Are we alone in the universe? Is there a spiritual realm that eye cannot see nor ear cannot hear? Some believe they know the answer to one or both of these questions. For others, those questions are foolish to even ask. The science fiction trilogy penned by the great C.S. Lewis tackles both questions and more in a compelling and engaging tale, beginning with the first book Out of The Silent Planet.

The novel recounts the story of a man unwillingly caught up in events only to discover some secrets of the universe we inhabit, both the physical and spiritual realms. Our protagonist is named Ransom, a name that foreshadows one role he is intended to play and also represents our planet in the spiritual world. However, for the first few paragraphs we only know him as the Pedestrian.

"The last drops of the thundershower had hardly ceased falling when the Pedestrian stuffed his map into his pocket, settled his pack more comfortably on his tired shoulders, and stepped out from the shelter of a large chestnut tree into the middle of the road. A violent yellow sunset was pouring through a rift in the clouds of dark slate. Every tree and blade of grass was dripping, and the road shone like a river."

The term Pedestrian signifies not only that he is on a walking tour in part of England but also that he is an observer of life, not really taking part in it. He has no close family, in fact, no one knows exactly where he is while on holiday. Ransom is a philology professor at a college in Cambridge. ("Literary study or classical scholarship." Also known as historical linguistics, "The study of linguistic change over time in language or in a particular language or language family, sometimes including the reconstruction of unattested forms of earlier stages of a language." Dictionary.com) This expertise would be very useful later in his adventures. I have read speculation that Ransom was fashioned after Lewis' good friend and philologist, J.R.R. Tolkien. One thing is for certain, he is not Lewis, as the reader will discover at the very end of the novel in a very interesting final chapter and postscript.

As the story opens, Ransom is searching for a place to spend the fast approaching night. Having been turned away from one inn he is attempting to reach the next town. Passing by a cottage, a woman comes outside, having mistaken Ransom for her son whose return from work she is waiting for. Her son Harry tends the furnace at another house and, thinking perhaps he can request lodging for the night at this house, Ransom offers to inquire after the boy. Upon reaching the house, Ransom can raise no answer to his knock and then, hearing a scuffle from the rear of the home, he finds Harry in a struggle with two men. Ransom discovers he knew, and intensely disliked, one of the men at school, whose name is Devine. In one of the few touches of wry humour, Devine introduces the other man.

"'You don't know Weston, perhaps?' Devine indicated his massive and loud-voiced companion. 'The Weston,' he added. 'You know. The great physicist. Has Einstein on toast and drinks a pint of Schrödinger's blood for breakfast. Weston, allow me to introduce my old schoolfellow, Ransom. Dr. Elwin Ransom. The Ransom, you know. The great philologist. Has Jesperson on toast and drinks a pint-'"

Despite being suspicious of the excuse given for the struggle he witnessed, Ransom, against his better judgment, allows himself to be invited into the house for a drink. This decision is one he eventually comes to both be thankful for and regret.

Some time later, Ransom awakens, realizing he has been drugged and kidnapped. He is in unfamiliar surroundings and we yet again get an example of the wonderful, descriptive prose of C.S. Lewis.

"There was some kind of skylight immediately over his head - a square of night sky filled with stars. It seemed to Ransom that he had never looked out on such a frosty night. Pulsing with brightness as with some unbearable pain or pleasure, clustered in pathless and countless multitudes, dreamlike in clarity, blazing in perfect blackness, the stars seized all his attention, troubled him, excited him, and drew him up to a sitting position."

Ransom discovers he is on board a spaceship that has taken off from earth with himself, Devine and Weston inside. They are bound for the planet Malacandra which, Weston explains, is the real name of a planet in our solar system, having learned the name from the inhabitants on a previous trip there. Each of the two men have their own motive for their actions. Weston is an egomaniac who sees himself as something of a saviour of mankind with any individual's sacrifice a small price to pay for the greater good.

"My only defense is that small claims must give way to great. As far as we know, we are doing what has never been done in the history of man, perhaps never in the history of the universe. We have learned how to jump off the speck of matter on which our species began; infinity, and therefore perhaps eternity, is being put into the hands of the human race. You cannot be so small-minded as to think that the rights or the life of an individual or of a million individuals are of the slightest importance in comparison with this."

He represents the original temptation in the Garden of Eden when the snake teased Adam and Eve with, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5 KJV. Emphasis added.)

Devine however, is not so forthcoming with his reasons but we can easily discern they are much more materialistic.

"But Devine was secretive after a certain point. He was quite ready to laugh at Weston's solemn scientific idealism. He didn't give a damn, he said, for the future of the species or the meeting of two worlds. 'There's more to Malacandra than that,' he would add with a wink. But when Ransom asked him what more, he would lapse into satire and make ironical remarks about the white man's burden and the blessings of civilisation. 'It is inhabited, then?' Ransom would press. 'Ah - there's always a native question in these things.' Devine would answer. For the most part his conversation ran on the things he would do when he got back to Earth: oceangoing yachts, the most expensive women and a big place on the Riviera figured largely in his plans. 'I'm not running these risks for fun.'"

