I haven't read any of his other books. I started The Screwtape Letters but never finished it because I just didn't get it.

I really want to read the Space Trilogy. I actually first heard about them on here and I keep forgetting to look for them at the library. I'm going to have to look after work tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me!

First of all, everyone should realize that his other fiction is not like Narnia; Narnia is the only Narnia. But his Space Trilogy is spectacular. The only drawback is the same drawback to the Narnia stories: they're all too short! They're over before you want them to be over, because they're so good!

The main character of the three stories, Elwin Ransom, is a philogist at an English university (Oxford?), and some speculate that he is modeled after Tolkien.

The genre is different, but the wonderful insights into God and man come through just as strong as in the Narnia stories. And all three of them would make AWESOME movies (except Perelandra would never work on screen, because all the characters are, well...you'll have to read it to know what I'm getting at). That Hideous Strength would be an absolute thriller, but would have to be rated R if it was done right. But forget about my imagined movies: we have the books! Definitely read them all if you get the chance.

Something I meant to post yesterday and forgot is my favorite C. S. Lewis quote. But I'm not sure of the source. Can somebody help me?

The Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. ... The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English evangelicals who abolished slave trade, all left their mark on earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world, that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’; aim at earth and you will get neither.

I'm frequently reminded of this quote when it comes to my paltry evangelism efforts ... and my mindset when doing so. I'm also learning some secrets to successful evangelism:

1. Pray [for spiritual wisdom and unction, etc]
2. Witness [with kindness]
3. Pray, leaving results to God

Tawareill: thanks for the reading suggestion. Welcome to the forum! Please share your insights in the Narnia and Christianity board and Spare Oom: Christianity, Religion, and Philosophy thread!

The Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. ... The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English evangelicals who abolished slave trade, all left their mark on earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world, that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’; aim at earth and you will get neither.

I believe it's from Mere Christianity, but my son is reading my copy right now, so I can't check for sure.

I tried reading Mere Christianity, but I found it confusing.....

The genre is different, but the wonderful insights into God and man come through just as strong as in the Narnia stories. And all three of them would make AWESOME movies (except Perelandra would never work on screen, because all the characters are, well...you'll have to read it to know what I'm getting at).

I might even say stronger than the Narnia books...Ransom openly says that he is a Christian in the books, and there are lots of Christian themes that are easily recognizable. And yeah, I completely agree with you about Perelandra, although I don't know if OotSP would really do well if made into a movie...it's kind of a "been done" in film right now, especially with Avatar coming out so huge (actually, when I saw the trailer for "Avatar" I thought it might be Out of the Silent Planet although if they had made it before Avatar came out it would've been amazing!) But I loved the book, although I'm having a really hard time getting through Perelandra...I've been trying to read it since August

And I don't know where this quote is from, but my friend showed it too me and I've loved it ever since

I believe in Christianity as I believe in the sun. Not because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

I don't know if that's the exact quote, but I'm pretty sure it's close.

I just requested the first two books of the Space Trilogy on inter-library loan. They have the last one already. I could understand having the first one and not the last two but having the last one and not the first two? That's just weird?

And all three of them would make AWESOME movies (except Perelandra would never work on screen, because all the characters are, well...you'll have to read it to know what I'm getting at). That Hideous Strength would be an absolute thriller, but would have to be rated R if it was done right

Agreed! I want to see That Hideous Strength on film. I'll dream along with you.

I just requested the first two books of the Space Trilogy on inter-library loan. They have the last one already. I could understand having the first one and not the last two but having the last one and not the first two? That's just weird?

For the same reason the library here has an excellent mystery trilogy but they only have 1 and 3. It was annoying. But aside from weird library collections, That Hideous Strength can be read as a stand-alone quite easily. And, I think, it is the best of the three.

I've read:

Boxen - an accomplishment in writing and illustration for a young child but quite dull and formulaic

The Great Divorce - brilliant

Till We Have Faces - well-written but I didn't like it much

The Dark Tower and Other Stories - incomplete, draft but a very interesting story. The other stories range from interesting to bland.

Mere Christianity - very, very good

The Screwtape Letters - very good. Insightful but not an easy read

Surprised by Joy - a real drag to read if you aren't familiar with the topics/literature discussed. Some moments of goodness.

The Abolition of Man - interesting but a very, very difficult read (about Natural Law and how it's recognised in cultures around the world).

The Space Trilogy:
Out of the Silent Planet - I didn't like it until the last 50 or so pages

Perelandra - very good but incredibly slow-paced. It becomes something great only when Ransom meets the Green Lady and the Unman appears

That Hideous Strength - fantastic. Has a very slow and not entirely necessary first quarter or so, but from there on it's a brilliant horror/thriller

Boxen - an accomplishment in writing and illustration for a young child but quite dull and formulaic

I agree. I borrowed it from the library a few years ago and I could not finish it. I tried to but I just couldn't bring myself to so I returned it after only reading a few pages.

Warrior: so The Abolition of Man is "about Natural Law and how it's recognised in cultures around the world)"? Someone else told me it was also about modern British education, the kind satirized in The Silver Chair. I think this is one book I absolutely HAVE to read! Thanks for the info!

Yes, the book is about both of those topics. If you decide to read it, read it extremely slowly in order to digest it properly. Many of the themes of The Abolition of Man are explored throughout That Hideous Strength.

I read the Space Trilogy and just loved it. Being that it was my first read on interplanetary adventures, and because I like astronomy, I found it really interesting, because most of the fantasy books I read are about different worlds/dimensions altogether. "That Hideous Strength" was a little difficult, but I really appreciated how even though Dr. Ransom isn't actually the main character, he's still important to it.
I don't know how well the others would actually translate to film, though. Perelandra would definitely need a few changes! T.H.S. might translate good to cinema. further up and further in, I so agree about wishing the first two would be longer!
I'm intrigued by what I'm hearing about "The Dark Tower and other Stories" and its apparent relation to the space trilogy. I would love to read it, but the library near me doesn't have it
I also read Till We Have Faces, and did not like it.

I read the first two scentences of the Space Trilogy and it was not to my liking! my sister read it and loved it, but it's not my style.....

You read only the first two sentences and then decided it wasn't to your liking? Talk about a lack of commitment!