This is the second book in C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy, but it can be read stand-alone—in fact, I read it before I read the rest of the trilogy. Like Lewis’ Narnia series, this book feels a bit like biblical fan fiction. Though not technically an allegory, certain characters and beings have obvious parallels to biblical characters and beings.
Maleldil and his eldila (Lewis’ science-fiction version of God and angels) send the main character, Dr. Elwin Ransom, from Earth to the planet Perelandra (Venus) to stop a newly created human-like race from falling like his own. There he meets the first woman on the planet.
At the same time another man from Earth also arrives on Perelandra: Dr. Edward Weston. While conversing with Ransom, in his pride Weston unintentionally invites the devil to inhabit his body and becomes the tempter (read: crafty serpent) to the woman.
As Weston tries to deceive her into doing the one thing Maleldil told the woman and her husband not to do, Ransom tries to keep the woman from plunging her people into depravity like his own ancestor, Eve. An epic battle ensues—the result of which will determine whether the future of the planet’s race will be perfected glory or sin and corruption.
There are many theological themes woven throughout with classic C.S. Lewis insight. But my favorite has to be Chapter 11, when Ransom wonders why God hasn’t sent someone to stop the tempter and realizes he is the one who God sent—his actions have real eternal consequences and yet they all fall under Maleldil’s sovereign power at the same time.
“It was true that if he left it undone, Maleldil himself would do some greater thing instead. In that sense, he stood for Maleldil: but no more than Eve would have stood for him by simply not eating the apple, or than any man stands for him in doing any good action.”
Perelandra is my favorite book—it creatively paints a beautiful image of a pre-fallen world. And at about 200 pages, (seven hours on audio) it’s worth a read.
Seth is the Communications Director at Faith Bible Church and loves anything to do with design, video, audio and tech. He and his wife Kaitlyn have three children.
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