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That Hideous Strength: (Space Trilogy, Book Three) (The Space Trilogy 3) Kindle Edition

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,462 ratings

The final of the three stories in Lewis's science fiction trilogy. The story which began on Mars and was continued on Venus comes to its conclusion on Earth.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006L8768O
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne (April 3, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 3, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 702 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1444453513
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,462 ratings

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C.S. Lewis
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CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
2,462 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and worth reading. They appreciate the rich story with an interesting supernatural flavor. The book provides deep insights into human nature and expresses Lewis' views on education and culture. Readers praise the brilliant writing style and beautiful language. They love some of the characters and appreciate references to themes and characters. However, some find the beginning slow and not as engaging as expected.

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184 customers mention "Value for money"168 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the book and find it an enjoyable read. They say it captivates them and is worth reading. The series is excellent and should be read by fans of C. S. Lewis.

"...bizarre occurrences, will not only delight but also shock the reader into wanting to read until the consummation of events in the final chapter...." Read more

"C.S. Lewis Paints Pictures With His Words. This was an amazing book, giving the reader a lot to think about...." Read more

"...The series is excellent and should be read by any fan of Lewis - if for no other reason, than it will put Perelandra in its proper focus... and it..." Read more

"...The whole plot is rather melodramatic, almost campy, and in parts Lewis's writing is rather cheeky, but this is also interspersed with more..." Read more

146 customers mention "Story quality"120 positive26 negative

Customers enjoy the story's richness, intrigue, and supernatural flavor. They find it a powerful conclusion to themes introduced in the first two novels. Readers appreciate how Lewis uses storytelling to make people think about their own responses. The book is described as gripping and entertaining, with a touching and hope-filled climax.

"...plot itself, filled with most fantastic twists and turns and bizarre occurrences, will not only delight but also shock the reader into wanting to..." Read more

"...At the same time, like a Narnia story, it was just that--an enchanting, enchanted, enchantment story...." Read more

"...Now, having said that, I still enjoy it. It is a powerful conclusion to the themes introduced in the first two novels and brings the character of..." Read more

"...for days. a fairy tale for adults, with sci-fi elements and deep lessons...." Read more

94 customers mention "Insight"82 positive12 negative

Customers find the book insightful and relatable. They appreciate the deep lessons and Christian polemic, which reach into the soul. The message is transcendent and relevant to modern thinking, making it a perfect companion for apologetics classes. Readers also like the self-reflection sections, which invoke a sense of depth.

"...This book ended up being the perfect companion to my Apologetics class in which I tried to get my students to see the necessity of every Christian..." Read more

"...focus... and it is a true gem of what makes Lewis so loved - complex emotional and spiritual tensions explored in wonderfully enticing fantasy worlds." Read more

"...for days. a fairy tale for adults, with sci-fi elements and deep lessons...." Read more

"...vast knowledge of classical mythology and very direct Christian polemic into an unheralded masterpiece...." Read more

56 customers mention "Writing style"46 positive10 negative

Customers find the writing style brilliant and rich. They praise the beautiful language and clear portrayal of an evil organization. Readers appreciate the author's gift for writing and the characters.

"...While the book does have very capturing and enjoyable parts, such as when Merlin is found, at some points it can seem dull and boring...." Read more

"...The story startled me with its very clear portrayal of how an evil organization manipulates its members and, through them, public support of its..." Read more

"...This is written more like a classical novel, and it has elements of both allegory and satire, in which science is pitted against ethics...." Read more

"...Lewis is a wonderful writer who gets the reader personally involved in the story and characters...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"11 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the character development and references to themes. They appreciate the historical characters and the way they are treated.

"...With the larger cast of characters (vs just Weston as the main antagonist in the first two), Lewis gets to skewer many more caricatures of Modern..." Read more

"...recommend That Hideous Strength: its thrilling plot, a host of well-developed characters, Lewis's piercing analysis of how good men can and do go bad..." Read more

"...The field of characters is much broader as the plot is more complex. It feels a little more like a psychological drama than a fantasy...." Read more

"...It was a bit slow at first. No loose ends. Familiar characters and a few surprises...." Read more

11 customers mention "Visual style"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual style. They find the images imaginative and creative, with a different style from the Space Trilogy.

"...Lewis has given us a profound imaginative look at how our lives are really governed...." Read more

"...As the third part of the Space Trilogy, it is VERY different in style...." Read more

"...MARVELOUS images!" Read more

"So beautifully written and delightfully crafted. Elegant and precious in so many different ways...." Read more

16 customers mention "Humor"8 positive8 negative

Customers find the book humorous with symbolism, irony, and satire. They describe it as an amusing story that feeds the spiritual imagination. However, others find the humor dull and boring at times. The English language can be difficult for less accomplished readers.

