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That Hideous Strength: (Space Trilogy, Book Three) (The Space Trilogy 3) by [Lewis, C. S.]

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C.S. Lewis

That Hideous Strength: (Space Trilogy, Book Three) (The Space Trilogy 3) Kindle Edition

by C. S. Lewis (Author)

403 ratings

Book 3 of 3 in The Space Trilogy

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Just as readers have been transfixed by the stories, characters, and deeper meanings of Lewis's timeless tales in The Chronicles of Narnia, most find this same allure in his classic Space Trilogy. In these fantasy stories for adults, we encounter, once again, magical creatures, a world of wonders, epic battles, and revelations of transcendent truths.

That Hideous Strength is the third novel in Lewis's science fiction trilogy. Set on Earth, it tells of a terrifying conspiracy against humanity. The story surrounds Mark and Jane Studdock, a newly married couple. Mark is a sociologist who is enticed to join an organization called N.I.C.E., which aims to control all human life. Jane, meanwhile, has bizarre prophetic dreams about a decapitated scientist, Alcasan. As Mark is drawn inextricably into the sinister organization, he discovers the truth of his wife's dreams when he meets the literal head of Alcasan, which is being kept alive by infusions of blood. Jane seeks help concerning her dreams at a community called St. Anne's, where she meets their leader—Dr. Ransom. The story ends in a final spectacular scene at the N.I.C.E. headquarters where Merlin appears to confront the powers of Hell.

Length: 394 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 608 KB
Print Length: 394 pages
Publisher: HarperOne (April 3, 2012)
Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B006L8768O
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,540 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #99 in Classic Science Fiction eBooks
- #2492 in Religion & Spirituality (Kindle Store)
- #676 in Metaphysical Science Fiction eBooks

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Richard E. J. Burke

Don't shortchange yourself--read all three novels in the trilogy in order.

September 14, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I just finished reading all three of CS Lewis' Space Trilogy back-to-back (published in 1938, 1943, and 1945) over the past few weeks. First caution, don't start with the 3rd book in the trilogy. The trilogy is a masterpiece, but jumping into the 3rd book will seriously shortchange what you will understand if you read all three in order. Second caution, don't start with the 2nd book in the trilogy. The series geometrically builds the cast, plot, and stakes book-by-book. A shortcut only shortchanges you. That said, this magnificent trilogy builds a fictional setting of interlocking stories that That Hideous Strength: (Space Trilogy, Book Three) (The Space Trilogy 3)culminate, in the third, by illustrating that hideous strength which Lewis later describes in the tiny prose book: The Abolition of Man (1947). My interest in reading the trilogy after reading The Abolition of Man was piqued by the first of the seven (highest-quality HD) video lecture series on C. S. Lewis, all of which are presented free and streaming: just google "Hillsdale College C. S. Lewis lecture one" and enjoy this incredibly generous series. For the purpose of this book review, and for your greatest enjoyment, don't go past video lecture one and its Q&A session, but go from there to read The Abolition of Man (one-hour read), then the space trilogy in order. After you're done, return to the free lecture series 2 through 7. In this order, you'll maximize enjoyment of this banquet, without any spoilers.

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deborah

Best book of the trilogy and stands alone well - relevant to our times

January 24, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is the third and best book of C.S. Lewis' trilogy about Dr. Ransom. Though aspects of the other two stories are mentioned, it isn't necessary to have read them to enjoy this book, which holds its own. In this one Dr. Ransom has returned from his space travels, but he is a minor character this time, though his character does influence key events. The main characters are Mark and Jane Studdock, a young married couple with typical modern ideas. Mark craves to be part of the "inner circle" at his university, and Jane is already tired of her marriage, especially since it's clear Mark's professional goals have top priority by a long margin.

The story startled me with its very clear portrayal of how an evil organization manipulates its members and, through them, public support of its goals. This part of the story in particular is extremely relevant today. In one chapter, Mark is persuaded to submit several articles to different newspapers that intentionally mislead, manipulate and divide the local population. Several chapters later, Mark is astonished at the results --- as larger and larger numbers of people are forced out of their homes or summarily imprisoned, either for not supporting the organization's increasingly militaristic strategies for control or just because they are in the way, their former friends and neighbors are apathetic, saying they "obviously deserved it" because they were "in the way of progress".

This alone makes the book well worth reading. I believe similar strategies are being used in the media today.

C.S. Lewis was a prolific Christian writer. This and the two other books of the trilogy have a strong Christian theme underlying the science fiction stories. For readers looking for books similar to the Chronicles of Narnia, this may be a little too different and adult-themed to satisfy (as one who has re-read the Narnia books until they fell apart, I could never really love this trilogy). Also, the science fiction is interesting, but I'm not really a science fiction fan and the whole interplanetary backstory for Elwin Ransom as well as the bizarre interpretation of the character of Merlin from Arthurian Legend didn't grab me.

However, the examination of how intelligent propaganda deliberately turns neighbors against each other and clears the way for an evil group of people to replace government was fascinating and very well done. C.S. Lewis was certainly paying attention to propaganda strategies during WWII. I think that's how this part of the story so clearly emerged.

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Edward K. LankfordTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

first half good, second half not so good

November 16, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

“Don’t you understand anything? Isn’t it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified of the other? That’s how we get things done. Any opposition to the NICE is represented as a Left racket in the Right papers and a Right racket in the Left papers. If it’s properly done, you get each side outbidding the other in support of us—to refute the enemy slanders. Of course we’re nonpolitical. The real power always is.”

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis concludes the Space Trilogy and is a clear departure from the first two books. This is written more like a classical novel, and it has elements of both allegory and satire, in which science is pitted against ethics. In fact, the first half of the book is quite Orwellian in its portrayal of the socio-political aims of the villains.

The novel introduces two new characters: Mark, an up-and-coming sociology professor, and Jane, his stay-at-home wife who begins having clairvoyant dreams of dastardly deeds. Mark is seduced by a villain from the first book to join the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments. NICE wants to make the world a better place, even it it has to destroy it, which it begins doing to buying up property across town, remaking it, and causing general chaos and disorder. Meanwhile, a secret opposition group needs Jane's help to stop NICE.

The first half of the novel is strong and a delight to read. The second half is not so good, especially when Merlin suddenly becomes a character and several elements of English and Greek mythology are woven into the Christian story, which smacks of syncretism and is surprising. But Lewis plainly says he's writing a fantasy story "for adults" so perhaps he can receive some benefit of doubt. Nonetheless, the ending is too deus ex machina for my taste and was unsatisfying. If one had to only read one book of the series, it would be the first: Out of the Silent Planet.

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