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Planets in Peril: A Critical Study of C. S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy
Literary scholar, novelist, and Christian apologist, C. S. Lewis was a remarkable and enigmatic man. He is perhaps best known today for his popular series of children's books, the Chronicles of Narnia, which continue to sell more than a million copies a year. He also wrote science fiction in the form of interplanetary fantasies - a series of three novels known as the Ransom Trilogy. This book offers the first full-length critical assessment of that trilogy, placing the three volumes in the context of Lewis's life and work.
David C. Downing reveals the autobiographical and theological subtexts of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength, showing as well how much Lewis the classical and medieval scholar influenced the work of Lewis the creator of interplanetary fantasies. Downing also examines the chief imaginative and intellectual sources of the trilogy and addresses persistent issues raised by reviewers and Was Lewis's lifelong devotion to fantasy a mark of intellectual independence or a case of "arrested emotional development"? Were his views on women sexist, even misogynist? How much of his critique of modern science and technology was well informed and how much the result of prejudice or habitual suspicion of all things modern?
A brief appendix on "The Dark Tower" fragment provides what background is known about this mysterious document, summarizes the story as far as Lewis developed it, and comments on how this unfinished work fits in with the Ransom books published during Lewis's lifetime.
David C. Downing reveals the autobiographical and theological subtexts of Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength, showing as well how much Lewis the classical and medieval scholar influenced the work of Lewis the creator of interplanetary fantasies. Downing also examines the chief imaginative and intellectual sources of the trilogy and addresses persistent issues raised by reviewers and Was Lewis's lifelong devotion to fantasy a mark of intellectual independence or a case of "arrested emotional development"? Were his views on women sexist, even misogynist? How much of his critique of modern science and technology was well informed and how much the result of prejudice or habitual suspicion of all things modern?
A brief appendix on "The Dark Tower" fragment provides what background is known about this mysterious document, summarizes the story as far as Lewis developed it, and comments on how this unfinished work fits in with the Ransom books published during Lewis's lifetime.
186 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
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166 people want to read
About the author
David C. Downing
20 books63 followersI am a professor of English at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This is on the edge of "Amish country," and I sometimes pass a horse and buggy on my way to and from campus.
I grew up in Colorado, went to college in Santa Barbara, CA, and earned my PhD from UCLA. I currently teach professional and creative writing at Elizabethtown, as well as a first-year seminar on quest narratives.
I first read the Narnia Chronicles as a college sophomore. I was so enthralled, I read all seven books in a month, then re-read them again the next month. I published my first article on C. S. Lewis that same year. I tackled Lord of the Rings in my junior year of college, and I still remember reading all night, the sun coming up just when I discovered that Gandalf had returned. What a glorious dawn that was!
Living less that an hour from Gettysburg, I have become one of many Civil War buffs in this part of the country. I published A South Divided: Portraits of Dissent in the Confederacy in 2007, a study of Southerners who supported the Union during the war.
My wife, Crystal, is a professor of English and film studies at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She is the author of Writing Performances: The Stages of Dorothy L. Sayers (2004) and How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith (2006).
I grew up in Colorado, went to college in Santa Barbara, CA, and earned my PhD from UCLA. I currently teach professional and creative writing at Elizabethtown, as well as a first-year seminar on quest narratives.
I first read the Narnia Chronicles as a college sophomore. I was so enthralled, I read all seven books in a month, then re-read them again the next month. I published my first article on C. S. Lewis that same year. I tackled Lord of the Rings in my junior year of college, and I still remember reading all night, the sun coming up just when I discovered that Gandalf had returned. What a glorious dawn that was!
Living less that an hour from Gettysburg, I have become one of many Civil War buffs in this part of the country. I published A South Divided: Portraits of Dissent in the Confederacy in 2007, a study of Southerners who supported the Union during the war.
My wife, Crystal, is a professor of English and film studies at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She is the author of Writing Performances: The Stages of Dorothy L. Sayers (2004) and How Postmodernism Serves (My) Faith (2006).
