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CS Barron's Reviews > Out of the Silent Planet
Out of the Silent Planet (The Space Trilogy, #1)
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I'm about halfway through, and I'm quitting. This book doesn't really answer the typical sci-fi question, "What if...?" It's more of a religious parable, even a fantasy, masquerading as sci-fi. Not much story yet, at least where I'm stopping. I entertained myself by dissecting the religious symbolism.
The central character, Ransom, is kidnapped into the heavens, into the light. Solar radiation for space flight, the bright light in the spaceship, the travelers are naked (before God?). Kidnapping is a potent symbol of something grabbing a person, and forcing a confrontation with evil or ignorance. Ransom is embarked on a journey of enlightenment, whether he wants it or not.
The people of Malacandra symbolize the physical elements: Seroni are Air; Hross are Water; Pfifltriggi are Earth. Different aspects of material life have been assembled. CSL mentions the "strong waters" of Malacandra, suggesting that water in this book also represents soul or spirit. Hross and Ransom travel on water. Oyarsa is a timeless, ageless ruler of all (not sure where this is going). The Eldil are the invisible messengers (angels?) that the unenlightened Ransom cannot see.
OK, I get all that. But I feel like I'm marching through an anthropological study. Nothing inherently wrong with this book, it's probably a good example of its subgenre, but I'm not into it. I have a pile of other books on my table and they beckon.
The central character, Ransom, is kidnapped into the heavens, into the light. Solar radiation for space flight, the bright light in the spaceship, the travelers are naked (before God?). Kidnapping is a potent symbol of something grabbing a person, and forcing a confrontation with evil or ignorance. Ransom is embarked on a journey of enlightenment, whether he wants it or not.
The people of Malacandra symbolize the physical elements: Seroni are Air; Hross are Water; Pfifltriggi are Earth. Different aspects of material life have been assembled. CSL mentions the "strong waters" of Malacandra, suggesting that water in this book also represents soul or spirit. Hross and Ransom travel on water. Oyarsa is a timeless, ageless ruler of all (not sure where this is going). The Eldil are the invisible messengers (angels?) that the unenlightened Ransom cannot see.
OK, I get all that. But I feel like I'm marching through an anthropological study. Nothing inherently wrong with this book, it's probably a good example of its subgenre, but I'm not into it. I have a pile of other books on my table and they beckon.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 13, 2015
– Shelved
October 13, 2015
–
Finished Reading
