Beyond the Walls Book Chat

Tonight's episode is a brief overview of the second book in the Ransom Trilogy, Perelandra. Written in 1943, Lewis published this book when he was 45. Some consider it his best work. We will take this book slowly and do our best to explore the depths of Lewis's genius and creativity in describing a fantastical trip to Venus.  Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyon...

Tonight's episode digs deeper into the things Ransom learned and experienced while on Malacandra (Mars). Aside from learning the Old Solar language Ransom was able to answer the questions about Earth's history for the Malacandrian ruler. Simultaneously he was given the ability to see the story of salvation from the eyes of the rest of the universe. This time on Mars will have significant...

Can a book written in the 1930s really help us understand the ethics of space colonization better? Lewis has some surprising insights for us as he sends his protagonist Elwin Ransom to Mars to have his imagination re-baptized into a deeper understanding of the medieval heavens. The book I'm using to better understand Lewis's space trilogy: Deeper Heaven by Christiana Hale Send us Fan Mai...

What are the deeper meanings of the deeper heavens? CS Lewis thinks he knows. This week's episode is a brief overview of the sci-fi classics Out of the Silent Planet , Perelandra , and That Hideous Strength . Not surprisingly CS Lewis had a lot to say about humanity's responsibility to his place in the universe. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookc...

Tonight is a short episode about The Last Battle that dives a little deeper into the forms of Plato and the symbolism of the stable door. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

"In the last days of Narnia..." from the opening Lewis gives us a clear indication of where this is headed. But I never would have guessed the end for anything.  One of the best books to read as a companion to this series: Further Up, and Further In: Understanding Narnia Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

This week we have front row seats at the creation of Narnia. We also learn the back story of wise Professor Kirke and the magical Wardrobe. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

Tonight, we explore the beautiful Narnian fairy tale that Lewis dedicated to his two stepsons. The Horse & His Boy is a fast-paced, multilayered story with secrets upon secrets with nothing being exactly as it seems. Get your own copy of The Horse & His Boy Read more about Michael Ward's theory in his book Planet Narnia Read the story that inspired Lewis in so many ways: The Consolati...

Tonight's episode is a brief rest in the middle of our journey through Narnia. Let's take a closer look at memorable characters we've met (or are yet to meet) and what allegory really means. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

Join us this week as the magic draws us back into Narnia. We will follow Jill and Eustace as they follow the signs and travel to the depths of the underground to rescue the lost prince and fulfill their mission from Aslan. Get your own copy of The Silver Chair . Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

This new journey to Narnia takes Lucy and Edmond on a high seas adventure. But unfortunately their pesky cousin Eustace is tagging along. But Aslan has a reason for bringing them all into His world. Lewis uses the third book in the Chronicles of Narnia to teach eternal truths nestled inside a deliciously fun story. Books I mention in tonight's episode: Further Up, and Further In: Understandin...

The Pevensies are drawn back into Narnia. But it's not like the Narnia they remember. Tonight, let's look again at the motif of the return of the king and how faith plays a role throughout the second story in the Chronicles of Narnia. A helpful book to dive deeper into the Narnian world: Planet Narnia Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.c...

The first book of the Chronicles of Narnia opens our eyes to the mythical mind of C.S. Lewis. What is it about this simple fairy tale that has captured the hearts of children for more than 70 years? And how deep could the symbolism really be? Tonight's episode explores the simplicity and also the depth this book supplies. NB: I realized I'm oversimplifying Ward's thesis from Planet...

Conceived during a boring Sunday morning sermon, Lewis's The Screwtape Letters has become a landmark book in how we look at temptation. Written from the perspective of a senior demon advising a junior demon, this book gives us insight into what is the key method used in keeping a Christian from following God. Tonight's episode explores the dingy thread that is woven through every letter...

The first book to explore in Lewis's oeuvre is The Great Divorce . This classic joins the notable list of "dream of" or "trip to" heaven books from the centuries. It's no surprise that Lewis had his own original take and rather than Virgil as his guide he chooses George MacDonald. Let's travel together through the imagination of this great author. Books I mention...

Season Three opens with a brief biography of our new author. C.S. Lewis, a towering intellect of the 20th century, continues to influence Christian apologetics and fantasy literature. His legacy is still being analyzed and discussed in numerous books, blogs, and podcasts. Some books I mention in tonight's episode: A Hobbit A Wardrobe and A Great War The Myth Made Fact The Medieval Mind of C.S...

More than three centuries after its creation, Paradise Lost retains its significance. Tonight's concluding episode will revisit the essential literary elements of this masterpiece and explore why the Great Books continue to be read today. Get your own copy of Paradise Lost today. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

We've reached the end of the Garden story. But really it's only the beginning for the rest of humanity. Tonight's episode explores what makes these last two books different from the rest of the poem and why we are still reading this Epic after nearly 400 years. Send us Fan Mail For questions and comments please email beyondthewallsbookchat@gmail.com

Last week we left Adam and Eve squabbling in the Garden. This week the story opens in Heaven and from there we will visit all the locations this book has mentioned so far: Heaven, Hell, Chaos, and Eden. The range and scope of Book 10 is an example of the massiveness of this Epic. Tonight, we'll explore all the places and see all the people as we witness everything that is affected by the Fall...

In the second part of Book 9 Satan (disguised as the serpent) approaches the solitary Eve. What takes place next has been described by Ryken as the "grandest temptation story in all of English literature." Tonight, we'll discuss what makes it so impactful and how Adam and Eve approach this turning point so differently. In this episode I refer to the following books: Milton's Pa...

The climax of the entire poem comes in Book 9. Milton holds nothing back in this section and in the end, it comes out to more than 1100 lines. So, tonight's episode is only tackling the first third of the story where Milton sets the stage for the Epic Fall that is about to take place. Together let's look at the three main parts of this opening and what they show us about ourselves and th...

Book 8 is a collection of back-and-forth conversations between Adam and Raphael as they share the various things they know about God, the world, and their place in God's creation. How much did Adam truly understand about his position in the cosmos? According to C.S. Lewis, he understood it all. This episode explores Milton's depiction of Adam and Eve before the Fall. And we'll watch...

Milton employs the full range of baroque style in Book 7 of Paradise Lost, as he tells the story of Creation. Following the war in Heaven God takes on an epic task that shows off His majestic creativity. From the moment Jesus holds the Golden Compass and begins to circumscribe the Universe we are able to see a beautiful picture of what Aristotle called the Prime Mover or Uncaused Cause. Tonight&ap...

The ultimate battle scene unfolds in Book 6, depicting the celestial war and the expulsion of the rebels from God's presence. Drawing inspiration from the epic war poems, Milton surpasses them once more. The conflict spans three days, featuring aerial hand-to-hand combat, rousing speeches, plummeting mountains, anguished angels, and a hellish fall lasting nine days. The angel Abdiel returns i...

Book 5 is the introduction book for the Battle in Heaven. The angel Raphael is dispatched to the Garden to instruct Adam and Eve in the created realms. Along with his instruction comes the story of Satan's rebellion. And woven into that is a beautiful picture of a faithful angel named Abdiel who stands up for the right thing even when he's all alone. Let's discover together the less...