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The Space Trilogy #1-2
Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra
Dr Ransom is a Cambridge academic who is captured whilst on a walking tour and forced into a spaceship by two men. With them he flies to Malacandra (Mars). There he escapes his two captors and discovers an amazing range of rational and spiritual creatures on the planet.In the sequel, Ransom is sent by the Eldila to Perelandra (Venus) to battle against evil incarnate and preserve a second Eden from the evil forces present in the possessed body of his enemy, Weston.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2001
22 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Lewis
1,115 books48.8k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954. He was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.
Lewis was married to poet Joy Davidman.
W.H. Lewis was his elder brother]
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 21, 2023
I don't typically read Sci-Fi, but come on, Sci-Fi written by C.S. Lewis! I had to try this. He is such a fantastic writer and storyteller, that I was hooked by the beginning. A professor intervenes in a fight and finds himself drugged and on a spaceship to Mars. He meets new creatures and a whole new world and way of life is opened to him. Surprise ending also. Very well done! Looking forward to Books 2 and 3 in this Cosmic Trilogy.
January 12, 2026
“Each thing was made for Him. He is the centre. Because we are with Him, each of us is at the centre. It is not as in a city of the Darkened World where they say that each must live for all. In his city all things are made for each. When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less. Each thing, from the single grain of Dust to the strongest eldil, is the end and final cause of all creation and the mirror in which the beam of his brightness comes to rest and so returns to Him. Blessed be He!”
May 14, 2020
Not my favorite of C S Lewis but intriguing. Drags a little on the journey. Last quarter touchdown makes it worth finishing for several reasons.
1. More insight into Lewis’s talent
2. Broadens the minds spectrum of possibilities
3. Exposes our own self focus and builds. Imagination
4. Fun as long as you don’t let yourself get bogged down in the details
5. Brings a whimsical and well needed perspective to the universe of the unknown we so often fear
1. More insight into Lewis’s talent
2. Broadens the minds spectrum of possibilities
3. Exposes our own self focus and builds. Imagination
4. Fun as long as you don’t let yourself get bogged down in the details
5. Brings a whimsical and well needed perspective to the universe of the unknown we so often fear
December 16, 2014
Read aloud, which really made Lewis' descriptions come alive.
January 9, 2017
Amazing book, it's incredible how C.S. Lewis can weave such adult themes about morality and spirituality into entertaining stories that stay with you.
December 1, 2023
Пробираючись через черговий детальний пейзаж на пару глав, я зрозуміла, що це мені нагадує - цк викапаний "Аватар" і Пандора: подивіться направо, ось плавучі острови із синьою травою у бурштиновому морі, подивіться наліво, ось істота з лупатими очима, черевцем і копитами верблюда щось співає, а навколо бігають табунці напів жаб напів мишей... Краще б цей текст був коміксом, альбомом малюнків з психоделічними барвами. Бо навіть кілька десятків разів повторивши собі, що це тільки наївна архаїчна фантастика на кшталт Берроуза, я не порекомендую це читати: автор навіть не намагається створити достовірних героїв і логічну історію, він просто чергує дидактичні промови з дуже детальними і дуже довгими пейзажами. Можливо він думав, що так зробить світи достовірними - але автор заселив їх картонними істотами, які спілкуються цими самими дидактичними промовами ще й ламаною мовою, яка навіть в логіку історії не влазить: герой зустрічає не тільки звичайних, але й надзвичайних істот, янголів та богів, які вільно переміщаються між планетами та вимірами, та розкладають предмети дотиком на атоми. Але для того, щоб зрозуміти двох землян, вони використовують третього як перекладача, тобто сплікуються тільки вголос, тільки словами тільки певної мови. До того ж автору бракує міри і в компіляції слів, і в дизайні фантастичних істот: він занадто хаотично їх сполучає і вивертає, побільше складів, побільше очей, лап і крил. Порівняйте слова "пфіффльтриги" та "елділ" і здогадайтеся, яке з них вигадав для приятеля Толкін.
January 31, 2021
I believe the author was inspired by reading the imaginative Voyage to Arcturus, and said he now saw the use of science fiction - it is to explore spiritual worlds, the only other world that we know besides our own Earth.
I do see those roots. It also seems that he deliberately copied some of the features of the pioneers of science fiction such as Jules Verne. A main difference is that where Lindsay out-gnosticed the Gnostics in his work and for Jules Verne the man of science was above morality, Lewis inverts that and makes those amoral characters the obvious villians, and dupes if dark spiritual powers.
In sum I would say that these books remind me of Narnia, and I expect Narnia did take some inspiration from them. That said, the basic idea works a lot better in Narnia than here, and I would recommend those books.
Finally, Perelandra is a retelling of the Garden of Eden, and Lewis has some takes that are, not unsurprisingly, at odds with the LDS understanding of that event. There is an incident there that reminded me of Laban, but without going to deep into the moral reasoning.
I do see those roots. It also seems that he deliberately copied some of the features of the pioneers of science fiction such as Jules Verne. A main difference is that where Lindsay out-gnosticed the Gnostics in his work and for Jules Verne the man of science was above morality, Lewis inverts that and makes those amoral characters the obvious villians, and dupes if dark spiritual powers.
In sum I would say that these books remind me of Narnia, and I expect Narnia did take some inspiration from them. That said, the basic idea works a lot better in Narnia than here, and I would recommend those books.
