C. S. Lewis: Of Other Worlds

I have just completed C. S. Lewis's Of Other Worlds. It is a delightful treatment of stories as a medium for conveying a message. The first portion of the book contains essays on storytelling, particularly related to the genres of fantasy and science fiction. These essays contain surprising treats as Lewis reveals some of the processes leading to the writing of some of his most beloved stories. He also wrestles with those who read into his stories meanings he never intended for them to have.

Part II of the book contains four short stories (one incomplete) written by Lewis which embody much of the skill he has written about in Part I. By far my favorite of these stories is "The Shoddy Lands." At the risk of ruining the story for some, I will summarize it here for those who may never read it. It is my hope that this summary will cause you to want to read it.

Lewis is in his quarters at the University when former student Durward phones and says he would like to come by for a visit. He does not tell Lewis that he is bringing his fiancee Peggy along. Lewis's rumination about this is humorous and warrants reading in itself. At any rate, in the midst of shallow conversation, Lewis finds himself mysteriously translated to a "shoddy" land. The atmosphere is a dull grey. The trees are obscure -- like lamposts (interesting Lewisian inclusion here) with green blobs stuck on top of them. The grass and flowers are just as shoddy. Except the daffodils -- they have remarkable detail and seem extremely well-defined and beautiful. There is a light at the center of this place, and en route to find the source of it, Lewis encounters the "walking things." They are equally nondescript, with only well-groomed male faces and fine women's clothing being distiguishable. When Lewis finds the source of the light, it is coming from the window of a jewelry shop, where all the jewels are remarkably "real." One shop window after another is full of detailed and defined items of womens clothing. But then Lewis notices that at the center of it all is a gargantuan human figure, a scantily clad woman. It is Peggy, only Peggy-improved. She gazes at her own naked form in a mirror, seemingly liking what she sees. Meanwhile, Lewis hears the faint sound of two knockings. Accompanying the one is the voice of Durward, begging to be let in. Accompanying the other is a more distant voice, calling out, "Child, child, child, let me in before the night comes." At this, Lewis finds himself back in his quarters with Durward and the old Peggy.

Lewis hypothesizes what happened, suggesting that somehow he had been teleported into the mind of Peggy. There an enlarged and improved view of herself is the center of her attention, and the only things that have definition are the things that interest her -- flowers, fine clothing, jewelry, and handsome men. She has locked out most of humanity, all of nature except that which can be cut, vased and presented to her as a gift, her own fiance, and God Himself. Lewis confesses the whole expereince to be rather disquieting -- not the least because of the pity he feels for Durward, but moreso because of concern that this sort of experience might become common. The story ends thus: "And how if, some other time, I were not the explorer but the explored?"

WOW! What a punch! What if somehow in a conversation the other party was enabled to take a tour of my own thought life? Who would wish this on himself or anyone else? But in this story, Lewis weaves marvelous detail (detail of a detail-less world!-- genius!) into his predictable dry wit and uses the story to pull a punch in the end that he could have not accomplished with such effectiveness through any other medium.

I lament that I am not a storyteller. I have neither skill nor interest in the act at all. But, I am not immune to the impact of a good story for conveying a powerful message. In my mind, no one ever did it better than C. S. Lewis, and in Of Other Worlds, he provides brilliant instruction, defense, and example of the artform. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and highly recommend it.