Chapter 13 - They have pulled down deep heaven

 Part 1 - Ransom confronts the Stranger at the door. The Stranger has apparently cast MacPhee into an enchanted sleep. After a tense exchange, Ransom identifies himself as the Pendragon, and the Stranger kneels before him.

Part 2 - Wither and Frost debate how to communicate with Merlin. They decide to allow Straik and Studdock to watch over him in turns until something new develops.

Part 3 - Dimble, Denniston & Jane return to find McPhee asleep. They wake him up and the four go to find out what's happened. They find the the entire house (including Mr. Bultitude) asleep. Finally, they see Ransom talking with Merlin. Ransom explains they've quite mistaken who and what Merlin is.

Part 4 - Dr. and Mrs. Dimble discuss Merlin and how the world has changed since his time, with options becoming fewer and grays vanishing into blacks and whites.

Part 5 - Ransom and Merlin talk about what is to be done. Ransom explains that Merlin's purpose is to be a vessel for the power of the greater eldils. Merlin searches for other options, looking to the power of England's king, other Christian kings or even decent pagans to oppose the monstrous witchcraft which has arisen in England. Ransom explains that the entire Earth has been corrupted and they have no other options, no other power but that lent by the heavens. Merlin resigns himself to this assignment.

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So it looks like Centrism Games is an acceptable choice for our next book. If anyone has strenuous objections, let me know because I have a couple of other options in mind, and am always open to others' thoughts as well.

It is even possible we could get the editrix to contribute a few of her own thoughts to the discussion, which even with our previous living author seemed unlikely. I look forward to more of your thoughts on Lewis's book in the meantime.

Concerning our next book

 So I have an unusual suggestion for our next book. My suggestion is Centrism Games by Rachel Fulton Brown and the Dragon Common Room.

This is a satirical poem about today's politics, somewhat in the tradition of Alexander Pope's Dunciad. Now, I know some of you are not that fond of poetry, but it is a narrative poem, so there is a story to follow. If it helps, it is by Rachel Fulton Brown, who is a friend and ally of Milo Yiannopoulos and Vox Day, among others.

Also a point in this book's favor, even if you aren't a big fan of poetry, it's only 83 pages long, and so will take us just four weeks. If this suggestion is universally panned, I have a few others to throw out. And, as always, I am open for yours.

Chapter 12 - Wet and Windy Night

 Part 1 - Dimble, Denniston, and Jane search the campsite but come up empty.

Part 2 - The narrator describes Deputy Director Wither's bizarre mode of consciousness, which can scarcely be compared to the normal human mode of being. Wither gets a report from the field that Merlin's chamber has been found empty and search parties have been dispatched for the wizard.

Part 3 - Dimble, Denniston, and Jane (which is starting to sound like a law firm) get lost returning to the car and see a strange man pass by on horseback. They call to him, but he seems to ignore them.

Part 4 - In Mark's cell, Frost explains that N.I.C.E. is working with beings he calls macrobes, and that their real goal involves a drastic reduction of the human population. He also attempts to convey to Mark the objective mindset necessary to be a part of this endeavor. This objective mindset appears to be a complete detachment from normal human emotion or moral standards.

Mark resolves not to trust the men of the N.I.C.E. again, but once again feels the temptation of "the inner circle."

Part 5 - There is a conversation in the kitchen at St. Anne's. Someone arrives at the back door on horseback.

Part 6 - Frost and Wither attempt to communicate with the man whom their agents brought back from near the exit of Merlin's resting place. He happily eats the food offered, but appears to ignore them.

Part 7 - In his cell, Mark ponders his situation alone. He begins to imagine himself heroic for rejecting the temptation. Mark is immediately almost entirely pulled back into the whole mess of ambition and desire in his own mind. He recognizes that some kind of outside force seemed to have been assailing him, and that he had been unable to offer any real resistance. He realizes how little he has backing him up and resents that.

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I found my paper copy of That Hideous Strength, somewhat ironically on the same day I lost track of another book I'm reading. Thanks to Civil Truth for pointing out an electronic copy for me.

