Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Perelandra
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Perelandra
Space Trilogy, Ransom Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy: Book 2

Perelandra (1943) (edit title/settings)

or Voyage to Venus

by C. S. Lewis (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

The second book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which began with Out of the Silent Planet and concludes with That Hideous Strength, Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man... read more

Summary edit see section history

Dr Ransom is transported (by coffin-box spaceship) to the planet Venus which is, as yet, an unfallen Eden. His mission: Stop the Eve-character from giving in to the temptation to (not eat the Forbidden Fruit but) 'spend a night on dryland'. The one prohibition of the planet. But arriving... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Dr Ransom is transported (by coffin-box spaceship) to the planet Venus which is, as yet, an unfallen Eden. His mission: Stop the Eve-character from giving in to the temptation to (not eat the Forbidden Fruit but) 'spend a night on dryland'. The one prohibition of the planet. But arriving shortly after Ransom is his arch foe, whose one aim is to seduce the Eve-character onto dryland for the night. At first it's a battle of wits fought over Eve, then it turns into a physical fight in which Ransom triumphs. Ransom is retransported to earth, not before seeing the unfallen Eden celebrate in triumphal procession: The two humans and all the animals and (ultimately) the full creation.

Characters edit see section history

  • C.S. Lewis: Friend of the main character. Sees him off and welcomes him back.
  • Dr. Elwin Ransom: The protagonist, an English philologist. Travels to Perelandra (Venus) and meets first man and first woman.
  • Tinidril: Called The Green Lady for most of the story; the first woman of Perelandra.
  • Tor: Called The Green Man for most of the story; the first man of Perelandra.
  • Edward Weston: An English physicist. Travels to Perelandra and soon dies, his body becoming a host for the Un-Man.
  • The Un-Man: A demon controlling the dead body of Edward Weston. Tries to tempt the Green Lady. Ransom's foe.
  • Perelandra: The Oyarsa of the planet. Sublimated femininity; from whom we get our vague ideas of Venus and Aphrodite.
  • Malacandra: The Oyarsa of the planet Mars. Sublimated masculinity; from whom we get our vague ideas of Mars and Ares.
  • Maleldil: The Old Solar name for God.
  • O Piebald: Add a description of this character.
  • Schiaparelli
  • Green Lady
  • Humphrey
Show all 13 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “... there are no paths. The going itself is the path.”
  • “To walk out of His will is to walk into nowhere.”
    Green Lady/Tinidril
  • “He is indeed but breathing dust and a careless touch would unmake him. And in his best thoughts there are such things mingled as, if we thought them, our light would perish. But he is in the obdy of Maleldiil and his sins are forgiven”
    Oyarsa of Malacandra

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Perelandra: The planet Venus; an ocean-covered world where the lands move with the waves and the sky is always bronze. Filled with refreshing fruits, exotic beasts, and heart-rending, unspoiled beauty.
  • Deep Heaven
  • Mars
  • Thulcandra
  • Cambridge

First Sentence edit see section history

As I left the railway station at Worchester and set out on the three-mile walk to Ransom's cottage, I reflected that no one on that platform could possibly guess the truth about the man I was going to visit.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Oyarsa: The guiding intelligence of a planet.
  • Eldil: A race of spiritual beings who live in the Heavens.
  • Maleldil: The Old Solar word for God.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 4 in Space Trilogy, Ransom Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy. (standard series)

Preceded by Out of the Silent Planet, and followed by That Hideous Strength.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. C. S. Lewis (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Carl Walton (Cover Artist)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: The Bodley Head
Country: England
Publication Date: 1943
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 256

Classification edit see section history

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

   
  • A Voyage to Arcturus

We’re hiding the organizations, themes, errata, awards, reading level, links to supplemental material, movie connections, books with additional background information, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close