Reclaim Apocalypse as a Mode of Wisdom and Wonder

Discover the connections between the apocalyptic literature of Scripture and the imaginative worlds crafted by one of Christianity's most beloved authors in Visions of Monsters, Heroes, and Hope.

This innovative exploration from Old Testament scholar Aubrey Buster delves deep into the creative worlds constructed by C. S. Lewis, examining how his fictional worlds echo the cosmic struggles between good and evil that define some of Scripture's most vivid literature. In response to the disenchantments of modernity, Lewis drew from the biblical genre of apocalyptic literature, where monsters embody evil, heroes emerge to faithfully confront them, and a story's ending transfigures sorrow not by denying it but by revealing a glory beyond comprehension.

Through close readings of Lewis's Space Trilogy, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Great Divorce, key essays, and previously unpublished marginal notes from other works in Lewis's personal library, Buster traces how Lewis reclaims the apocalyptic as a mode of Christian wisdom and wonder.

What you'll find in Visions of Monsters, Heroes, and Hope:



- An exploration of the apocalyptic villains in both biblical literature and Lewis's fiction, and the heroes who rise to confront them.

- Illumination of biblical themes in Lewis's writings and the enduring power of imaginative literature.

- Responses from scholars Danielle Corple, John Walton, and Esau McCaulley.

This book is perfect for Lewis enthusiasts, scholars of biblical apocalyptic literature or literary studies, and anyone interested in the relationship between theology and the arts. For those eager to explore the power of apocalyptic and imaginative writing, this book offers fresh insights into Lewis's classic written worlds.

About the Series

The Hansen Series celebrates the literary and spiritual contributions of seven British authors whose works have captivated readers across generations: Owen Barfield, G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Dorothy L. Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. These seven authors were all deeply involved in the friendships and intellectual exchanges that shaped the Inklings, a mid-twentieth-century group of Christian writers and thinkers in Oxford, England. This series invites readers to deepen their engagement with these timeless voices and their enduring influence on literature, faith, and the life of the imagination.



Esau McCaulley (PhD, St. Andrews) is associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He is the author of Reading While Black and Sharing in the Son's Inheritance, as well as the children's book Josie Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit. He lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife and four children.



John H. Walton is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. His many books include The Lost World of Genesis One and Wisdom for Faithful Reading.



Aubrey E. Buster (PhD, Emory University) is associate professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. She is the author of Remembering the Story of Israel and coauthor (with John H. Walton) of a commentary on the book of Daniel.



Series Preface by G. Walter Hansen



Introduction



1. C. S. Lewis and the Apocalyptic Imagination



2. Here Be Dragons: C. S. Lewis and the Apocalyptic Monster



3. C. S. Lewis, the End(s) of Desire, and the Construction of Hope



Response by Danielle Corple



Response: Battling Chaos Creatures: Monsters and Metaphors in Tolkien, Lewis, Daniel, and Life, by John H. Walton



Response by Esau McCaulley



Works Cited



Index