Which C.S. Lewis book presents the fictional world of Malacandra, later identified with Mars?

The story behind the answer

Out of the Silent Planet presents Malacandra, the fictional world later identified with Mars. C.S. Lewis published the science-fiction novel in 1938 as the first volume of his Space Trilogy.

The protagonist, Elwin Ransom, is kidnapped and taken to Malacandra by the scientist Weston and his associate Devine. Ransom escapes and learns about the planet's intelligent species, cultures, and moral order. Lewis used the story to challenge the idea that space travel and human expansion should automatically be treated as progress.

The trilogy continues with Perelandra, published in 1943, and That Hideous Strength, published in 1945. Those titles are sometimes mistakenly assigned to Malacandra, but they take place on different worlds or settings and follow later stages of Ransom's story.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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