Welcome to Malacandra! Ransom and gang finally arrive on this strange but beautiful planet. The colors are so vivid that it takes Ransom’s brain a few moments to process what he is seeing. Ransom’s preconceived ideas continue to be challenged here as he had never considered that another planet could be beautiful. Lewis’ description of the landscape is completely the opposite of what Ransom would have read about in dime store sci-fi horror novels. Also, everything seems to be “perpendicularly-oriented”.
Ransom, however, does not have much time to take it all in because his captors put him to work unloading weapons and equipment from the ship. He continues scheming on ways to escape. His chance finally comes when a group of sorns arrive on the scene and Weston and Devine attempt to restrain him. The sudden appearance of a shark-like creature creates the right amount of chaotic distraction for Ransom to escape. He runs from his captors, but he is not too sure where he is going…
Episode Roadmap:
Chapter quote, intro, & chapter summary: 0:00 - 2:18
Chapter 6 Themes Analysis: 2:20 - 18:48
Theme 1: Seeing & vision 2:20
Reference to Jack’s essay called “Bulverism” (from God in the Dock)
Theme 2: Changes in perspective and preconceived ideas 7:29
Theme 3: Fear 13:19
Theme 4: Fighting / militaristic theme and survival 14:20
Theme 5: Upward orientation of things on Malacandra 17:10
Comment on the colors of Malacandra: 18:50
Wrap up
Episode music - “In Color” by Jamey Johnson
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