This striking one volume edition marks the 75th anniversary of Lewiss classic SF trilogy featuring the adventures of Dr Ransom on Mars, Venus and Earth. It includes an exclusive Foreword compiled from letters by J.R.R. Tolkien, who inspired Lewis to write the first volume.The Space Trilogy is a remarkable work of fantasy, demonstrating the powerful imagination of C.S..Lewis. This new one volume edition marks the 75th Anniversary of the first publication of Out of the Silent Planet with an exclusive Foreword by J.R.R. Tolkien, on whom the main character of Ransom was largely based.OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET
Dr Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planets treasures and offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live therePERELANDRA
Having escaped from Mars, Dr Ransom is called to the paradise planet of Perelandra, or Venus. When his old enemy also arrives and is taken over by the forces of evil, Ransom finds himself in a desperate struggle to save the innocence of this Eden like worldTHAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH
Investigating the truth about her prophetic dreams, Jane Studdock encounters the fabled Dr Ransom, who is in great pain after his travels. A sinister society run by his old adversaries intends to harness the ancient powers of a resurrected Merlin in their ambition to subjugate the people of Earth The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength
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These 3 books are some of my all time favorites worthy of being read every 7 10 years minimum. As life goes on and the reader matures, new treasures are uncovered with each reading. Early high school is a good time to discover them, and my 9th and 10th graders are reading all 3 this year. I replaced my worn out paperbacks with this single volume and am pleased with the new format. Also pleased with the good value. Caveat: The paper is thick, which makes the book even bigger than it might have been. Individual paperbacks may be preferable for reading away from home or at school. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength I have fond memories of reading this excellent trilogy first time around in my youth. Now that I am pensionm age I look forwards to reading it again on the Kindle app. The stories are perhaps a little long on description of non plot items as was often the case when these stories were written and books were the major form of entertainment for the masses. Art least Lewis does get on with things a bit rapidly than his great friend Tolkien.
The stories take a thought provoking sideways look at the Christian faith and God's relationship with use as a race. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength . one volume hardback edition of CS Lewis's Space Trilogy. (My Christmas gift to my third year Sunday School teachers)?
These three books
* Out of the Silent Planet
* Perelandra
* That Hideous Strength
make up Lewis's excursion into Science Fiction. The first two novels deal with the protagonist's travel to Mars and Venus, respectively. The final novel, which can also be read as a stand alone (and required reading for my THEO 2400 class) takes place on Earth and is described as A Modern Fairy Tale for Grown Ups. All three deal with the on going conflict between good and evil, and are well worth reading.
It is worthy of note that both Arthur C. Clarke and Robert A. Heinlein both agnostics highly regarded these works (even though Clarke saw himself modeled in one of the antagonists!)
This is certainly not your typical science fiction but it is well worth reading.
Highly Recommended! The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength This is a far cry from anything else C.S. Lewis wrote, including the Narnia Stories. And I found it remarkable that he really does hold his own even in this Science Fiction Genre! If you haven't read these stories yet, you are in for a treat. They are enjoyable, fantastic, joyful and sometimes even frightening. Jack at his most outlandish best! The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength It might be said the art of great storytelling lies in the creative use of language to immerse the reader into a new and strange world. Or perhaps the compelling communication of a truth or worldview via a rich layer cake of personalities, relationships, conflicts, and epiphanies in a specific time and place. Through the modern myth of Perelandra, CS Lewis achieves both – taking us to a literally new and strange planet through a narrative of the battle for the soul of its first inhabitants.
Typically, far from it being a frivolous sci fi escapade, I found myself face to face with existential questions: What is it to be human? How is our autonomy and our self awareness tied up with our brokenness? Does true freedom to do right only come when we accept our lack of control? In the world that Ransom explores, his bewilderment is equaled only by his awe, and the latter seems to temper the former as he relinquishes the need to understand in the pursuit of the need to discover the meaning of his presence in the story. A lesson for us all. The joy of fantasy in literature is I suppose the anticipation of the unexpected as one abandons the assumptions that this game will play out by the usual rules: as a result I couldn’t help but be utterly immersed in his inner journey as I experienced the discovery of the reality as he does, through glimpses of good, evil, hope and despair.
