Tolkien and Lewis were great friends...members of a group of writers/professors called the Inklngs. They both read each other's manuscripts before they were published.
Chronicles of Narnia are more for children (Like the Hobbit I suppose) and the story is more allegorical with Christianity. THat is the reason for the outcry. People can look at Tolkien, recognize the forces of Good vs Evil, but not really come away with a truly Christian message. Lion Witch and Wardrobe particularly tells the story of Christ in allegorical form..It's an absolutely WONDERFUL book and the film's trailers look like it will do it justice...DESPITE being from Disney.
Thanks for all the input. I'll be checking out the C.S. Lewis books shortly.
If memory serves Charles Williams was another member of the Inklings. If you can find his writings they are well worth a read.
didnt Chesterton hang with these guys too ?