Books like That hideous strength by C.S. Lewis
Published in 1996 as part of the Scribner Classics edition, *That Hideous Strength* is the final installment in C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy. Written during the dark hours of the Second World War, the novel expands Lewis’s imagined universe, blending science‑fiction and fantasy elements.
The story centers on Dr. Elwin Ransom, a brilliant philologist, who joins forces with his compatriots to oppose N.I.C.E. (the National Institute of Coordinated Experiments), a clandestine organization seeking to “recondition” society using a resurrected wizard named Merlin. As Earth's future hangs in the balance, Ransom’s contrast with the scheming group echoes the classic struggle between good and evil.
The book explores themes of power, knowledge, and the intersection of science and spirituality, while incorporating elements of interplanetary voyages, extraterrestrial beings, and the moral dilemmas faced by colleagues in academia. It remains a pivotal work in English fantasy prose, notable for its sophisticated allegory and philosophical depth.
First publish date: June 30, 1987
Genre: Science Fiction/Space Opera
Authors: C.S. Lewis
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