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Infinite Space, Infinite God II
At last! Stories where the Catholic Church and science cooperate, priests are heroes, and faith gives people the strength to act upon their convictions. In the tradition of the award-winning Infinite Space, Infinite God I, Infinite Space, Infinite God II offers solid sci-fi and life-affirming faith.
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First published November 15, 2010
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About the author
Karina Lumbert Fabian
97 books106 followersKarina Fabian is a science fiction and fantasy writers, author of 16 novels, three anthologies, a devotional and many stories and articles. Her latest science fiction novel, Discovery, features religious sisters in space, and she’s working on rebooting her DragonEye series, which stars a snarky dragon working under the direction of the Church. She teaches writing and is an active member of the Catholic Writers Guild. http://fabianspace.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 6, 2024
Note, Feb. 6, 202$: I've just edited this review to revise my language about one selection in the anthology. I still assess it negatively; but I've come to realize that the way I originally expressed that assessment was unnecessarily caustic and unkind, and therefore unfair to the authors.
My copy of this anthology was a gift from one of the included authors, my friend (on and off of Goodreads) Andrew Seddon. The stories here are science fiction from a Christian, and specifically Roman Catholic, perspective. There are 12 stories, written by 11 authors; one story has two authors, and co-editor Karina Fabian has three included stories. (I'd encountered her work previously in Firestorm of Dragons, and consider her a rising star in Christian speculative fiction.)
Andrew's story, "The Ghosts of Kourion," blending his interest in SF and Roman history, is the lead tale in his story cycle about the adventures of Robert Cragg, time-traveling British historian from the 27th century, Ring of Time: Tales of a Time Traveling Historian in the Roman Empire. The concept might remind readers of some of Connie Willis' work, but the plot, style and spirit of the work is uniquely Andrew's own, and the story displays his trademark excellent writing and well-incorporated serious research. In the first Sky Songs collection (2002), I'd encountered Colleen Drippe' through her excellent story "Lost Rythar." She's represented here by another great story set in a far-future human-colonized galaxy, on Rythar, a frigid planet whose humans have regressed (though retaining some high technology) to a socially primitive and warlike clan-based culture, but on which Roman Catholic Christianity, brought by off-worlders, has begun to spread. (A quibble I have with the tale here, however, is that I don't share her pacifist position --and in fact, the historic Catholic teaching on the matter is closer to my "just war" philosophy than to her view.) Fabian's "Frankie Phones Home" is a fairly light-weight yarn, a sequel to a story in the first Infinite Space, Infinite God anthology, which loses a lot if (like me) you haven't read the first one. But her other two stories here are outstanding.
J. Sherer's "Tin Servants," is set mostly in the war-ravaged, exploited Africa of 2147, in which the continent's current miseries and the abusive potential of robotic technology is extrapolated in all-too-believable fashion. This story manages to be hopeful without harboring any illusions about the worst that the human species is capable of. Derwin Mak's "Cloned to Kill" and Alex Lobdell's "The Battle of the Narthex" are also both high-quality works. John Rundle's "Basilica," in which a scarred and crippled priest (with an engineering and military background) is summoned before an ecclesiastical inquiry, in a far-future human-colonized galaxy, to explain what went on in connection with his "hijacking" of an Admiralty spaceship, is gripping space opera, as exciting and readable a story as any of its type. Here, though, the author's dubious choice for villains turns out to be the ancient (4th-5th-century) "heretical" sect of Priscillians, supposedly handed down for all these generations in secret and now emigrated into space. Granted, since there are no real-life Priscillians around any more, demonizing them seems less offensive and off-putting than the demonizing of Protestants in "Dyads" (see below). But the implicit message still seems to be that "heretics" are BA-A-A-D, and are so precisely because they're heretics. (The teaching of the Priscillians, by now, is fairly obscure; but one tends to suspect that they weren't really into cosmic genocide.)
The longest selection (at 58 pages) is "Dyads" by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen. Unfortunately, this one proved to be a disappointment. That's unfortunate, because the authors have considerable stylistic skills, create a really interesting alien world (their world-building is superb), and set up a scenario that could have offered a really serious speculation on the question of possible alien races that might have their own distinctive revelation of the true God and a salvation history distinct from ours. That opportunity, however, was sidetracked by an exercise in anti-Protestant polemic, with noble Catholics contending against a caricature of Protestantism that embodies a number of invidious stereotypes, including a Protestants-as-terrorists scenario. This isn't to say that real-life Protestants bigoted against other faiths don't exist (and, of course, they have Catholic counterparts), though the terrorist label is over the top; but what creates the real problem is the lack of any positive view of Protestants to balance it. For all I know, the authors may privately realize that not all Protestants (and certainly not many!) resemble this caricature; but if the caricature is all they present in their work, then it's the message they're peddling and promoting.
Despite that single major disappointment and the other quibbles, though, most of the selections are fine examples of the storytellers' art; they exude quality! (I found it impossible to pick a single favorite.) Overall, a four-star rating for the collection as a whole --and many of the selections would easily deserve five. I haven't read the original volume, of which this is the sequel, yet; but it's on my to-read shelf!
My copy of this anthology was a gift from one of the included authors, my friend (on and off of Goodreads) Andrew Seddon. The stories here are science fiction from a Christian, and specifically Roman Catholic, perspective. There are 12 stories, written by 11 authors; one story has two authors, and co-editor Karina Fabian has three included stories. (I'd encountered her work previously in Firestorm of Dragons, and consider her a rising star in Christian speculative fiction.)
