Book Review: The Wonders of Creation

By Karlissa J.

One underappreciated reality about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien is how much they loved nature.

That seems to be a common trait amongst Christian authors of classic fantasy. As I researched four authors for To Narnia and Beyond – Lewis, Tolkien, L’Engle, and George MacDonald – it occurred to me that a book could be written about their relationships with nature. And it seems I am not the only one who has contemplated such a book.

Kristen Page is a biologist who has traveled widely and loves the novels of Lewis and Tolkien. The Wonders of Creation: Learning Stewardship from Narnia and Middle-Earth combines her interest in nature, her ecological concerns, and her passion for reading into a reflection on how Lewis and Tolkien wrote about the natural world, and how their novels could be used to spark further discussions on – and activism for – creation care.

I was surprised and pleased to find that Page draws not only from Narnia and Middle-Earth but also from other works of C.S. Lewis (the Cosmic Trilogy) and J.R.R. Tolkien ("Leaf by Niggle"). I was also pleased to find a quote each from George MacDonald, Madeleine L'Engle, and G.K. Chesterton!

The Wonders of Creation is geared towards an audience who is already interested in creation care and already has some familiarity with various ecological concerns. Page gives quite a bit of time to facts and data about various problems, bringing in varied topics from plant blindness to climate change to light pollution.

I enjoyed her reflections on a scene from Perelandra that has stuck with me: a scene about the absence of greed on Perelandra that certainly has ecological aspects woven into it.

If you are interested in the topics of creation care and fantasy literature, this book could be a worthwhile read.

Book Review: The Mythmakers

In the latter stages of my research for To Narnia and Beyond, I encountered frequent praise for The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Created by illustrator and writer John Hendrix, and released in 2024, the book meshes elements of graphic novel with illustrations-alongside-prose.

Eventually, I was convinced to buy the book and stepped into Hendrix’s immersive biography of Lewis and Tolkien. Following their lives from birth to death, The Mythmakers gives special attention to their friendship and years shared together. Imaginative narration from a lion and a wizard guides the reader in a fun and informative manner, giving playful context to bunny trails – “Portals” as the book calls them – about the nature of myth and the fantasy genre.

Beautiful, well-researched and poignant, the visuals of The Mythmakers give greater weight and context to the experiences of Lewis and Tolkien. I find it particularly useful for thinking about their time in World War I, where pictures can convey a heaviness that words struggle to speak of.

Whether you are researching Lewis and Tolkien or simply passionate about fantasy and history, I highly recommend this lovingly crafted book. The price tag is a little higher, as it comes in hardcover and full-colour: there is no paperback or black-ink-only edition to provide a cheaper entry point. However, the cost isn’t unreasonable, and I found it well worth the price.

If you’re interested in learning more about the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, you may enjoy my upcoming book, To Narnia and Beyond: Four Christians Who Used Fantasy to Teach Spiritual Truths. Click on the image below to learn more!