C. S. Lewis: The Space Trilogy

Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, plus a brand new full-cast BBC adaptation of That Hideous Strength

By: C.S. Lewis

Narrated by: Alex Jennings, full cast, Anneika Rose, Joel MacCormack, Oliver Hembrough

C.S. Lewis’s allegorical sci-fi trilogy about a philology professor’s adventures on Mars, Venus and Earth

Featuring a reluctant hero’s extraordinary journey through the cosmos, C. S. Lewis’s classic trilogy contains all the magic, invention, humour and big ideas of his Narnia novels. Thrilling, mystical and evocative, it mixes theology and mythology to tell the epic story of an interplanetary struggle between good and evil. This collection includes Alex Jennings’ unabridged readings of Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, and a stunning full-cast adaptation of That Hideous Strength, starring Anneika Rose and Joel MacCormack.

Out of the Silent Planet – While out on a walk, Cambridge academic Dr Ransom calls at a mysterious house to take shelter, only to find himself captive on a spaceship headed for Malacandra – the red planet he knows as Mars. His intended fate is to be a human sacrifice, but he escapes, meets the various alien inhabitants – and learns how Earth, the ‘silent planet’, was corrupted and cut off from the rest of the Solar System...

Perelandra – Returned from Mars, Ransom is sent on a mission to the beautiful paradise planet of Perelandra, or Venus. There, he encounters floating islands, bubble trees and The Green Lady, an Eve figure tempted by Satan in the form of Ransom’s old enemy, Dr Weston. Forced into a desperate confrontation, can Ransom preserve the purity of this Eden-like world?

That Hideous Strength – Set in an exhausted Britain in the late 1940s, this ‘modern fairy tale for grown-ups’ warns of a world where technocrats are kings. The newly established National Institute for Coordinated Experiments seems to promise a bright future. But Jane is tormented by terrible nightmares about a severed head that speaks. She tries to talk to her husband Mark, but he is preoccupied with his work at the University. Then Mark's college sell Bragdon Wood to NICE, and he is offered a job at the organisation. An ancient myth claims that Merlin is buried under the wood – could that be why NICE is so keen to own it?

Credits
Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis © 1938 CS Lewis Pte Ltd., Perelandra by CS Lewis ©1944 CS Lewis Pte Ltd., That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis © 1945 CS Lewis Pte Ltd.

Out of the Silent Planet
Read by Alex Jennings
First broadcast BBC 7, 2-18 February 2004

Perelandra
Read by Alex Jennings
First broadcast BBC 7, 14 February-9 March 2005

That Hideous Strength
Jane – Anneika Rose
Mark – Joel MacCormack
Curry/Ransom – Oliver Hembrough
Feverstone/Briers – Simon Armstrong
Hardcastle – Jane Slavin
Mrs Dimble – Siobhan Redmond
Grace – Jane Gurnett
Wither – Matthew Bulgo
Frost/Hingest – David Menkin
Alcasan/Taxi Driver – Kiren Kebaili-Dwyer
Merlin – Ifan Huw Dafydd
Dramatised by Melissa Murray
Production co-ordinators: Lindsay Rees and Eleri Sydney McAuliffe
Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis
Directed by John Norton and Emma Harding
A BBC Audio Wales production
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 January – 2 February 2025

© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Excellent audio books; radio drama not so much

This title consists of the audio books of the first two novels, which are read well and constitute an excellent value--two books for the price of one. That Hideous Strength, on the other hand is a 2-hour radio dramatization. While it is superficially true to the major plot points, with some necessary simplification for the sake of time, I couldn't finish it. The dramatization has entirely altered the characters of Ransom and Merlin, while also giving Jane rather a big role as the typical 21st century independent woman protagonist. The alteration of Jane is not entirely our of character—at least her character from the beginning of the novel—but there is no discernable character arc. Much of the inherently humor and satire of the book is gone, as is the deeper religious element. So, I commend the audio versions here of Out of the Silent Planet and of Perelandra but not particularly the radio play for That Hideous Strength; one is better off buying the audio book separately here on Audible.

favorite story

hated how hacked part 3 was butchered, losing most of the story. there wasn't an indication it would be so shortened. I had to purchase a separate full length reading

Dont bother with this version of Hideous

The first two books were fine, an enjoyable narrating of the books. And thats what my two stars are for. But the adapted dramatization is so far from the original that it's a disgrace. This was my first time reading any of these and the only good thing about it is that it was interesting enough to get me to want to listen to the full book. In my opinion, don't bother with this set, get each book individually. The full Hideous is amazing, this watered down disgrace doesn't even deserve attention.

Book Three was not written by CS Lewis! It is trash.

As the title suggests, books one and two were well done and well narrated, Book three was written by a hack. It is absurd, both in its complete disregard of Lewis' concept, purpose, and style. Cardboard characters with comic book conversations and motivations. And NO humor whatsoever. But then, one needs to understand English. Whoever thought That Hideous Strength needed a rewrite? Whoever holds copywright on Lewis' works should sue. This is shameful.

Excellent 1st two; mediocre Finale

Excellent world building and asking the right questions. The first book is a science fiction which becomes a space opera in Perelandra. Well performed!
The Hideous Strength is a confusing, third wheel of a radio drama adaptation and a disappointing installment to the trilogy. They should have had the first guy read it!