The Space Trilogy: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
(9 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''The Space Trilogy''' is a series of novels by [[C.S. Lewis]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien|J.R.R. Tolkien's]] friend and fellow [[Inklings|Inkling]].  
'''The Space Trilogy''' is a series of novels by [[C.S. Lewis]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s friend and fellow [[Inklings|Inkling]].  


The story of the first book, ''Out of the Silent Planet'', shares a common genesis with Tolkien's unfinished ''[[The Lost Road]]''. The two men had a conversation about the shortcomings of Science Fiction literature and Lewis remarked that "there is too little of what we really like in stories", suggesting they try their hand at the genre "as amateurs":<ref name="Letter294">{{L|294}}</ref>
The story of the first book, ''Out of the Silent Planet'', shares a common genesis with Tolkien's unfinished ''[[The Lost Road]]''. The two men had a conversation about the shortcomings of Science Fiction literature and Lewis remarked that "there is too little of what we really like in stories", suggesting they try their hand at the genre "as amateurs":<ref name="Letter294">{{L|294}}</ref>
{{blockquote|We... meant each to write an excursionary 'Thriller': a Space-journey and a Time-journey (mine) each discovering Myth.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Letter24" />}}
{{blockquote|We... meant each to write an excursionary 'Thriller': a Space-journey and a Time-journey (mine) each discovering Myth.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="Letter24" />}}
Lewis' 'Space-journey' became ''Out of the Silent Planet'' and was published in [[1938]] by The Bodley Head. Lewis initially tried to interest [[Allen and Unwin|Allen & Unwin]] in the work, but despite the [[Letter 26|positive review]] Tolkien gave the publishers they passed.
Lewis' 'Space-journey' became ''Out of the Silent Planet'' and was published in [[1938]] by The Bodley Head. Lewis initially tried to interest [[Allen & Unwin]] in the work, but despite the [[Letter 26|positive review]] Tolkien gave the publishers they passed.
 
The work belongs to the obscure subgenre of "Theological/Christian Science Fiction". The last part is much darker and occult in tone, similar to such works of fellow Inkling [[Charles Williams]], who had some influence on Lewis.
 
Tolkien noted that some of his onomatopoeia influenced names in this work, including [[Numenor|Numinor]] (''That Hideous Strength''), [[Eldar|Eldil]] (''Out of the Silent Planet'') and [[Tuor|Tur]] and [[Idril|Tinidril]] (''Perelandra'').<ref>{{L|276}}</ref>
==Elwin Ransom==
==Elwin Ransom==
The protagonist of the trilogy is Elwin Ransom, and is apparently modelled in part on Tolkien (as well as Lewis himself and [[Charles Williams|other Inklings]]): he is a philologist at an Oxbridge university, has a special interest in languages (and it is men, fought in [[World War I]] and [[Battle of the Somme|the Somme]] and his first name means "[[Elf-friend]]" (Elwin is the modern form of [[Ælfwine]]). Tolkien played down this similarity on multiple occasions, admitting it only in that both were philologists.<ref name="Letter24">{{L|24}}</ref><ref name="Letter77">{{L|27}}</ref>
The protagonist of the trilogy is Dr. [[Wikipedia:Elwin Ransom|Elwin Ransom]], sharing the name with [[Elwin]], one of the characters in Tolkien's contemporary ''The Lost Road''. The modern form of [[Alboin]]/[[Ælfwine]], the name means "[[Elf-friend]]", a frequent motif in Tolkien's [[Legendarium]].
 
Dr. Ransom is apparently modelled in part on Tolkien (as well as Lewis himself and [[Charles Williams]]): he was born in [[1898]] (like Lewis, Tolkien's junior by 6 years), fought in [[World War I]] and [[Battle of the Somme|the Somme]], he is a philologist at an Oxbridge university (Tolkien was at [[Oxford University]]), and has a special interest in languages. Lewis himself [https://the-silent-planet.fandom.com/wiki/C.S._Lewis_(Character) appears as  a character] in the books, as a friend of Ransom's.


Tolkien played down this similarity on multiple occasions, admitting it only in that both were philologists.<ref name="Letter24">{{L|24}}</ref><ref name="Letter77">{{L|27}}</ref>
{{references}}
{{references}}
 
==External links==
*{{WP|The Space Trilogy}}
**{{WP|Out of the Silent Planet}}
**{{WP|Perelandra}}
**{{WP|That Hideous Strength}}
*{{WP|Elwin Ransom}}
*[https://the-silent-planet.fandom.com/ The Silent Planet] Wiki
**[https://the-silent-planet.fandom.com/Dr._Elwin_Ransom Dr. Elwin Ransom]
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Books by C.S. Lewis]]
[[Category:Fiction books]]
[[Category:Fiction books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

Revision as of 22:13, 10 October 2021

The Space Trilogy is a series of novels by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien's friend and fellow Inkling.

The story of the first book, Out of the Silent Planet, shares a common genesis with Tolkien's unfinished The Lost Road. The two men had a conversation about the shortcomings of Science Fiction literature and Lewis remarked that "there is too little of what we really like in stories", suggesting they try their hand at the genre "as amateurs":[1]

We... meant each to write an excursionary 'Thriller': a Space-journey and a Time-journey (mine) each discovering Myth.
J.R.R. Tolkien[2]

Lewis' 'Space-journey' became Out of the Silent Planet and was published in 1938 by The Bodley Head. Lewis initially tried to interest Allen & Unwin in the work, but despite the positive review Tolkien gave the publishers they passed.

The work belongs to the obscure subgenre of "Theological/Christian Science Fiction". The last part is much darker and occult in tone, similar to such works of fellow Inkling Charles Williams, who had some influence on Lewis.

Tolkien noted that some of his onomatopoeia influenced names in this work, including Numinor (That Hideous Strength), Eldil (Out of the Silent Planet) and Tur and Tinidril (Perelandra).[3]

Elwin Ransom

The protagonist of the trilogy is Dr. Elwin Ransom, sharing the name with Elwin, one of the characters in Tolkien's contemporary The Lost Road. The modern form of Alboin/Ælfwine, the name means "Elf-friend", a frequent motif in Tolkien's Legendarium.

Dr. Ransom is apparently modelled in part on Tolkien (as well as Lewis himself and Charles Williams): he was born in 1898 (like Lewis, Tolkien's junior by 6 years), fought in World War I and the Somme, he is a philologist at an Oxbridge university (Tolkien was at Oxford University), and has a special interest in languages. Lewis himself appears as a character in the books, as a friend of Ransom's.

Tolkien played down this similarity on multiple occasions, admitting it only in that both were philologists.[2][4]

References

External links