Lewis' Space Trilogy

**Epaphras** · 07-30-2008, 01:25 PM

Has anyone read C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy? That is, Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength. I would classify it as allegorical science-fiction/fantasy. I think it is one of the most under-rated of Lewis' works!

**thesteve** · 07-30-2008, 01:33 PM

I have read them and thoroughly enjoyed them. Currently my copy (I have the three-in-one edition) is out on loan. THS is definitely much different than the first two books.

**Skeeter** · 07-30-2008, 06:05 PM

I definitely enjoy the trilogy, with Perelandra being my favorite of the three.

**Epaphras** · 07-31-2008, 08:34 AM

I love this exchange:

Quote:

Weston: 'You ask me to believe that you have been living here with that Woman under these conditions [naked] in a state of sexless innocence?'
Ransom: 'Oh, sexless! All right, if you like. It's about as good a description of living in Perelandra as it would be to say that a man had forgotten water because Niagara Falls didn't immediately give him the idea of making it into cups of tea.'

As if to say, "Man had forgotten what true sexuality is, because seeing a naked woman immediately gives him the idea of making love to her." Like missing the forest in the trees I guess.

He uses another term early on, that being trans-sexual, as in "beyond 'mere' sexuality", in his understanding of our eternal state. That our mere sexuality on earth is but a shadow of the full capacity in Heaven that includes but somehow exceeds (goes beyond) sexuality. Brilliant. I think that's what Paul was getting at when he said we will be "like angels" in the question of marriage in Heaven.

Nate · 07-31-2008, 11:15 AM

I thought That Hideous Strength was uncharacteristically slow-moving for a work of Lewis fiction, but I adore the first two and reread them about once every three months. His painting of the foreign landscapes and creatures is wonderfully strong and otherworldly, and the themes and allegories he chooses to tackle in the first two books are brilliantly executed.

SccHarpGirl · 07-31-2008, 01:37 PM

I love the Space Trilogy and also agree that they are very much underrated. I think Out of the Silent Planet is my fav.

Andrew · 07-31-2008, 01:53 PM

I love perelandra. I was unable to finish That Hideous Strength.

They are excellent. I am going to read them again very soon.

Jeffrey · 08-06-2008, 03:31 PM

Out of the Silent Planet was great, though later in the series it felt Lewis was returning to his trick of stacking the deck so his worldview is so obvious, anyone who disagrees is laughably foolish or evil. But the first book is beautiful in its subtlety and depth. The scene where the protagonist describes the sight of an odd being, and describes it frankly, and then discovers it's a fellow man and he's simply forgotten how he appears given his acclimation to an alien landscape - Lewis is the happy Lovecraft here. Probably what inspired my work-in-progress where Uncle Jack and ol' Grandpa Theobald (Lovecraft) meet for tea and metaphysics.

I think it's superior to Narnia, though, even judging Narnia as a children's book.