Lewis' view of Venus in Perelandra

C. S. Lewis' View of Venus C. S. Lewis' View of Venus in in

PerelandraPerelandraAndrew Lang and Joe NinowskiAndrew Lang and Joe Ninowski

Oral Roberts UniversityOral Roberts UniversityScience and Science Fiction Conference 2012Science and Science Fiction Conference 2012

OverviewOverview

1. Novel Summary1. Novel Summary

2. Early Perceptions of 2. Early Perceptions of VenusVenus

3. Lewis' Depiction of Venus3. Lewis' Depiction of Venus

4. What We Know Today4. What We Know Today

5. Conclusion5. Conclusion

Perelandra (aka Voyage to Venus) is the second installment in C.S. Lewis' space trilogy. Published in 1943, the story picks up where Out of the Silent Planet left off and follows the account of Dr. Elwin Ransom as he journeys from Earth to Venus. Upon landing there, Dr. Ransom discovers the planet is a New Eden whose King (Adam) and Queen (Eve) have never known Evil. The reason for his summons is soon revealed in the form of Silent Planet's antagonist, Professor Weston, who seeks to corrupt Eve. The novel's main momentum evolves as Dr. Ransom must prevent Weston from bringing about a new Fall of Man on this uncorrupted world.

Summary of Summary of PerelandraPerelandra

The Many The Many FacesFaces

of of PerelandraPerelandra

Early Perceptions of Venus:Early Perceptions of Venus:Life on VenusLife on Venus

"Venus...in size, in situation, and in density, in the length "Venus...in size, in situation, and in density, in the length of her seasons, and of her rotation, in the figure of her of her seasons, and of her rotation, in the figure of her orbit and in the amount of light and heat she receives orbit and in the amount of light and heat she receives from the sun, Venus bears a more striking resemblance from the sun, Venus bears a more striking resemblance to earth than any other orb within the solar system...[and] to earth than any other orb within the solar system...[and] on the whole, the evidence we have points very strongly on the whole, the evidence we have points very strongly to Venus as an abode of living creatures not unlike the to Venus as an abode of living creatures not unlike the inhabitants of earth." inhabitants of earth."

-Proctor R.A.-Proctor R.A. (1870) (1870)from from Other Worlds Than Ours: The Plurality of Worlds Other Worlds Than Ours: The Plurality of Worlds Studied Under the Light of Recent Scientific ResearchesStudied Under the Light of Recent Scientific Researches

Early Perceptions of Venus:Early Perceptions of Venus:Rotation and Day LengthRotation and Day Length

Schiaparelli's observations of Venus over several years led Schiaparelli's observations of Venus over several years led him to conclude that its period of rotation was longer than the him to conclude that its period of rotation was longer than the ~23h period suggested by Cassini. ~23h period suggested by Cassini.

In 1890, he was ready to conclude that Venus makes one In 1890, he was ready to conclude that Venus makes one rotation in 224.7 days, the same as its orbital period. If true, it rotation in 224.7 days, the same as its orbital period. If true, it would mean that Venus would have one face perpetually would mean that Venus would have one face perpetually toward the Sun (like the Moon around the Earth). This view toward the Sun (like the Moon around the Earth). This view was supported later by Lowell.was supported later by Lowell.

Note: Venus' actual sidereal rotation period is -243 days (retrograde) Note: Venus' actual sidereal rotation period is -243 days (retrograde) but this wasn't confirmed until the 1960s using Earth-based radar but this wasn't confirmed until the 1960s using Earth-based radar measurements.measurements.

Early Perceptions of Venus:Early Perceptions of Venus:Atmosphere and VegetationAtmosphere and Vegetation

"We must therefore conclude the everything on Venus is "We must therefore conclude the everything on Venus is dripping wet...A very great part of Venus is no doubt dripping wet...A very great part of Venus is no doubt covered in swamps...The temperature on Venus is not so covered in swamps...The temperature on Venus is not so high as to prevent a luxuriant vegetation. The constantly high as to prevent a luxuriant vegetation. The constantly uniform climatic conditions which exist everywhere result uniform climatic conditions which exist everywhere result in an entire absence of adaptation to changing exterior in an entire absence of adaptation to changing exterior conditions. Only low forms of life are therefore conditions. Only low forms of life are therefore represented, mostly no doubt belonging to the vegetable represented, mostly no doubt belonging to the vegetable kingdom."kingdom."

--Svante ArrheniusSvante Arrhenius,, Nobel Prize-winning chemist (1918)Nobel Prize-winning chemist (1918)

Did Lewis Care About the Did Lewis Care About the Science?Science?

