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Out of the Silent Planet
Out of the Silent Planet | C.S. Lewis
Written during the dark hours immediately before and during the Second World War, C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy, of which Out of the Silent Planet is the first volume, stands alongside such works as Albert Camus's The Plague and George Orwell's 1984 as a timely parable that has become timeless, beloved by succeeding generations as much for the sheer wonder of its storytelling as for the significance of the moral concerns. For the trilogy's central figure, C. S. Lewis created perhaps the most memorable character of his career, the brilliant, clear-eyed, and fiercely brave philologist Dr. Elwin Ransom. Appropriately, Lewis modeled Dr. Ransom after his dear friend J. R. R. Tolkien, for in the scope of its imaginative achievement and the totality of its vision of not one but two imaginary worlds, the Space Trilogy is rivaled in this century only by Tolkien's trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Readers who fall in love with Lewis's fantasy series The Chronicles of Namia as children unfailingly cherish his Space Trilogy as adults; it, too, brings to life strange and magical realms in which epic battles are fought between the forces of light and those of darkness. But in the many layers of its allegory, and the sophistication and piercing brilliance of its insights into the human condition, it occupies a place among the English language's most extraordinary works for any age, and for all time. Out of the Silent Planet introduces Dr. Ransom and chronicles his abduction by a megalomaniacal physicist and his accomplice via space ship to the planet Malacandra. The two men are in need of a human sacrifice and Dr. Ransom would seem to fit the bill. Dr. Ransom escapes upon landing, though, and goes on the run, a stranger in a land that, like Jonathan Swift's Lilliput, is enchanting in its difference from Earth and instructive in its similarity.
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quirkiecurls
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Mehso-so

I would give this book a 6/10. The story concept and the description of the world was very interesting. However, for as short as this book was, it was really hard to motivate myself to finish it. I love C. S. Lewis, but I feel like in this book he was still trying to perfect the skill of allegory, which he obviously masters by the Narnia series. #52challenge

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cottagelantern
Pickpick

3.5 stars
Half of this book I adored and the other half I felt like Lewis was trying to be Tolkien (and it didn‘t work). What I appreciate the most about this story is how Lewis describes the heavens ~a la medieval cosmology~ and the angelic hierarchy he creates on Malacandra, reminiscent of 1 Peter 1:12. Looking forward to the next two books in the series!

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Shannon_McKinney
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Pickpick

C. S. Lewis is seriously one of the best authors to ever write. The man can make you see worlds that don‘t exist. 5/5 ⭐️

27 likes1 stack add
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katherinep
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Pickpick

“... There were planets of unbelievable majesty, and constellations undreamed of: there were celestial sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and pinpricks of burning gold...”

Easily one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.. this is but one example of the breathtaking imagery this book contains. If Narnia is religious allegory for written for children, this is the equivalent for adults. Each re-read it just gets better and better.

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katherinep
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“They were astonished at what he had to tell them of human history — of war, slavery, and prostitution.
‘It is because they have no Oyarsa,‘ said one of the pupils.
‘It is because every one of them wants to be a little Oyarsa himself,‘ said Augray.
‘They can not help it,‘ said the old sorn. ‘There must be rule, yet how can creatures rule themselves? Beasts must be ruled by hnau and hnau by eldila and eldila by Maleldil.” (p110)

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katherinep
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“A pleasure is full grown only when it is remembered. You are speaking, Hmān, as if the pleasure were one thing and the memory another. It is all one thing. The séroni could say it better than I say it now. Not better than I could say it in a poem. What you call remembering is the last part of the pleasure, as the crah is the last part of a poem.” (p76)

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bookandbedandtea
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Pickpick

One would need several pages to really review this book. I'll do my best with the 451 characters allowed here: It took me several chapters to adjust to the writing style as it doesn't feel, to me, like a CS Lewis book but once I got past that this is a wonderful story. I'm impressed anew by his imagination! I love the idea of a world where 3 species have achieved speech and live together in harmony. Will definitely read the sequels.

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bookandbedandtea
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Apparently I had this series shelved wrong. Opened Perelandra (see previous post) only to discover it's the 2nd book. 🤪 Starting THIS one now!

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Amybelinda
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed the descriptions and found myself visualising the landscapes and the different species from the other world - Malacandra. I thought the main character Ransom was likeable and was happy to follow his philosophical ramblings and I‘m looking forward to reading the second book in this trilogy.

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
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Pickpick

I forgot to review this one! Such an amazing read no matter how many times I return to it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Court7
Pickpick

Audiobook. Good!