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2021
Lots of good insights about the trilogy, but this didn't feel as thorough as it could have been. Perhaps that's because it was relatively early (1992), before the recent explosion of Lewis studies. Still, nice to hear Downing's voice, and I look forward to reading this other works--
--The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith
--Into the Wardrobe: C.S.Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles
--Looking for the King
--The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith
--Into the Wardrobe: C.S.Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles
--Looking for the King
February 3, 2014
Planets in Peril is a slim volume, yet it contains a great deal of insight into the mind of CS Lewis in regards to the writing and possible sources and meanings behind the Ransom trilogy, otherwise known as the Space Trilogy. David C. Downing, a professor at Elizabethtown College, takes it upon himself to correct a gaping hole in Lewis studies.
In the book, written in the early 1990's, he looks at the trilogy by way of two areas. First of all, he looks at the possible influences and views that lead Lewis to write what he did, while second, he explores possible meanings of the trilogy that Lewis may have been attempting to convey to his audience. Each chapter is divided into sections. First, he introduces a theme that he has found in his research of the books, then he explores how each book deals with the theme.
There are several strengths to his methodology of study. First of all, he does not try to put himself in Lewis's place, but instead attempts to honestly explore what influenced Lewis, and what Lewis likely thought. He tries to avoid the error that Lewis's friend, and Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien complained about in the preface to The Lord of the Rings. That error being the assumption that because a reviewer and the author share "X" in common, they obviously would both mean "Y", so therefore, that is what the author must think. Downing removes himself, as much as is possible, from the study.
The second strength is that he deals with how the trilogy, when viewed as a large, mythic story, makes sense. If one supposes that Lewis made no effort to build on previous materials, and views the books as completely separate, then one runs into the problems of wondering why the books appear to be increasingly disjointed as one moves through them. When looked at as a mythic story where the stakes continually rise, however, the pattern that Lewis chooses in writing them makes complete sense.
The final strength is that he is honest about Lewis. He defends Lewis where possible, especially from some pretty specious charges. For instance, Lewis did not hate science, nor was he ignorant of it. He knew that the planets did not bear a resemblance to how he described them, and he knew his science was not correct. He did not care. He was trying to tell a mythic story. Lewis's concerns were not an attack on science, but an attack on the deification of science, where science is seen as a moral end in and of itself. When science becomes our chief value, and not God, that is a danger to society. The author does admit some criticisms of Lewis, which is refreshing. He is not blinded by his obvious admiration for his subject. He is evenhanded, and that lends Downing even greater credibility.
There are only two real weaknesses that I can see in this book. The first is that Downing gave short shrift to the influences of Tolkien in the writing of the Ransom Trilogy. This perplexes me, because he mentions how they decided to write some good stories together, but then dismisses that it had any impact.
The second weakness is that, despite his better intentions not to do so, Downing does sometimes fall into the trap of too much supposition on his part when it comes to Lewis's motives and influences on Lewis's writing. He takes some rather obscure passages at times, and extrapolates from them what Lewis "meant" or what "influenced" him. This is rather jarring as he avoids this quite often, but sometimes falls into this habit that academics seem to fall into all too often. Thankfully, he avoids this annoying, and quite meaningless, habit.
In the end, this book is an excellent, easy to read study that is vitally important. When one digs into the Ransom books, one sees another side to the author of Apologetics works and Narnia stories. One sees a wise, thoughtful man, who had a great deal of rather prescient thoughts about issues that we are still struggling with today. I highly recommend this book.
In the book, written in the early 1990's, he looks at the trilogy by way of two areas. First of all, he looks at the possible influences and views that lead Lewis to write what he did, while second, he explores possible meanings of the trilogy that Lewis may have been attempting to convey to his audience. Each chapter is divided into sections. First, he introduces a theme that he has found in his research of the books, then he explores how each book deals with the theme.
There are several strengths to his methodology of study. First of all, he does not try to put himself in Lewis's place, but instead attempts to honestly explore what influenced Lewis, and what Lewis likely thought. He tries to avoid the error that Lewis's friend, and Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien complained about in the preface to The Lord of the Rings. That error being the assumption that because a reviewer and the author share "X" in common, they obviously would both mean "Y", so therefore, that is what the author must think. Downing removes himself, as much as is possible, from the study.
