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clevermird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The third entry in C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy is, once again, a tonal and thematic departure from the previous installments and at first seems to be completely unrelated. Gone is Professor Ransom, gone are the eldiel and the interplanetary journeys. Instead, we focus on Mark and Jane Studdock, a junior fellow and a graduate student, respectively, at Bracton College. Although only married for half a year, their relationship is already lifeless and disinterested, with Mark too focused on petty ladder-climbing at work to give his wife any attention or respect and Jane emotionally withdrawn as a result. Soon, however, both have their equilibrium interrupted when Jane begins experiencing prophetic dreams and Mark is targeted for recruitment by the mysterious scientific and political organization known as the National Institute of Coordinated Experiments. Before either of them realize it, they find themselves entangled in a deadly battle for the soul of England.
Although it still has some crazy moments, That Hideous Strength dials back on the trippy elements and supernatural metaphors of Perelandra in favor of more direct social commentary, offering quite pointed thoughts on the corruption of science to suit the political aims of those in power, on the manipulation of the public through the press, and of the willingness of otherwise-decent people to go along with evil simply to fit in. There's also a fair amount of musing on gender roles and on the nature of mankind - suffice to say, Lewis is not a fan of Transhumanism. Although spiritual elements are felt throughout, the actual plot feels almost akin to a prequel to 1984.
My feelings on this book are mixed. On the one hand, I found the characters of Jane and Mark to be well-drawn and complex with believable flaws and interesting character arcs, and some of the side characters were quite likable. When the social commentary hits, it really hits, and some of the moments inside of N.I.C.E. are genuinely effective horror. The book was very rarely boring.
On the other hand, a fair bit of the social commentary doesn't really land, either. The discussion of gender roles in particular left me confused as to what, exactly, Lewis was trying to say at times and the themes were heavy-handed enough that readers who don't agree with them will struggle to enjoy the story. The tone is rather inconsistent, too, with some of the fantastical elements feeling shoehorned in and the finale seeming almost cartoonish in comparison to the terrifyingly grounded tone of earlier segments.
Although a narratively satisfying conclusion to the Space Trilogy with some very effective moments, That Hideous Strength ultimately feels unfocused and somewhat preachy. I enjoyed reading it well enough, but I think it would have benefited from a few more drafts.
Although it still has some crazy moments, That Hideous Strength dials back on the trippy elements and supernatural metaphors of Perelandra in favor of more direct social commentary, offering quite pointed thoughts on the corruption of science to suit the political aims of those in power, on the manipulation of the public through the press, and of the willingness of otherwise-decent people to go along with evil simply to fit in. There's also a fair amount of musing on gender roles and on the nature of mankind - suffice to say, Lewis is not a fan of Transhumanism. Although spiritual elements are felt throughout, the actual plot feels almost akin to a prequel to 1984.
My feelings on this book are mixed. On the one hand, I found the characters of Jane and Mark to be well-drawn and complex with believable flaws and interesting character arcs, and some of the side characters were quite likable. When the social commentary hits, it really hits, and some of the moments inside of N.I.C.E. are genuinely effective horror. The book was very rarely boring.
On the other hand, a fair bit of the social commentary doesn't really land, either. The discussion of gender roles in particular left me confused as to what, exactly, Lewis was trying to say at times and the themes were heavy-handed enough that readers who don't agree with them will struggle to enjoy the story. The tone is rather inconsistent, too, with some of the fantastical elements feeling shoehorned in and the finale seeming almost cartoonish in comparison to the terrifyingly grounded tone of earlier segments.
Although a narratively satisfying conclusion to the Space Trilogy with some very effective moments, That Hideous Strength ultimately feels unfocused and somewhat preachy. I enjoyed reading it well enough, but I think it would have benefited from a few more drafts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Police brutality, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Car accident, Alcohol, and Classism