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: #272283 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

A Real Mish Mash of Ideas.
I have to say I was disappointed with this book.

It is only around 190 pages long and this means that there is very little scope to develop plot or characters. The premise of the story is that a planet inhabited by a Reptillian Race are monitored by a group of four scientists who each have a different fields to ascertain whether a relationship with Earth should ensue. One of the characters is a Jesuit who really does not know whether this Garden of Eden is all it seems -- Is Satans' work at hand??

Certainly the first 80 pages or so are interesting enough and sets the story up but all the religious arguments really become bogged down and I don't think really go anywhere. The final half really becomes silly and abit of a mish mash. It does become jumbled and seems to jump forward without a real explanation of whats happening.

This book is really for the Masterwork Completist and would not recommend to the casual reader.

Decent premise but ultimately a disappointment.

Profound and unsettling, but brilliantly written.
As a confirmed atheist who has always had trouble understanding how some people can be religious but still believe in evolution, I approached this novel with trepidation, and was close to giving up on a couple of occasions. However, the brilliance of Blish's earlier entry in the SF Masterworks series - Cities in Flight, persuaded me to continue, and I have to say that I'm very glad I did. Some people would say that religion has no relevance to science, and it is an opinion that the priest Ruiz Sanchez hears a great deal throughout the novel. By giving the character the chance to defend himself throughout the story, I have started to understand one thing about science and religion - that a person's beliefs do not have to be at odds with their skills as a scientist. Ruiz Sanchez is a biologist who believes in God, and as he points out himself in the book, that belief is a constant whether he is praying on earth or praying on a distant planet. He has reconciled the theory of evolution with the theory of Adam and Eve, and sees his faith and his science as being irrevocably intertwined, to the point where he is prepared to face eternal damnation for his decision about Lithia. As for the ending of the book : I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it, but who can really say what is responsible - the science of man or the hand of God ? A perturbing book but fabulously insightful, both for those with faith and those without.

A Case of Considerable Talent
A Case of Conscience mixes Catholic Doctrine with planetary exploration. A team of 4 scientists are sent to survey a new world inhabited by intelligent dinosaur-like creatures, who live in an apparent Eden, where hatred, greed and destruction are unknown. The team have to assess whether the planet should be opened up for human visitation, from their respective points of view. As the final decision time approaches tensions grow within the team, with at least one member wanting to use the planets rich radioactive resources in the production of atomic weapons, making use of the peaceful inhabitants for labour, whether they are willing or unwilling.

One of the crew is in fact a Jesuit Priest and biologist, and he also is assessing the planet from the point of view of religious ethics, and seeing how the inhabitants fit into the scheme of things as far as religious ideology. His own startling recommendation is to quarantine the planet, and forbid future human contact, but why? Is this apparent tranquil but godless haven really the work of Satan?