A Case of Conscience (Del Rey Impact)
A science-fiction novel about the theological problem posed by the planet Lithia. Scientific discovery and religious conscience collide over the question of colonization.
Work Information
Questions of civilization always deepen between faith and ethics.
James Blish frames first contact as a theological problem. What lingers is less the novelty of the setting than the weight of judgment.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Random House Worlds
- Published
- 2000-09-05
- Pages
- 256 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.97 x 1.47 x 21.59 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780345438355
- ISBN-10
- 0345438353
- Price
- 3972 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Science Fiction & Fantasy/Science Fiction/Adventure
Winner of the Hugo Award • The future of Earth will rely upon one man’s sense of right and wrong. . . . Father Ruiz-Sanchez is a dedicated man—a priest who is also a scientist, and a scientist who is also a human being. He has found no insoluble conflicts in his beliefs or his ethics . . . until he is sent to Lithia. There he comes upon a race of aliens who are admirable in every way except for their total reliance on cold reason; they are incapable of faith or belief. Confronted with a profound scientific riddle and ethical quandary, Father Ruiz-Sanchez soon finds himself torn between the teachings of his faith, the teachings of his science, and the inner promptings of his humanity. There is only one solution: He must accept an ancient and unforgivable heresy—and risk the futures of both worlds . . .
James Blish served in World War II as a medical technician, joined the Futurians--a group of science fiction writers, fans, editors, and publishers-- wrote more than twenty books, and won the Hugo Award for A Case of Conscience in 1959. He moved to England in 1968 and continued to write until his death in 1975. In later years, James Blish contributed original stories and screenplays to the Star Trek saga.
Reviews
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Flawed classic
It’s a good book but with flaws. Like many novels of that period it’s a fix-up of two shorter stories. The first story is excellent. But it all falls apart in the second part, which is much less coherent. And I found the ending a bit comical. Recommended but with reservations.
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An interesting ethical issue
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though I read it 50+ years after it was written. It isn't hard science fiction because the tech seems more to fit a fantasy novel, as though Gandalf had FTL. I think the description of Earth and the bunker mentality is a bit far fetched. Some real esoteric religious arguments occur, the priest's conclusion that the Fallen One had arranged the planet and it's main intelligent race as some sort of trap for Christianity. I am unable to follow his logic, or for that matter, the logic surrounding his opposition. That his position that the Devil created that trap is heresy to the Catholic church is not that surprising. Anything that threatens it's power and authority has always been ruthlessly surpressed. And, finally, the conclusion is ludicrous. Though these may seem like faults, I find the book well written and insanely creative.
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Unique
Not many books begin with an exegesis of Finnegan’s Wake and 40 pages on the Problem of Evil, but this one does. Thorny, strict, and intellectual, this book challenges as few others. Be warned - if you can’t sympathize with a man of faith as a protagonist you will not like this book. Be warned as well that it is a book of its time - the racism and sexism are at best cringeworthy. But if you are the right reader, Case of Conscience will stay with you forever.
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So good
I read this title when I was in my teens. However, after a lifetime of experiences and a good philosophy and theology education under my belt, it’s just a much richer experience to explore the problems good and evil by this great author once again.
Related Literary Awards
- Hugo Award Edition 6 (1959) ・Winner