Perelandra

Ransom Trilogy, Book 2

By: C. S. Lewis

Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard

Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

C. S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy, of which Perelandra is the second volume, stands alongside such works as Albert Camus’s The Plague and George Orwell’s 1984 as a timely parable that has become timeless, beloved by succeeding generations as much for the sheer wonder of its storytelling as for the significance of the moral concerns.

Readers who fall in love with Lewis’s fantasy series The Chronicles of Namia as children unfailingly cherish his Space Trilogy as adults; it, too, brings to life strange and magical realms in which epic battles are fought between the forces of light and those of darkness. But in the many layers of its allegory, and the sophistication and piercing brilliance of its insights into the human condition, it occupies a place among the English language’s most extraordinary works for any age, and for all time.

Perelandra is a planet of pleasure, an unearthly, misty world of strange desires, sweet smells, and delicious tastes, where beasts are friendly and naked beauty is unashamed, a new Garden of Eden, where the story of the oldest temptation is enacted in an intriguingly new way. Here, in the second part of C. S. Lewis’s acclaimed Ransom Trilogy, Dr. Ransom’s adventures continue against the backdrop of a religious allegory that, while it may seem quaint in its treatment of women today, nonetheless shows the capability of science to be an evil force tempting a ruler away from the path that has produced a paradisiacal kingdom. Will Perelandra succumb to this malevolent being, who strives to create a new world order, or will it throw off the yoke of corruption and achieve a spiritual perfection as yet unknown to man?

©1944 Clive Staples Lewis (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Geoffrey Howard's skilled narration keeps the listener riveted. His scholarly handling of the text minimizes characterization, while easily distinguishing the players. Howard's respect for the subject matter equals Lewis's own and entices the listener to address serious questions of temptation and morality." (AudioFile)

A must read/listen

Truly a masterful reimagining of the Adam/Eve story. Lewis’ story is thoughtful imaginative and well told with tons of description and fun details to keep the dialogue dense parts moving. The ending is harrowing and breathtaking.

Simply a MUST read/listen

I’ve listen to this story, and the other two in the trilogy, several times. I continue to learn new ideas each time.

A wonderful telling of a deep story

The sci-fi premise is just the backdrop for a spiritual, emotional, human, and compelling story. You will want some time afterwards, to process this one...

Not up to the first, but good enough

Liked it; didn't love it. I think it lacked the depth of the first seeming to build to a confusing array of gods and planets. That part reminded me of the Star Wars bar scene.

1990s my reading period I read the Narnia series

Thus Narnia books led me to JRR Tolkien epics and Dickess and more. Parelandra is the second of three adult fiction, not that a teen not try and read but it's not a child's fiction. Outer Space with much symbolic tones. I read the series of 3 books and this audio version is excellent. I must say you will find it a good book and it's word for word as the book itself. A must if you are a C S Lewis reader.

A story for the ages

I first read this book 50 years ago. This reading brings this timeless story back fresh and new.

Surprised

I am not sure what I exptected but this is a great listen. It helped me understand what Eve must have been like in the garden.

Fantastic Supposal

Lewis' imagination takes you to a parallel world and supposes what would happen if man did not fall. He does this with a splendid blend of sci-fi and illustrated christian life.

It would be fantastic to see this made as a movie with the Avatar technology set.
This is without a doubt one of my favorite novels by Lewis along with That Hideous Strength.

Great, but you have to commit to the series

This is the 2nd part of a trilogy and I liked it a lot. In a way it's like a Chronicles of Narnia for adults. The writing and references are a bit dated and you might have to be interested in certain humanistic philosophies and how they bump against Christianity to fully appreciate it. It also takes a bit to jump into the world he created here, but it is WELL worth the commitment to the series. Such amazing ways of looking at God's love and how he uses us in the great game.

Excellent.

C. S. Lewis crafting Christian concepts into fiction, in Perelandra, is a must read for all philosophical thinkers; making the reality of what is real more tangible.