Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Cosmic Trilogy relates the interplanetary travels of Ransom, C.S. Lewis's ill-informed and terrified victim who leaves Earth much against his will.

Out of the Silent Planet
Dr Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planet's treasures and plan to offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live there. Ransom discovers he has come from the 'silent planet' – Earth – whose tragic story is known throughout the universe...

Perelandra
Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man must battle evil on a new planet — Perelandra — when it is invaded by a dark force. Will Perelandra succumb to this malevolent being, who strives to create a new world order and who must destroy an old and beautiful civilization to do so? Or will it throw off the yoke of corruption and achieve a spiritual perfection as yet unknown to man? The outcome of Dr. Ransom's mighty struggle alone will determine the fate of this peace-loving planet.

That Hideous Strength
The story surrounds Mark and Jane Studdock, a newly married couple. Mark is a Sociologist who is enticed to join an organisation called N.I.C.E. which aims to control all human life. His wife, meanwhile, has bizarre prophetic dreams about a decapitated scientist, Alcasan. As Mark is drawn inextricably into the sinister organisation, he discovers the truth of his wife’s dreams when he meets the literal head of Alcasan which is being kept alive by infusions of blood.

Jane seeks help concerning her dreams at a community called St Anne’s, where she meets their leader – Dr Ransom (the main character of the previous two titles in the trilogy). The story ends in a final spectacular scene at the N.I.C.E. headquarters where Merlin appears to confront the powers of Hell.

I've been wanting to read this for a while. The three books should be good to read sometime in 2024.

I've read these at least twice and enjoyed them each time.

I would like to read these. Are they already scheduled for specific months?

Tracey wrote: "I would like to read these. Are they already scheduled for specific months?"
No, just something to read this year when you have time. I'm not sure when I'll get to them.

I really enjoyed this trilogy! The first two books made my imagination go wild. Lewis was so good at creating new worlds. That always blows my mind! (Even tho I’m pretty sure I lost some of the parallels Lewis usually incorporates because I read it in English and it’s my 2nd language). 😅 I still recommend it lol

Tati wrote: "I really enjoyed this trilogy! The first two books made my imagination go wild. Lewis was so good at creating new worlds. That always blows my mind! (Even tho I’m pretty sure I lost some of the par..."

Thats great Tati! I am happy to see you really liked the trilogy!

I need to get to it soon...

I see that Out of the Silent Planet is available to me on Kindle Unlimited so it would just be silly not to read it. They use the word “Unlimited” loosely by the way as you are only allowed to have a certain amount of books downloaded at once. I always think of this author as a children’s or maybe it’s YA writer and I don’t really read that genre so I’m excited to check it out.

I finally read Out of the Silent Planet and I enjoyed it. At first it was a pretty typical exploring a new planet and meeting the natives thing then it went into some vaguely christian stuff as it usually does with Lewis.

Question with POTENTIAL SPOILERS ahead....
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I love this trilogy and re-read it with my husband a while back. One thing that did confuse me on the second reading was Ransom's portrayal in That Hideous Strength as opposed to the first two books. He seems very much an 'ordinary man' in the first and second books, but by the third he seems to be a 'Christ figure'. I can't see exactly where or how that happened. While his journeys to Malacandra and Perelandra radically change him and the entire direction of his life, I didn't see him become anything 'more' than a regular human. Yet in the third book the St. Anne's characters almost seem to view him as literally Jesus. The funny thing is, I first read That Hideous Strength on its own for a class and this made perfect sense to me; it was only after reading the entire trilogy in order that it seemed strange. Anyone who has recently finished the trilogy or previously read it have any thoughts/insights on this?

I read the trilogy a couple of years ago and I think that his two experiences did change him in some way, but I'm not sure how.
When I read the intro to an edition of the book I don't have anymore, probably a library book, they drew attention to the significance of his name-Ransom.

I'll have to see when I read the other books.

I finished Perelandra. I didn't like it as much as the first. But Lewis is definitely good at making up mythology.

(view spoiler)[I thought the first half was really repetitive as he lectures the new "Eve" not to take the "apple". It was kind of crazy that it came to beating the un-man to death.
I also wonder why the story is written by Ransom's friend rather than him.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm reading That Hideous Strength now. Liking it better than Perelandra. The whole book happens on Earth. I read the kid's series The Dark Is Rising series a while ago and this reminds me of that, mixing Christian themes and Arthurian elements.

Never trust an organization called NICE.

I'm glad to hear that you're reading this! I've read the trilogy a couple of times. I think That Hideous Strength was considered the best of the three but I've always liked Out of the Silent Planet with the theme of primitive vs. science/technology/advancement. I'm just reading The Dark Is Rising series now and am on book 3.

Cleo wrote: "I'm glad to hear that you're reading this! I've read the trilogy a couple of times. I think That Hideous Strength was considered the best of the three but I've always liked Out of the Silent Planet..."

The Cosmic Trilogy this would be a real challenge for me in 2025.
But...I'll try.

You just have to surrender yourself to it, Nancy. Out of the Silent Planet is easier but then it gets more creative but more difficult. But each of the books are completely different so if you dislike one, you can take comfort in the fact that a totally different one will be next.

Cleo wrote: "You just have to surrender yourself to it, Nancy. Out of the Silent Planet is easier but then it gets more creative but more difficult. But each of the books are completely different so if you disl..."
So I don't have to read them chronologically?

Wow, that’s a good question I would because there are certain ideas that build upon one another. They are quite deep though and might not be picked up on a first reading. But to be clear, I would recommend reading them in order.

Cleo wrote: "Wow, that’s a good question I would because there are certain ideas that build upon one another. They are quite deep though and might not be picked up on a first reading. But to be clear, I would r..."
Okay!

Cleo wrote: "I'm glad to hear that you're reading this! I've read the trilogy a couple of times. I think That Hideous Strength was considered the best of the three but I've always liked Out of the Silent Planet with the theme of primitive vs. science/technology/advancement. I'm just reading The Dark Is Rising series now and am on book 3."
I like Narnia and I've wanted to read this for a while now, just had to get to it.
I liked Out of the Silent Planet a lot too. It was very unique.
How are you liking The Dark is Rising?

Nancy wrote: "The Cosmic Trilogy this would be a real challenge for me in 2025.
But...I'll try."
Nancy wrote: "So I don't have to read them chronologically?"
I would read them in order, though Lewis says at the beginning of each book that you don't have to have read the previous ones.
To me Out of the Silent Planet was the quickest read, Perelandra was quite a slog, and I'm enjoying That Hideous Strength but it's the longesr of the books so it's best to start at the beginning.

That Hideous Strength was great overall but the ending was kind of anticlimactic.