Perelandra

Much, much richer than Out of the Silent Planet was. Perelandra displays the wonder and grandeur of the works of God in his creation and redemption of all things. Blessed be He! I was also very pleased to see C.S. Lewis write himself in as a character into the story. So many layers…

SHOOKETH

Lewis is a man with a tremendous vocabulary, rivaled perhaps by his imagination. Both of these abilities are in full-bloom in Perelandra. This book is a re-imagining of the Garden of Eden and the temptation of Eve, but also a "what if" story that looks into what might have happened if mankind had not fallen into sin. Also, I have to agree with another reviewer that said this book provides a chilling look at the creature of Satan. For anyone that has ever thought Eve was weak-willed, or perhaps thought that they would have resisted the temptation, Perelandra will provide a deeper look into what may have transpired in the Garden. A look that will give you reason to keep your confidence at bay. As for C.S. Lewis, he holds a special place in my heart, as his books always give me a greater appreciation for my Lord and Savior. Well done Mr. Lewis.

Hmm. Not a fan. Review to come during winter break, possibly? (BREAK IS ALMOST HERE. *gleefully dances in glitter*)

Not my favorite of the space trilogy but still good.

Wow. Lewis crafted something so incredibly special in Perelandra. The theological depth found in Out of the Silent Planet, the first novel in this trilogy, was expanded and deepened in this second installment. However, the density of Lewis’s writing was much easier to navigate here, making for a more enjoyable story all around. It’s rare for a second book in a series to so far surpass the first book, but that is exactly what occurs in Lewis’s Space Trilogy. Ransom, the hero of the trilogy, has already visited Mars. While that visit was against his will, he gained so much from the experience that he leapt at the chance when the angelic being he met on the Red Planet issued a request for Ransom to explore the heavens once more, this time heading for Venus. What Ransom finds when he lands on Venus, or Perelandra as it is called by the angelic beings known as eldila, is unlike anything he could have imagined. Mars, or Malacandra, was a planet at the end of its life cycle, as evidenced by the harsh environment and the disappearance of an entire species of cognitive beings. Earth, or Thulcandra, is somewhere in the middle of its life cycle. Perelandra, on the other hand, is in its infancy, or at least at the beginning of a brand new stage. Ransom enters into this beautiful, Edenic planet to find that only two cognitive beings residing on its surface, a male and a female. When he arrives, Ransom meets only the Queen, because she and the King have been separated for a time. As it turns out, that separation opens the woman up to be tempted and tested by another member of Adam’s race, sent to the planet due to his possession by a much darker force. Ransom watches in horror as Venus becomes like Eden in more ways than one. He does his best to counter the temptations and plead with the woman not to give in, but the decision is ultimately hers. Will this world’s Eve succumb? Lewis’s world building here was stunning. The floating islands, the mighty waves, the flora and fauna completely unlike those of Earth in every way, the almost magical fruit, and the gorgeous golden dome of the sky were all intensely beautiful in their descriptions. Lewis creates in such a way that his creations are easy to visualize, even when they’re utterly alien in every way. I found the similarities and differences between Perelandra fascinating, both in appearance and in the form temptation takes. The man and woman on Perelandra are also the first new race to be created since the coming of Christ on our planet, which was an event that radically changed the universe. How will that coming effect the new life beginning on Perelandra? Because have an effect it certainly shall. I love the idea of the human race not being alone in the universe, but instead being one cognitive group among many. How do our stories impact each other? It is so easy to let ourselves become the center of the universe and the star of the story when neither of those views have ever been true. We were created out of love and imagination, not necessity. When we remember that we are merely a small part of a much bigger story, God’s story, life takes on so much more meaning and depth and excitement to see where the story will take us. I think that the idea of other planets being peopled is a great way to remind ourselves that we aren’t the focus. Lewis presents that idea beautifully, and I can’t wait to see how he wraps up this tale in its final installment.

What a beautiful retelling of the Christian story.

This book gave me a new appreciation for Lewis.

even if more heavyhanded in parts, still more interesting and elliptical than the first

A review from my old blog (a review of the whole trilogy) ... I am not much of a science fiction aficionado but I gave these books by C. S. Lewis a try because I love the Chronicles of Narnia so much. I didn't really like these books. I never really got into them. the plot of all three of them while connected in some ways really had nothing to do with each other and really didn't seem all that connected within the books themselves. I did enjoy the books but the plot took such a turn that often I really didn't understand the story. I guess I'm still not much for science fiction and found myself very disappointed especially when comparing those books to Chronicles of Narnia which I absolutely love.