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I had a random urge one day to pick this book up and read. I couldn't tell you why, but all I know is that I am so happy I did! This book is the first fiction book I have picked up in a long time, let alone enjoyed. C.S. Lewis' writing style captivated me right away with it's poetic nature and attention to detail. His description of the other-worldly planet "Malacandra" is beautiful and filled with awe.
While reading this book I found myself amazed with this colorful and beautiful planet that Lewis had created. And I asked myself, would alien life view our planet as beautiful? I mean, my captivation of all the weird plants and species on Malacandra was because it was not like Earth. This prompted me to look at the world around me through the eyes of someone who had never known any of it. I was laying in a hammock looking up at a tree. I realised the beauty and odd design of trees. They began to amaze me and draw upon that same whimsy that I felt when reading of Malacandra.
I also very much enjoyed the main characters (Ransom) time with the hross species. Lewis detailed Ransom's journey from being clueless about the hrossa and there language, to Ransom learning to speak more fluently and be able to communicate with the hrossa. I had never experienced this in a book before. The building of a different language that was coherent and also fun to read about. Not to mention, Ransom had more than a few deep conversations with the hrossa, specifically his friend Hyoi. These revealed a lot of presuppositions that Ransom had about this alien world that were wrong. And it really challenges us to look at our presuppositions about different things in this world.
Early on in the book Ransom encounters a species called "Sorns". His immediate thoughts about them were that they are terrifying, harmful, powerful, beings. He thought of them akin to ogres. However, when Ransom meets Augray, a sorn at the top of a mountain who saved him during his journey to meet Oyarsa. This sorn treated him just as the hrossa treated him. And his fear of them began to melt away. His presuppositions he held that were based off no real interaction with the sorn began to melt away. He did not see them as ogres, but as titans or angels.
Ransom's change in heart towards this particular species is very moving. It brings us into our own heart. What presuppositions do we have towards other groups of people, or towards individuals in our life? How can we confront our presuoppositions and challenge what we believe to be true? These questions seem to pop up while reading this book. It really challenges us to look at things from a different angle and to test our own presuppositions.
Anyone who knows C.S. Lewis, even briefly, knows that he was a Christian. It was hugely seen in his Narnia series. And even more in here. Lewis uses the idea of a being called Maleldil as a "god" type in this story. I see a very distinct parallel between Satan and Earth's Oyarsa (both are fallen angelic type beings). And we also see that because Earth's Oyars is fallen, it has lead all of the Earth's inhabitants to follow it's path. Ransom notes this on page 82, right after Hyoi was shot. He explains to Hyoi that the humans came to bring war and terror. Ransom says, "We are all a bent race." This aligns directly with the core Christian doctrine that all humans are born into Adam's sin. We are all bent away from God.
I think Lewis presents Malacandra as a type of Eden. Of course, this can easily be debated because Malacandra is not perfect itself. However, the beings on that planet live in perfect harmony with one another. Were it not for the Bent Oyarsa, their planet wouldn't be as harmed as it is.
Another very thoughtful remark made in this book comes from a wise Sorn. Ransom has just learned that each planet has a Oyarsa to care for and exercise a type of lordship over it. However, Thulcandra (Earth) does not (or so it would seem at this point). Ransom had just told the wise and younger Sorn that were with him about war, slavery, and prostituion on Thulcandra. And the younger sorn thought it to be that way because they didn't have a Oyarsa. However, the wiser Sorn interjects and says that humans are bent because "They all want to ba little Oyarsa's." This is a very thought provoking question, especially for unbelievers I'd think. Anytime we try to control our life we are essentially wanting to be our own God or Oyarsa. We want the power, control, and pleassure. And if we don't get it, God help anyone in our way.
Another powerful statement made in this book is that of fear. The Oyarsa begins telling Weston, Divine, and Ransom that his people do not fear death. They know that death is coming, so why sit and be afraid of something we know is coming. This idea presses into Christian idealogy because the Oyarsa says that the Maleldil gives peace to its subjects. Much like Jesus gives us a peace that settles are largest fear and problem: God and His judgement towards us.
This is still a very powerful thought to ponder. Why are we afraid of something we know will happen eventually? Death WILL strike us all, and there is NO escape. Let's not waste our lives fearing the inevitable.
I know this review (or whatever you want to call it) seemed very sporatic. I don't really know what I'm doing. But I just want to finish this off by saying that I think everyone should read this book. Re-read it, read it to your kids, and really give it the time of day. This book can only be enjoyed fully when you take in the content, but then also think about the implications as you read. Actually think on the ideas proposed in this book. It is a wealth of wisdom, a fantastic story, and a beautiful allegory that ultimately pointed me back to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The triune God of OUR universe.