The second strength is that he deals with how the trilogy, when viewed as a large, mythic story, makes sense. If one supposes that Lewis made no effort to build on previous materials, and views the books as completely separate, then one runs into the problems of wondering why the books appear to be increasingly disjointed as one moves through them. When looked at as a mythic story where the stakes continually rise, however, the pattern that Lewis chooses in writing them makes complete sense.
The final strength is that he is honest about Lewis. He defends Lewis where possible, especially from some pretty specious charges. For instance, Lewis did not hate science, nor was he ignorant of it. He knew that the planets did not bear a resemblance to how he described them, and he knew his science was not correct. He did not care. He was trying to tell a mythic story. Lewis's concerns were not an attack on science, but an attack on the deification of science, where science is seen as a moral end in and of itself. When science becomes our chief value, and not God, that is a danger to society. The author does admit some criticisms of Lewis, which is refreshing. He is not blinded by his obvious admiration for his subject. He is evenhanded, and that lends Downing even greater credibility.
There are only two real weaknesses that I can see in this book. The first is that Downing gave short shrift to the influences of Tolkien in the writing of the Ransom Trilogy. This perplexes me, because he mentions how they decided to write some good stories together, but then dismisses that it had any impact.
The second weakness is that, despite his better intentions not to do so, Downing does sometimes fall into the trap of too much supposition on his part when it comes to Lewis's motives and influences on Lewis's writing. He takes some rather obscure passages at times, and extrapolates from them what Lewis "meant" or what "influenced" him. This is rather jarring as he avoids this quite often, but sometimes falls into this habit that academics seem to fall into all too often. Thankfully, he avoids this annoying, and quite meaningless, habit.
In the end, this book is an excellent, easy to read study that is vitally important. When one digs into the Ransom books, one sees another side to the author of Apologetics works and Narnia stories. One sees a wise, thoughtful man, who had a great deal of rather prescient thoughts about issues that we are still struggling with today. I highly recommend this book.
September 30, 2023
A fine book in many respects. A solid reading of the trilogy that provides really insightful research into the sources Lewis synthesizes to create such rich stories. I'm increasingly awed by the breadth of Lewis' learning and the masterful way he brings the wisdom of the past to bear on modern problems. The book does an admirable service in bringing this out with a faithful reading of Lewis.
This author, though, like so many others, is quite frustrating in his coverage of the critical response to Lewis' presentation of gender. It is quite stunning to read through the rich tapestry of medieval thought which suffuses this work, only to suspend such perspective in discussion on gender. There is a bizarre flattening of characterization that happens with modern distortions of egalitarian ideology where we may only consider female characters within the stifling focus of a narrow set of characteristics, usually strongly correlated with how much the author erases any distinctions between males and females. This distorted preoccupation with analyzing writers such as Lewis on the basis of whether or not they check certain boxes in their presentation of female virtues and vices betrays a lack of imagination and an attenuated view of social order. It leads to an uneven reading of Lewis which forgets that he is a *medievalist* who is not as concerned with modern sensibilities as he is in modern trajectories. One wonders how someone living in the 21st century can, from that standpoint, criticize Lewis on that basis that *he* was off-base in his understanding of social issues related to gender. I recognize that this book was written 30 years ago, but one would hope that anyone raising these issues then might reconsider them now. Moreover, it is simply laughable that his views in print are inconsistent with the personal testimonies from women with whom he personally interacted who said he was respectful to them and encouraged them in their intellectual development. I have no illusions that Lewis or his views are perfect, but this type of analysis strikes me as revealing more about modernity than it does anything about Lewis. From a critical perspective, it is important to recognize that the characterization of Jane Studdock is very important to the plot and overall message of That Hideous Strength, because Lewis observed a tendency in modernity to treat humanity as an abstraction which can be molded by the powerful according to their designs. On this view, the "givenness" of nature is only a roadblock on this quest, something which Lewis abhors and is actively undermining through the entire story. The development of Jane Studdock is a redemption arc to a life that is more fully human according to Lewis' conception. I happen to think it is brilliant, and serves the overall story and its prophetic message well. If one moves out of the stunted modern milieu and into the world behind Lewis' mind, you may be able to see and appreciate it.
