Perelandra
by C.S. Lewispublished
December 5th 2005
(first published 1943)
by Voyager
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binding
Paperback, 288 pages
isbn
0007157169
(isbn13: 9780007157167)
description
A sharp, sophisticated fantasy, this second book in Lewis's science fiction trilogy deals with an old problem -- temptation -- in a new world -- Perel...more
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recommends it for:
open minded Christians.
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Read in May, 2007
I'm not extremely fond of this series so far. Maybe because he and Tolkien were colleagues and friends, I thought this might be something I'd like as much as Lord of the Rings. It's certainly not bad, the writing itself is better than most science fiction, but it doesn't really grab me.
One weakness, I think, is the technique he uses to describe the alien beings and landscapes. He has the narrator state that they are so unlike those of earth that they can't be described directly, that the ...more
One weakness, I think, is the technique he uses to describe the alien beings and landscapes. He has the narrator state that they are so unlike those of earth that they can't be described directly, that the ...more
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Read in September, 2008
*There are semi-spoilers here*
First off I must say that C.S. Lewis' writing is just incredible. His descriptions are masterfully crafted so that at times it feels less like reading, and more like actually watching the story unfold. As I read "Out of the Silent Planet," I really wished that I could visit the wonderfully bizarre world of Malacandra; however, my desire to visit Perelandra was ten times greater while reading this book.
That being said, halfway through this book ...more
First off I must say that C.S. Lewis' writing is just incredible. His descriptions are masterfully crafted so that at times it feels less like reading, and more like actually watching the story unfold. As I read "Out of the Silent Planet," I really wished that I could visit the wonderfully bizarre world of Malacandra; however, my desire to visit Perelandra was ten times greater while reading this book.
That being said, halfway through this book ...more
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Read in April, 2004
This was a fascinating sequel to Out of the Silent Planet. I was spellbound by the internal debate that raged in Ransom's mind as to what to do about the tempter, and also the external verbal debate and the physical struggle against the tempter. Lewis poses the profound question, "What if Adam and Eve had not succumbed to temptation." I don't think Lewis got things quite right, because it seems that he is suggesting that the Fall should not have happened. It needed to happen. Bu...more
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Read in July, 2008
This novel reads nothing like the typical interplanetary travel and discovery we expect in science fiction novels, but is rather intensely mythical and philosophical. This is not to say that C.S. Lewis does not describe a beautiful, enchanting and strange vision of the planet Venus— covered in water, where the patches of solid land float on the ocean like water lilies, shifting great distances and undulating according to the water movement. The main character Ransom is sent to Venus in order t...more
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I enjoyed “Out of the Silent Planet”, but I LOVED “Perelandra”. C.S. Lewis gets all Niven-y by creating a fantastic, fascinating view of Venus that has NO basis in reality, but is still pretty darn cool. I’d love for someone to illustrate this book, because Lewis has a gift for creating beautiful images: a silvery, cloud-covered Venus that’s mostly ocean, with floating, undulating, tree-covered islands draped over the waves like carpets. Mountains made of crystal. Other-worldly anima...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
Hardcore C.S. Lewis fans
Although this books takes place on the distant planet of Perelandra (hence the title), it is hard to see this as science fiction, as it is very clearly and explicitly about humankind's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, take two. Science doesn't really enter into this story, except perhaps as context for the antagonist.
The central tension between the protagonist Ransom and the antagonist Weston is resolved, as is apparently the theme for this series, with violence. Indeed, Lewis has set-...more
The central tension between the protagonist Ransom and the antagonist Weston is resolved, as is apparently the theme for this series, with violence. Indeed, Lewis has set-...more
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Read in July, 2006
recommends it for:
everybody.