"...This is written more like a classical novel, and it has elements of both allegory and satire, in which science is pitted against ethics...." Read more

"...parts, such as when Merlin is found, at some points it can seem dull and boring...." Read more

"...Lewis layers irony on top of irony with doses of insight into human nature, with all of it's ridiculous absurdity, posturing, pettiness, potential..." Read more

"...the third book by itself is a quality read, it is just not as engaging as what came before." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"0 positive11 negative

Customers find the book difficult to read. They mention the plot is slow and tedious, with too many words that make it difficult to understand. Readers also mention the book is not easy to read and requires concentration and perseverance.

"...This book, like the other books in the trilogy, take a while to get going, and this is by far the longest of the three, which means an even longer..." Read more

"As I find with most C. S. Lewis books, a rather slow read, which is one reason I give this last book of his "Space Trilogy" a 3 star rating...." Read more

"...Also, it is not "light" reading, and takes some concentration and perseverance. Absolutely worth reading, if you like this genre and/or author...." Read more

"...A bit more difficult to read than the others (for me). It was a bit slow at first. No loose ends...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2011
    "That Hideous Strength" is the 3rd and final book in C.S. Lewis' space trilogy. Although "That Hideous Strength" takes place entirely on Earth, supernatural elements from the first two books make an appearance in this one.

    Anytime a book (such as this one) makes me underline passages on nearly every page and anytime a book makes me stop to think about ideas or care about the characters or re-read passages for the sheer delight they bring, I know I've just read a classic.

    While difficult and dense at times, "That Hideous Strength" is a classic that should provoke an enlightening joy in its readers!

    Lewis called his book "A fairy tale for grown ups," which is actually a pretty good summary of the whole thing. What Lewis attempts (and mostly achieves) is to represent the invisible spiritual realities through the ordinary, humdrum things of the world. As in fairy tales, "That Hideous Strength" starts out with the ordinary but ends up in the most extraordinary way.

    I won't ruin the plot for those who haven't read it, but Lewis primarily deals with the life of a married couple, Mark and Jane Studdock. It's important that the novel begins with marriage, refers to marriage throughout, and ends with marriage. While marriage, especially one like the Studdock's, may seem humdrum, it is, in reality, a profound spiritual picture of both the union between Christ and the Church and of the union of love that is to exist among men.

    When I recently taught "That Hideous Strength" to a high school class in Apologetics at the classical Anglican school where I teach, I had them read the book through the lens of "influence," "peer pressure," and "motivations." As you read the book, pay attention to why Mark and Jane acts the way they do, who influences them, and what their motivations are. Lewis has given us a profound imaginative look at how our lives are really governed. This book ended up being the perfect companion to my Apologetics class in which I tried to get my students to see the necessity of every Christian giving an account of the hope that is within them. We've also spent a lot of time this year talking about peer pressure and how it can lead Christians closer to or further away from God.

    Another way of reading "That Hideous Strength" is to look at it through the lens of the different worldviews that are presented. Among these are the unthinking atheism of Mark, the selfish practical atheism and individualism of Jane, the modernistic dream of human reason, a more postmodern mix of reason and the occult, and Christianity. It's fascinating to see the war of the worldviews at work in "That Hideous Strength"! Lewis clearly understood the spiritual state of England in 1946, and his analysis of that condition continues to have relevance for the Western world in the 21st century. Lewis' fairy tale succeeds in alerting his readers to the very real presence of the supernatural in our ordinary lives.

    One of the things that make the book such a joy to read is Lewis' insight into human nature. While the "I" passages of the book are unnecessarily obtrusive, Lewis nevertheless gives the reader a lot of keen insight into the nature of man, the nature of marriage, and the psychology that lies behind our thoughts and actions.

    Another sumptuous part of the novel is Lewis' language. As with so many of his other works, he has many quotable lines from either the characters or the narrators. At other times, a lyrical beauty sings through the passages, such as those where he describes the effects that earthly characters feel when in the presence of the eldil or angels.

    Even the plot itself, filled with most fantastic twists and turns and bizarre occurrences, will not only delight but also shock the reader into wanting to read until the consummation of events in the final chapter.

    Finally, I find Lewis' injection of not only Merlin but also Arthurian mythology to be not only out of place but also a positive distraction from the Christian meaning and symbolism of the rest of the novel. It's almost as if Lewis, being the classical and medieval scholar he was, couldn't help himself. It makes for fascinating reading, but it's not entirely favorable in its effect.

