Dr. Ransom ends up on Mars and with surprise learns that the universe is full of life—and, most importantly, his home planet, Earth, is considered by the people of Mars “silent,” not taking part in the overall cosmic choir. Lewis’s space trilogy is similar to The Chronicles of Narnia, but written in the science-fiction genre. "Out of the Silent Planet" is an engaging novel that seems deceptively "easy," yet, as always with Lewis, it’s full of profound insights about the world and people.
The story takes place in a period shortly before World War II. The main character, the English philologist Ransom, sets out to travel on foot across the countryside. One day he stops to spend the night at a strange farm, where he meets his old acquaintance—Weston, a physicist—and an unknown gentleman.
However, meeting his friend turns into an abduction. The physicist, together with his acquaintance, kidnaps Ransom and takes him aboard a spacecraft heading to an unknown planet—Malakandra.