Rating: 
Summary: Preaching to the Choir
Review: I was very excited to read this supposed classic of sci-fi but was left very disappointed. How does one take the midieval idea of the devil seriously in the face of a more varied and marvelous universe than anything concieved of in our distant past? We must be less anthropomorphic in our ideas about the universe. The father's reaction to a "perfect" but godless alien species is to fear it was set up to fool humans into thinking they don't need god to be moral. However, that's just it - WE DON'T NEED GOD TO BE MORAL! Even Plato asked more than 2,000 years ago if the good is good because of itself or merely because the gods say it is. If morality is only good because God says so, then murder and rape can be good if God just changes His mind. Please!!!!!!!!!!!
In reality, the father's attitude is outdated and in-fact as frightening as Kierkegaard's psuedo-religious justifications of terrorism. If you're looking for a real examination of religious questions coming into conflict with cosmic issues, read something else. This is stacked in religion's favor. Moreover, it's written in a very confusing and tedious style - do we really need a scientific explanation of why a man's eyes get tired from reading too long just so the theme can be so ridiculous!?
Rating: 
Summary: A classic of science fiction that should return to print NOW
Review: A CASE OF CONSCIENCE is what science fiction should be.It creates two highly believable worlds -- the futuristic earth of A.D. 2050, and the planet Lithia, dominated by an intelligent and reasonable alien species. It creates believable human characters, and just as believable alien characters. It grapples with profound ideas about good and evil, religion and morality, and clashes of cultures and value systems. And it does all of this with a calm, understated, yet often eloquent writing style that is a joy to savor and bears repeated re-readings. This is one of the finest science-fiction novels ever written, and it should return to print NOW.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story,unstructured ending
Review: Around 1951 A E van Vogt wrote a science fiction novel called 'The Voyage of the Space Beagle' (which seems to me to be a precursor to 'Star Trek'). In it he proposes a science of nexialism. Here is van Vogt's definition of nexialism - '... the science of joining in an orderly fashion the knowledge of one field of learning with that of other fields'. In this age of specialisation I believe nexialism could be very profitable - there are too few polymaths these days. So why did I start this review of a novel by James Blish with commentary on one of A E van Vogt. Both of these writers are, of course, science fiction writers and I enjoy re-reading the 'classics' of science fiction to see what excited me so much when I first read them. For example, I recently re-read (and reviewed) A E van Vogt's 'The World of Null A'. Sadly this disappointed me despite its engaging introduction to 'Science and Sanity' and its P K Dick-like twists and shifts. I was not at all disappointed by 'A Case of Conscience' - this is immensely readable, inventive, well-structured and surprising (even when I knew roughly what was coming). One of the great pleasures of science fiction is the way it can engage (but doesn't always do so) many fields of human endeavour. The political insight of Ursula LeGuin (such as in 'The Disposessed'), the metaphysics of P K Dick (such as in 'Ubik'), the studies of paranormal phenomena (such as Robert Silverberg's 'Dying Inside'), the studies of time travel (such as Alfred Bester's 'The Men Who Murdered Mohammed'). In each case there is nexialism at work - the combining of one aspect of human endeavour with speculations about it. 'A Case of Conscience' draws theology into science fiction and I am sure that every reader of this novel will take away more than just the memory of an engaging yarn. It opened my mind to theological questioning and debate that i suspect I may never have approached otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: Nexialism at work
Review: Around 1951 A E van Vogt wrote a science fiction novel called 'The Voyage of the Space Beagle' (which seems to me to be a precursor to 'Star Trek'). In it he proposes a science of nexialism. Here is van Vogt's definition of nexialism - '... the science of joining in an orderly fashion the knowledge of one field of learning with that of other fields'. In this age of specialisation I believe nexialism could be very profitable - there are too few polymaths these days. So why did I start this review of a novel by James Blish with commentary on one of A E van Vogt. Both of these writers are, of course, science fiction writers and I enjoy re-reading the 'classics' of science fiction to see what excited me so much when I first read them. For example, I recently re-read (and reviewed) A E van Vogt's 'The World of Null A'. Sadly this disappointed me despite its engaging introduction to 'Science and Sanity' and its P K Dick-like twists and shifts. I was not at all disappointed by 'A Case of Conscience' - this is immensely readable, inventive, well-structured and surprising (even when I knew roughly what was coming). One of the great pleasures of science fiction is the way it can engage (but doesn't always do so) many fields of human endeavour. The political insight of Ursula LeGuin (such as in 'The Disposessed'), the metaphysics of P K Dick (such as in 'Ubik'), the studies of paranormal phenomena (such as Robert Silverberg's 'Dying Inside'), the studies of time travel (such as Alfred Bester's 'The Men Who Murdered Mohammed'). In each case there is nexialism at work - the combining of one aspect of human endeavour with speculations about it. 'A Case of Conscience' draws theology into science fiction and I am sure that every reader of this novel will take away more than just the memory of an engaging yarn. It opened my mind to theological questioning and debate that i suspect I may never have approached otherwise.