Naturally, Ransom fears for his life so when the ship reaches Malacandra he escapes and begins a journey on the planet, attempting to survive in the alien surroundings. Ransom meets some of the native races of the planet: the tall, intelligent Sorn, the seal-like Hross who are the singers, farmers and fishers and the frog-like Pfifltriggi who are the diggers and builders. He also learns there are beings he cannot see inhabiting the planet, the eldil. Living among the Hross for some time, Ransom learns the language of the planet and enjoys a peaceful existence for a while. Eventually however, Weston and Devine find him, causing him to flee. With the aid of his new friends, Ransom makes his way to Melidilorn where Oyarsa, the ruler of Malacandra, lives.

Ransom comes to learn why our own planet is called Thulcandra - the silent planet. He learns what the eldil are and whether they exist in our world too. He also learns of Maleldil, the ruler of all. What these represent and whether Ransom returns to his home planet is for you to discover.

Out of the Silent Planet is often referred to as science fiction but even though there are a few elements of that (space travel) I think it belongs more to the fantasy genre. It can be read and enjoyed purely for the story but many also read religious overtones into the tale. This is certainly not surprising since C.S. Lewis is one of the best-known Christian apologists to have ever lived. His writing is always accessible and easy to read, although his non-fiction works are certainly more challenging. Reading from a religious point of view, it is clear what some of the beings represent and what Lewis is attempting to communicate. Yes there are possible lessons to be learned along the way but the book never preaches; Lewis ensures the story is at the forefront, it is not merely a vehicle masking a message. He was always very careful about this point, as evidenced by his essay, On Stories from Of This and Other Worlds.

The novel is not very fast-paced, in fact some may find it quite dull in parts although there are a few exciting and dangerous events; also, the ending is filled with suspense. Personally, I enjoyed how lovingly Lewis created the various characters and species. They are all distinct and unique, when a certain character died I felt very sad. This, for me, is more important than a story that rushes along at breakneck speed; I want to know the characters, I want to feel them and feel as if I know them. It is told from Ransom's vantage point in the third person and we struggle along with him to understand the new and wondrous creatures he at first fears and then befriends. In addition, the planet of Malacandra is wonderfully described, it is easy to see the land in your mind's eye.

Out of the Silent Planet is a quick read at about 140 pages and is self-contained; there are no loose ends at the conclusion forcing you to continue the trilogy if you do not wish to. I first read this book as a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed it. Revisiting it years later I was able to pick out the religious undertones. Upon this, my third reading, I am more able to appreciate Lewis' wonderful, descriptive writing; his love of literature, language and mythology come through in the book. At one point, as he ponders the history of Malacandra he learned from Oyarsa, Ransom thinks, "He knew it would seem like mythology when he got back to Earth (if he ever got back), but the presence of Oyarsa was still too fresh a memory to allow him any real doubts. It even occurred to him that the distinction between history and mythology might itself be meaningless outside the Earth."

First published in 1938 by John Love (The Bodley Head) Ltd.

The Author

Clive Staples Lewis was born on November 29, 1898 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Although raised as a Christian, Lewis abandoned the faith during his early teenage years, becoming an atheist. Studying Norse mythology, literature and philosophy, Lewis was awarded a scholarship to University College in Oxford, England and began attending there in 1917. At Oxford, Lewis received a first in Greek and Latin Literature in 1920, a first in Philosophy and Ancient History in 1922 and a first in English in 1923. (I believe a "first" is the highest mark one can achieve.) In 1924, Lewis worked for a few months as a philosophy tutor at University College, Cambridge, England, then in 1925 was elected a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, England where he tutored in English Language and Literature for the next 29 years.

In 1931, following a long talk with his close friend J.R.R. Tolkien (author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings,) Lewis placed his faith in Christianity. In 1933, Lewis published The Pilgrim's Regress. In 1941 Lewis began writing his series of Screwtape Letters for weekly insertion in The Guardian. In 1944 Lewis recorded a series of talks known as Beyond Personality for BBC radio. These talks would eventually be published as one book, Mere Christianity. In 1946, Lewis was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by the University of St. Andrews.

In 1950, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was published, the first of the seven Narnia Chronicles. In 1953 Lewis met Joy Davidman Gresham; they would marry in 1956. In 1958 Lewis was elected an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford. In 1960, at the age of 45, Joy passed away due to cancer. In 1963, C.S. Lewis passed away one week before his 65th birthday.

I have only mentioned a few of Lewis' published works in this brief biography, there are many more. His Narnia Chronicles have been loved by children and adults for many years, I own two complete sets and have read them numerous times. Lewis was a brilliant man, an expert in literature and language. His Christian writing is known and loved throughout the world, his scholarly texts are highly respected classics.

For a more extensive biography, one of the many places I used to increase my knowledge of his life, plus much more about the writings of C.S. Lewis see http://cslewis.drzeus.net/


Recommended: Yes