The first book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which continues with Perelandra and That Hideous Strength, Out of the Silent Planet begins the adventures of the remarkable Dr. Ransom. Here, that estimable man is abducted by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice and taken via spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra. The two men are in need of a human sacrifice, and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Once on the planet, however, Ransom eludes his captors, risking his life and his chances of returning to Earth, becoming a stranger in a land that is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity. First published in 1943, Out of the Silent Planet remains a mysterious and suspenseful tour de force.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Certainly worth reading, although could have been more in depth...:
I had no clue that Lewis had written a sci fi trilogy when I stumbled upon this one completely by random. I was in between books and it is certainly a quick read, so why not? I am glad that I did. Lewis does a great job in telling a story and making sure that he finishes it up and ties up the loose ends. He created a world that was altogether plausible. The Oyarsa and the Hnau add a lot, and also tell a story about our own world. As with anything Lewis writes, I can't help but look for a parable... more info
A Must Read:
This is a must read for any Lewis fan and really for anybody. It is excellent and very though provoking.
Welcome to Mars!:
I originally read this book back in high school where my naive self was only familiar with Narnia and those wiley devils of the Screwtape Letters. I knew the man could do a twist of fantasy, but Lewis surprised me with this beginning book that could only be called a religious science fiction experience. Two scientists differing in their view on faith are transported to another, close planet to discover it was never how Earth imagined it. Lewis writes much more adult than he did with Narnia and is able to... more info
Clever sci-fi AND a compelling allegory!:
Elwin Ransom, an Oxford don and an ardent philologist, is enjoying a solitary cross country ramble on his vacation when he encounters Professor Devine, a long-time acquaintance from his student days at Oxford, and Weston, a somewhat distracted and grumpy, reclusive individual. Weston is, in fact, a physicist who has secretly built a space craft in which he and Devine plan to return to Mars (Malacandra, in the native Martian populace's language) with nefarious ideas of plunder and planetary domination. As... more info
