I’d love to learn more about where he got the inspiration for all these characters.

police, Filostrato, the hugely fat Italian scientist who wants to “cleanse” earth of all vegetation, and on and on it goes. There’s Straik, the lapsed parson who (re)interprets all biblical prophecies and events in terms of the N.I.C.E.’s agenda, Fairy Hardcastle, the sadistic head of the N.I.C.E. unconditionally and resents that he even has a consciousness to be aware of this. Then there’s Frost, whose icy objectivity and opposition to all “chemical phenomena” have pushed him outside even his own reason, to the point where he obeys the devils involved with the N.I.C.E. I love how he constantly interrupts his (already convoluted) sentences with expressions like – “you will understand I am speaking only semi-officially, of course” – and, “I am thinking of your interests here – it would be inexpressibly painful to me to cause you any discomfort whatsoever.” He is so polite and deferential – and all the while acting as the head of the organization seeking to destroy humanity.

There’s Wither, always vague, always distant, always polite, and yet – how do you describe him? There is some deep malice always simmering just beneath the surface. They are the kinds of characters who are simultaneously hilarious and terrifying. Lewis is a master at stating profound ideas succinctly, and he does it through dialogue as well as non-fiction.īut best of all are the bad guys, the upper members of the N.I.C.E. Its also interesting to “listen in” on the conversations between the various good characters, especially the conversations between MacPhee the rationalist and Ransom or Dimble. Especially Mark – you almost feel physical relief when he comes to his senses at the end of the book. I love the way Lewis describes how each of these characters, in their different ways, comes to see their folly and is redeemed.

And then there’s Jane, who is proud and independent and detests any kind of feminine submission or neediness. There’s Mark, whose desire for the “inner circle” will make him do anything, including very nearly destroy himself and make a fool of himself in the process.

My overall favorite thing about the book is the characterization. It starts off a bit slowly, and its perhaps not as quotable as Lewis’ other works, but in its last 1/5 or so everything comes together and the plot becomes extremely exciting. Lewis’ That Hideous Strength, which may be my second favorite of his books, after Till We Have Faces.

That hideous strength book