C.S. Lewis "Space Trilogy"

That Hideous Strength

Book cover: 'That Hideous Strength'
Author(s): 
Clive Staples Lewis
Number of pages: 
382 pages
Copyright: 
1946
Publisher: 
Macmillan Pulblishing Co. Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Perspective: 
Judeo-Christian
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-17-2001

Out of the Silent Planet

Book cover: 'Out of the Silent Planet'
Author(s): 
Clive Staples Lewis
Number of pages: 
160 pages
Copyright: 
1965
Publisher: 
Macmillan Pulblishing Co. Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
The first story in the "Space Trilogy", Out of the Silent Planet begins with a man of such littleness that he is only known, for now, as the pedestrian. He is taking a summer holiday - trying to 'get lost' - from his philology professorship. This is NOT a nailbiter yet. By accident Ransom (Lewis himself was a Cambridge professor keen on words - so you know you have been given his name for a reason) stumbles onto an old schoolmate, Divine, and another professor, Weston, in a strange house. The bizarre scene sees them drug our poor Ransom and gives way to the much more bizzare rest of the book. They travel through space to Mars (or Malacandra as the inhabitants call it). But like a mystery novel the strange story starts to give way to order. Ransom is smart. He gathers that he is being brought back to Mars by these two as a sacrifice to creatures called Sorns. They had been to Mars before and started happily collecting gold there. But the inhabitants told them they would have to present themselves to the world leader. They dreaded this so much they returned to Earth just to retrieve that sacrifice, that Ransom! (see I told you) Ransom escapes shortly after they arrive and goes about trying to survive, understand and finally love this new world. There are 3 or 4 species on the planet which are intelligent (it's handy to be a philologist when you have to learn a few new languages in a hurry!) I can't tell you more because it really is a book that is hard to put down. After you get through the first bit you will drink in the rest with exceeding pleasure. Lewis has given himself a tool to really explore different mindsets. Here he is not bound by current conventions - not even by 'terrestrial' conventions. In fact we are allowed to explore a world that is so different Ransom at first has trouble separating out the geographic, plant and animal features - they are all just a sort of blur when he first sees them. And just when he has allowed us to wonder about talking with different species he gives us some of the most eloquent defenses of what in life, in every life of every intelligent species, is good and strong. There are many things to explore in this book. I am sure that I have not plumbed the depths of allegory and language that Lewis, a professor of Medieval and Renaissance literature, is sure to have woven in. But even the first reading will bring to the surface an abundance of issues to discuss and ponder. This book could be read as early as 7th grade. But it would be better understood by high school age.
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-17-2001

Perelandra

Book cover: 'Perelandra'
Author(s): 
Clive Staples Lewis
Number of pages: 
222 pages
Copyright: 
1944
Publisher: 
Macmillan Pulblishing Co. Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Perelandra is Venus. Ransom gets sent to Venus on a mission. Of course it takes him some time to get settled with the new surroundings again.

While Mars was an old and mostly ruined world Venus is brand new. The clouds hide a lush tropical paradise. And Ransom is to see to it that this world's "Eve", temporarily separated from her "Adam" for this adventure, is kept from the fall. There is no guarantee. In fact, Ransom bears the same, human, form as the tempter - none other than Weston. But he is more often called the Tempter and the Un-man. He is, like the serpant from Eden, a possessed thing.

Lewis explores original sin AND original good. Having read this in seventh grade, this was the first book that really made me think about the latter a lot. It is a fascinating 'world' to explore. There are incredibly lengthy debates that are actually exciting to read. How can Ransom convince her to choose good when she knows nothing of the other option? How does one justify the good to the just? It is an exploration in first principles.

This book could be read as early as 7th grade. But it would be better understood by high school age.

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Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-17-2001