Reviews for A Landscape with Dragons: The Battle for Your Child's Mind

The average rating for A Landscape with Dragons: The Battle for Your Child's Mind based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-03-16 00:00:00 Tim Libra This is a very well-written, clearly presented book, which deals with a difficult topic. First thing that needs to be said: reading this book without having a Christian perspective on the world would be very difficult. A lot of O'Brien says could seem hasty or unfounded. But if you read it as a Christian (or at least, with an acceptance of the Christian point-of-view), his explanations and evidence become grounded. Michael O'Brien manages to walk the thin line between two common groups in Christian circles today. One of these groups (let's call them 'anti-fantasists') sees almost any fantasy story, but especially that which mentions the word 'magic', as evil and demonic. Opposing them are what could be called 'fantasy-gluttons', who see all fantasy as good (or at least, spiritually safe) because it is 'just fantasy'. Some may say that O'Brien tends more to the 'anti-fantasist' side; but his views presented here, his arguments, evidence, and examples, take what is good from each group and present them to the reader as a cohesive whole. Essentially, he recommends caution and wisdom with any fantasy, and gives a few specific examples of particularly dangerous themes. He also looks at some of the modern trends in fantasy and children's stories. About one-third of the book is actually a list of books recommended for different age groups, from toddlers to teenagers. Though I was slightly disappointed to find that there wasn't more discussion, these suggestions are extremely helpful. The one critique I have with this book is O'Brien's sometimes over-harsh treatment of stories - in particular, his discussion on CS Lewis' space trilogy, where I felt he missed a deeper point. But this is a small quibble in an otherwise helpful and enjoyable read. This book appears to be written for parents, but I - as a young, single student - found it hugely enjoyable and enlightening. I recommend this for anyone older than 15, especially those interested in a Christian perspective on the imagination.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-01-16 00:00:00 Jessica Foucault There are good moments in the book, but ultimately his analysis of certain fantasies breaks down. His discussions of Lloyd Alexander, Terry Brooks, and Stephen R. Lawhead contain no content, mere condemnations without reasons.