The Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength) by C.S. Lewis (2011) Paperback

The Space Trilogy is an great under appreciated work of our time. Book 1: Out of the Silent Plant Out of the Silent Plant is an excellent piece of fiction by CS Lewis. Lewis provides a rich and colorful setting to rival "First Men In the Moon" or "Princess of Mars." The genre of inter-planetary travel is well worn, though Out of the Silent Planet is a unique and worthy contribution and response to the usual science fiction vision of what inter-planetary travel might look like. This book is powerful in its narrative and in the monologues of it's chief characters. Lewis's depiction of his new species not yet seen in science fiction or fantasy are brilliant. You'll soon find yourself falling in love with his aliens and their cultures. Lewis does an excellent job writing a story in that genre that fuses Science fiction and fantasy, but this also bring's Lewis's extremely rare ability to expound on rarified themes in a fresh and clear way. Word of warning that you have to approach the science as you would in all antique Science Fiction. You can't travel to the moon in a bullet no matter what Jules Verne says, and while hard science fiction is not Lewis's strong suite it is his artistic scenery and his cultural and philosophical analysis that really shines. Book 2: Perelandra This is an another excellent piece by CS Lewis. Lewis provides another completely different, beautifully conceived and rendered, compelling, complex, and deep setting. His gorgeous and daringly conceptualized world of Perelandra is the stage for a profound, multilayered, character-driven story that is both ancient and familiar in theme and yet surprising in it's freshness and originality. This story reaches high into elevated subject matter, beautiful and sublime enough to be compared to a painting, but also has elements that are terrifying enough to be compared to a horror film. This was an excellent addition to the space trilogy in that it continues and builds on the first book, Out of the Silent Planet, without being a repetition at all. It is extremely different in tone and content. It is different enough from the first and good enough that it could stand alone as a book, but you would need the background of the first book to fully understand and appreciate the action and ideas of the second. This book was ahead of it's time like HG Wells and is also timeless like the chronicles of Narnia. Bool 3: That Hideous Strength CS Lewis again knocks it out of the park. A worthy sequel to the other books in the Space Trilogy, but as dissimilar as books in a series can be. His villains are frightening and complex, deep, creative, and profound. The story has surprising twists and carries on at a brisk pace. Whether you're a thinker or you're just in it for a fun story, I would recommend this book. He subtitles it A Fairytale for adults and I would agree that it may be too frightening for younger readers and some of the themes would need an adult's life experience to resonate with in order to bring the story fully to life for the reader.

