Out of the Silent Planet

With so much to choose from in the library sometimes it is hard to make a decision on what to read. Since not enough attention seems to be given to Christian fiction, I thought it might be time to check out some of our choices in this area.

First thought…C.S. Lewis. He is a classic when it comes to great Christian literature, and I know we wouldn’t have any argument that he can spin a tale for all ages. Younger readers have to check out the Chronicles of Narnia. As adults we are most familiar with his more serious Christian works, Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters and others, but I was looking for something a bit more on the wild side….something Science Fiction.

Lewis’ Space Trilogy has been on my reading list for awhile and I finally started with Out of the Silent Planet this winter. We meet Dr. Ransom, a Cambridge philologist on a walking trip (his trip started on Earth). Very early on he is drugged and finds himself on some weird spaceship leaving Earth. Lewis wastes no time in getting us into his story. We are immediately transported into Dr. Ransom’s state of confusion, wonder and fear.

We know Lewis can tell a tale, but can he write Science Fiction? Science Fiction enthusiasts have certain expectations when it comes to a story. It has to be make believe, but very believable, and it has to tell a good story that can cross many genres of fiction…Mystery, Fantasy, and whatever else a writer can add from life experience to paint a picture with words. Weaving a tale of make believe is tricky business, starting with a spaceship heading for another planet is a good start. C.S. Lewis can create new worlds and imaginative characters without a problem. He is a master of allegory, and a master of Fantasy. But Science Fiction?

Okay so Dr. Ransom is delivered to a planet, Malacandra (Mars) and he tries to quickly become accustomed to the lay of the land…don’t forget the air of mystery…the plan of his captors. Then we meet the planet’s inhabitants, the Hrossa, Seroni and Pfifltriggi, and we learn a bit of the language and a bit of their religion. We even learn some things about humans through their eyes, that ‘whatever else a writer can add from life experience’ is added in Lewis’ polished way.

As the pages turn we feel like we’re in some abstract world in an artist’s mind. A mix of Maxfield Parrish colors and Salvador Dali creatures. That is Science Fiction. That is Out of the Silent Planet. The beginning of a great space trilogy followed up with Perelandra and That Hideous Strength.

Have you ventured into C. S. Lewis’ fiction? Do you think fiction has a place in Christianity?  What are your favorite C. S. Lewis books?