Rating: 
Summary: A clash of science and faith
Review: Blish is known for his subtle writing ,his flowing style. This book is dated. Yet ,veteran sci-fi readers will be able to enjoy this work. Lithia is a jungle world ,Lithians are it's 12ft dragonlike dominant species. They are highly inteligent ,polite ,and gentle. Their society has no writen laws ,yet there's no crime on Lithia ,no out-casts ,no psychopaths. They all conform yet every Lithian is truly an individual. Infact ,though they're world has no art ,no religion ,no spiritual activity at all ,they all act like perfect christians. Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanches is part of the Lithia commitee. While the other members have their reasons to open Lithia ( to make it a nuclear-bombs factory for example ), Padre' believes that the whole planet is a big trap made by Satan ,to show humanity that logic alone is enaugh to guide beings towards good. Padre' fails in closing the planet to earth ,and brings with him a lithian egg ,from which grows an orphan lithian ,who's a genius but with a total lack of respect to authority and a twisted mind. He wrecks havoc on earth playing on the mob's feeling of frustration and hatred and anarchy. in the end good prevails ,but Blish never setteld the question whether the victory over the threat was divine-intervention or man-made. Cute book. recommended for old sci-fi lovers ,and soft sci-fi readers.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Insightful Science Fiction
Review: Blish's A Case of Conscience belongs to a tradition of deeply introspectivem and religiously complex science fiction. The story consists of a the discovery of a "perfect" planet and species, that the main character (a Catholic priest) begins to think must be inherently Satanic--the novel is a rich mix of this strange Manichean theory and slighty involuted theological arguments. Certainly, this is not science fiction for everyone--if you are expecting action, breathtaking plots, etc., this isn't the novel for you. If you haven't read many of the classic science fiction texts which reflect on religion and science (Childhood's End, Solaris, Perelandra, A Voyage to Arcturus, Star Maker, Rogue Moon, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch) or you dislike that side of the SF tradition, this book proably isn't for you. But if you are interested in more abstract discussions of the relationship between the humnan mind and the universe, this is an excellent place to begin.
Rating:
Summary: mostly outdated fears
Review: Four males visit a planet of highly intelligent dragons that have no vices, no misfits, no art, no iron, no magnetism, no electriocity, but a different kind of technology in which they are more advanced then earthlings. Two of the men want all the lithium that's availlable on the planet for themselves (to make bombs in this cold war dated book). One other thinks it's morally dangerous at the planet. No sin exists there. But this is not because of religion and redemption, since these do not exist on that planet. The jesuiet thinks this planet is the Devil's attempt to make Christianity obsolete. For a contemporaine secular reader this makes it a bit hard to really get into that story, and that particular fear of the devil, or the greed for bombs. The dragons are very well done, though. Their society, their planet, and technology are all new and very interesting to read about. As are the hillarious and deeply frightening adventures of the sole dragon that is to visit the earth. He, the dislocated orphan, functions knowingly and willingly as a catalisator for the previously burried feelings of discontent in the people who feel they don't fit in society. Blish strikes a nerve there that hasn't changed much since the book received the Hugo Award in 1959. Perhaps the Devil had a hand in it after all.
Rating:
Summary: Theological science-fiction
Review: Four scientists - including Father Ruiz-Sanchez, a Jesuit and biologist - are sent to planet Lithia in order to produce a report detailing their thoughts about its future possibilities for Earth. Depending on their own interests, they have different views on the planet and its inhabitants, including Chtexa, a lithian metallurgist with whom Ruiz-Sanchez speaks at lenght, and, later, Chtexa's son Egtverchi, who grows up on Earth in the middle of a crisis which he himself aggravates via a TV show he appears in. The focus of the first part of the book is on Ruiz-Sanchez: the fact that Lithians seem to live according to the morals of Christianity without its dogmas forms the bulk of his self-interrogation, although the conflict between religious dogma, pure reason and human passions is only a fraction of the wide range of themes that Blish explores in 'A Case of conscience'. The dual structure of the book is quite clear, and both halves are absolutely necessary: the first, set in Lithia, is mainly concerned with causes (the exploration of Lithia and the mission of the four scientists), and the second, set on Earth, with effects. One could argue that the structure is only apparently dual and that the book's title is only partially correct - every character, from Ruiz-Sanchez to Michelis to Egtverchi, has his/her own case of conscience, something which is underlined not only in the first half of the book, but also in the underrated, complex second half. This is one of those works that can be re-read many times and still reveal new possible interpretations.
Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like it
Review: I really wanted to like this book. As a science fiction fan who happens to be a minister, I was looking forward to how James Blish would explore the idea of religion in a sci fi setting. While I still like the idea, I had a hard time making it through this book. The book gets off to a good start on the planet Lithia as Sanchez and the others disvocer some surprising revelations and discuss whether or not to allow the planet to be opened up or to close it off to further contact. However, as soon as we get back to Earth, things slow down considerably and the book loses alot of momentum. I think the biggest problem is that I wasn't really sure what Blish was trying to say. What does it all mean. Of course, this could be a problem of my own ignorance and missing the point rather than a flaw in the book. If you like your sci fi novels plot driven and full of action, this is not the book for you. If you like your sci fi to be more thoughtful and character driven, this book might be worth your while to pick up just because it IS one of those classic sci fi novels that made an impact on the genre. Personally, this is not a book I regret reading, but not one I would want to read again either. Maybe I just wanted too badly to like it.
Rating: 
Summary: In the Garden of good and evil
Review: I resolve never to read a book that combines science fiction with religion again. I found the book to be slow, boring and of no value. I forced myself to finish it only to see if I could find those redeeming values so elequently spoken of by other reviewers. Maybe I just don't get it but, I could not follow the issue of the heresy that Ruiz-Sanchez espoused. The issue is central, so that in itself is probably why I don't get the book. I also found the characters to be very shallow and single dimensioned. Finally, the great evil that Ramon saw in the Lithians was not explained well. I simply saw a different culture, not a culture created as the entithesis of God. A planet of Satans? I didn't see it. I don't need "Star Wars" action to enjoy a book. Subtle science fiction, like Asimov, often is more appealing and thought-provoking than books heavily relying on battles and crises. I enjoy an author who challenges his/her readers to rethink their understanding of the universe. The only thing Blish got me to think about is when will I finish the book.
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