Chapter 16 Summary

Ransom manages to climb to the top of the mountain, later identified as the Holy Mountain. He senses the eldila there, two of them—Malacandra (Mars) and Perelandra (Venus). He hears them discussing him. One of them explains that his given name, Elwin, means friend of the eldila. They are without form, but engage Ransom to help them decide on a form to use in presenting themselves to the King and Queen. The two eldila and Ransom engage in a lengthy philosophical discussion, with the eldila trying to explain to him the difference between this new world's dawning and the one when his own world was formed. Ransom comes to recognize many characteristics of the eldila that have been confusing to him.

A whole group of animals suddenly appear, and together with Ransom and the eldila, and the animals, form a reception...