Did you know Lewis published three novels in the mid 1940's based on space travel and the spiritual battles that exist on every heavenly body that God created? This SciFi trilogy includes the books, "Out of this Silent Planet," "Perelandria,"and "This Hideous Strength."
The first book includes a linguist named Ransom, who is kidnapped by new age scientists who travel to Mars to confront the ancient beings living there. As it turns out, the planet is heavily under the influence of angelic beings who easily accept God's plan for their lives, and mourn for Earth, the silent planet under the influence of a darker being. The next books includes the creation of a human-like race on Venus, with a green, but equally beautiful "Eve." The final book deals with the battle between good and evil one earth, and includes the reawakening of Merlin from the King Arthur's tale.
I read all three novels and loved them, but I have to say that the content may be above the heads of most junior high and some high school students. There's a lot of philosophy in all three stories that they won't be able to appreciate. It WAS interesting to compare Lewis' fiction to space travel two decades later, and I really enjoyed the Merlin's character in the final book and how he was woven into the story.
All in all, if you're looking for a good read to share as a family, these books could be considered. Expect a lot of discussion, but enjoy a glimpse into Lewis' earlier works as a younger author.
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