3.0
A Case of Conscience
ByPublisher Description
A space-traveling Jesuit priest confronts a moral but godless alien race in this Hugo Award–winning novel by the author of the Cities in Flight saga.
Father Ruiz-Sanchez is a dedicated man, a Jesuit priest who is also a scientist, and a scientist who is also a human being. He doesn’t feel any genuine conflicts in his belief system—until he is sent to Lithia.
The reptilian inhabitants of this distant world appear to be admirable in every way. Untroubled by greed or lust, they live in peace. But they have no concept of God, no literature, and no art. They rely purely on cold reason. But something darker lies beneath the surface: Do the Lithians pose a hidden threat? The answers that unfold could affect the fate of two worlds. Will Ruiz-Sanchez, a priest driven by his deeply human understanding of good and evil, do the right thing when confronted by a race that is alien to its core?
The Science Fiction Encyclopedia lauds A Case of Conscience as “one of the first serious attempts to deal with religion [in science fiction], and [it] remains one of the most sophisticated. It is generally regarded as an SF classic.” Readers of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy, Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, or Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz will find this award-winning novel a gripping, compelling exploration of some of the most intractable and important questions faced by the human species. Includes an introduction by Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Greg Bear.
Father Ruiz-Sanchez is a dedicated man, a Jesuit priest who is also a scientist, and a scientist who is also a human being. He doesn’t feel any genuine conflicts in his belief system—until he is sent to Lithia.
The reptilian inhabitants of this distant world appear to be admirable in every way. Untroubled by greed or lust, they live in peace. But they have no concept of God, no literature, and no art. They rely purely on cold reason. But something darker lies beneath the surface: Do the Lithians pose a hidden threat? The answers that unfold could affect the fate of two worlds. Will Ruiz-Sanchez, a priest driven by his deeply human understanding of good and evil, do the right thing when confronted by a race that is alien to its core?
The Science Fiction Encyclopedia lauds A Case of Conscience as “one of the first serious attempts to deal with religion [in science fiction], and [it] remains one of the most sophisticated. It is generally regarded as an SF classic.” Readers of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy, Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, or Walter M. Miller Jr.’s A Canticle for Leibowitz will find this award-winning novel a gripping, compelling exploration of some of the most intractable and important questions faced by the human species. Includes an introduction by Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author Greg Bear.
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3.0
Meridian Trench
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Jack Gold
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“A Case of Conscience tells the story of four scientists on an expedition to an alien planet to determine whether it is a suitable location for a human waystation. They consist of a physicist, a chemist, a geologist and a biologist... who also happens to be a Jesuit priest. The planet, Lithia, is inhabited by a race of twelve-foot-tall reptilian beings who vaguely resemble kangaroos. They communicate over long distances via a tree with roots that interact with a vast crystalline structure which distributes signals throughout the planet.
This opening section is an incredible exercise in science fiction worldbuilding, with Blish considering how an alien species would develop culture and technology with the absence of materials such as iron, concepts such as magnetism and perhaps most importantly, religion.
There comes a time when the four scientists must cast their votes on how to handle Lithia, and the priest presents a startling theory with huge implications. James Blish is clearly an intelligent man, weaving in historical references, musings on literature and scientific concepts. So much so, that at times I felt like the core theories were starting to elude me, although by the end I found myself incredibly satisfied with this book.”
rretzler
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BYL
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Macattaq
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About James Blish
James Blish (1921–1975) was a novelist whose most popular works include Jack of Eagles and his Cities in Flight series, about people fleeing a declining Earth to seek new homes among the stars. He attended Rutgers University and received a bachelor of arts degree in microbiology before serving as a medical technician in World War II, and was an early member of the Futurians, a group of science fiction writers, fans, editors, and publishers. In 1959, Blish received the Hugo Award for his novel A Case of Conscience. He was also a prolific short fiction writer and a major contributor to the Star Trek saga, rewriting scripts into anthologies and producing original stories and screenplays.
Other books by James Blish
Greg Bear
<B>Greg Bear</B> is the author of more than thirty books of science fiction and fantasy, including <I>Forerunner: Cryptum, Mariposa, Darwin's Radio, Eon</I>, and <I>Quantico</I>. He is married to Astrid Anderson Bear and is the father of Erik and Alexandra. His works have been published internationally in over twenty languages. Bear has been called the "Best working writer of hard science fiction" by the <I>Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction</I>.
Other books by Greg Bear
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