This author, though, like so many others, is quite frustrating in his coverage of the critical response to Lewis' presentation of gender. It is quite stunning to read through the rich tapestry of medieval thought which suffuses this work, only to suspend such perspective in discussion on gender. There is a bizarre flattening of characterization that happens with modern distortions of egalitarian ideology where we may only consider female characters within the stifling focus of a narrow set of characteristics, usually strongly correlated with how much the author erases any distinctions between males and females. This distorted preoccupation with analyzing writers such as Lewis on the basis of whether or not they check certain boxes in their presentation of female virtues and vices betrays a lack of imagination and an attenuated view of social order. It leads to an uneven reading of Lewis which forgets that he is a *medievalist* who is not as concerned with modern sensibilities as he is in modern trajectories. One wonders how someone living in the 21st century can, from that standpoint, criticize Lewis on that basis that *he* was off-base in his understanding of social issues related to gender. I recognize that this book was written 30 years ago, but one would hope that anyone raising these issues then might reconsider them now. Moreover, it is simply laughable that his views in print are inconsistent with the personal testimonies from women with whom he personally interacted who said he was respectful to them and encouraged them in their intellectual development. I have no illusions that Lewis or his views are perfect, but this type of analysis strikes me as revealing more about modernity than it does anything about Lewis. From a critical perspective, it is important to recognize that the characterization of Jane Studdock is very important to the plot and overall message of That Hideous Strength, because Lewis observed a tendency in modernity to treat humanity as an abstraction which can be molded by the powerful according to their designs. On this view, the "givenness" of nature is only a roadblock on this quest, something which Lewis abhors and is actively undermining through the entire story. The development of Jane Studdock is a redemption arc to a life that is more fully human according to Lewis' conception. I happen to think it is brilliant, and serves the overall story and its prophetic message well. If one moves out of the stunted modern milieu and into the world behind Lewis' mind, you may be able to see and appreciate it.
May 15, 2024
Excellent. Wished I had read this book years ago. He brings up many enlightening points about the trilogy and Lewis as an author. I especially appreciated the sections with about literary influences and allusions.
I’ve seen some criticisms of this book as being too short or incomplete, and while the book is certainly not exhaustive it does hit all the necessary points. And personally I’ve grown to really enjoy when a book is not longer than it must be.
Most criticisms of Lewis in the text were almost comically halfhearted; the comments of a devotee who needs to retain some credibility as a literary critic. There are few points of criticism that do resonate, however.
Loved hearing in this book and elsewhere recently that Perelandra was in fact also Lewis’ favorite book of his. I feel greatly justified in my preferences.
I’ve seen some criticisms of this book as being too short or incomplete, and while the book is certainly not exhaustive it does hit all the necessary points. And personally I’ve grown to really enjoy when a book is not longer than it must be.
Most criticisms of Lewis in the text were almost comically halfhearted; the comments of a devotee who needs to retain some credibility as a literary critic. There are few points of criticism that do resonate, however.
Loved hearing in this book and elsewhere recently that Perelandra was in fact also Lewis’ favorite book of his. I feel greatly justified in my preferences.
March 11, 2018
I have long looked for something with in-depth commentary on C.S. Lewis's space trilogy and this book perfectly fit the bill. David C. Downing weaves in Lewis's life, major influences, and intentions in writing these three books which still generate discussion so long after they were first published.
February 27, 2025
Although this book is under 200 pages, including notes and bibliography, what is here is very good. I particularly liked Portraits of Evil where Mark Studdocks’s progress in N.I.C.E. Is shown to parallel Dante’s journey through the Circles of Hell in the Inferno.
February 25, 2020
Stellar!
August 4, 2011
I have gone in for Lewis studies since encountering his Ransom trilogy in an undergraduate seminar in the late 1970s. Over the years, I have collected most of the author's published writings in every genre he attempted, and have read numerous books and articles on his life and work, as well as on various of his colleagues and inspirations. PLANETS IN PERIL may be the best critique I have come across, and if one could own only two secondary sources in the field I would recommend this and the biography by Green and Hooper.
