The Stone Gryphon, Part 1: Oxfordshire, 1942 (
Chronicles of Narnia, gen, Peter-focus with all Pevensies appearing)
The summer of the Dawn Treader, 1942. In a time of enormous upheaval, each Pevensie begins to find a way. Meditations on theology, zoology, espionage, and rabbit holes with all Narnia Friends and OCs. Part 1 of The Stone Gryphon.I read the first three chapters of this story this morning and then couldn't stop thinking about it all day at work. Once I got home, this was the first thing I went to and only since I've finished have I changed, appropriated some dinner, &c.
First off, the writing is absolutely gorgeous and it flows beautifully. The writing is almost more amazing that then storytelling, but I think the two are so entwined that to hold one up as better than the other would be a sham and a shame. This story takes place after
Prince Caspian but before
Dawn Treader and details Peter's life as Professor Digory's assistant/student at Oxford. There are a number of flashbacks to Narnia and to weeks ago in 1942 England -- talk of the war and
feels genuine; Polly makes an appearance,
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is quoted many times, and, to my utter glee, there's even a reference to
Julian Huxley!
The story is long -- sixteen chapters and almost 90K words -- but if you like reading
Narnia fic, give it a go. (I will admit to hesitancy; Peter is not my favourite Pevensie. Still, after this, I think I like him a great deal better.)