Perelandra (by CS Lewis)

(Amazon UK link)

'Perelandra' is the second book in CS Lewis's science fiction trilogy (and has been published sometimes under the rather more prosaic title of 'Voyage to Venus') but can easily be read as a standalone novel. It was written in 1943, long before space probes had determined what Venus is like. So it is important to put aside all preconceptions about life on other planets in our solar systems before picking up this book.

Dr Ransom, who was kidnapped in the first book of the trilogy, 'Out of the Silent Planet', has been a changed man since his return. He communicates with extra-terrestrial beings known as eldils, who live in space and appear as shimmers of light with high-pitched inorganic voices. These are not the angels of mythology, but are somehow more believable as divine messengers. Ransom has recently been told that he is needed to solve some problem on the planet Perelandra (the inter-planetary name for what we know as Venus) and is being sent there by the eldils.

Most of the book takes place on Perelandra, which is depicted as being filled mainly with water, on top of which float many large mat-like islands. While it's much hotter than Earth, its atmosphere keeps it significantly cooler than we would expect, given its proximity to the sun, and also contains air which Ransom has no difficulty in breathing. No explanation is made of this: it's simply something that must be accepted, along with the fact of delicious drinking water flowing in the islands, and the most wonderful fruit to eat.

Perhaps even more surprisingly, Venus in this book has a large number of animals which are very similar to those we know, and also two human beings, the Mother and Father of Perelandra. Other than being green, they're constructed in the same way as any earthly adults. But they're the first people on the planet. The Lady, who meets Ransom fairly soon after his arrival, is extremely naive. She talks about 'growing older' when she learns new things, but sometimes it seems as if she, in her innocence, is considerably wiser than the world-weary Ransom.

Given that CS Lewis was a Christian writer, it's fairly clear that this story is a parallel with that of the Garden of Eden as described in the early chapters of the Biblical book of Genesis. These first people have been given a command which seems a bit pointless, and they're seriously tempted to disobey. Ransom's mission is a great deal more serious than he realised at first, with the entire planet's future being at stake. He is not the only visitor from Earth; there are many thought-provoking discussions involving the Lady, Ransom, and a tempter.

Of course it's fiction. It's not meant to be a theological treatise, or even an explanation; it's a loose analogy which can be read as a story in its own right with little or no knowledge of the Bible. Anyone who enjoyed the Narnia books by the same author would almost certainly love this trilogy. I read it first when I was about sixteen, and totally fell in love with it. Perelandra is about as close to paradise as I could imagine, and when I didn't know the outcome of Ransom's discussions, I found it absolutely gripping.

I've read it a couple of times in the intervening years, and recently re-read the entire trilogy again. I think now my favourite is probably 'Out of the Silent Planet', but I still have a soft spot for 'Perelandra'. How wonderful it would be if Venus was this way - and how disappointing to know that it isn't! My husband read this book some years ago and was immediately captivated by the idea of making a film about it.

Our sons read this book first when they were about twelve or thirteen. It's entirely suitable for teenagers, and perhaps any good readers of nine or ten and older, although it's intended as a book for adults. There are some tense moments towards the end, with quite an exciting climax and high drama; there's even some violence which I (with my squeamishness) found most unpleasant. But I would still read it again.

The style is easy to read, fast-paced, with word pictures that bring the author's imagination to life in my mind. I'm not one for long-winded descriptions, but CS Lewis tempers his descriptions with events - the plucking of fruit, sipping water, looking over the top of waves and spying more floating lands in the distance. To my taste, he has the mixture exactly right.

It's all the more realistic, somehow, because the early part of the book (and indeed the end) is written in the first person as if CS Lewis himself is in on Ransom's secret of visiting other planet. Indeed the book opens dramatically with Lewis finding his way to Ransom's house after a mysterious note, and being the one to pack Ransom away in the box in which he is sent to Perelandra.

This book has been in print for most of the past sixty years, and is easy enough to find second-hand too. Definitely recommended.