What makes Downing's volume so remarkable is chiefly its sheer comprehensiveness. Despite the focus of its sub-title, the book manages to draw in extraordinarily illuminating references to nearly every other work in the Lewis canon, showing through them far more of the man's Christian, mediaeval, and poetic world view than one would expect to be relevant. I had thought myself to have a good grasp of the celebrated Oxford don and Cambridge professor, yet this book increased my understanding manyfold.
I also appreciated Downing's objective balance. Without shying away from what he feels are Lewis's limits or flaws, he does better than I have yet found in vindicating the man against many of the stock objections that have long been levelled at him. A recurring argument throughout is that the trilogy is best understood less in the framework of science fiction than in light of its author's expertise in and love for the literature and motifs of the mediaeval and Renaissance eras. Lewis was not so much a mythmaker as a '"re-mythologizer", one who takes old myths ... and revitalizes them'; and Downing perceives him as having done something similar with old VALUES -- ones fallen out of fashion yet which seemed to him worth recapturing.
What makes Downing's volume so remarkable is chiefly its sheer comprehensiveness. Despite the focus of its sub-title, the book manages to draw in extraordinarily illuminating references to nearly every other work in the Lewis canon, showing through them far more of the man's Christian, mediaeval, and poetic world view than one would expect to be relevant. I had thought myself to have a good grasp of the celebrated Oxford don and Cambridge professor, yet this book increased my understanding manyfold.
I also appreciated Downing's objective balance. Without shying away from what he feels are Lewis's limits or flaws, he does better than I have yet found in vindicating the man against many of the stock objections that have long been levelled at him. A recurring argument throughout is that the trilogy is best understood less in the framework of science fiction than in light of its author's expertise in and love for the literature and motifs of the mediaeval and Renaissance eras. Lewis was not so much a mythmaker as a '"re-mythologizer", one who takes old myths ... and revitalizes them'; and Downing perceives him as having done something similar with old VALUES -- ones fallen out of fashion yet which seemed to him worth recapturing.
August 4, 2014
I thought this was an outstanding book. It was clear and concise, giving ample information about the different background of the so called "Space Trilogy" (better, "Ransom Trilogy"). Helpful background information on Arthur legends, Paradise Lost, who Lewis was responding too in his own day, along with an interesting chapter on how Lewis autobiography reveals the shape of his books.
July 16, 2025
I appreciated the seriousness with which Professor Downing brings his insights to the table when discussing Lewis’s Cosmic Trilogy. It’s not as long or in-depth an analysis as it could be (especially when compared to the countless studies and analyses of other works by Lewis, for example), but it helps us better understand the author’s intentions and the bigger picture of what he aimed to accomplish, without becoming tedious in the process.
Downing does his best to remove himself entirely from his analysis, making use of various references, such as Lewis’s own writings and speeches or those of people close to him. He explores Lewis’s influences, the meaning behind his characters, and how each book in the trilogy interacts with the science fiction of its time (H.G. Wells, in particular). Lewis’s worldview becomes even clearer through Downing’s analysis, which also provides context to defend the author against some of his harshest accusations, such as being anti-science and chauvinistic.
That said, I believe the Cosmic Trilogy is one of Lewis’s most interesting works. It can be approached with the simplicity of a young adult series, but it also offers a wealth of philosophical substance and social subtext (especially Perelandra). Downing succeeds in highlighting the relevance of this work. I believe that if it were written today, after the explosion of Lewis studies, we might have an even more complete and up-to-date work in our hands. But, considering it is a book over thirty years old, we have to recognize Professor Downing’s excellent research and his effort to keep the work relevant.
Downing does his best to remove himself entirely from his analysis, making use of various references, such as Lewis’s own writings and speeches or those of people close to him. He explores Lewis’s influences, the meaning behind his characters, and how each book in the trilogy interacts with the science fiction of its time (H.G. Wells, in particular). Lewis’s worldview becomes even clearer through Downing’s analysis, which also provides context to defend the author against some of his harshest accusations, such as being anti-science and chauvinistic.