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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
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Continuing the comfort that sci-fi and fantasy has lately been providing with a reread of the Cosmic Trilogy (I think the Space Trilogy sounds awful, I'm sorry, American friends!). CS Lewis has meant more for my faith than many, and the imagination of the worlds in the first two books never ceases to take my breath away. I typically don't reread books often but his works are a huge exception! Happy Saturday!

wordslinger42 I feel the same way about CS Lewis 💙 I read a great devotion once called CS Lewis and the Call to Create - you might enjoy it! I've never read Out of the Silent Planet, but I'll have to give it a try! 4y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @wordslinger42 that sounds lovely, will have to see if I can find it! Don't know if sci-fi with amazing theology is your jam but if it is, you must read the Cosmic Trilogy! 4y
wordslinger42 @MommyWantsToReadHerBook It's not my usual thing, but I'll give it a try!! 😊 4y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
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wideeyedreader
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Day 20 of #lilithjuly! The titular silent planet of this book is the #smallbluething called Earth!

KarenUK 💙💙💙 5y
Cinfhen 🌎clever 🤓 5y
wideeyedreader @Cinfhen Thank you 😊 5y
17 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Jlmccann30
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For the longest time I‘ve been reading for education or for knowledge. It‘s been good, but I‘ve forgotten how much fun reading for reading‘s sake is!

Bklover Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
rather_be_reading welcome to litsy 📚☕📚 5y
Crazeedi Welcome to litsy!🎉🎉 5y
24 likes4 comments
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bookandbedandtea
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Was shelving some books and came across these which I totally FORGOT I HAD! Note to self: add to TBR.
PS- I bought these online and didn't realize the third book was a different edition from the first two. I remember being deeply disappointed.

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Mtroiano
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quirkyreader It‘s good to know that I‘m not the only person who wasn‘t into this trilogy. 5y
34 likes1 comment
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Spencer_Labbe
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This book blew me away to another planet! C.S.Lewis never ceases to amaze me! I didn't know this series even existed until I accidently bought the third book at a discount bookstore! Out of the silent planet will almost certainly ignite your imagination!

Mtroiano I just bought the series! Maybe I‘ll bump it up in my TBR pile 5y
Spencer_Labbe @Mtroiano Nice! The first is a quick easy read but I love the way he presents these new ideas! It's like reading mythology! 5y
pilardib I found out about this series because it's in the children's section of every bookstore I visit 😂 I thought the second book is even better than the first! 5y
See All 13 Comments
Spencer_Labbe @pilardib Possibly one of my greatest mistakes! Even when I was a child I was rarely in the children‘s section! So much brilliant fiction is hidden there. Though I wonder if it's only in there because he's the author of the Narnia books. Either way, I look forward to the second. 5y
Jillybeane I loved that trilogy!! 5y
StephanieMarie I loved the first two books but the third didn't measure up for me... probably because it's set on Earth which isn't nearly as exciting! 5y
Spencer_Labbe @StephanieMarie Oh no! I can see how that would be less interesting! But it has such a great name 5y
StephanieMarie @Spencer_Labbe yeah it does! It wasn't bad per se... just not as sci-fi-y (if that's a word) as the first two 5y
Spencer_Labbe @StephanieMarie Totally a word! Lol darn that's dissapointing, ill still likely read it though 5y
StephanieMarie @Spencer_Labbe well there's lots of books I really liked that other people didn't and vice versa so you should definitely give it a chance 😁 5y
HippiesPJparty Wow!! I had no idea he'd written other books! 5y
TimSpalding The second book, Perelandra, is better—much better, IMHO. Check it out. 5y
Desha I love this trilogy! I‘ve downloaded it to my kindle recently because I haven‘t read it in a while. 📚📚📚 5y
95 likes7 stack adds13 comments
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AshleyHoss820
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Pickpick

This came as a recommendation. 😊 Ransom gets taken, against his will, by the dastardly Westin & Devine, to a planet called Malacandra (Mars) He learns some valuable lessons there. It‘s good sci-fi and I got attached to Hyoi. It‘s a bit dry in places, but that‘s Lewis‘ style. I‘m looking forward to Perelandra!

