C.S. Lewis’s science-fiction trilogy, published between 1938 and 1945, is unlike any other series of science-fiction books ever written.

The three books were partly written in response to the immorality Lewis saw in other science fiction novels and essays: namely ones by Olaf Stapledon, HG Wells, and JBS Haldane. Instead of depicting aliens on other planets as monsters who needed to be conquered, Lewis depicts the invading humans as monstrous and the aliens as godlier and more virtuous.

He also incorporated many elements of medieval and renaissance literature into what he called his “planetary romances.” Although the novels centre on futuristic technology – including spaceflight and medical innovations – the narrative perspective belongs to a much older time. As a result, we can regard Lewis’s work as a type of ‘medieval science-fiction.’
Each module in this series focuses on a different novel in the trilogy, and students can take all three modules or chose to join the series for individual modules at any time during the course’s run.

So, please join us as we explore these three incredible and genre-busting novels… after reading and discussing them, you will never see the universe in the same way again!