# That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis

4 Hacker News commenters recommended That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended because its criticism of today's trends still feels relevant and farsighted. Caveat: a slow start before it gets going.

## Why people recommend it

- Feels relevant to today's trends (3 comments): "That Hideous Strength despite being written probably 60 years ago seems dead on as a criticism of many of the things being pushed today." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48686647)) "The Space Trilogy is one of the best series I've ever read. That Hideous Strength reminds me a LOT of what's happening these days." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48217056)) "it feels very relevant and farsighted to me now" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47624115))
- Part of a strong trilogy (1 comments): "The Space Trilogy is one of the best series I've ever read. That Hideous Strength reminds me a LOT of what's happening these days." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48217056))
- Rewards patience once underway (1 comments): "The novel is honestly a bit of a slog until it gets going, but I appreciated it more" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46916153))

## What people warn about

- Slow start before it gets going (1 comments): "The novel is honestly a bit of a slog until it gets going, but I appreciated it more" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46916153))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir](https://hackerapproved.com/p/project-hail-mary.md): 117 recommend
- [There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm](https://hackerapproved.com/p/there-is-no-antimemetics-division.md): 98 recommend
- [Blindsight by Peter Watts](https://hackerapproved.com/p/blindsight.md): 96 recommend
- [Dune by Frank Herbert](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dune.md): 82 recommend
- [Accelerando by Charles Stross](https://hackerapproved.com/p/accelerando.md): 71 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743234928?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780743234924) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis", https://hackerapproved.com/p/that-hideous-strength/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).