Perelandra by C.S. Lewis (a review)

Reading the second book in the space trilogy by C.S. Lewis 

Perelandra by C.S. Lewis 

| writing through life one step at a time | 

Hello lovelies! Today I am sharing my book review of Perelandra by C.S. Lewis! I finished reading this in January and finally feel like I have the words (at least some of them) to give this story a review. I love all of Lewis’ works that I have read so far and I really did like reading this book. 

It is different from the first book, Out Of The Silent Planet. I think Perelandra is more of a thinking book. A book that brings up topics and conversations to think about and learn from rather than a book for entertainment. The world building and story were still amazing but I think it was less important than the messages Lewis was conveying. 

I also think this is more a book aimed for adult readers. Teens can still read this but, as I’ll show in my review, I think an adult will get more out of this book. 

Rating System & Age Groups   

Here is my system of how I rate books along with age ratings. 

Star Rating 

★★★★★

LOVE FOREVER! Clean *mostly* & will forever recommend it!

★★★★ 

Amazing but I had issues (not as clean, something didn’t click, etc) 

★★★

It’s okay. I don’t hate it. I don’t love it. (Multiple clean warnings, somethings just didn’t click, etc) 

★★

Just no. Will never recommend it (many clean warnings, could barely get through the book, etc)

★

dead to me / a completely waste of time that I will never get back

Age Rating 

• Children’s Books (0-12 years old) | perfect for read aloud time and are easier for younger readers to read themselves. 

• Example: The Chronicles Of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. The Green Ember by S.D. Smith. 

• Middle Grade (8-12 years old) | chapter books for kids who are growing up and probably love adventures but aren’t yet ready for “teen” books. 

• Example: Wonder by R.J. Palacio. The Different World by B.W. Luby. 

• Teen (12-16 years old) | novels usually about teenagers that begin to deal with more mature content but are still “kid friendly”. If a middle grader was to pick this up it would be fine. 

• Example: Dust by Kara Swanson. The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson. 

• YA “young adult” (16-18 years old) | a young adult who is not fully ready for adult books and still reads books about teenage characters. I use this and teen pretty interchangeably the only distinction being teen for more sensitive readers and YA for those who can take on a bit more mature/tough themes. 

• Example: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Romanov by Nadine Brandes. 

• NA “new adult” (18-29 years old) | basically YA but with characters in their twenties. Can be read by a young adult audience with no problems. 

• Example: The Redwyn Chronicles by Madisyn Carlin.

• Adult (18+ more mature) | these are books that have more adult content and I probably wouldn’t recommend them to children or young teens. These could have a bit more content in them or they talk on subjects more abstract or for the adult mind to understand and sometimes debate with. 

• Example: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Perelandra by C.S. Lewis. 

What Is The Book About?   

The second book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which also includes Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength, Perelandra continues the adventures of the extraordinary Dr. Ransom. Pitted against the most destructive of human weaknesses, temptation, the great man must battle evil on a new planet -- Perelandra -- when it is invaded by a dark force. Will Perelandra succumb to this malevolent being, who strives to create a new world order and who must destroy an old and beautiful civilization to do so? Or will it throw off the yoke of corruption and achieve a spiritual perfection as yet unknown to man? The outcome of Dr. Ransom's mighty struggle alone will determine the fate of this peace-loving planet.

The Review 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cleanness: ★ ★ 

Age: adult 

[INITIAL THOUGHTS] 

I have no idea how I’m going to review this book. 

[THE REVIEW] 

I really enjoyed reading this book though enjoyed might not be the right word for such a book. I have always loved Lewis’ writings. I read Out Of The Silent Planet my first year of high school and that was such a good book! The world building and characters were amazing and actually helped me ace my science class for that year (yes I said this book helped me with science, lol). 

After reading Out Of The Silent Planet I was so excited to read book two: Perelandra. After years of not getting to this book I finally opened the pages and began reading. 

Side note: I love that Lewis narrates the opening as himself. It reminds me of reading The Dark Tower. 

Perelandra is such an interesting book. It was so thoughtful and insightful. It’s a book that makes you think about morals, life, sin, death, innocence, wisdom, what it looks like to walk with God, and what a world untainted by sin looks like. It’s a book primarily focused on the conversations between the green lady (our “Eve” character), Ransom (our force of good), and the Unman (the “snake” or “devil” of this world). 

It’s definitely more of a thinking book. It took me almost a year to read it. It is one of those books you want to keep a notebook beside you to jot down your thoughts and the discoveries hidden within. There was SO much I got out of this book. 

The Unman was disturbing and fascinating and oddly enough was just like someone I knew (at least in the beginning. Not at all in the ending. That was…intense). It’s interesting how that can happen, how a story gives you understanding and words to explain something you didn’t know how to describe. What it looks like to be an instrument of good or evil. 

For me I have the mindset of looking at a lot of Lewis’ older books (not children’s) more like a nonfiction to learn and think and discover new concepts and ideas rather than being entertained. This is (to me) a thinking book and not one to entertain in the way more modern books do. The themes and concepts are first and the world and characters are secondary (at least to me when reading). It is in this way Perelandra reminds me of reading The Screwtape Letters for the first time (which is my number one FAVORITE book). 

This is a very interesting story, one I really loved getting to read. 

Content: In my opinion I think this book is more for adults. The topics discussed I think would better suit an older audience who are wanting a book to make them think while still being a sci-fi fantasy story. 

As far as content, the inhabitants of Perelandra are nude as well as Ransom through the bulk of the book. It’s not made sexual as it is to show a sense of innocence but it is still there. The Unman is possessed by evil. You see him foam at the mouth, speak in different tones of voice, be almost killed and survive many times. He murders animals and it is disgusting and disturbing (in my opinion). You really get to see the evil of killing paired against a world which hasn’t seen death. 

You get a literal death match that goes on and on for the finale of this book. It is bloody and violent and low key like a horror story at the end. I don’t think I’ve been more disturbed reading a book than with the Unman. 

18+ 

Thank You For Reading   

Thank you for being here and for being a part of my life! I hope you are all having a wonderful rest of your day! I’ll see you in the next one!

Yours Truly, Moriyah