The Space Trilogy

inked said:
Ransom therefore works on a literal level, an allegorical level, a moral level, and an anogogical level (like Dante in THE DIVINE COMEDY, in fact).
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Have you read the Divine Comedy, Inked? I've read Inferno and Paradiso, but not Purgatorio.
 
Yes, I have read the Comedia many times in translations by Dorothy L. Sayers (my favorite due to the aids she provided and the style of her work), by John Ciardi (my next fav!), and others. There are many online resources as well that are on my favorites list.

Most people have read the Inferno or bits of it because of literature courses or the grotesqueries. And Purgatorio is probably the least read but most loved as Ms Sayers noted, if my memory serves me correctly. It is odd that you would have read the first and last but skipped the middle!

Now, to put to rest a common misconception, Purgatory is in heaven in the sense that all who get there are destined to the Beatific Vision in Paradise, as the Paradisio unveils it in its levels and concomittant rose. Too many people think it a "second chance" which it is not. But Ms Sayers does a splendid job of explaining this in her introduction to Purgatorio, which I urge you with haste to find and read! (Of course, I understand if you wait until after reading HP and the HBP! :D )

What did you think of Inferno and Paradisio?
 
My friend's older brother has the Space Trilogy, and I asked him if I could read them, but he isn't the nicest of brothers, so he yelled at me for looking at his stuff. I can't find them anywhere else... :( ...So I'm yet to read them.
 
They should have them at your library, either in sci-fi section or general fiction.

Out of the Silent Planet
Perelandra
That Hideous Strength

Or if you want to buy them, they probably have some used ones for pretty cheap at Amazon.com. Search for them by the author's name or the title of each separate book, I don't know if they come up under "Space Trilogy."
 
Yeah, it was for class, and we read Ms. Sayers' translation(which I really enjoyed, cuz of all the effort she put into it, what with the rhyme scheme and all~!), but we didn't have time to read Purgatorio.

I really, really liked Inferno and Paradiso--planning on using Dante's Beatrific method of salvation in the allegory I'm writing.
 
Hello all - The Space Trilogy is on my reading list for this year (after my annual reading of LOTR). These posts have inspired me to read them. I'll eventually read all of Lewis' works.
 
Excellent goal, NJ. Be sure to look at the scholarly stuff too, if you care for that sort of thing! And don't forget the various collections of essays! Nor THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS! You have so much enjoyment and pleasure and challenging thought to enjoy ahead of you. (Then you can re-read it as I have done for decades and continue and deepen that learning and pleasure!) :D
 
inked said:
Excellent goal, NJ. Be sure to look at the scholarly stuff too, if you care for that sort of thing! And don't forget the various collections of essays! Nor THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS! You have so much enjoyment and pleasure and challenging thought to enjoy ahead of you. (Then you can re-read it as I have done for decades and continue and deepen that learning and pleasure!) :D
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Thanks inked. I'll make sure to cover all his works. I remember reading Mere Christianity (required reading in H.S) and finding it very good. I'll have to add to my re-read list. Yes re-reading is a great way to completely understand great literature. I find so many details (small & profound) I've missed the first times around.
 
Hello everyone! This topic is what convinced me to register. I haven't read anything besides the CoN. I was speaking with a few friends about literature in general. When I introduced Lewis' works to the conversation, all everyone knew or heard of was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. So I began to search online for others who've read more of his other work and I ended it up here :).

I'm currently reading Mere Christianity, as well, and ordered the Screwtape Letters for my next reading. I've read so much about it here, I just might begin reading it as soon as it arrives.
 
Forgive my ignorance, but is 'That Hideous Strength' part of the Space Trilogy? Its just I was searching through our 'old' bookshelf that has all my mum and dads books from the 70's, and I noticed we had that book. I also noticed its part of a trilogy, and remembered it being mentioned on here....
 
Each one is quite a bit longer than any one CON, and THS is longer than the other two -- but they are not jumbo books by any means, not like The DaVinci Code or something.
 
I'm about more than half way through Out of the Silent Planet and it's very good so far. I like Lewis' way of walking the reader through Ransom's mind...don't want to post any spoilers so I'll just shush now. :)
 
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some possible spoilers...

Okay I've finished this book and found it very good. As an avid reader of SciFi, I particularly like Lewis' description of space and space travel. Space for Ransom was vibrant and colorful, not the cold dead void most SciFi writers make it out to be. The space craft used wasn't some sterile bland, typical rocket, (like Marvin the Martian's rockets or any vessel used in SW).

So many references to the Biblical stories, a great spiritual battle in Outer Space, the Old One (God) had cast down the rebellious guide or angel (Satan) unto our planet. The Old One sends his son Maleldil (Christ) to earth to restore that former relationship our planet once had with the rest of the universe...There's so much more but I'm tired...

It's almost like the CoN but to a higher degree. Tomorrow...Perelandra
 
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