I enjoyed the three books of The Space Trilogy back in the seventies, and a few months ago I decided, quite by chance, that I would like to re-read the series. This time I had to order the three as one volume, a heavy tome that proved difficult for my aged hands to hold onto while reading - but I persisted and have recently finished my second flight through the outer space created by C.S. Lewis in the 1940's. My memory from forty-some years age was that I had liked "Perelandra" better than the other two, but that I had enjoyed them all. This trip through, "Perelanda" was easily my least favorite volume of the three. I'm not sure why, except that there is more actual story involved with the first and third books than there is with "Perelandra," which basically describes the Book of Genesis as it would have played out on Lewis's version of the planet Venus. (As those familiar with the works of C.S. Lewis - including the Narnia books - already know, the author is all about religion. Scrape off the fluffy frosting, and the cake is always an overdone mixture of philosophy, ethics, and Christianity - with heavy emphasis on the Christianity.) The main character in all three of these books is Dr. Elwin Ransom, a linguistics professor from Cambridge, a confirmed bachelor who liked to spend his free time by himself. Ransom, a World War I vet, was alone on a walkabout in the English countryside when he inadvertently came across Professor Weston whom he knew on a casual basis prior to that encounter. Professor Weston and his friend drugged and kidnapped Ransom who awakened hours later in a strange environment - and soon learned that he was on a spaceship with his abductors heading toward a strange planet which they called Malacandra. The professor and other kidnapper had been to Malacandra before and were making a return trip to conclude some type of business there. When the ship arrived on Malacandra - which was the planet that people on Earth called Mars - Ransom learned that he was to be given to the inhabitants of Malacandra as part of an effort to secure something of value from them. He quickly managed to escape his captors and lead them on a long chase. During his flight from captivity, Ransom discovered more about Malacandra than his captors had learned in multiple trips to the planet, and Ransom, an expert in linguistics, even mastered the language of the Malacandrians. While on the run across the fantastical landscape of Malacandra, Ransom also met of some of the Eldils, the God-like creatures who controlled life on the planet and beyond, and he even met the Oyarsa who was the ruler of Malacandra. Through those experinces Ransom learned something of the spiritual history of the universe. Eventually he was able to make his way back to England in the 1940's and to resume his life as a Cambridge professor. In "Perelandra" Professor Ransom was visited at his country home in England by the Eldils. They brought a coffin-like box for him to travel in to another planet, this one called Perelandra - which the inhabitants of Earth knew as Venus. Ransom disclosed the plan to a colleague who would care of his residence while he was gone, and then he climbed into his box and was promptly transported to Perelandra. The first creature that Ransom met on Perelandra was a green lady who appeared to be still orienting herself to the planet. It became apparent that she was the first woman on the planet, or the "Eve" character. She and Ransom moved about going from one rolling, shaking island to another before finally coming to a solid continent, a place where the woman told him they were forbidden to stay. While they were moving about on the planet, Ransom saw a spaceship descend and land, and a passenger climb out. The traveler turned out to be Professor Weston, one of the men who had kidnapped Ransom and taken him to Malacandra. Professor Weston joined Ransom and the green lady and he became the "tempter" of the Eve character, encouraging her to do things that she instinctively knew she must not do. Ransom soon saw Weston as the satanic influence on the virginal new world, an influence that must be destroyed. The third book, "That Hideous Strength," took place in and around a small college community in England. The college owned a wooded area which it had protected for centuries, but a financial crisis and some dishonest players convinced the school to sell the woods to a scientific concern which promised much income for the college and many jobs for the community. But things went to hell in a hand basket when the scientific corporation began destroying the wood and the local community, forcing many residents to flee. The corporation was planning a major revolution in how life was to continue on Earth. One woman, Jane, a professor's wife who had visions - usually when she was asleep - became the focal point of the story as the corporation rushed to bring her into their fold, and the opposition forces, headed by Dr. Elwin Ransom, struggled to align her with their efforts to thwart the efforts of the corporation. Add to that mix, Merlin, the Druid "magician" from King Arthur's time, who had been asleep in a tomb beneath the protected woods for centuries, a cast a colorful characters, both good and bad, and even a friendly bear, and a rollicking tale ensued - one that helped to insure the survival of the planet and the human race on a solid, moral basis. Of the three separate novels in this collection, "That Hideous Strength," the final one, is definitely the easiest to read and the most enjoyable. The second, "Perelandra," promotes Lewis's interest in Christianity in the clearest terms, and the first, "Out of the Silent Planet," had an interesting science fiction tale draped in religious vestments and was perhaps, of the three, the one that came closest to being what the author was trying to capture and convey to his readers. The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis has held up well over the years, probably better than this aging reader!

i recently completed this book. very enjoyable and I highly recommend this book and author

These three books are classic tales of good and evil, explored on three different planets. These planets are ruled by ancient intelligences. Peralandra is the youngest, on the cusp of falling or transcending. The writing is engrossing and intelligent.

Amazing writing! Lewis' choice of words paints a story that creates such emotions in the reader that you often don't see them coming but then you are overwhelmed. This story takes you to heaven and hell and makes clear the difference between good and evil. Amazingly relevant in today's political climate.

For the most part, I typically enjoy almost all of CS Lewis' writing. His Theological writings are deep and eye opening. His fiction books have become really well know. This volume has his 3 books about space, extra-terrestrials, human nature and some spiritual analogy. These stories are good for family reading. There are plenty of opportunities for moral lessons and questions of science and the origin of the Universe. I think it is suitable for ages 10 and above.

A great book. Just started reading as soon as I open the package. Great reading some C. S. Lewis.

Ordered for grandson. Book was as described.

Have not read the series in some time. First two books are fun Sci fi but if you find the third hard to get into, keep going. It is a deep book with an even deeper cast. Definitely recommend it

As described by the author, "a modern fairy tale for adults". Engaging and thought provoking.

Wondeefully different c s.lewis

.... you're here because you're already a Lewis fan so what can I tell you about his writing? It's a CS Lewis book through and through. His description of the villain in the second book is like Lovecraft level unsettling and the bureaucracy in the third is Kafkaesque. Lewis goes yard as usual.

Este libro tiene un tipo de fuente excelente y presenta maravillosamente los tres libros de la trilogía espacial. Sin embargo, me entristece decir que el tamaño de fuente es bastante pequeño. Cuando termine de leerlo (esta será la tercera vez que leo la triología) estaré orgulloso de agregarlo a mi biblioteca personal.