Out of the Silent Planet: Chapter 8 Summary & Analysis

Ransom gives up on running, but keeps walking through the forest as fast as possible. Ransom thinks about the white shapes, which must have been the sorns that wanted him as sacrifice. The sorns are different from the ogre-ish monsters that Ransom expected, but still appeal to a deep-seated primitive fear in his brain. Ransom clutches his knife, praying and hoping he has the strength to fight back when the time comes.

Ransom keeps walking, easily crossing several steep ridges. Ransom reflects on how everything on Malacandra seems elongated and thinks that this extreme height must be possible since this planet is lighter than Earth and feels the effects of gravity less. Ransom tries to remember which planets are smaller than Earth, thinking that he might be on Venus, Mars, or even the moon.

Night begins to fall and Ransom notices that the streams in the bottom of many of the gullies are warmer than the forest. Wary of the cold and the dangers that might appear in the forest at night, Ransom decides to find a place to sleep. He walks down another steep gully and finds a hot spring. He is thirsty but doesn’t want to risk drinking this alien water. He lays down next to the stream, feeling an intense love for his own body and thinking wistfully of all the men on Earth who get a safe, comfortable bed. He mumbles to himself, “We’ll look after you, Ransom,” then falls asleep.