That Hideous Strength

Book review from The Movie Snob

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. This is the last, longest, and most outlandish book in Lewis's "space trilogy." In fact, this one does not involve outer space at all; the action is situated entirely on terra firma. The forces of evil are launching an effort at world domination through an international organization ironically named N.I.C.E. (National Institute of Coordinated Experiments). The forces of good are a very small band of people led by Dr. Ransom, hero of the first two books in the trilogy. Although ostensibly a very scientific and techonologically advanced organization, the N.I.C.E. is secretly on a quest to unearth and revive none other than Merlin the Wizard himself, whom it plans to co-opt in its evil scheme. Ransom and his forces take this threat completely seriously and strive to get to the old magician first. It is a very strange book, but not a bad read. Still, I think the first book in the series, Out of the Silent Planet, was the best.