In the first novel of C.S. Lewis's classic science fiction trilogy, Dr. Ransom, a Cambridge academic, is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planet's treasures and plan to offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live there. Ransom discovers he has come from the 'silent planet' – Earth – whose tragic story is known throughout the universe.

As Ransom explores the strange and often beautiful world of Malacandra, he uncovers information about the larger universe and Earth's place in it, suggesting that he has as much to discover about his home planet as he does about the alien Malacandra. His adventures reveal the complexities and wonders of the universe, making him question his understanding of humanity and the cosmos.