I loved reading the Chronicles of Narnia as a kid. I still remember when my dad gave me the boxed set. Ever since I have had the utmost respect for C.S. Lewis.
Recently, I started reading his Science Fiction Trilogy starring this guy named Ransom. The first book is called
Out of the Silent Planet, the second
Perelandra and the third is called
That Hideous Strength.
All three books are written differently, but Lewis is a great storyteller and has done a good job so far in keeping my nose on his text. I'm hooked! (As you read this, I'm probably in the first couple chapters of the third book).
Anyway, for a while, I was thinking myself all cool and everything because I was understanding some of the concepts concerning different dimensions, time and the Christian struggle against evil (not against flesh and blood etc...)
Well, this third book,
That Hideous Strength, is really making me feel utterly stupid.
Lewis introduces a miryad of characters, mostly English University types from various fields, who love to speak using vocabulary unknown to me. In fact, it isn't just the dialogue that uses complicated words, Lewis' prose is littered with words like 'effusive', 'insolent', 'rabble' and 'virago'. He also uses references to ancient mythology and English literature which I am sadly unfamiliar with. One of the more interesting references is the 'bed of Procrustes' which you'll have to look up if you want to know the meaning.
Sure, I can pretend to understand the vocabulary "in context", but do I know the exact meaning of each word? Could I explain it to a fifth grader? (I can now, since I use
dictionary.com to get the definitions). The weird thing is that I don't feel as if C.S. Lewis is condescending in writing this way rather that I am just 'unlearned' and somewhat dumb, you know? Whose fault is it? I mean, I know I'm not the only one in the world who thinks I am 'smart' only to find the opposite to be true. In fact, so many people seem much worse off yet remain ignorant of the fact. People pop-cultured to the point that their vocabulary climaxes with Britney Spears and Snoop Dogg. I abhor what these 'stars' are doing to our youth and my generation by the way but that's a topic for another day I guess.
Back to
That Hideous Strength. This book has me hooked. I definitely reccomend it -the whole series in fact. Here is a summary of the three books:
Out of the Silent Planet: Ransom, the main character, goes on a dangerous journey through the solar system to another planet comes in contact with other intelligent species.
Perelandra: A conversation and struggle between Ransom, Satan and an 'Eve' of a 'new' world.
That Hideous Strength: An Elite group of Savants is bent on advancing the human race at all costs and Ransom is somehow involved in the resistance to this movement. (I'm only in the first 70 pages and the book hasn't brought Ransom into the picture yet).
All three books deal with the Scientification of religion and God. What I mean is the idea that God doesn't exist, or that Nature is God, or that Man doesn't need God rather that he must rely on science, stuff like that. I'm afraid that I am not doing the books justice on these matters though. I'll just end by saying that these books, even though they are fiction, have promoted an increase in my faith in Christ.
Anyway, in my opinion, you don't have to be a Christian to enjoy the books. I highly reccomend them (did I already say that?)