Midweek, I'll put up a post talking about our next book. I have a somewhat unusual suggestion, but maybe you guys will go for it. In any case, I have a few other options as well.

Chapter 11 - Battle Begun

 Part 1 - Dimble, Denniston, and Jane search for Merlin. They struggle through the woods in the rain to come upon an empty campsite beside a fire.

Part 2 - Frost, Whithers, and Hardcastle plot what to do with Mark. The scene ends with a bizarre, diabolic parody of a hug and friendly laughter.

Part 3 - Mark is locked in prison awaiting death. He finally confronts, without illusion, what he and his life have been like. He is repulsed.

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So I seem to have misplaced my own copy of the book. I'm about to order another. Fortunately, I've been keeping my notes in a separate notebook. In the meantime, I'll probably listen to an audio version from the library.

I look forward to your comments.

One question: How many chapters do we have left?

Chapter 10 - The Conquered City

Part 1 - Deputy Director Whithers and Hardcastle tell Mark his wallet was found at the site of Hingest's murder. They implicitly threaten him with murder charges if he doesn't stick with N.I.C.E. (Because everything they do is implicit. They never directly come out & say anything.) The Deputy Director demands he brings Jane.

Part 2 - Mark flees the N.I.C.E. and goes to Edgestow in search of Jane. He sees the refugees fleeing N.I.C.E.'s actions, and sees how the ordinary citizens of nearby towns seem completely uninterested and unsympathetic. Mark panics upon arriving home and failing to find Jane. But upon finding someone to blame (Dimble) and having a drink, he manages to reconcile himself mentally with N.I.C.E.

Part 3 - Mark meets with Dimble to ask where Jane is. Dimble rebuffs him, saying he cannot tell Mark for the sake of Jane's safety. He does, however, offer Mark a chance to escape. Mark says he needs time to think about it. Upon leaving Dimble's office, Mark is arrested by the N.I.C.E. police for the murder of Hingest.

When the N.I.C.E. comes for you.

 I don't know whether you've heard of this or not. It seems to match the modus operandi of the NICE (in the early stages). This was an incident from a month or so ago. A school board held a public meeting in which they invited public comment on their policy regarding students profoundly confused about their sexual identities. A teacher attended this meeting and commented as a member of the public, as is his right. But, he made the "wrong" comments. He held the "wrong" opinions.

I'll let a Canadian lawyer explain what happened from there.

and

Tanner Cross Vindicated

Oh, yes, please come and tell us what you think of this policy. By the way, if you say the wrong things, we'll destroy your life and tar you as a bigot who should be made a social pariah.

This is the early stages of this style of tyranny. I have no idea how far it will advance. I do know, however, that every cowardly hiding your face from the facts because they're not "nice" and you want to be a "nice person" gives them strength. Every conservative who viciously attacks others for saying true, but unpleasant things, lends them strength. We don't have time to play around anymore. Those games have cost us far too much already.

God be with you.

Chapter 9 - The Saracen's Head

 Part 1 - Jane dreams about Mark meeting with the Head and reports her dream to the leadership at St. Anne's.

Part 2 - Mark awakes in terror. He resolves to write to Jane to come to N.I.C.E. Hardcastle finds him while he's struggling to write this letter and threatens them both if he doesn't. Mark decides to leave at once. He has a disturbing encounter with Deputy Director Whithers, who seems to be able to be in two places at once, and resigns himself to his fate, returning to the Belbury campus.

Part 3 - MacPhee gives Jane a skeptic's account of Ransom's adventures and their current situation.

Part 4 - The company at St. Anne's (excluding Jane) discuss their situation. MacPhee demands a plan of action. Ransom says that their priority must be stopping N.I.C.E. from obtaining what is underneath Bragdon Wood.

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Happy Independence Day, everyone. Increasingly, this day grows bittersweet for me. I fear I may outlive this country, and I've come to understand that our influence on the world for some time has not been what most ordinary Americans would applaud. Our government has become a tool of globohomo.

But it is still my country, and I still love it for what it was, for what I grew up in.

Anyway, God be with you. I look forward to your thoughts on this chapter.