LewisLewis: The starting point of the second novel, : The starting point of the second novel, Perelandra, Perelandra, was my was my mental picture of the floating islands. The whole of the rest of my labours mental picture of the floating islands. The whole of the rest of my labours in a sense consisted of building up a world in which floating islands could in a sense consisted of building up a world in which floating islands could exist. And then of course the story about an averted fall developed.exist. And then of course the story about an averted fall developed.

AldissAldiss: But I'm surprised that you put it this way round. I would have : But I'm surprised that you put it this way round. I would have thought that you constructed thought that you constructed Perelandra Perelandra for the didactic purpose.for the didactic purpose.

LewisLewis: Yes, everyone thinks that. They are quite wrong.: Yes, everyone thinks that. They are quite wrong.

-Transcript from -Transcript from Unreal Estates Unreal Estates featuring C.S. Lewis, Kingsley Amis, and Brian Aldissfeaturing C.S. Lewis, Kingsley Amis, and Brian Aldiss

[1]

[2] "I took a hero once to Mars in a space-ship, but when I knew better I had "I took a hero once to Mars in a space-ship, but when I knew better I had angels convey him to Venus. Nor need the strange worlds, when we get angels convey him to Venus. Nor need the strange worlds, when we get there, be at all strictly tied to scientific probabilities. It is their wonder, or there, be at all strictly tied to scientific probabilities. It is their wonder, or beauty, or suggestiveness that matter." beauty, or suggestiveness that matter."

-Quote from C.S. Lewis' -Quote from C.S. Lewis' On Science FictionOn Science Fiction

Lewis' Depiction of Venus Lewis' Depiction of Venus in in PerelandraPerelandra::

Ransom's thoughts before PerelandraRansom's thoughts before Perelandra:: "There"There’’s a man called Schiaparelli who thinks she [Venus] revolves once s a man called Schiaparelli who thinks she [Venus] revolves once on herself in the same time it takes her to go once round Arbol—I mean, on herself in the same time it takes her to go once round Arbol—I mean, the Sun. The other people think she revolves on her own axis once in the Sun. The other people think she revolves on her own axis once in every twenty-three hours. Thatevery twenty-three hours. That’’s one of the things I shall find out.s one of the things I shall find out.”” ““If Schiaparelli is right thereIf Schiaparelli is right there’’d be perpetual day on one side of her and d be perpetual day on one side of her and perpetual night on the other?perpetual night on the other?”” He nodded, musing. He nodded, musing. ““ItIt’’d be a funny frontier,d be a funny frontier,”” he said presently. he said presently. ““Just Just think of it. Youthink of it. You’’d come to a country of eternal twilight, getting colder and d come to a country of eternal twilight, getting colder and darker every mile you went..... Of course if they have a scientific civilisation darker every mile you went..... Of course if they have a scientific civilisation they may have diving-suits or things like submarines on wheels for going they may have diving-suits or things like submarines on wheels for going into the Night.into the Night.”” (23) (23)

Ransom's thoughts after PerelandraRansom's thoughts after Perelandra:: ““That idea of SchiaparelliThat idea of Schiaparelli’’s is all wrong,s is all wrong,”” he shouted. he shouted. ““They have an They have an ordinary day and night there..." (27)ordinary day and night there..." (27)

Lewis' Depiction of Venus Lewis' Depiction of Venus in in PerelandraPerelandra::The AtmosphereThe Atmosphere

"The sky was pure, flat gold like the background of a medieval "The sky was pure, flat gold like the background of a medieval picture. It looked very distant as far off as a cirrus cloud looks from picture. It looked very distant as far off as a cirrus cloud looks from earth." (32)earth." (32)

"He had somehow turned on his back. He saw the golden roof of "He had somehow turned on his back. He saw the golden roof of that world quivering with a rapid variation of paler lights as a ceiling that world quivering with a rapid variation of paler lights as a ceiling quivers at the reflected sunlight from the bath-water when you step quivers at the reflected sunlight from the bath-water when you step into your bath on a summer morning." (32)into your bath on a summer morning." (32)

"The water gleamed, the sky burned with gold, but all was rich and "The water gleamed, the sky burned with gold, but all was rich and dim, and his eyes fed upon it undazzled and unaching. The very dim, and his eyes fed upon it undazzled and unaching. The very names of green and gold, which he used preforce in describing the names of green and gold, which he used preforce in describing the scene, are too harsh for the tenderness, the muted iridescence, of scene, are too harsh for the tenderness, the muted iridescence, of that warm, maternal, delicately gorgeous world." (32)that warm, maternal, delicately gorgeous world." (32)


