Other
fantasy book series that have been made into movies ...Other
fantasy book series that have been made into movies ...
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The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling |
| The Harry Potter series of fantasy books are so amazingly popular that I’m sure everyone has heard of them by now. Books 1-4 have been made into movies; the fifth book is being filmed. Nevertheless, I will say that the books are far more exciting and interesting than the movies can hope to be. We learn about all the wonderful classes that Harry takes, all the fun of Quidditch games, and every adventures that he embarks upon. |
Harry Potter is an orphan gifted with fantastic skills in magic, who is unaware of the vast realm of wizardry lurking beneath everyday life. When he enters the Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, both he and we are introduced to this wonderfully imaginitive world of the mysterious Platform Nine and Three Quarters at the King’s Cross Station, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Quidditch, Defense-Against-the-Dark-Arts class, and the evil Lord Voldemort.
Website: http://www.jkrowling.com
Website: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter
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The Earthsea Cycle, by Ursula K. Le Guin |
| In December of 2004, the Sci-fi Channel aired a four-hour miniseries that combined the first two books of this series. It was a pretty lame effort, and most Le Guin fans (and she herself) panned it. But someone who had never read the books might have enjoyed the tale. |
The first book, A Wizard of Earthsea, describes the boyhood of Ged, an arrogant boy with amazing wizarding abilities. He attends the School for Wizards where, in an sorcerers' duel, he unleashes a demon into the world. Wishing to repent, he tries to come to grips with his deed and make amends. It’s funny how the book’s setting mirrors that of Harry Potter. But the School of Wizardy, and indeed the whole concept of magic, are very different. Here, the use of magic is more thoughtful and responsible; how a spell cast in one place can have effect those far away. The pace of the book is slower and somewhat dream-like. The action is sparse, but the mood is mesmerizing and beautiful.
Website: http://www.ursulakleguin.com
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The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis |
| Both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien read pieces of their work in their literary circle, the Inklings. I find it a wonderful coincidence that their works have become fantasy classics. The Narnia books have a strong moral character, but don’t let that turn you off of them. They are exciting stories of good vs. evil that make for terrific fantasy reads. |
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is the story of the Pevensey children Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter who discover the entrance to the world of Narnia inside a seemingly ordinary closet. Narnia is ruled by the evil White Witch, and with the help of the good lion Aslan, the children lead the animals of Narnia into an epic battle of revolt.
There have been several adaptations of this series on film, only the most recent being the motion picture release in 2005. The list below is the order in which the books were written, and my suggestion for the order in which to read them (Some people recommend reading The Magician’s Nephew first, as the events occur before those in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; I disagree).
Website: http://cslewis.drzeus.net