No, Out of the Silent Planet is not a true story. It is a work of fiction written by C.S. Lewis, first published in 1938. The novel is the first part of Lewis’s Space Trilogy and is primarily a science fiction tale that explores themes of morality, faith, and the nature of humanity.
The story follows the character Elwin Ransom, a philologist who is taken to the planet Malacandra, which is inhabited by various intelligent species. Throughout the narrative, Lewis weaves in his philosophical and theological ideas, using the fantastical setting to raise questions about good and evil, the cosmos, and the human condition.
While the book might draw on some scientific principles and Lewis’s own beliefs, it remains firmly in the realm of fiction. Its imaginative elements, including alien beings and interplanetary travel, place it alongside classic science fiction rather than any genuine historical or autobiographical account.