The OceansThe Oceans"The ocean was gold too, in the offing, flecked with innumerable "The ocean was gold too, in the offing, flecked with innumerable shadows. The nearer waves, though golden where their summits shadows. The nearer waves, though golden where their summits caught the light, were green on their slopes: first emerald, and caught the light, were green on their slopes: first emerald, and lower down a lustrous bottle green, deepening to blue where they lower down a lustrous bottle green, deepening to blue where they passed beneath the shadow of other waves. All this he saw in a passed beneath the shadow of other waves. All this he saw in a flash; then he was speeding down once more into the trough." flash; then he was speeding down once more into the trough." (32)(32)

"There was a wave ahead of him now so high that it was "There was a wave ahead of him now so high that it was dreadful. We speak idly in our own world of seas mountain high dreadful. We speak idly in our own world of seas mountain high when they are not much more than mast high. But this was the when they are not much more than mast high. But this was the real thing. If the huge shape had been a hill of land and not of real thing. If the huge shape had been a hill of land and not of water he might have spent a whole forenoon or longer walking water he might have spent a whole forenoon or longer walking the slope before he reached the summit." (32)the slope before he reached the summit." (32)


VegetationVegetation"A horrible crest appeared; jagged and billowy and fantastic shapes, "A horrible crest appeared; jagged and billowy and fantastic shapes, unnatural, even unliquid, in appearance, sprouted from the ridge ... It unnatural, even unliquid, in appearance, sprouted from the ridge ... It was an irregularly shaped object with many cuves and re-entrants. It was was an irregularly shaped object with many cuves and re-entrants. It was variegated in colours like a patch-work quilt - flame-colour, ultramarine, variegated in colours like a patch-work quilt - flame-colour, ultramarine, crimson, orange, gamboge, and violet." (32-33)crimson, orange, gamboge, and violet." (32-33)

"And that is the nature of the floating islands on Perelandra ... for they "And that is the nature of the floating islands on Perelandra ... for they are dry and fruitful like land but their only shape is the inconstant shape are dry and fruitful like land but their only shape is the inconstant shape of the water beneath them." (36)of the water beneath them." (36)

"At long last he reached the wooded part. There was an udnergrowth of "At long last he reached the wooded part. There was an udnergrowth of feathery vegetation, about the heigh of gooseberry bushes, coloured like feathery vegetation, about the heigh of gooseberry bushes, coloured like sea anemones. Above this were the taller growths--strange trees with sea anemones. Above this were the taller growths--strange trees with tube-like trunks of grey and purple spreading rich canopies above his tube-like trunks of grey and purple spreading rich canopies above his head, in which orange, silver, and blue were the predominant colors." head, in which orange, silver, and blue were the predominant colors." (37)(37)

What We Know Today About Venus:What We Know Today About Venus:Exploration HistoryExploration History

• Venera 3Venera 3 (1966) - Reached Venus but returned no data. First man- (1966) - Reached Venus but returned no data. First man-made object to 'land' on another planet.made object to 'land' on another planet.

• Venera 4Venera 4 (1967) - The descent lasted 93 minutes. The capsule deployed (1967) - The descent lasted 93 minutes. The capsule deployed its parachute at an altitude of about 52 km, and started sending data on its parachute at an altitude of about 52 km, and started sending data on pressure, temperature and gas composition back to Earth. The pressure, temperature and gas composition back to Earth. The temperature at 52 km was recorded as 33 °C, and the pressure as less temperature at 52 km was recorded as 33 °C, and the pressure as less than 1 atm. At 26 km, the temperature reached 262 °C and pressure than 1 atm. At 26 km, the temperature reached 262 °C and pressure increased to 22 atm, and the signal transmission terminated.increased to 22 atm, and the signal transmission terminated.

• Venera 5 & 6Venera 5 & 6 (1969) - Corroborations of high pressure and temperature, (1969) - Corroborations of high pressure and temperature, but like Venera 4, both probes stopped sending data before reaching the but like Venera 4, both probes stopped sending data before reaching the surface.surface.

What We Know Today About Venus:What We Know Today About Venus:Exploration HistoryExploration History

• Venera 7Venera 7 (1970) - First probe to transmit data from the surface. Lasted (1970) - First probe to transmit data from the surface. Lasted 23 mins. Surface temperature: 455 C - 475 C23 mins. Surface temperature: 455 C - 475 C

• From 1971-1985 the Russian sent 10 more probes - the longest lasting From 1971-1985 the Russian sent 10 more probes - the longest lasting ((Venera 13Venera 13) for 127 minutes.) for 127 minutes.

