PG16- Out of the Silent Planet (v,b), Perelandra (b), That Hideous Strength (v,b)
PG- "Narnia" series (possibly b,very slight v)
C. S. Lewis, a contemporary and colleague of J. R. R. Tolkien's in the early part of this century (especially the 1930s), was a devout but thoughtful Christian with strong ideas about his faith. His books are entertaining stories, but they are also allegories or archetypes for Christian themes. They can be read either way. Also, though Lewis went beyond the limitations of his own time period, he nevertheless formed his opinions in relation to them, so some aspects of his writing, like Tolkien's, may seem a little old-fashioned. Armed with these facts, the reader can explain away most of the confusing pieces of the novels and enjoy them quite thoroughly.
Lewis's adult science fiction trilogy beginning with Out of the Silent Planet is a disturbing re-interpretation of parts of the bible into a Science Fiction setting. The premise is that life exists on both Mars and Venus, and the hero takes a highly allegorical trip to Mars in a make-shift rocket. There, he discovers that Earth is considered the "lost planet" due to the fall. Angels take on new forms and the battle between Heaven and Hell becomes very real and very dangerous to Earth. The best part about this novel is the wonderful settings and characters created for Mars.
In Perelandra, the hero again leaves Earth, this time for Venus, where he must try to prevent the fall of humanity all over again. The level of allegory in this novel makes it a bit confusing, but again the setting is absolutely wonderful. Beware of some patriarchal tones and themes. Nonetheless, this was the clearest book in terms of biblical reference and author's intent.
Finally, That Hideous Strength tries to define the border between good and evil, man and machine, and what humans were meant to be able to do. This novel is more violent and difficult to read than the first two. It describes a secret cult dedicated to the use of machines, and it seems to be focused on the book of Revelations, though perhaps only in the last few chapters. The most confusing part is its leaps from setting to setting without clear bridges between them. If you have watched the animated series "Evangelion", you are well prepared for this novel.
Overall, the series is disturbing, but good in terms of imagination and believability (except for the description of space as ether-filled). Perhaps the series is most comprehensible when placed in its contextual time period, approximately that of Tolkien. Though the issues it presents may still have resonance, some of the allegories and specific situations may not make clear sense to a modern reader.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Traditionally, the first in the Narnia series, this book is probably the best known of the set. Here begin the adventures of Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they enter into C.S. Lewis�s wonderful world of Narnia. The story begins, as good fantasy adventures often do, in a wonderful old house full of secret passages and hidden tunnels. The youngest child, Lucy, wanders into an old wardrobe while playing hide and seek, and thus begin their adventures in Narnia. From there, the story chronicles the temptation and betrayal of Edmund as he consorts with the evil White Queen, and his subsequent rescue by the lion Aslan. More than a simple fairy tale, the story becomes an allegory for the death and resurrection of Christ as Aslan sacrifices himself in Edmund�s stead. Lewis�s tale is strongly intertwined with Christian imagery throughout the novel, as he weaves a complex and enchanting work that has become a literary classic.
Prince Caspian In this second book, Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia, after what they believe to be only a few years, to find that hundreds of years have passed in Narnia and the kingdom has fallen into wicked, corrupt hands. The four children, along with Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the Narnian thrown, and an army of fauns, spirits and other characters rise up together, and with the help of Aslan, restore Narnia to it�s former glory. Once again, Lewis uses the land of Narnia to weave a tale of magic and fantasy as the four children return to their beloved Narnia. This book has an entire new cast of characters that are both interesting and enlivening. With high adventures of the grandest style, this novel continues delight me every time I reread it.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader Once again, Lucy and Edmund are drawn back into the land of Narnia, this time through a picture on the wall. It is not only the two siblings who enter this time, however, but also an irritable cousin, aptly named Eustance Clarence Scrubb. Lucy and Edmund are, of course, delighted to rejoin their friend Prince Caspian as he voyages to the end of the world, but Eustance is not so pleased. As the voyagers travel from island to island, they encounter adventures ranging from dragons, to magic pools, to invisible people, eventually sailing to the very edge of the world. Along the way, Eustance discovers that there is much more to life than he had ever dreamt. This novel is my very favorite novel of the entire series. I fell in love with the boat, with Prince Caspian and the entire cast of characters. Lewis�s clever and witty tales pull the reader in and drive the book strongly forward like the Dawn Treader itself. This is truly one of the most enchanting stories I have every read.
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Last Updated: October 7, 1999
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