Synopsis
While walking in the English countryside, Professor Ransom loses his way and stumbles across two scientists attempting to force a small boy into a space craft. Ransom tries to intervene and finds himself being apprehended in the boy's place. While in the spaceship, Ransom overhears that he is to be offered to something or someone as a kind of sacrifice. When the two scientists (Weston and Devine) and Ransom land on their destination (the planet Mars) Ransom makes his escape. Ransom is left to run through the strange wildernesses of Mars while the two scientists hunt him, prepared to kill anyone or anything that gets in their way.
Comment
I was delighted to learn that Lewis had written a science fiction trilogy and wasted no time in tracking them down, since I'm such a fan of a lot of his other books: The Narnia series, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce. Out of the Silent Planet is the first in his Cosmic Trilogy being followed by Perelandra and That Hideous Strength (reveiws on both to follow soon). I will start by saying that this was an enjoyable book to read. Particularly Lewis' descriptions of space travel being written 20 years before man had even walked on the moon! His descriptions of Mars are ill informed by today's standards but this just makes it more fun to read. In those days, OST was published in 1938, it must have been wonderful to speculate about the nature of the planets in our solar system.
However, I did find that Lewis' descriptions of Mars a little tricky to follow. This was surprising because Narnia comes so easily to the imagination. I also found it difficult to visualise and empathise with the Hross (one of the alien races of Mars). But perhaps there is an inherent difficulty in describing something which is so completely unearthly or something not remotely humanoid, no doubt this is the case. There is a spiritual being of earth described as a 'bent' Oyarsa (every planet has an Oyarsa) who is very similar to Satan but I think the ideas presented in OSP should be seen as a pale reflection of christian philosophy and not taken too seriously. Given all this, you do feel like you are on an exciting journey with Professor Ransom.
Comment
I was delighted to learn that Lewis had written a science fiction trilogy and wasted no time in tracking them down, since I'm such a fan of a lot of his other books: The Narnia series, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce. Out of the Silent Planet is the first in his Cosmic Trilogy being followed by Perelandra and That Hideous Strength (reveiws on both to follow soon). I will start by saying that this was an enjoyable book to read. Particularly Lewis' descriptions of space travel being written 20 years before man had even walked on the moon! His descriptions of Mars are ill informed by today's standards but this just makes it more fun to read. In those days, OST was published in 1938, it must have been wonderful to speculate about the nature of the planets in our solar system.
However, I did find that Lewis' descriptions of Mars a little tricky to follow. This was surprising because Narnia comes so easily to the imagination. I also found it difficult to visualise and empathise with the Hross (one of the alien races of Mars). But perhaps there is an inherent difficulty in describing something which is so completely unearthly or something not remotely humanoid, no doubt this is the case. There is a spiritual being of earth described as a 'bent' Oyarsa (every planet has an Oyarsa) who is very similar to Satan but I think the ideas presented in OSP should be seen as a pale reflection of christian philosophy and not taken too seriously. Given all this, you do feel like you are on an exciting journey with Professor Ransom.
Worth It?
If you're a big C. S. Lewis fan then you'll enjoy this.
What others say:
Amazon: 4.5/5 (22 customer reviews)
Christianity Today: "Traveling to Mars via spaceship, Markos says, Lewis's hero Ransom finds what the medievals would have expected—a warm place full of life."
Philip Yancy: "I first encountered C. S. Lewis through his space trilogy. Though perhaps not his best work, it had an undermining effect on me. He made the supernatural so believable that I could not help wondering, What if it's really true? What if there is a God and an afterlife and what if supernatural forces really are operating behind the scenes on this planet and in my life?"
If you enjoyed this review, why not use the amazon link at the side of this page? The Christian Review will receive a percentage of the proceeds. Thank you!
0 comments:
Post a Comment