Reepicheep Response Contest Winner

A few weeks ago in a post entitled "Caspian a Dud? What Would Reepicheep Say?" I asked readers to respond to a review by Frederica Mathewes-Green who said that Prince Caspian the movie was not only better than C. S. Lewis' book, but that Caspian the book was a "dud." To make things interesting I asked people to write a response from the noble Reepicheep. Well, all entries are in and we've picked Tai Sophia Polczynski as our winner. Writing in the voice of "always ready for a fight" Reepicheep, here is Tai's winning entry:

Truly, this is an insult that cannot be overlooked! The very core of Narnia lies within the tale which this critic brushes off so insolently. If it were not for the happenings captured within, our sweet land of Narnia would still be tangled fast in the snare of oppression. Upon my very honor and by the Lion's mane, I would be prepared to lay down my life if it meant that this recounting of the nobility of the High King Peter and all of the kings and queens of Narnia - and the reality of Aslan's presence - would be more ardently embraced.

As for her claim that the story is rushed and thin; I cannot deny that it is somewhat more brief than other Narnian tales, but do all tales need to be slow and thick to accomplish their purpose?

I believe much of the beauty of this tale lies in it's simplicity, which leaves the most important parts bared for all to savor without much difficulty.

This chronicle of the days of Prince Caspian and the renewal of the true Narnians resounds with the themes of trust, sacrifice, restoration, and hope.

To appreciate the Chronicles of our sweet land of Narnia without this portion would not only leave a hole, but...I can only describe the terrible void as being even more dreadful than living without a tail!

I rest my case, though my sword hand is ready at a moment's notice, to defend honor and country.

- Reepicheep, Chief Mouse

And an honorable mention goes to Drew Jones, a true wordsmith, who managed to appease both book and movie fans with his entry:

(inhale helium)

It is not honorable to critize the work of an worthy man when that man is no longer able to defend his honor. It is honorable to extol the virtues of a filmmaker when that filmmaker's work is worthy of honor. Therefore we may speak well of the film, but remain silent on any shortcomings of the book.

(bow)