I'd have to say that it is an excellent beginning to the series, a sort of overview about the way things were, and how they came to be. I know a little of the story, as I once saw The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on film, and read just the beginning of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in an early elementary school reader. I did find it interesting to learn the whole story behind the story. It was rather refreshing. Most stories and series just start where the conflict begins and refer back to previous wars and historical events, in worlds that always were, with the villain already beginning to destroy things. The Magician's Nephew gives a little background, and lets you be there when things are set in motion and only just beginning to go awry.
Overall, I liked the book, but the way it was written with a lot of commentary from the author on the events happening just bordered on my fine line of intrusive to the story itself, which I think was rather artful on Lewis' part. He stopped just short of over-doing it on the running commentary, just before it started to detract. It takes a lot of talent to know how much is too much. I myself like to have the story speak for itself and not tell it like it's the re-telling of a tale, but to each his own.
As to the story content itself, it flowed well, it went rather quickly, and there was a lot of action. None of the scenes were long, and a lot happened in a comparatively small number of pages. And it had a little bit about values.
As beginnings to a series go, I'd have to say this is one of the best I've ever seen, and I found the book interesting and would recommend it as a good book for children just getting into fantasy, as well as anyone else who finds charm in the genre.
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