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michaelesch's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I always feel weird writing a review for a second book in trilogy. If you are reading this book you have probably already read Out of the Silent Planet. I found this one to be a little bit more interesting. The planet is similar to Eden, but as always, it has its twists. It is classic C.S. Lewis writing on spiritual things in a such a good and unique way, while also giving great insight to true spiritual realities, mainly that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone that is a Lewis fan. If you have never read C.S Lewis, I would recommend first reading Screwtape Letters, before you start with the Space Trilogy, if you like that one, you will most definitely like these.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone that is a Lewis fan. If you have never read C.S Lewis, I would recommend first reading Screwtape Letters, before you start with the Space Trilogy, if you like that one, you will most definitely like these.
jenniamysuzy's review against another edition
3.5
I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first book, mostly because I could really tell in this one that it was a Lewis book. There were Bible references all throughout this one that I think I missed in the first book or were just missing in general.
tarrowood's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of the novel was really tough to get into and at times felt like lazy writing on Lewis’s part, which was disappointing (Lewis is no sci-fi writer in my books). As the story progressed I was more pulled in, but there’s way too much explanation and overt correlations in the novel to wow me. I will say that there were theological ideas that really got me (like the concept of how long it could’ve taken for temptation to root in Eve, and the idea of what a perfect world would look like). But, those weren’t enough to truly compel me throughout. A decent, but not great book
m_henchard's review against another edition
2.0
Worthwhile for the final conversation between Ransom and Weston.
taybot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It's a great story but full of barely disguised Christian icons, tropes, motifs, and morals. It would be a much better book if CS Lewis had been less ham fisted about trying to preach his religion, but it was a fun read even with those complaints
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Violence
kcrawfish's review against another edition
4.0
Why isn’t there more Sci-Fi in C.S. Lewis’s portfolio? Seriously, who can I talk to about this??
Creatively imagined, Lewis takes us to Venus, or Perelandra as the locals term it. This is an Eden, a cousin to Earth herself, where everything is untouched by darkness as of yet. Where Mars was the ancient, wizened cousin of Earth, Venus is a baby, brand new to sentient life, and beautifully naïve and pure.
The world building of this foreign planet was a delight (I’m so mad that I know better and can’t imagine this lovely world a hop-skip-and-a-jump away). Details flow out of Lewis like water, washing over you without overwhelming your creative faculties.
Here we get a look at a fun-house mirror of Earth’s past, as a tempter shows up to fell this new, innocent human-ish species, and our hero learns to see Earth as it should have been. Virtues rule here, and we confront some deadly sins in such a way that Ransom can see the folly of them. Earth is horribly askew, and here is a meter against which to measure it.
Now he’s gotta save the locals from their “snake in the garden,” and this look at Satan is anything but pretty.
I can’t recommend these books enough, but read and decide for yourselves :)
Creatively imagined, Lewis takes us to Venus, or Perelandra as the locals term it. This is an Eden, a cousin to Earth herself, where everything is untouched by darkness as of yet. Where Mars was the ancient, wizened cousin of Earth, Venus is a baby, brand new to sentient life, and beautifully naïve and pure.
The world building of this foreign planet was a delight (I’m so mad that I know better and can’t imagine this lovely world a hop-skip-and-a-jump away). Details flow out of Lewis like water, washing over you without overwhelming your creative faculties.
Here we get a look at a fun-house mirror of Earth’s past, as a tempter shows up to fell this new, innocent human-ish species, and our hero learns to see Earth as it should have been. Virtues rule here, and we confront some deadly sins in such a way that Ransom can see the folly of them. Earth is horribly askew, and here is a meter against which to measure it.
Now he’s gotta save the locals from their “snake in the garden,” and this look at Satan is anything but pretty.
I can’t recommend these books enough, but read and decide for yourselves :)
adammuly's review against another edition
3.0
Think of a mix between H. G. Wells’s The Time Machine and John Milton’s Paradise Lost. You basically have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself into with Perelandra. Although there were some pretty enjoyable parts and really neat nuggets of thought, much of it was hidden in excessively long descriptions and sometimes tiring and lengthy dialogue. Overall good, but one of my least favorite works I have read by Lewis.
hrtk's review against another edition
5.0
The most beautiful book in the trilogy, Perelandra is more fantasy than sci-fi. I'm not sure there's much science involved in this book at all. A great read anyways, a good continuation of the first book and I think the pace is just perfect for the part it plays in the trilogy. The most interesting themes in the book to me are how the Fall of Man did and might have happened, and what would the world have been without it and before it. As a Christian, the book is very thought provoking. For an atheist, depends on your individual taste--but this might seem like a stupid book even if you otherwise like the trilogy. Sorry,
michellesi01's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0