Love reading this one. Great conclusion. Lots of great payoffs between the characters developed earlier. Except maybe with Aiden who's three witness pLove reading this one. Great conclusion. Lots of great payoffs between the characters developed earlier. Except maybe with Aiden who's three witness power is unclear and his title is strangely unrelated to the first book which is his adventure.
Really like this one for the allusions to Christianity and revelation and the new creation. Which makes a for excellent fantasy elements. Though I am biased. haha....more
This my second reading of the Space Trilogy and it lingered in my mind this whole time for good reason. Out of the Silent planet and Paralandra are esThis my second reading of the Space Trilogy and it lingered in my mind this whole time for good reason. Out of the Silent planet and Paralandra are especially enjoyable and easy to get into. I love the vision of the glorious heaven. And I love his fantasy and mythology of the angel/gods who live on the planets and live in the cosmos. As it makes me reflect on the Bible's spiritual worldview which certainly is more similar that we might realize. Just thinking of that Psalm 82 that says God judges among the Gods and lots of people are seeing this (see the Bible Project on this) as that god has appointed lots of spiritual beings to rule in various parts of the earth. But many have gone corrupt. Satan and his demons etc.
I love Paralandra because of the observations essentially on what is truly good. Which is what the Garden of Eden and the vision of revelation is about. Its about what is truly Good and the good that god intends for us. And this good includes a self-control that is where we are not focus on maximizing our pleasure at all times by any means (certainly a fault of mine) but we accept the world for how it is made to be and experience it according to God's plan.
That hideous strength I love because of the Title it refers to this poem about the tower of Babel. It talks about how evil and the wrongs ways of living do have power and strength. But like Babel they will be scattered. This one is certainly very different from the others and has a much different pace and character and is honestly somewhat dry for a while, until you realize later it is all about exploring the manipulation of evil forces in the world. I love authurian legend and it is mixed in with this which I really love. It reminds me of Stephen R. Lawhead's treatment of Christianity and Autherian legend. Which of course I really like because as a Christian I think that Christianity is truly the only true and good faith.
Would recommend reading Planet Narnia before or with this book as it shows Lewis' fascination and use of the medieval cosmology and their conceptions of the seven planets. ...more
Great adventure story. And especially enjoyable as a Christian as the fantasy is heavily inspired or alluding to Christianity's cosmology and worldvieGreat adventure story. And especially enjoyable as a Christian as the fantasy is heavily inspired or alluding to Christianity's cosmology and worldview....more
I loved the part where sir Balin found "the perfect body of an ancient and venerable man." Kind of hit me and I had to reread it several times.
The beI loved the part where sir Balin found "the perfect body of an ancient and venerable man." Kind of hit me and I had to reread it several times.
The beginning was a bit boring with bland descriptions of knight X doing Y in battle over and over. But the tale of Sir Lancelot was excellent. ...more
This book had a certain mystique to it because my older brothers would talk about it when I was younger. It still has that mystique after reading it tThis book had a certain mystique to it because my older brothers would talk about it when I was younger. It still has that mystique after reading it twice. Ask yourself, do you want to read a book about monastery-university-cloisters that only have contact with the outside world every 10, 100, or 1000 years? Do you want to learn a new vocabulary? Want to start saying to people your going to see the speilies? Well you may want to read this book too. ;)...more
I have loved this book for a long time. I think what grabs me the most is the interplay of religion and the ideas of the rest of the world. And how thI have loved this book for a long time. I think what grabs me the most is the interplay of religion and the ideas of the rest of the world. And how the characters deal with that are drawn to it and how they keep faith even if it may not be quite in the way they are expected to. Though mainly the book is about the relationship between Fathers and sons and good friends....more
This is my favorite fantasy trilogy up to this point.
I deeply enjoy and am still affected by Lawhead's description and exploration of Albion. The potThis is my favorite fantasy trilogy up to this point.
I deeply enjoy and am still affected by Lawhead's description and exploration of Albion. The potential beauty and goodness of life and nature and community and growth are stunningly portrayed....more
When I mentioned in my review of the first book about the way violent and greedy people twist things I was thinking about the climax to this book.
I aWhen I mentioned in my review of the first book about the way violent and greedy people twist things I was thinking about the climax to this book.
I also love these books for the Celtic folk stories that are used in them. I especially love the feeling where you just feel like you are on the edge of understanding why the particular story was told or what the story means. I have not come into understanding yet but I don't think stories like these are meant to have a moral of the story as it were....more
I am so happy I chanced upon these books at the Christian book store after I was given a book card. Bought the whole series probably mostly sold on thI am so happy I chanced upon these books at the Christian book store after I was given a book card. Bought the whole series probably mostly sold on the brilliant and beautiful hardcovers.
These books instill a mindfulness of the goodness in the world in creation in sunshine in cold water flowing in friendship and kinship with others in community in singing in poetry in steel of ken in strength used well, but also in the backwardness and utter wrongness of might makes right and the quelling of truth for the sake gaining material and power.
I write this as I am reading them for the third or fourth time and just finished this first book. I am about to lend them to friends of mine and just want to refresh my memory and enthusiasm for them.
For those who balk at the mention of Christian I would mention that this lense for it is not forced but me being who I am see it so clearly. And I believe any one would appreciate the call to rightness in these books....more
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