That said, I believe the Cosmic Trilogy is one of Lewis’s most interesting works. It can be approached with the simplicity of a young adult series, but it also offers a wealth of philosophical substance and social subtext (especially Perelandra). Downing succeeds in highlighting the relevance of this work. I believe that if it were written today, after the explosion of Lewis studies, we might have an even more complete and up-to-date work in our hands. But, considering it is a book over thirty years old, we have to recognize Professor Downing’s excellent research and his effort to keep the work relevant.
February 10, 2024
I enjoyed this survey of the Ransom Trilogy, though not as much as The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis (Baxter), but they are very different books. Lots of good literal analysis, especially the parallels between the Inferno and That Hideous Strength. It is a great resource, and I am eager to get to Christina Hale and Diana Glyer's works.
May 9, 2021
Excellent insight all around into Lewis’ Ransom Trilogy.
April 15, 2023
Excellent. Downing does not deify Lewis the way most authors who right about Lewis do. Well reasoned and we’ll read critique.
August 16, 2017
David Downing has written a first class treatment of C.S. Lewis' Ransom Trilogy. His burden is to classify the trilogy as "theological fantasy" and show how some of Lewis' own biography find their way into the books. Downing does a fantastic job situating the books in Lewis' own life, placing it among his other works, and explaining the many, many literary and theological allusions in the series. Downing also makes an effort to asses the series on its merits, interacting with the reviewers and criticial essayists who have come before.
If you like the series, then this book will help you appreciate all the nuances of Lewis' ingenius writing. If you're just going to skim, make sure and read chapters 1-2 and 6-7.
Table of Contents:
1 - "Transfiguring the Past": Lewis' Reading of His Early Life
2 - "Smuggled Theology": The Christian Vision of the Trilogy
3 - The Recovered Image: Elements of Classicism and Medievalism
4 - "Souls Who Have Lost the Intellectual Good": Portraits of Evil
5 - Ransom and Lewis: Cosmic Voyage as Spiritual Pilgrimmage
6 - Models, Influences, and Echoes
7 - The Achievement of C.S. Lewis: Assessing the Trilogy
Appendix: "The Dark Tower"
If you like the series, then this book will help you appreciate all the nuances of Lewis' ingenius writing. If you're just going to skim, make sure and read chapters 1-2 and 6-7.
Table of Contents:
1 - "Transfiguring the Past": Lewis' Reading of His Early Life
2 - "Smuggled Theology": The Christian Vision of the Trilogy
3 - The Recovered Image: Elements of Classicism and Medievalism
4 - "Souls Who Have Lost the Intellectual Good": Portraits of Evil
5 - Ransom and Lewis: Cosmic Voyage as Spiritual Pilgrimmage
6 - Models, Influences, and Echoes
7 - The Achievement of C.S. Lewis: Assessing the Trilogy
Appendix: "The Dark Tower"
August 22, 2010
This is an insightful and enlightening book about C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. I have read the Trilogy many times, as well as most of the rest of the Lewis corpus, but what I learned from David Downing's book was more than I could have picked up on my own. Downing is very conversant in all of Lewis's writings, as well as Lewis's biography and literary influences. Downing is careful not to read too much into (or out of) Lewis, and tends to look at both sides of the issues before coming down somewhere in the middle. An enjoyable book for anyone who enjoys Lewis.
October 13, 2012
What a joy to find a piece which digs into the C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy! If this series has excited you, as it has me, you'll truly enjoy 'the curtain being pulled back' to reveal an inside look at the Space Trilogy. Excellent work David! Thank-you for this treat!
March 25, 2024
A brief, insightful analysis of Lewis’s “Space Trilogy.” I did get the sense of wondering if there was more to be said, but there are plenty of gems in Downing’s research. He also handles Lewis’s criticism delicately—neither falling into the ditch of piling on, nor the other of ignoring all criticism.
Want to read
January 26, 2008Another book about Lewis' work I've bought and yet to read. This one a critical study of the space trilogy, which sounds really interesting-- I took a course in sci-fi in college and would like to get back into critical perspectives on that genre.
April 25, 2015
I thought this was superior to Downing's _Into the Region of Awe_.
November 7, 2015
Excellent: there are few book-length studies of individual Lewis books. This is one of the best.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews