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Summary: A captivating and refreshing story
Review: It helps a bit to remember that this C.S.Lewis Sci-fi adventure was first published in 1943. Even though our knowledge of Mars (Malacandra) is slightly more defined now than in Lewis' day, his wonderfully creative imagination can still delight and captivate a modern day reader. The novel begins with the carefree walking tour of the British countryside by a vacationing Cambridge college philologist named Ransom. By chance, Ransom runs into two crazed and evil (bent) colleagues who abduct him and drag him off via spaceship to the planet Malacandra. Fearing for his life, he escapes his captors and journeys through the waters, forests, canals, and strange countryside of the new world. Overwhelmed by the horrifying feeling of being alone in a place he knows absolutely nothing about, he encounters extraordinary obstacles, situations, and inhabitants throughout his amazing journey. The book is a wonderful story of one man's amazing adventures in a new land; and, while learning about the strange and diverse customs of it's inhabitants, he delves into his own mind and examines thoughts of love, hatred, greed, superior beings, God, and the meaning of life itself. It's a very captivating and refreshing book.
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Summary: To You, A Resident Of The Silent Planet
Review: Don't let the allegory or "this is a story with a message" reviewers scare you away. Dr. Ransom, a linguist, (I often wonder if J.R.R. Tolkien was the inspiration for the persona) is kidnapped by a man who he once knew in academic circles, and sent to Mars. But this is not like other Mars-sci-fi books. It was published in the middle of World War II in England. Ransom escapes being a planned human sacrifice on Mars and falls in with creatures that have cultures like the Cherokees (a Native American tribe for those of you on the net not from the Americas). He meets the planet's spiritual guardian, Oyarsa, and among other things learns that earth is referred to as the "silent planet," hence the title of the book. Lewis has several things to say about mankind's wish to colonize the galaxy and beyond - - which are all negative, and amazingly contemporary for readers today. Many fault the technology Lewis envisioned as dated, but I find hints of Lewis' sci-fi ideas in other stories - - such as the most recent First Contact. Dr. Ransom finds the purpose of his life on earth crystallized on Mars. You may find your purpose here crystallized as well - - but at the least, you will read a highly entertaining, and unusual story.
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Summary: Interesting Treatise on the Concept of Being
Review: This entire series is interesting and delightfully bizarre. Each of the books could easily be read as a stand alone. There isn't a strong sense of literary continuity between the stories (they each differ stylistically) and the main character changes drastically between the first and last books. I doubt whether the spiritual progression was intended when Lewis embarked on the initial book of the series, and more than likely it follows his personal experience with God, but it does present a great picture of the stages of true spiritual growth. Again, whether Lewis intended the linkage or not is questionable, but the stages of Ransom's spiritual growth parallel Lewis' idea of physical creation stages (discussed more in depth in Perelandra). Drawing from the order of creation in the biblical account he creates worlds that flow by necessity from this natural law just as our inner man moves through a series of creative processes: Malacandra is populated by animal-like rational beings (hnau), whereas Earth is populated by Man-like hnau. Hints and suggestions lead the reader to believe (or hope?), as Lewis' ultimately did, that there were once rational animals before the fall (other than the serpent...). Perelandra, however, being populated after the redemption of Maleldil (Christ), is only populated by man-like rational beings but there are the mysterious mermen/mermaids who are truly animal under the man-like exterior. A very creative and interesting progression of flesh and spirit through the "higher" forms of rationality. Ultimately, only the physical image of Man-like hnau is created in a rational form which suggests that Maleldil did not have a bias toward one form or another until becoming man and that image of man then became His image of choice (in form only, certainly not color!). A great, creative concept that sheds light on diversity. The latter section of Perelandra really accentuates this with a series of statements about Absolute Truth from which all things are derived-spiritual and physical. One element that I love in Lewis' writings and that permeates this series deeply is the connectivity between the spiritual and physical. Traditional Christianity seems to debase the physical to extreme levels as if we were created to live without it, whereas Lewis' redeems it. He sees well the original intent of creation in which there was no true distinction. To Lewis' all things have a degree of purity and ultimately, will have absolute purity. Something we tend to forget in this "bent" world. True to form, Lewis infuses mythologies with spiritual creativity that enlivens our traditional Christianity considerably. His ability to contextualize these pagan traditions with the reality of Truth is refreshing and lends nicely to his "spiritual order" of the universe. His idea about the nature of light and the Plane of Arbol is very transcendent and intriguing.
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Summary: Out of this world.
Review: Out of the Silent Planet is science fiction in the sense that, in order to create a fantasy for adults, Lewis had to send his hero and villains to a world far enough for a re-imagining, but near enough that they could plausibly go there from here. Lewis not being a scientist, and this book being sixty years old, the plausibility of Lewis' idea of space travel wears quite thin by now, though of course he didn't mean to be taken seriously on that count even then. A more serious problem Lewis set himself to solve was, "What might an unfallen world look like?" And also, "What might a society in harmony with God and nature look like?" or "What is the nature of rationality and soulishness?" I find some of Lewis' ideas unsatisfying. (Paradise and survival of the fittest are difficult concepts to reconcile; if the Malacandrians are all at peace, how did they evolve, as Lewis apparently thinks they did? And how does the ecosystem avoid being overrun with critters?) Still, this book is a great fantasy with many insights, and a lot of fun to read. No one I know combines so fertile an imagination with such philosophical depth and psychological acuity as C. S. Lewis. All these are in evidence here. The planet is a beauty. Among Malacandra's cauliflower highlands and tourquoise canyons, its philosopher bird-spectres and tribal seals, Lewis enacts an exciting story. His readers will find some familiar images and themes: island paradise, the cultural dynamics of tribes and Greek philosophers living side by side (see Till We Have Faces for more), the wind-bag philosopher posing as scientist posing as philosopher. (The passage in which Ransom translates Weston's defense of planetary imperialism and genocide into "Malacandrian" then, for our benefit, simple English, is a classic blend of linguistics and philosophy. See George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, for an essay from that period that, in effect, explains what Lewis is doing with that deceptively simple passage, and why it desperately needs to be done. See also Abolition of Man.) This is the tightest and shortest of Lewis' three "sci-fi" novels. You can read it in a few hours. Lewis was probably wise to shift to frankly supernatural means of locating his heroes to other worlds, in later fantasies. Still, don't miss this wonderful tour of Mars for the world. author, Jesus and the Religions of Man
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Summary: To Infinity and Beyond
Review: An amazing epic! I thought I would read this book in a few hours due to the small amount of pages, but I was mistaken. Every page led me to an inward journey where I could relate that splendid and in a way enchanted land to the very human nature. In the last page when Ransom was remembering a nocturne bath in the warm waters of the handramit with his friend Hyoi ( a hross, one of the 3 rational races who live in Malacandrian planet which the humans named Mars) He suddenly saw the "king" of the night rising above the Asteroids with all its vigor and splendor, the World of Glundandra (Jupiter). He described Jupiter as being behind, beyond the Asteroids while the Malacandrians considered the planet to be 'within the Asteroids'. And this is what I find amazing: the perspective of the inhabitants of Malacandrian who could see the big picture. For example: While the humans from their own view of point if they were to look from an earthly telescope would see the Asteroids and then Jupiter, as if one was in front of the other. But if we were to be a mere observer outside earth and outside the solar system we wouldn't say that one heavenly body was "outside" of the other for our perspective would not be an earthly one, the whole picture would become clear, it is as Jupiter was ' within the Asteroids'. Our mind would not be bound to the limits of the human knowledge. Well, this is a good example to reveal how insignificant we humans are when compared to the infinity of the universe. For it is clear the universe is infinite and it is mere human stupidility to theorize that the universe is finite. Shame on our scholars who gained knowledge and lost the wisdom, who in their own illusion have made themselves masters of Truth and knowers of the hidden secrets of the universe but have become fools and ignorants in their own wisdom. How can they use physics and mathematics to explain something that came before these insignificant earthly subjects, how can they expect everything to work according to their own hyphothesis if the Universe as a whole like a mighty king in all his glory is full of secrets and is not limited nor does it care about the human conception and our theories. Humankind with all its glories and achievements, technology and science are simply a mere molecule of water in all the earthly oceans that is by itself an insignificant nothing when compared to this Great, Terrific and Mysterious Ocean that is the Universe who knows no bounds or limits who is as deep (not really "as" deep) as God's own Thoughts. Shamed on our muzzled wisdom. Well I highly recommend the reading of this book, it has opened my mind to new directions.
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Summary: Witty and thoroughly engaging.
Review: Cambridge philologist Elwin Ransom, hiking the hills between terms, interrupts two men in a secluded country house as they try to force a terrified young handyman aboard what turns out to be a spaceship. An unmarried don, who won't be missed until he doesn't show up at his college, looks like a much better subject for what Dr. Weston (an eminent physicist) and Mr. Devine have on their minds. After all, the half-witted handyman's mother will be looking for him. That is how Ransom comes to the house in the first place, to do the worried old woman a favor by bringing her son home long after his work day should have ended. Ransom accepts refreshments from Weston, whom he knew during their student days. He wakes up on his way to a world whose inhabitants call it Malacandra - the planet we know as Mars. This science fantasy is fast-paced, witty, and thoroughly engaging. Although its Christian allegory is obvious, it doesn't come across as overstated. I quite simply loved it.
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Summary: Out of The Silent Planet
Review: I read the whole out of the silent planet trilogy a few years ago when I was given it for Christmas. I would like to make an interesting comment though. I am surprised that other readers did not seem to mention this, but at the end of out of the silent planet (At least in my book.) There is a letter written by Lewis to the reader. In which he claims the story to (So far as he and his friend can tell.) be true! When I first read this I was incredulous to say the least. But, as I began to think about the idea it seemed unlikely that Lewis would lie. He was for 1 a Christian. For him to throw himself out in the open with something like that and it to be a lie would be very foolish for him. I am a Christian myself and I know for a fact God would not have left Lewis' conscionce un-guilty for long if had lied. Especially since Lewis was a very devout Christian as many of his avid readers know. Lewis also in this letter points to some interesting ancient writings that seem to point to some truth in the matter. I have also done a small amount of research myself and well.......some of the evidence is fairly compelling. Though to be truthful the experience that Lewis' friend had could have been some extremely strange and vivid dream (which his friend actually thought it was at first.) Some of the other things I have looked into involving the book seem compelling. Research and draw your own conclusions. I personally think (Now anyway.) That God created life on other planets but for the exact reason stated in the book we are not supposed to know about it or go to where it may be. Intrerestingly enough this book was given to me when I was asking God if He had created life elsewhere. Well, you can think I am crazy you can think whatever you like. I just thought it would be interesting to not that letter which others seem to not know of or avoid. God Bless
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Summary: Masterpiece!
Review: Why the 5 stars? Hey it's C.S. Lewis, what else can I say? I thought this was very thought provoking. It's great work by one of the greatest authors of all time. I think everyone should take the time to read at least one of C.S. Lewis's works. If you've read the Narnia series, you find a similarity where Lewis takes Dr. Ransom and his companions (2 to be exact) and takes them to a whole new world. That's where the imagination kicks in and C.S. Lewis takes you for a ride! It is always a treat to read any work by this man! Kudos!
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Summary: Philisophy is the Heart of Science Fiction
Review: ...and Lewis does an excellent job combining opinions on ethics, religion and the fundamentals of humanity into an entertaining tale. I am a sci-fi author myself, and what I've found is that many sci-fi writers either sacrifice a good story in order to make a strong point, or they fail to make a point at all in an effort to create a fun story. Lewis is adept at providing both. Interestingly, although I am an avid sci-fi reader (obviously), I had never read much of Lewis' work until now. I recently picked up Out of the Silent Planet because someone compared the main character from my own book to that of Ransom. There's no way I could hear such a comparison and not immediately rush off to buy the book and see for myself... after all, being compared to a classic author such as Lewis is a real honor! Reading the book from this angle caused me to focus deeply on the literary structure and character development within the book. Ransom is a character that you can relate to immediately -- despite the generational gaps between author and reader -- and you can understand his fear, wonder, and intrigue as he finds himself on a new world. The descriptions are inspiring yet not overly lost in details, allowing the reader to use his or her own imagination to create a landscape and society as diverse and colorful as Ransom himself must have found it. In short, he successfully delivers a sense of wonder and amazement to the reader. The action, dialog, etc. are well used as well, but it is definitely the sense of adventure and awe that made me slap my forehead and say "why haven't I read this until now?" While many younger readers may balk at the language (which has a decidedly "old" feel to it), I would recommend this as required reading. It is as much something to learn from as it is to enjoy.
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Summary: Out of the Silent Planet; Q3 Book Project
Review: Out of the Silent Planet
By: C. S. Lewis
Reviewed by: K. Kim
Period: P. 5 A philologist named Dr. Ransom is unwillingly drawn into the adventurous and somewhat terrifying experiment of two manipulative professors; Devine, an old and disliked schoolmate of Ransom's; and Weston, a thick and grim physicist. After being drugged and put to sleep, Ransom awakens to find himself on board a strange, homemade space ship of some kind with Weston and Devine as his only company. Presently, they land on a planet named Malacandra where the colors, landscapes, and inhabitants are strange and beautiful at the same time. Ransom soon deciphers that he was brought to Malacandra to be handed over to some unknown creatures that go by the name of sorns. He desperately takes off in abrupt shock and, after a few days of wandering aimlessly about, befriends a clan of furry, otter-like creatures who call themselves the hrossa. While living with them on this new and unusual planet, he learns many habits, customs, and vocabulary words of their language. After Ransom travels to a godlike spirit named Oyarsa, the captured Weston and Devine reveal their plans to destroy all life on Malacandra in order to bring their superior race of humans here to live. It is here that Ransom realizes the residents of Malacandra are not the beasts; humans are more so, being the most bent race of all. Weston and Devine are forced out of the planet, and a slightly homesick Ransom decides to return to earth with them, leaving Malacandra in peace.
I faintly disliked this book mainly because of its lengthy descriptions. The dozens of sentences spent describing perhaps one vegetable cluttered up the story so that it didn't flow quite as smoothly as I wished. An excerpt from the book: "The purple mass looked for a moment like a plump of organ-pipes, then like a stack of rolls of cloth set up on end, then like a forest of gigantic umbrellas blown inside out." Another thing I disliked about this book was that it was a bit of a hindrance to have the Malacandrian words inserted throughout the story frequently. "Ransom understood him to mean the hrossa lived down in the handramit and the seroni up on the harandra. What the deuce were seroni, he wondered. The open reaches of the harandra did not look as if anything lived up there." Unless one memorized the terms, then one would have to flip back through the book and find the meaning of the word once again. However, these were simply mere annoyances that distracted me in reading the story. The story itself was excellent.
What I liked about this book was that it had a sense of majestic grandness in its subjects. The story had real splendor and brilliance with its words. "...it is not a few deaths roving the world around him that make a hnau miserable. It is a bent hnau that would blacken the world. And I say also this. I do not think the forest would be so bright, nor the water so warm, nor love so sweet if there were no danger in the lakes." After you read it, it shall not be easily forgotten. The story and its characters stay with you forever. Also, the point made on the view on humans interested me. There comes a point where Ransom views other humans with the Malacandrian eye, and I find his descriptions intriguing: "The bodies were a little narrower at the top than at the bottom so as to be very slightly pear-shaped, and the heads were neither round like those of the hrossa nor long like those of sorns, but almost square. They stumped along on narrow, heavy-looking feet with they seemed to press into the ground with unnecessary violence. And now their faces were becoming visible as masses of lumped an puckered flesh of variegated color fringed in some bristly, dark substance...Suddenly, with an indescribable change of feeling, he realized that he was looking at men." The story was unique, and that quality was one I enjoyed thoroughly.
My favorite part of the book was the scene where Ransom first encountered a hross. After running out of the woods, Ransom stopped to rest by a river. The hross (later identified as Hyoi) emerged from the river like a great seal as Ransom stared, somewhat intimidated and in awe, for this was his first close encounter with a creature of Malacandra. After spotting Ransom, Hyoi simply stared back, and each individual stood immobilized and curious. Neither dared let the other advance, yet both wished to do so themselves. Finally, Hyoi walked back a few paces and retrieved water, blending in some sort of alcoholic substance. After gulping some of the liquid down, he offered it to Ransom, and soon each individual introduced himself or herself as a hross and a man. Shortly thereafter, Ransom learned a few Malacandrian words from Hyoi, and was taken to the hross' village. I enjoyed this part because it displayed an expression of peace between two beings. It was the starting point of Ransom's friendship with the hrossa (plural form of hross).
This story was overall very touching and memorable. It contained distinctive intelligence and wisdom in its view of humankind as a race. The natural depth of the story was very compelling and convincing. Despite any flaws it may have had, I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to any eager reader out there.
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