• That Hideous Strength

  • Ransom Trilogy, Book 3
  • By: C. S. Lewis
  • Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
  • Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (5,809 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
That Hideous Strength  By  cover art

That Hideous Strength

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.90

Buy for $17.90

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In this, the final book in C.S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which includes Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, That Hideous Strength concludes the adventures of the matchless Dr. Ransom. Finding himself in a world of superior alien beings and scientific experiments run amok, Dr. Ransom struggles with questions of ethics and morality, applying age-old wisdom to a brave new universe dominated by science. His quest for truth is a journey filled with intrigue and suspense.

©1946 Clive Staples Lewis (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Well-written, fast-paced satirical fantasy." (Time)
"Biting wit, superlatively nonsensical excitement, challenging implications." (New York Times)

Featured Article: 95+ C.S. Lewis Quotes About Love, Life, Faith, Bravery, and Friendship


Born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1898, C.S. Lewis is perhaps one of the most esteemed and beloved authors of all time. His acclaimed classics range from The Chronicles of Narnia fantasy series to the theologically-specific Mere Christianity. As one of the world’s most respected authors, Lewis’s words of wisdom continue to inspire countless readers and listeners. Here are our favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis about friendship, love, life, and faith.

What listeners say about That Hideous Strength

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,360
  • 4 Stars
    929
  • 3 Stars
    372
  • 2 Stars
    104
  • 1 Stars
    44
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,044
  • 4 Stars
    744
  • 3 Stars
    162
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    21
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,748
  • 4 Stars
    774
  • 3 Stars
    317
  • 2 Stars
    122
  • 1 Stars
    42

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I’m glad Marvel hasn’t caught wind yet

Some fiction is meant to come to life in an individual’s mind and reimagined throughout their lifetime.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

Great finish to the series. Paralandra is my favorite but this ties the other two really well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Capable of Awakening One from the Slumbers of the Everyday Existence

Not for everyone at all times in one’s life. But in the readiness of time it can occasion a real transformation. CS Lewis is a master in serving up the deep old truths in a manner that makes them seem new util they bite you from behind.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Be patient. It’s worth it.

I adore the writings of CS Lewis, both fiction and non-fiction AND I’ve learned that I need to be patient with his creations ... Stay with it and let the story unravel. Listen for the subtle details and trust that the messages will become clearer as the plot unfolds. This is especially true for the three books of the Cosmic Trilogy, this one being no exception. It starts slow for our modern, tweet-based sensibilities but develops into a lovely spiritual fable. Enjoy! It is well worth the read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hidden gem

I find it curious that many reviews of this book say that is the worst of the trilogy. I did not find that at all. In fact I would call it the best of the three.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Deep and Relevant Allegory for our time

So relevant for today. Lewis condenses millenia of Christian thinking in this allegory. The book is necessary for modern discussions of biological engineering, alternate sexualities, the nuclear family, the lure of the inner circle, ontology, hamartiology, and spirituality. It is equivalent to 3+ non-fiction books written up as a single allegory. This is something to reread and dig deep.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well read. Great story. The definition of classic.

It was a wonderful ride. So happy that I listened to this trilogy. It's a shame that there will be no more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best of the series

The story line and descriptions were great. It hit home with the point of being moved in directions I did not want to go just to be somebody.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very different from the first two of the trilogy.

Does not deal with the planets, save one: Earth. A well-written story and entertaining critique of much modern philosophy. Surprisingly relevant, 70 years after its publishing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • TS
  • 12-17-16

Hideous brilliance

Dazzling in its every particular, story, narration, everything. Please post more like this -- if there are any anywhere

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!