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RamsFan1963
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Book: Out of The Silent Planet
Author: Oscar Wilde
Movie: Office Space
Food: Olives

#manicmonday #letterO @JoScho

zzz Office Space clips are regularly played in our office for "motivation" ...??? 6y
JoScho 🧡🧡🧡 6y
Desha Out of the Silent Planet...great book!📚 5y
27 likes3 comments
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bookishbitch
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Mehso-so

Overall I liked it. I enjoy C. S. Lewis but he does occasionally prattle on in parts of this one a bit. The story itself is good however. It is a look at the dark side of humanity, (Which clearly exists.) and a personal forced adventure. I do have the next 2 books in the series. The ending of this one makes me think he didn't originally plan this to be the first in a trilogy. I love this cover art. I wish there was a rating between pick and so-so

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Ke633
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I was in the hospital for 4 days and I‘m finally back home. Too tired to do more than one post so I‘m combining two. This is a series/trilogy that not many people read. My mug was a gift and I love it!
@maich
#firstinseries
#AprilBookishmadness

#HopintoSpring
#LibraryCard
@vkois88
@alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

DivineDiana Glad you are home!!! Feel better!❤️ 6y
Julsmarshall Welcome home! Take it easy ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Skyrimir Love this trilogy. I have the same set! 6y
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Richryan52 One of my favorite trilogies 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you are feeling better 💗💗 6y
Foragingfantasy I love this trilogy!! I‘ve read it a few times. Take care! 6y
pilardib Great choice! I loved these books 6y
mrp27 Feel better! 🌷 6y
vkois88 I hope you feel better and things get easier soon ❤❤❤ 6y
cobwebmoth Hope you're feeling better soon! 6y
Ke633 Thanks everyone!! Y‘all are too kind! 6y
45 likes1 stack add11 comments
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sdbruening
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Panpan

I mean, it was okay. I like that the lead character was a middle aged man. I don‘t like that it‘s very man-centric. I liked the creativity of alien species and how their society functions and how ours pales in comparison. I don‘t like the excessive amount of reflection. I wouldn‘t read it again and though I just saw other people posting about sequels I can‘t say I‘m interested in those either...

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bookishbitch
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AmyG That mug ❤️ 6y
JoScho That mug is amazing🌈 6y
bookishbitch @AmyG and @JoScho It was a find at my local bookstore. 😊 6y
10 likes3 comments
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Ke633
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bookishbitch
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So many treats all in one photo.

saresmoore Oh, I‘m drooling over that cover! 6y
bookishbitch @saresmoore It is the coolest isn't it?! 6y
saresmoore It would make an excellent t-shirt. 6y
8 likes4 comments
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GrilledCheeseSamurai
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#NewYearReads #WrittenByDeceasedAuthor
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@bookloo

Often overlooked and not nearly as popular as his Narnia series. I haven't read this series in a loooong time (it only gets a so-so from me cuz I remember it being kinda blah) and mostly picked it because I wanted to try my space background on a new app I got for my pictures. 😂

theresidentromantic Are these also about a metaphorical Jesus Lion, just in space? O.O 6y
OrangeMooseReads The covers are fantastic 6y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag I didn‘t realise he wrote SF! The background is great, what‘s the app? 6y
See All 10 Comments
GrilledCheeseSamurai @theresidentromantic The religious overtones are definitely present. No lion this time. Alien God instead. 🙃 6y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @OrangeMooseReads Right? Mine came in a box set but I took them out cuz the box is pretty beat up. 6y
GrilledCheeseSamurai @thegirlwiththelibrarybag it's called Photo Director (for Android). 6y
Skyrimir Some of my favorite covers! I‘ve been meaning to read them again, but I do remember them being a little slow. 6y
brandymuses I like these but they are difficult to work up the energy to reread-especially Perelandra because the theology is immense in that one. 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty covers!!!! 💜❤️ 6y
parasolofdoom I loved the first two but could never get into the third. I think because the crazy terrains of the planets were what I liked. 6y
90 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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Shannon_McKinney
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All of my Christmas #bookhaul has finally arrived. 👏🏻 so excited!
1) Warehouse 13 A Touch If Fever
2) Out of the Silent Planet
3) The Librarians and the Lost Lamp
4) Carve the Mark
5) The Hiding Place (current read)
6) All In
7) Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

Sills @Shannon_McKinney My book club choose "The Hiding Place" as one of our 2018 reads? Anxious to read it. 6y
Shannon_McKinney @Sills I am enjoying it quite a bit so far! It‘s been on my TBR list for what seems like forever, and I finally ordered it with amazon gift cards. I hope you enjoy it as well as I have been !! 😊 6y
See All 7 Comments
tpixie @Shannon_McKinney @Sills my sister just read and enjoyed the Bright Lights Book. The font looks the same- is the Librarians TV show related to your book? 6y
tpixie Carve the Mark is supposed to be great, too. I Need to read that. 6y
Shannon_McKinney @tpixie I‘ve heard great things about Bright lights, and yes the librarians book is related to the tv show. Greg Cox usually does a good job at spin off books from tv shows. I‘ve read a few of his in the past, so I wanted to check it out since it‘s one of my favorite shows around! & I‘ve heard good & bad things about carve the mark. I was a sucker for the divergent series so I hope I like this one as well. 6y
kamoorephoto I definitely want to read 6y
44 likes7 comments
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brandymuses
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I have hazelnut black tea in my mug this morning.
#newyearreads

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks That sounds good!! 6y
bookloo Hazelnut black tea. I never knew such an amazing thing existed. ♥️ 6y
brandymuses @bookloo You can get it from adagio.com! 6y
bookloo @brandymuses Ooo thank you. ☺️ 6y
11 likes4 comments
review
LilithHomer
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Pickpick

Beautiful prose, beautifully imagined, and an anti-invasion message that seems very 1938. Futuristic, but also of its time? Requires concentration but glad I read it.

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andrew61
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#septembowie #lifeonmars
I couldn't think of anything today then remembered as a teenager reading this c s lewis sci fi book which is based on mars- i can't remember a thing about the book but im curious now.

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KellyMuser
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saresmoore 🤣 These are brilliant! 7y
KellyMuser @saresmoore Thanks! It was fun. 😁 7y
Jenni_Capps #1 is everything!! 🙌🏻 I hate that so freaking muchhhhh!!!! 7y
See All 6 Comments
LittleWonder @KellyMuser Love this list!!!! 👏🏻😂👏🏻 7y
KellyMuser @Jenni_Capps Yes! I could lose my mind. 7y
10 likes6 comments
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jmtrivera
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One project I did this summer was find all my owned-but-unread books. There are a lot more of them than I thought. I've apparently gone on more book sprees than I've realized in the past few years. I blame #EclecticReaders and #BlameLitsy! 🤣 Here are some I found. #StartswithMNO #JubilantJuly @RealLifeReading

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elkeOriginal
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A bit of scifi and fantasy #retrocoverfun 🚀🏰
#riotgrams

saresmoore Ooh, I love these! 7y
aeeklund YEESSSSSSS!!! 💜🙌🏼💜 7y
Aninski These are awesome! 😍 7y
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Ke633
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I found these copies at a #halfpricebooks which is a fav #bookstore #cslewis #spacetrilogy #scifi the large collection book is being borrowed from @collecttolkien so thanks for that. Still on the look out for a similar version of #thathideousstrength

emmekamalei One of my favorite series! 7y
Ke633 I agree!! It's pretty fantastic! 7y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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thepurrrsuitofhappiness
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Mehso-so

This was much better than I expected since I don't typically like sci-fi. The characters were so lovable and the plot was adventurous.

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sarahgreatlove
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Pickpick

C.S.Lewis didn't just write the Narnia books, he also wrote this science fiction trilogy. The first in the series is weird and fascinating but can be hard going at times. The different languages and words of the species on the planet our protagonist arrives at can be hard to keep up with. I read this bit by bit and really enjoyed it however. And I'm glad to say now halfway through book two it is far easier going and totally gripping.

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JesterEh
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"And I say also this. I do not think the forest would be so bright, nor the water so warm, nor love so sweet, if there were no danger in the lakes."

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hes7
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Mehso-so

Okay, so I didn't completely hate this book (that my brother's been recommending to me for years)... But I didn't love it like I thought I would because, well, it's not Narnia... I know this sounds like terrible reasoning, and I am planning to give this one another chance in the future. 🤞🏻 #AprilAmazingReads #LitsyAtoZ #MountTBR

Foragingfantasy I loved this trilogy. Not Narnia, at all. You def can not go into them with out completely separating the author from his other works. It's been years since I've read them but I have them right here on my shelves. 7y
saresmoore I liked Perelandra a LOT better than this one. 7y
69 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Foragingfantasy
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Pickpick

It's been years since I have read these, but I have read them 2 or 3 times. I "loaned" them to one of my brother in laws several years ago never saw them again. Though he surprised me a few months ago by saying, remember those books you gave me? I just started reading them. ? ? I'm happy tho, he's reading them with his wife and they are enjoying them. And I have scrounged up, mismatched, a replacement set for myself.

23 likes1 stack add
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StephanieY
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Did you know that C.S. Lewis wrote a sci-fi trilogy? #funfridayphoto

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Agnes
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The love of knowledge is a kind of madness. - C.S. Lewis

3 likes1 stack add
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LusMat
Pickpick

An incredible book! Science-fiction, but the real theme is Good and evil and their fight.

5 likes2 stack adds
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quirkyreader
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Mehso-so

I am still trying to wrap my mind around this book. There are two more to go in the trilogy. Maybe by that time I will understand it.

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Christy
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"The last thing Ransom wanted was an adventure, but..."

Desha Ahhhh the trilogy!! I read this in college but it was so long ago! I think it's time for a re-read!! 😜☺️😍 7y
9 likes2 stack adds1 comment