"This was the first thing Mark had been asked to do which he himself, before he did it, clearly knew to be criminal. But the moment of his consent almost escaped his notice; certainly, there as no struggle, no sense of turning a corner. There may have been a time in the world's history when such moments fully revealed their gravity, with witches prophesying on a blasted heath or visible Rubicons to be crossed. But, for him, it all slipped past in a chatter of laughter, of that intimate laug...more
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Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
everyone
Perelandra is the second of C.S. Lewis's space trilogy. In that universe, it is the name of the planet Venus - a beautiful sinless planet with life at its dawn. Perelandra is a passionate and fierce ocean world with awesome storms, golden sunlight, millions of floating islands, and critters to inhabit them. On Perelandra live only two sentient creatures: the King and the Queen. They rule the world as Adam and Eve. A philologist named Ransom is sent from Earth as God's representative with an...more
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recommends it for:
fans of C.S. Lewis, relatively traditional Christians
The second book in the series, our hero sets out once again to explore the life in our solar system. This time he heads to Venus and finds himself in the Garden of Eden 2.0 right before the Big Temptation. Unfortunately, the devil's representative shows up again too. Will betaEve listen to our hero and avoid temptation unlike her earthly counterpart, or will she take the advice of the evil astronaut? I didn't like this one nearly as much as the other even when I was a much more faithful Cath...more
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Another wild ride with C.S.Lewis. Probably the best of the Trilogy. This book is the bible of another planet.The planet is water based and the flow(no pun intended)of the story is wildly unexpected.It is a book of creation and relationship, of the struggle of good and evil. I learned a better concept of evil than I have ever had before. Others I have recommended the novel to have reported vivid dreams like never before. Again, I find his writing very challenging, some sentences are a page long, ...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
Deep thinkers
You know, I really like the storyline of this book--the "Garden of Eden" scenario on another planet--but...wow! This book is heavy on the philosophy and a little difficult to follow if you're used to reading things like, say, Twilight. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading both kinds of books, but this one had some things going way over my head. I guess that tells you a lot about my brain--especially those of you that understand philosophy. I'm just a simple girl at heart. Despite t...more
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recommends it for:
sci fi readers
The second book in Lewis's space trilogy, Perelandra takes Ransom to another world. (First Mars, now Venus)
Here he finds a new eden, an entire planet populated with fantastical creates, amazing plant life, and only two "people". The Green Lady, whom he meets soon after his splash landing, and the King.
On a water filled planet with floating islands, not stationary as ours are, Ransom has the chance to see what would happen if Adam and Eve had never sinned. Idillyc. Until Weston ...more
Here he finds a new eden, an entire planet populated with fantastical creates, amazing plant life, and only two "people". The Green Lady, whom he meets soon after his splash landing, and the King.
On a water filled planet with floating islands, not stationary as ours are, Ransom has the chance to see what would happen if Adam and Eve had never sinned. Idillyc. Until Weston ...more
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Perelandra, the second in Lewis's space trilogy, is a virtual retelling of the story of Adam and Eve, except that it occurs on Venus and ends differently. Satan, through Weston, tries to make the Green Lady live on the fixed-lands, as he once tempted Eve to taste the forbidden fruit. This novel attempts to answer some troubling theological questions: Did good come from the Fall? Was it the fall that gave us free-will? Why would God not want us to have the knowledge of good and evil? Only when Le...more
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I don't think I could say enough good things about this book if I tried. Only one other book has shaped my understanding of a Christian's relationship to the world more than this one. Lewis, in the voice of Ransom and the Green Lady, captures the essence of what makes humans tick. I'm always astounded by Lewis's innate understanding of the human condition - Perelandra typifies his penetration.
I think Lewis' commentary on human discontentedness has most influenced my life. He essentially ...more
I think Lewis' commentary on human discontentedness has most influenced my life. He essentially ...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Nole by:
Jeff Lilleyrecommends it for: you
Once again I love the way Lewis paints (if you will) this other world of Perelandra, I would move there if I could. Some of the conversations in this book between Ransom and Weston (the unMan) are simply amazing. The most memorable part of this book for me was how Lewis took the character of Weston and made him pure evil, but in such simple and seemingly childish terms that if I were to try and describe them it would sound flat and far from scary, when he does it however it makes me genuinely un...more
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Read in January, 2006
This is the second book of Lewis' Space Trilogy and in some ways I found it to be better than the first. Lewis seems more comfortable with the character of Dr. Ransom, and his scenic descriptions are astounding.
The overt allusions to the story of Creation are sometimes a bit cloying, as if he's beating you over the head with it, but the writing is so fluid and beautiful, one can forgive his soapbox moments.
As with Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis creates a world that is imaginative, whimsical...more
The overt allusions to the story of Creation are sometimes a bit cloying, as if he's beating you over the head with it, but the writing is so fluid and beautiful, one can forgive his soapbox moments.
As with Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis creates a world that is imaginative, whimsical...more
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I remember the fruit trees that satisfied hunger and appeitite at the same time making the eater unable to gorge - sounded like the Big Rock Candy Mountain to me. The hero was essentially overseeing this planet's first man and first woman and how things might have turned out if Adam and Eve had resisted the Tempter's seductions.
Reusing characters from the first of these religious fantasies,C.S. Lewis's Dr Ransom is sent by the Elida to Perelandra (Venus) to battle against evil incarnate a...more
Reusing characters from the first of these religious fantasies,C.S. Lewis's Dr Ransom is sent by the Elida to Perelandra (Venus) to battle against evil incarnate a...more
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Read in March, 1999
When I was a senior in high school, I decided to do my author paper on C. S. Lewis and choose to specifically emphasize this book. Of the three books in the space trilogy, this one would be my favorite. I love how Lewis takes a look back at what the garden of Eden might have been like while still avoiding being allegorical. I love how he throws in huge theological truths in a more understandable story form. There are points where I would differ from him theologically, but that does little to...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.98 (2670 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.88 (2083 ratings) number of reviews: 169
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"Whatever you do, He will make good of it. But not the good He had prepared for you if you had obeyed him."
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