Dr. Ransom is a professor of linguistics and the protagonist of Out of the Silent Planet. An intelligent and good-hearted but fairly ordinary man, he is on a walking tour through the English countryside when he is kidnapped by Weston and Devine, intended as a human sacrifice to the inhabitants of Malacandra. Aboard the spaceship, Ransom connects outer space to the concept of heaven, a realization that foreshadows his eventual spiritual awakening on Malacandra.

While initially fearful of Malacandra, Ransom is also curious about the beautiful, unfamiliar planet and its inhabitants. He soon befriends a hross named Hyoi and realizes that Malacandra is home to several species of rational creatures, or hnau. He learns about the rich culture of Malacandra, including the many forms of art produced by the different hnau and a strong religious tradition that somewhat resembles Christianity. Ransom soon finds himself identifying with the Malacandrian way of life. He embarks on a journey to the paradisiacal Meldilorn, where he learns that the planet is ruled by Oyarsa, a kind and fair being who never intended for Ransom to be sacrificed. Ransom connects deeply with Oyarsa. By the time he leaves Malacandra, he has found a community and a renewed purpose, dedicating himself to assisting Oyarsa in the battle against the Bent One.