• From 1962-1978 the Americans sent orbiters to Venus during the From 1962-1978 the Americans sent orbiters to Venus during the Mariner and Pioneer programs.Mariner and Pioneer programs.

• Magellan 1990Magellan 1990 (USA) - Orbiter: returned data for 4 years. (USA) - Orbiter: returned data for 4 years.

• Venus Express 2006Venus Express 2006 (ESA) - Orbiter: still returning data. (ESA) - Orbiter: still returning data.

What We Know Today About Venus:What We Know Today About Venus:Basic FactsBasic Facts

TerrainTerrain: Rocky, terrestrial planet with 80% surface covered with : Rocky, terrestrial planet with 80% surface covered with smooth volcanic plains. There are 167 volcanoes on Venus that are smooth volcanic plains. There are 167 volcanoes on Venus that are 100 km across 100 km across eacheach..

OrbitOrbit: 224.65 Earth days around the sun; 243 Earth days around itself: 224.65 Earth days around the sun; 243 Earth days around itself

AtmosphereAtmosphere: 95.6% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen: 95.6% carbon dioxide, 3.5% nitrogen

TemperatureTemperature: Around 860˚F (Hotter than Mercury): Around 860˚F (Hotter than Mercury)

Surface PressureSurface Pressure: 92 ATM, or 3000 ft below Earth's sea level: 92 ATM, or 3000 ft below Earth's sea level

RotationRotation: Venus is the only planet to rotate clockwise ("retrograde"): Venus is the only planet to rotate clockwise ("retrograde")

Venus From SpaceVenus From Space

Image Created Using Data From Megellan

Image Created Using Data From Megellan

Venus’ True ColorVenus’ True Color False Color False Color TopographyTopography

Surface of VenusSurface of Venus::180˚ Panoramic Pictures from Venera-13180˚ Panoramic Pictures from Venera-13

March 1, 1982March 1, 1982

Complete Panoramic Transmission From Venera-13, Camera I

Complete Panoramic Transmission From Venera-13, Camera II

Venera-11 Sky Spectra Reading (Color)

"The Venera "The Venera panoramas are panoramas are spherical projections. spherical projections. They can be remapped They can be remapped to perspective to perspective projections and projections and overlaid to produce overlaid to produce views that give a views that give a better subjective better subjective impression of the impression of the Venusian surface." Venusian surface."

--Don MitchellDon Mitchell (2008) (2008)


March 1, 1982March 1, 1982


AND Venera-11 Sky Spectra (Color)AND Venera-11 Sky Spectra (Color)

Image Colorized by Bob King (2010)

Conclusion:Conclusion:C.S. Lewis' View of Venus C.S. Lewis' View of Venus

inin PerelandraPerelandra The novel The novel Perelandra Perelandra is a fantasy epic that immerses the reader into is a fantasy epic that immerses the reader into a strange, empyreal landscape of C.S. Lewis' creation. From a strange, empyreal landscape of C.S. Lewis' creation. From information gathered and first hand accounts, it's clear that Lewis was information gathered and first hand accounts, it's clear that Lewis was cognizant of his period's prevailing postulations of Venus. But instead of cognizant of his period's prevailing postulations of Venus. But instead of sticking rigidly to those suppositions, Lewis constructed his own Water sticking rigidly to those suppositions, Lewis constructed his own Water World, complete with raging oceans, floating islands, and amber World, complete with raging oceans, floating islands, and amber atmosphere.atmosphere. In comparison to information scientists have gathered over the last 60 In comparison to information scientists have gathered over the last 60 years, Lewis' depiction of Venus is nothing like the actual conditions of years, Lewis' depiction of Venus is nothing like the actual conditions of the arid planet. In fact, it couldn't be more opposite, for while Lewis the arid planet. In fact, it couldn't be more opposite, for while Lewis personifies the planet as a tropical Eden devoid of sin, Venus' personifies the planet as a tropical Eden devoid of sin, Venus' conditions are actually closer to modern depictions of hell: no air to conditions are actually closer to modern depictions of hell: no air to breath, temperatures above 800˚F, and surface pressure equal to being breath, temperatures above 800˚F, and surface pressure equal to being 3000 ft below the ocean. 3000 ft below the ocean. While his predictions were far from accurate, Lewis' View of Venus While his predictions were far from accurate, Lewis' View of Venus in in PerelandraPerelandra is one of beauty, mystery, and possibilities that brilliantly is one of beauty, mystery, and possibilities that brilliantly merges dated hypothetical notions, true creativity, and spiritual themes merges dated hypothetical notions, true creativity, and spiritual themes to great effect. to great effect.

Lewis' view of Venus in Perelandra

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