Do we like them?

Do we like Aslan?

A character from The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He is wise, brave and kind, and he guides and forgives. He can also be mysterious and doesn't always turn up when you want him.

Aslan is a huge, talking lion who rules over Narnia, a magical world that children from our world find through a wardrobe and other doors. He is the one character who appears in all seven books. Narnians speak of him in hushed, loving tones, and he is never a tame lion.

He seldom stays long. He appears when he is needed, gives guidance and sometimes a stern warning, and then goes off again. He treats the children as capable people who are responsible for their choices. When they fail, he is firm but forgiving, and he helps them put things right.

We score him 9 out of 10. His power, his kindness and his sense of justice make him about as trustworthy as a leader can be. He loses a point because he can be frustratingly vague, he is hard to reach when you most want him, and he sometimes leaves hard tasks to others. Lewis meant him as a Christ-like figure, and the books' biggest moments about sacrifice and renewal follow that pattern.