Product Description

Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez S.J., is a part of a four man scientific commission to the planet Lithia, there to study a harmonious society of aliens living on a planets which is a biologist's paradise. He soon finds himself troubled: how can these perfect beings, living in an apparent Eden, have no conception of sin or God? If such a sinless Eden has been created apart from God, then who is responsible?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #190577 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
SALES POINTS * #30 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written. * Winner of the Hugo Award in 1959 * 'Brilliants as fireworks' J. D. Scott, Sunday Times * 'Blish brings to this case of conscience one of the most powerful intellects - and one of the most diverse stories of knowledge, I would say - ever to apply itself to science fiction' Brian Aldiss

Customer Reviews

Extrememly dull.
Intellectual meanderings on religion.

I struggled to finish this book.
It focuses on religious doctrine and philosophy and deep intellectual thoughts on both and the nature of God and blasphemy.

These are all subject that I don't care about, the characters are poorly developed in other to allow us to focus on the core thoughts of the book and the same goes for the plot.

There was simply no entertainment value in this book.

Pretty good
An interesting novel.

I'm quite puzzled by the remarks of some of the reviewers here - they seem to assume that if one cannot agree with the religion of the priest-scientist, this must make the book somehow less interesting or absorbing. Odd - don't we read novels in part to get out of our usual skins for a bit?

In any case - Blish himself makes the point that he isn't a 'believer' (nor am I BTW)

Why so highly regarded?
I read this book because it seems to be highly regarded, appearing in various lists of 'best' SF novels, etc.

The basic scenario is four scientists are on a planet 50 light years from Earth and have to report their finding with regard to the suitability of the planet for mankind's uses and to what use it should be put if any. The planet is populated by an intelligent race of large reptiles. One of the four scientists is also a Jesuit priest and his judgement is purely based on his religious beliefs, hence the title.

The story is readable, reasonably entertaining, but I couldn't sympathise with the viewpoint of the Jesuit priest at all which made the conclusion and the whole story a bit of a non-event for me. It just wasn't believeable. A good one for fundamentalist christian navel-gazers!