    In spite of a few odd things I didn't care for, "That Hideous Strength" remains a wonder and delight that I highly recommend to serious readers, especially those who are Christian.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2024
    C.S. Lewis Paints Pictures With His Words. This was an amazing book, giving the reader a lot to think about. At the same time, like a Narnia story, it was just that--an enchanting, enchanted, enchantment story. I saw bits of the 4 loves--and people from other planets, animals showing joy and so much more in this book. It was also impossible not to compare the story with our own world today, at certain points. Be wary, for we know not the time or the hour.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2017
    I recently picked up and re-read C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. Perelanda, the second book in the series, is one of my favorite Lewis works - and so I picked up Out of the Silent Planet (the first book in the series) and That Hideous Strength to refresh my experience of the whole story.

    That Hideous Strength is the longest of the three and is, I think, the most difficult to connect with on a personal level. It doesn't have the simplicity and wonder that Perelandra has - nor does it have the wonder of the fantastic that carries Out of the Silent Planet. The story is darker, the imagery harder to engage, and the plot a bit less adventuresome. The field of characters is much broader as the plot is more complex. It feels a little more like a psychological drama than a fantasy.

    Now, having said that, I still enjoy it. It is a powerful conclusion to the themes introduced in the first two novels and brings the character of Ransom full circle. The mystical creatures of the first two books are still present, but they are invisible influencers - much more like what we would call demonic forces (which is the point). The novel is very much an exploration of the clash of humanistic materialism with a Christian philosophy or moral absolutes. In fact, Lewis compares the novel to his non-fiction work, The Abolition of Man - and will reward the non-casual reader who will do some critical reading along with the source material.

    The series is excellent and should be read by any fan of Lewis - if for no other reason, than it will put Perelandra in its proper focus... and it is a true gem of what makes Lewis so loved - complex emotional and spiritual tensions explored in wonderfully enticing fantasy worlds.
    21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Erin Reicker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to read
    Reviewed in Canada on November 2, 2021
    This is such a great book by C. S Lewis, I love his books and he never fails to make you realize and think about things. I loved this book, it's one of those I need to reread, to have those Ahha! moments. Fast shipping, great quality of book. Thank you.
  • Gabriel Cervantes
    4.0 out of 5 stars El tercero de la serie...
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 10, 2018
    Si bien aquí creo que se abordan temas más "humanos"—políticos y/o diplomáticos, sociológicos y psicológicos—, no deja de tener sus características puntualizaciones desde las perspectiva del cristianismo.

    Al menos para mí fue una lectura un tanto compleja (aunque no al grado de "The Pilgrim's Regress"), y es por esta razón que no podría dar más detalles del libro, ya que considero debo leerlo una segunda, tercera o cuarta vez.

    Las particularidades de la historia las pueden leer en otros sitios (goodreads, por ejemplo), así que no viene al caso comentar mucho al respecto. Para los detractores del autor, es un asunto poco fácil hacer una crítica de esta obra dada su naturaleza moral y ética, la cual si somos realistas en un amplio sentido, es bastante subjetiva de cultura a cultura; no obstante son excelsas las aportaciones ideológicas que el autor dispone para nosotros en las páginas de esta novela.

    Les animo a su lectura.
  • David Hawley
    5.0 out of 5 stars An eerie description of today
    Reviewed in Japan on December 25, 2021
    I came back to this book after many years because of Andrew Klavan's comment that it described the world of today. And I have to agree, particularly the pernicious progressive engineering of humanity in the West.

    The Kindle edition has a lot of mis-scans.
  • K. Gajewski
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Culmination of the 'Perelandra' trilogy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 16, 2014
    An excellent read - plot, characterisation and writing skill are all evident in this novel. It carries a fictional working-out of themes C S Lewis explores in his famous extended essay 'The Abolition of Man' but is never overly moralistic. It carries a dire warning of the perils associated with rejection of objective truth. A must-read for those concerned by the disintegration of the Christian consensus in contemporary 'Western' civilisation.
  • Pete Abrams
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best of fantasies
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2024
    Set in the world of academia CS Lewis creates a scene probably a little familiar to his own university life albeit mainly through the eyes of Mark, an ambitious and rather self centred young man, one of the main characters. Then evil creeps into the story, and to counter the evil, very gradually, the "good" emerges headed by Ransom. The fantastic develops in the form of a disgusting scientific experiment carried out by a body of philosophical scientists, and this becomes a vehicle to describe how the values of a society can become a hideous strength. But the fantastic develops into a kind of firework display of chaos and self- destruction. It is, however, the deep spiritual narrative running beneath the fantasy that is a gold mine.

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