Finally, Perelandra is a retelling of the Garden of Eden, and Lewis has some takes that are, not unsurprisingly, at odds with the LDS understanding of that event. There is an incident there that reminded me of Laban, but without going to deep into the moral reasoning.
July 3, 2025
OK for something written as sci-fi before we actually KNEW the composition, atmosphere, & geology of Venus and Mars, but, it got pretty confusing at the end trying to tie all of Lewis's allegorical name connections together with mythology or Bible refs while they are confused with the elaborations of fantasies- it goets pretty thick with this during the last fifteen pages or so.
Obviously he wanted to compete with Tolkien, but Tolkien was better, with more clear metaphors.
Obviously he wanted to compete with Tolkien, but Tolkien was better, with more clear metaphors.
January 5, 2021
I read this trilogy decades ago as a young person and decided to reread it at the end of that arduous year 2020, when I just needed to escape but not too far. It did the trick, as the protagonist only gets to Mars in the first book and Venus in the second! I like C. S. Lewis and although science fiction was not his forte, I still enjoyed it.
October 13, 2023
I enjoyed these books and will be completing the trilogy soon. I discovered CS Lewis through his spiritual works and when I learned he had written this trilogy I had to give it a read. I had to stop myself from comparing his work to JRR Tolkien, whom I adore, and judge these books on their own.
Definitely recommend!
Definitely recommend!
April 22, 2019
Having read and enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia, I was expecting something like Narnia in space, but it came nowhere close.
It was hard to keep with this book. I admire C.S. Lewis for his philosophy and ideas, but his writing style is not compelling to read.
It was hard to keep with this book. I admire C.S. Lewis for his philosophy and ideas, but his writing style is not compelling to read.
September 1, 2020
Get ready for lots of description... but then, you'll need it. Everything is unfamiliar... until it starts to be familiar... more questions tban answers... sucks you into the next book, so commit to the Trilogy. Fun to read the imagination of space travel before it became modern news...
September 21, 2020
A NEAT way to compare our world to what God intended it to be. I loved the characters Lewis created and the way he chose their names. I was hoping for more explanation at the end but was left wondering if this story is considered complete?
January 10, 2021
This is the second time I have read these books, and see the genius of C.S. Lewis. More than science fiction, it is a deep reflection on our society, on religion and spirituality. He combines mythology, science with such poetic grace it is a delight to read.
December 31, 2021
Read this book for school, left me with a lot of questions but also was one of the most interesting, inquisitive books I've ever read. Would recommend highly for youth.
March 1, 2023
Not being a big sci-fi fan, I was reluctant to read this, but did so as a request from a friend. I would not recommend it as a first read of Lewis's works. Being familiar with Lewis's worldview and his values would aid the reader greatly. I nearly gave up, but am glad I stuck with it. It turned out to be a good read.
Ransom, the main character, is kidnapped by two greedy and calloused men. He is taken in a spaceship to Malacandra (Mars), most likely to be given over as some type of sacrifice to the beings that inhabit Malacandra.
Once they land, he manages to escape into the unknown and totally foreign landscape of Malacandra where he encounters the various species that inhabit the planet. In the process, Ransom develops a new perspective of his situation, the creatures he meets, and most of all of earth.
No spoilers here. I do recommend this book, especially to those who know something of C.S. Lewis's heart and mind.
Ransom, the main character, is kidnapped by two greedy and calloused men. He is taken in a spaceship to Malacandra (Mars), most likely to be given over as some type of sacrifice to the beings that inhabit Malacandra.
Once they land, he manages to escape into the unknown and totally foreign landscape of Malacandra where he encounters the various species that inhabit the planet. In the process, Ransom develops a new perspective of his situation, the creatures he meets, and most of all of earth.
No spoilers here. I do recommend this book, especially to those who know something of C.S. Lewis's heart and mind.
March 23, 2025
Wow I accidentally happened upon this book and I am so glad I did I loved it!!
December 23, 2014
Out of the silent planet was awesome! And Perelandra, the 2nd in the trilogy was even better. They are almost like one book in my mind. The 3rd one "that hideous strength" I didn't really like so much.
May 25, 2018
Been a long time since I read this. Since my exposure to Christian theology began with attendance at St. Paul's Episcopal Church a few years ago, I thought it might be time for another dip into it. Loved it. Next on the list: Perelandra.
July 27, 2013
Authors often use Science Fiction to explain their take on social strategies or politics. Lewis brilliantly uses this series as a medium of conversation on God, the universe, and civics. Well written, interesting, and thought provoking.
September 6, 2011
amazing. read it. run... don't walk... to get it now!!!
April 23, 2013
I loved this and wondered why it took me so long to read any of Lewis' fiction. Fun perspectives and descriptions; thought provoking story.
May 29, 2013
Despite a dislike for CS Lewis I found this quite refreshing, the ending however and the overuse of words in the alien languages irritated me somewhat
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April 20, 2023Epic. This was indeed a Goodread(s.com)!
April 29, 2013
Thanks Suchetha! For buying me a ticket into worlds unknown...;)
December 27, 2013
Very entertaining story. Lewis' prose, while good, is not the style I prefer.
Read
January 12, 2019Amazing book-- great story. Lewis does an amazing job as he always does of capturingthe nuanced thoughts that we think in life, breaking them down and projecting them into adventures that leave you with an expanded conscious of everyday events and seemingly impossible possibilities-- an adventurous fiction book that's enjoyable, but makes you think... and then think about your thinking
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews