The third book in Lewis' "Space Trilogy," That Hideous Strength, is noticeably different than the first two in the series. It emphasizes events on earth rather than on alien planets, and Dr. Ransom is no longer the central character, though he remains an important one throughout. The first two books more easily capture the imagination, whereas the third is far more philosophical in nature. It comments heavily on mankind's attempt to take control of all nature. I think that some readers may perceive the book as anti-scientific, or at least anti-progressive, but I think it is a mistake to treat it so.
The premise of the book is not anti-scientific, but rather it is that humanity must be careful not to use the scientific tool to such an extent that we eliminate all that is human. The N.I.C.E. scientific institute claims that it is working for humanity's progress through empirical means, yet their methods and goals turn them into humanity's most dangerous enemy. Through this antagonist, Lewis warns that humanity must be careful not to attempt to control human nature, lest human nature be redefined entirely. It is evident that Lewis believed in applying ethical principles in order to guide scientific progress, and this story serves as a warning about what may happen should morality be ignored in the pursuit of science.
The story is most emphatically a Christian tale of good versus evil, in which the primary powers are figures that may be considered archangels fighting against one who is clearly Satan. Each side still works through humanity, and the human participants on both sides recognize that supernatural forces are at work, even though on both sides there exist skeptics and disbelievers in the supernatural (MacPhee serves as the skeptic on Ransom's side). I think it is clear that through this work Lewis implies that there is no neutrality, that each human ends up serving on side or the other, whether he or she is aware of the fact or not. Therefore, I expect this tale of good versus evil to be far more controversial than the first two books in the series. I look forward to hearing the discussion and ideas that members of the class will put forth as we discuss the series, and I am especially interested in hearing comments about the role of ethical science as well as supernatural influences in human activity.
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