C.S. Lewis gives the protagonist of his Space Trilogy the surname Ransom. Elwin Ransom is the central character in Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.
Ransom is a philologist whose academic expertise becomes important when he encounters intelligent life beyond Earth. In the first novel, he is abducted and taken to Malacandra, the planet commonly associated with Mars. His experiences continue in the later books as he confronts spiritual and technological threats.
Lewis originally used the name Ransom partly to emphasize the character’s role in a story involving captivity, rescue, and moral responsibility. Ransom is not a conventional action hero; his learning, conscience, and ability to communicate are crucial to the trilogy’s conflicts.
The character should not be confused with Mark Studdock, who becomes central to That Hideous Strength. Studdock is a separate protagonist whose storyline is set mainly on Earth, while Ransom links the three novels across planetary and spiritual settings.