Since the book of Revelation (and countless Jewish prophets before that) recorded a vision of a world liberated from the suffering and self destructiveness of mankind, and pictured a world restored that resembles but transcends beyond measure the status quo we inhabit, writers have imagined ‘heaven’ with diverse metaphors and imagery drawn from what is in front of us. But creation stories can also reveal much about what an uncorrupted creation and humanity might look like. Imagining what could have been is rewarding in a different way to wishing what could be: the purity of a world with no memory of brokenness is not one we can experience, but the portrayal of the verdancy, vitality and purity of the Eden of Perelandra is transfixing and precious. Whilst the drama of Ransom’s fight to prevent the fall of its first people dominates the narrative – and captures the heart as the possibility of a fall from such grace appears the great reward of the story is in the spiritual wisdom of the first female. In her perfect relationship to Maleldil, the creator spirit, we find lived examples of humility and obedience, and it is in her apparently naïve philosophy of living in the present without reflection or introspection that we find a beautiful portrayal of innate surrender to the good creator and provider that sustains and blesses in abundance.
The setting is vividly described paradises on huge islands of floating vegetation that follow the dramatic and unpredictable ocean surface. This ‘unfixed’ nature is a wonderful meditation on experiencing the waves of life big and small, and the need to submit to the sovereignty of the One that sends them. Only by doing so can we healthily engage in the mandate ‘to be fruitful and multiply’ and taking responsibilities of one’s own in the new creation.
This is classic Lewis allegory shining light into our darkened souls!
Amusingly, after all the outrageous adventuring of two books worth of narrative, its only in the final, most intriguing, chapter that Ransom gets overwhelmed – as the big reveal takes place and the broader picture of Maleldil’s work in the universe is explained, he starts to despair that the salvation and restoration of his fallen world might be a bit of a sideshow, cosmically speaking, because all these other worlds seem to glorify the creator in their perfection. Amusing for its self centeredness amongst such glory and otherness. But then came my highlight. The poetry. My bias over prose is laid bare. I wasn’t sure if it was my soul or the author’s I sensed rising with excitement as metaphor is laid over metaphor through the medium of the eldila speeches. The ‘eldila’, spirit like creatures that live in these non fallen places very visibly and audibly, are used to convey some of the book’s most poetic reflections on the meaning of creation and the presence of God within it as the story reaches its crescendo. Their beauty bears re reading.
As the purpose of the created universe is revealed to be ‘The Great Dance’, the gathered spirits reflect on its nature. Searching for a Christian parallel, at first I thought perhaps they were to display the relationship of the Holy Trinity. Then I felt like the speeches were describing that biblical mystery of ‘the kingdom of heaven’, much like the parables of Jesus. There is much in common with the gushing emotion of the Psalms. Ultimately though, and ironically for such an articulate writer as CS Lewis, these beautiful vignettes (and perhaps the book as a whole) attempt to put into words something that transcends language: the mystery of Emmanuel, God with us, and not just with us but with everything else that may or may not be out there…. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength
Everyone who enjoys C.S. Lewis should read this trilogy. It's fiction, and has so many interesting little theological points, but it's also one of the best written science fiction books. I can't recommend this book enough. I do wish they came as three different books so they'd be easier to hold, and my grandchildren wouldn't find the size as intimidating as the three together are, but, honestly, this book should be read by Lewis fans, science fiction fans, and those who'd like a different view of life. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength If you're familiar with, have dabbled in or have merely heard about Lewis, this trilogy is a most worthwhile read. Overshadowed by his considerable non fiction output as well as Narnian Chronicles, The Ransome trilogy masterfully presents Lewis' keen understanding of human will and inclination in a brilliantly told and thoroughly engrossing thriller series. Expertly crafted to perform equally well as either stand alone works or as vital parts of a larger narrative, readers should expect to be wowed by both Lewis' lucid insights and creative writing. I strongly recommend this trilogy to anyone who has already wet their Lewis appetite and are now ready to jump into the deep end! The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength I found the first two books in the trilogy somewhat tedious in their setup; luckily the third book is both the best and the longest. CS Lewis seems indecisive at times whether the religious message should be subtle or overt; but regardless, fans of Lewis will instantly recognize the writing style. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength C.S. Lewis is my favorite all time author, and this trilogy is one I've read so many times, I was taping the paper back series together and remembering the story, even with missing pages. I was looking for a way of taking less shelf space but still retaining a physical version and was glad they made a hardback all in one printing of them. Just take caution that the binding and material does not look like it will hold up well over time, and you will want to handle it with care, each time you take it off the shelf to delve into the worlds of Malacandra, Perelandra, and Merlin's return in Thulcandra. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength I loved all three books. C.S. Lewis is one of my heroes as a Christian. The books are all very gripping sci fi stories. With great characters. I was not disappointed. The Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength
