Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis (Space Trilogy, Book 1)

Augray, a sorn

Why did it take me so long to get around to reading C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy? It has the beautiful imagery I fell in love with in the Chronicles of Narnia, and the keen wit typical of Lewis... but it's a lovely balance between the dense, intellectual writing of his nonfiction and the light, aimed-towards-children writing of Narnia.

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia, Book 7)

Boom--boom--ba-ba-boom went the horrible drum. Then another sound began to mix with it. 
"Listen!" said Jewel: and then "Look!" said Farsight. A moment later there was no doubt what it was. With a thunder of hoofs, with tossing heads, widened nostrils, and waving manes, over a score of Talking Horses of Narnia came charging up the hill. The gnawers and nibblers had done their work.
     Poggin the Dwarf and the children opened their mouths to cheer but that cheer never came. Suddenly the air was full of the sound of twanging bow-strings and hissing arrows. It was the Dwarfs who were shooting and--for a moment Jill could hardly believe her eyes--they were shooting the Horses. Dwarfs are deadly archers. Horse after horse rolled over. Not one of those noble Beasts ever reached the King.

King Tirian, Jewel, Jill, and Eustice look on as the first Talking Horse goes down...

Even though I've read this book before... hearing this scene again... well. Let's just say I agreed with the reactions of Jewel and Eustice:

"Little swine," shrieked Eustice, dancing in his rage. "Dirty, filthy, treacherous little brutes." Even Jewel said, "Shall I run after those Dwarfs, Sire, and spit ten of them on my horn at each plunge?"

They didn't have the chance to land even one blow of Talking Horse AWESOMENESS on those stinkin' Calormenes! Argh. 


The Last Battle audiobook on Amazon