlotte,  has opened. Based on a Victorian seaside resort that Digory and Polly night have vacationed at, the Queen Charlotte is for park guests seeking a more upscale holiday stay. Stroll the half-mile boardwalk or sunbath on the man-made sandy beach. In the lobby you can find an authentic Penny Arcade complete with replicas of turn-of-the-century amusement machines and candy for sale — each piece for a penny! Note that the few undamaged swan boats now serve as decorations. Also in the lobby is Traps and Toasted Cheese, a small shop selling gourmet cheeses of all kinds — the name is from a line Reepicheep utters in Prince Caspian.

If you can’t attend Tea with Tumnus in the main park, The Queen Charlotte also offers one in its sumptuous Tea Room, which resembles a Victorian conservatory with a glass dome and exotic plants. This room is also available for private events like weddings.

The Queen Charlotte is located on the bay a short distance from the park. Guests can either walk or take a shuttle to the main park’s gates.

Every weekend night in the summer, weather permitting, Dr. Cornelius gives talks on astronomy from the wooded clearing that holds his small observatory. Topics are summer constellations, comets, planets, and anything current happening in the skies. Attendance is free, but limited; guests must sign up for the night they want. Flashlights and lanterns are provided to navigate the woods.

Summer of Narnia 2025

The time comes once again for the Cobalt Jade Summer of Narnia. Essays, pictures, Narnia ephemera, and much more!

( The picture above seems to be depict Lucy succumbing to her moment of temptation in The Voyage of The Dawn Treader to follow the Sea Girl shepherdess down into the briny deep. Except it’s hard to tell the gender of the being. On closer examination, it looks more male than female, so it may not be Narnia-related at all. But it’s still a lovely image.  )

I Sing the Body Electric, featuring Mick Ronson.

This Corgi paperback has the distinction of being voted as one of the worst SF covers ever. Not only does the artwork have nothing to do with book (an anthology of short stories by Ray Bradbury and one of my favorites way back when — I saved my hard-earned allowance money to buy it) it is so. Damn. Weird. A bodybuilding centaur with clones of himself attached at the end of his arms in lieu of hands? That is nightmare territory.

Not only that, but the artist seems to have modeled the creature’s face on a rock star popular at the time…

That’s Mick Ronson on the left, David Bowie’s guitarist and musical collaborator in his Ziggy Stardust days, and later a minor star in his own right. Further proving the close connections between SF and rock n’ roll. Hey, I thought centaur-man looked familiar!

 

Worldbuilding Wednesday 6/4/25: Unusual Magic Books, Part 2

A few more for the adventurers’ library.

 

More Unusual Magic Books

Arven’s Guide to Quick Calculation: Written for merchants, bankers, traders, and anyone else working with cash. Reading this magic book once will allow the character to forever eschew the use of an abacus or other calculating instrument, for they can now do simple math in their head with 95% accuracy.

The Book of Fowl and Fish: Contains dozens of spells relating to both birds and piscine creatures. The spells are of all levels; some are useless, others very powerful. The cover is made of hammered silver inlaid with a beautiful peacock and a goldfish in a yin-yang design. The owner of this precious book gains both flying and swimming abilities.

The Book of Light: This large, ornate clerical tome has one purpose only. As soon as the clasps are unfastened and the cover opened, pure white light floods the area, driving out evil creatures, withering undead, and restoring adventurers’ shattered bodies and psyches.

The Brown Almanac: Published once a year for those in the gladiatorial entertainment industry, it contains fighting tips and techniques. Any issue is prized by fighters of this class. Reading just one issue grants them a 10% greater chance of victory for the next month. Gladiatorial schools will have issues dating back decades.

Hesti’s Catalog of Singular Flutes:  Contains a list of unique magic flutes with a picture and a detailed description of each. Of interest to mage-historians mostly, but any magic users reading it can gain enough knowledge to craft their own simple magic flute.

A Magus’s Guide to Eliminating Debt:  On first glance this looks like a self-help book about personal finances, but it also contains spells expressedly designed for saving money. Any magic user haunted by creditors who reads this will see their personal fortune double or even triple over the next six months. The book can only be used once per character.

Manuel of Torment: Anyone who reads this book will experience all the physical pain of being tortured without being damaged physically. Moreover, they are cursed to keep reading it until all chapters are finished while in such distress. The good thing is, they are 90% less likely to buckle under torture in some future situation.

Notebook of Protection: This looks like a small, plain ledger bound in buckskin filled with blank, unlined pages. The magic is the owner is granted protection against whatever they write on one of those pages, limited to no more than three words: e.g. “all breath weapons” “vampires, ghosts, lichs” “lawful good beings.” This makes it a powerful item indeed. Only one page can be written on at a time, and that protection lasts for 24 hours; after that, the page rips itself out and vanishes. Most of the time these books are found with a limited number of pages. A new book usually has 20. Anyone can use this item, not just mages.

Scarlet’s Handbook of Minstrelry: For bards, minstrels, and troubadours of all kinds. It tells performers how to analyze their audience, how to improve their singing technique (with vocal exercises), and suggests songs for different races and locales. In addition it includes costuming and performing tips. At the end are several low level spells suitable for bards with magical talent. Any minstrel reading the book through is likely to be 25% more successful in their profession over the next six months. The book only works once per character.

The Tome of Greaves and Gauntlets: For blacksmiths and armorers. Contains instructions and tips for making arm and leg protection, including basic magic armor (+1, protection from fire, etc.) The crafter must study it for three weeks and also list the help of a mage for the magical types.