A Case of Conscience

Paperback, 188 pages

English language

Published April 1958 by Ballantine.

OCLC Number:: 476511704
ISFDB ID:: 2276
Goodreads:: 8316380

(2 reviews)

Father Ruiz-Sanchez — Jesuit member of a four-man scientific team investigating a new alien world—was very happy on Lithia, a biologist's paradise. He grew afraid only when it became clear that this extraordinary planet was a paradise in all other respects as well. And this Ruiz knew could only be a trap—a gigantic trap, on a scale such as had never been set for the human race before. But if he acknowledged that it was a trap—then Ruiz was himself a heretic, cast out and damned for eternity!

In A CASE OF CONSCIENCE, James Blish has written a tour-de-force—not only does he present a compelling moral problem for which he provides a solution (at the same time ingeniously leaving the answer to the reader), but he has created two separate worlds—idyllic Lithia, complete in all its details, and a culture on Earth which has gone below ground, literally, with all …

Father Ruiz-Sanchez — Jesuit member of a four-man scientific team investigating a new alien world—was very happy on Lithia, a biologist's paradise. He grew afraid only when it became clear that this extraordinary planet was a paradise in all other respects as well. And this Ruiz knew could only be a trap—a gigantic trap, on a scale such as had never been set for the human race before. But if he acknowledged that it was a trap—then Ruiz was himself a heretic, cast out and damned for eternity!

In A CASE OF CONSCIENCE, James Blish has written a tour-de-force—not only does he present a compelling moral problem for which he provides a solution (at the same time ingeniously leaving the answer to the reader), but he has created two separate worlds—idyllic Lithia, complete in all its details, and a culture on Earth which has gone below ground, literally, with all the problems inherent in a world of sub-cities. And this is only the framework on which James Elfish builds the stories and characters of four extraordinary men — the priest, who works for the greater glory of God; the dedicated scientist, who works for the glory of man; the hard-headed realist, who works only for himself, and the man who is content to ask nothing of any world, or any man.

15 editions

Thom reviewed A case of conscience by James Blish

Review of 'A case of conscience' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

The first half of the book, originally a 1953 novella, is a very good story of the evaluation of a planet with intelligent life by a commission of four gentlemen with differing goals. This is very well done and ends with a surprise opinion from one of the four, a Jesuit priest.

In this book, as in Mary Doria Russell's [b:The Sparrow|334176|The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1)|Mary Doria Russell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1230829367s/334176.jpg|3349153] and Dan Simmon's [b:Hyperion|77566|Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #1)|Dan Simmons|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405546838s/77566.jpg|1383900], religion plays a major part. As this book arrived first, one can't help but think the others were influenced by this one - and each was quite good. James Blish wrote other books connected with this one, part of a group called "After Such Knowledge", where he continues to explore the religious theme.

The second half of this book follows a path of politics. The world of Earth the commission left from is described …

The first half of the book, originally a 1953 novella, is a very good story of the evaluation of a planet with intelligent life by a commission of four gentlemen with differing goals. This is very well done and ends with a surprise opinion from one of the four, a Jesuit priest.

In this book, as in Mary Doria Russell's [b:The Sparrow|334176|The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1)|Mary Doria Russell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1230829367s/334176.jpg|3349153] and Dan Simmon's [b:Hyperion|77566|Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #1)|Dan Simmons|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405546838s/77566.jpg|1383900], religion plays a major part. As this book arrived first, one can't help but think the others were influenced by this one - and each was quite good. James Blish wrote other books connected with this one, part of a group called "After Such Knowledge", where he continues to explore the religious theme.

The second half of this book follows a path of politics. The world of Earth the commission left from is described for the first time, and it is a bit different from our own - though definitely a likely future from the perspective of the 1950s. Interactions with (and damage to) this world is not as interesting to read and also not science fiction. The closest we have to that is a description of instantaneous communication (and later vision) that predates LeGuin's ansible by 7 years. These bits of sci-fi are needed for the ultimate ending of the book, and feel forced.

The conclusion, without spoilers, is interesting. While I appreciated the combination of religion and politics, the piecemeal nature of this book was jarring. The first half by itself would rate 4-5 stars, but I can't (in good conscience) rate the entire book so highly.

dare

rated it

May 1, 2016

Subjects

Manichaeism
American Science fiction
Fiction, science fiction, general
faith
religion
Christianity
science
evil
morality
ethics
exploration
society

Lists

Hugo Award for Best Novel