Planet Thulcandra: Magic and Science in C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength

Decoding C. S. Lewis’s Most Misunderstood Novel

That Hideous Strength has long puzzled readers. Part dystopian thriller, part theological fantasy, part Arthurian myth, part academic satire—it may be C. S. Lewis’s most ambitious and least understood novel. In Planet Thulcandra, Joseph Weigel offers an illuminating deep dive into Lewis’s “modern fairy-tale for grown-ups,” revealing the profound ideas hidden beneath its bizarre and compelling surface.

Drawing on Lewis’s fiction, nonfiction, medieval cosmology, literary influences, and historical context, Weigel explores the unsettling relationship Lewis saw between science, technocracy, occultism, transhumanism, and the ancient human desire to transcend mortality. At the heart of this study lies a provocative question: What did Lewis mean when he claimed that science and magic are “twins”?

Far more than a chapter-by-chapter commentary, Planet Thulcandra is a thoughtful guide to one of Lewis’s richest and most misunderstood works. Whether unpacking the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.), Merlin’s role in the modern world, Lewis’s critique of scientism, or the enduring relevance of The Abolition of Man, Weigel helps readers see why That Hideous Strength may be more relevant now than ever.

Perfect for C. S. Lewis enthusiasts, scholars, book clubs, pastors, students, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, literature, culture, and the ethics of technological power, Planet Thulcandra is an essential companion to Lewis’s prophetic masterpiece.