C. S. Lewis doesn't just write to tell a story. He has a whole philosophy to communicate--one which he would call "Christian." I'm not a Christian but am often a sympathizer and enjoy a nice philosophy sometimes, though I prefer it when it doesn't take over the story. I forgive a morality tale from a certain level of concern with morality.

This is book 3 of Lewis's "space trilogy" and is the most interestingly written of the three. The main characters are often well drawn and not merely stand-ins for political or philosophical/religious positions (though minor characters fail in this way).

I enjoyed it despite serious disagreements with Lewis's point of view. I have a fantasy that I could convince him of my position were it possible to sit down with him and talk it out.

He takes a position that objectivity and thus science implies a lack of values and is taking the world, or at least the England of the mid 20th century, on a disastrous course. Objectivity is achieved (according to N.I.C.E. training procedures) by learning to block out and ignore one's feelings. One needs to learn to act without, for example, friendship, fear, or religious awe, which are merely the product of brain chemicals. (This idea in some ways resembles the Buddhist concept of non-attachment but the similarity is actually superficial.) Objectivity out of control leads to overvaluing Earthly Life and forgetting about the hereafter and God. Morality, objectively, is just chemicals and must be overcome.

The story is about the struggle to keep the N.I.C.E from destroying humanity with science and their lack of values (though they are actually manipulated by Satan's evil values.)

It's disturbing to google a quote from the book and have it show up on right-wing websites, but it's also interesting to see Lewis's sophisticated thought being appreciated by a political wing associated with anti-intellectualism.

As an important plot point, the "liberal media" manipulates the public to accept the unacceptable. This is beautifully written though I am politically closer to Orwell, who also writes how language is used to coerce thought.

Lewis's good guys share housework across gender lines but believe a wife must obey her husband. Lewis's bad guys include a Lesbian who can only carry out her role because the objective people have learned to suppress their "natural feelings" against this sexual abomination.

Lewis's bad guys want to substitute treatment of criminals for punishment because, like the Soviet Union, they understand this gives them more power over them--they can be locked up forever in hospitals. I suppose his brand of Christianity sees forgiveness including the sinner paying his debt to society (i.e. being punished.)

Lewis is on record (elsewhere) as saying it is scientism, not science he sees as a problem but as someone who recently enjoyed reading The Martian, I'm not sure Lewis is clear on the difference. It is notable that the downfall of the bad guys is only possible because, through space travel, they have rendered inoperable the seventh law which says that Maleldil will not send down the Powers until the end times. In other words, they started it and He has not forbidden the Powers to hit back (this is the defense of a big brother when the little brother complains to Mom).

Wither (deputy director of the NICE) is so objective that he speaks in non-committal corporate speak. His dialogue, a mixture of vagueness, generalization, innuendo, unfinished sentences, and formal politeness is a joy to read. Similarly, I loved the gibberish spoken by those under Merlin's spell. Lewis and I agree that language is important. (Ransom is, after all, a philologist)

In the end, the bad guys appear to kill each other so it looks like it's not really anyone's fault (none of the good guys breaks the commandment "Thou shalt not kill") though, in fact it is all happening under orchestration of "the Powers." Perhaps, not being human, the Powers are not bound by the ten commandments. Still, you'd think a Christian would be more forgiving than requiring them to die.