Sean, the Fenris Ulf/Maugrim change was bugging me too -- I even remembered, very clearly, Peter being knighted Fenris-bane, not Wolf-bane. And then on Saturday, after seeing the movie Friday, I picked up a (something like 1998-99 edition) copy of the book and read it and got even more confused, because he's called Maugrim throughout the book. Wikipedia, as usual, unravels the mystery.

And, yeah, I liked Fenris better.

IRelatedN, I'm working my way through the Chronicles again -- there are bits of Dawn Treader that make me bristly and gripesome, but oh my does Prince Caspian kick all kinds of ass. Such huge fun. I think I bored Hec to tears all weekend, chasing around after him reading the bits about the talkative squirrel and the weepy giant and Peter dictating his ridiculously florid medieval challenge to Miraz of single combat ending with Professor Cornelius muttering, "Narnia, comma, greetings."

Wikipedia, as usual, unravels the mystery.

Thank the Emperor Over the Sea for Wikipedia.

And, yeah, I liked Fenris better.

It's just such a cool name. It kinda bums me out that it was a creation of some US editor, and not Lewis himself.

They made it sound like Disney picked the Narnia books because there are a lot of potential sequels, and then put the Christianity in themselves as a marketing ploy.

Huh. That's a really stupid story. I mean, doesn't the last book in the series (I've only read the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe) basically recreate the Armageddon of Revelations in Narnia?

Well, it's not really the creation of a US editor. It's taken directly from Norse mythology, 'pparently.

Is The Emperor Over the Sea mentioned in TLTW&TW? I don't remember it being there.

I saw some review show this weekend with an American man and a British chick (I'm blanking on their names) and she kept acting like Americans never would have heard of the books. Oh, and she explained what a wardrobe was (its a closet, apparently -- except it ISN'T, even in England, is it? isn't a wardrobe anywhere an independent piece of furniture as opposed to a door in the wall?). Anyway, she annoyed the crap out of me.

she kept acting like Americans never would have heard of the books

Even though I never read them, I had definitely heard of TLTWaTW, if not the rest of the series, by the time I was in high school. I remember in the movie Shadowlands that Joy first meets CS Lewis because her son was a fan of the books, so I'm thinking that there's been an American fan base since the books were originally published.

Yes, I thought that a wardrobe was an armoire everywhere.

I'm pretty sure I knew what a wardrobe was as a child before I read my first Lewis book. Surely the term hasn't fallen into such disuse here that most people wouldn't be aware of it?

she kept acting like Americans never would have heard of the books

I encountered a distressing number of Brits who think Americans are completely clueless about anything but American culture. It could be that they have met a distressing number of Americans who actually are clueless, but it gets annoying to constantly hear, "Oh, you know about that?" in a suprised voice.

Saw Narnia, and was pleased, impressed, and a little disappointed. In the middle of the movie, I'm thinking to myself, "I like my allegory a little more...allegorical." Also, yes, I know, kids' book. Still, there wasn't enough texture--not enough depth under the story to make all the pretty trimmings worth the effort. Sort of.

But! First Stuntie, or Stunt Coordinator? Sala Baker. And also, General Otmin? Shane Rangi.

So.Happy. the stunties and orcs and all are working!

I get the Maugrim thing ("My dear, you have The Grim!"), but I've also heard of the Fenris myth, and I'm not sure which wolf would be more dire.

Glad I saw it, was oh so pleased with some of the mythical beasties, and tickled to pink bitty bits that Ray Winstone was a voice actor (Beaver). And also? Want Lucy's tiara!

I read Wardrobe when I was in first grade, because there was hype for the premiere of the animated version, and my brother had a copy of the book. It took ages and ages for me to get through it, of course, but I don't remember the vocabulary being a particular issue. Even if I didn't know the word "wardrobe" going in, it's clearly a big wooden thing with doors, full of mothballed coats, so I'd have figured it out.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure Aslan is described as the Son of the Emperor-Over-The-Sea before anyone mentions that he's lion.