Andrew's story, "The Ghosts of Kourion," blending his interest in SF and Roman history, is the lead tale in his story cycle about the adventures of Robert Cragg, time-traveling British historian from the 27th century, Ring of Time: Tales of a Time Traveling Historian in the Roman Empire. The concept might remind readers of some of Connie Willis' work, but the plot, style and spirit of the work is uniquely Andrew's own, and the story displays his trademark excellent writing and well-incorporated serious research. In the first Sky Songs collection (2002), I'd encountered Colleen Drippe' through her excellent story "Lost Rythar." She's represented here by another great story set in a far-future human-colonized galaxy, on Rythar, a frigid planet whose humans have regressed (though retaining some high technology) to a socially primitive and warlike clan-based culture, but on which Roman Catholic Christianity, brought by off-worlders, has begun to spread. (A quibble I have with the tale here, however, is that I don't share her pacifist position --and in fact, the historic Catholic teaching on the matter is closer to my "just war" philosophy than to her view.) Fabian's "Frankie Phones Home" is a fairly light-weight yarn, a sequel to a story in the first Infinite Space, Infinite God anthology, which loses a lot if (like me) you haven't read the first one. But her other two stories here are outstanding.
J. Sherer's "Tin Servants," is set mostly in the war-ravaged, exploited Africa of 2147, in which the continent's current miseries and the abusive potential of robotic technology is extrapolated in all-too-believable fashion. This story manages to be hopeful without harboring any illusions about the worst that the human species is capable of. Derwin Mak's "Cloned to Kill" and Alex Lobdell's "The Battle of the Narthex" are also both high-quality works. John Rundle's "Basilica," in which a scarred and crippled priest (with an engineering and military background) is summoned before an ecclesiastical inquiry, in a far-future human-colonized galaxy, to explain what went on in connection with his "hijacking" of an Admiralty spaceship, is gripping space opera, as exciting and readable a story as any of its type. Here, though, the author's dubious choice for villains turns out to be the ancient (4th-5th-century) "heretical" sect of Priscillians, supposedly handed down for all these generations in secret and now emigrated into space. Granted, since there are no real-life Priscillians around any more, demonizing them seems less offensive and off-putting than the demonizing of Protestants in "Dyads" (see below). But the implicit message still seems to be that "heretics" are BA-A-A-D, and are so precisely because they're heretics. (The teaching of the Priscillians, by now, is fairly obscure; but one tends to suspect that they weren't really into cosmic genocide.)
The longest selection (at 58 pages) is "Dyads" by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen. Unfortunately, this one proved to be a disappointment. That's unfortunate, because the authors have considerable stylistic skills, create a really interesting alien world (their world-building is superb), and set up a scenario that could have offered a really serious speculation on the question of possible alien races that might have their own distinctive revelation of the true God and a salvation history distinct from ours. That opportunity, however, was sidetracked by an exercise in anti-Protestant polemic, with noble Catholics contending against a caricature of Protestantism that embodies a number of invidious stereotypes, including a Protestants-as-terrorists scenario. This isn't to say that real-life Protestants bigoted against other faiths don't exist (and, of course, they have Catholic counterparts), though the terrorist label is over the top; but what creates the real problem is the lack of any positive view of Protestants to balance it. For all I know, the authors may privately realize that not all Protestants (and certainly not many!) resemble this caricature; but if the caricature is all they present in their work, then it's the message they're peddling and promoting.
Despite that single major disappointment and the other quibbles, though, most of the selections are fine examples of the storytellers' art; they exude quality! (I found it impossible to pick a single favorite.) Overall, a four-star rating for the collection as a whole --and many of the selections would easily deserve five. I haven't read the original volume, of which this is the sequel, yet; but it's on my to-read shelf!
July 31, 2020
Over the years I have read several religious-themed science fiction stories. It is not a new genre, from classics like A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr., to nearly anything from Gene Wolfe. One of the best-known collections was edited by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley called Sacred Visions. And if it was not for Greeley’s name recognition I believe this anthology would far surpass it.
This volume of 12 short stories in the genre of Catholic Science Fiction is a treat for the fan of either genres. The authors tackle themes of morality, science, and the role of religion in humanity's future in new and engaging ways. They compare and contrast religions of aliens. Belief systems and living out faith in difficult times. The contributors are:
Colleen Drippé
Karina Fabian
Barton Paul Levenson
Alex Lobdell
Alan Loewen
Derwin Mak
Ken Pick
John “Fish” Rundle
Andrew Seddon
J Sherer
Tamara Wilhite
And the stories are:
The Ghosts of Kourion
Antivenin
An Exercise in Logic
Cathedral
Otherworld
The Battle of the Narthex
Tenniel
Tin Servants
Basilica
Cloned to Kill
Frankie Phones Home
Dyads
There are many excellent stories in this collection. And the authors I have not read before are now on my radar to keep an eye out for. The story by Andrew M. Seddon, The Ghosts of Kourion, appears as part of a recent novel by him, Ring of Time. One of my favorite pieces is Antivenin by Karina Fabian. I really want to read more stories in this universe. And a novel is now out, Discovery, which has some of the characters. Another excellent offering was Basilica. But honestly all the stories in this collection are worth the read.
I read the first anthology with name 11 years ago. And loved it. I picked this one up and thought I had read and reviewed it but was mistaken. After reading a recent book by, The Old Man and the Void, Fabian I went back and read this collection. And what a wonderful collection it is. Infinite Space, Infinite God I was a fantastic anthology and this one is just as good. I only wished that the third anthology edited by Fabian and Fabian, Leaps of Faith, was available electronically. I would already be well into it before writing the review of this volume.
This is an excellent collection for those who love great short stories. Those who appreciate Science Fiction. And those who enjoy good Christian or Catholic Fiction. It is a fantastic collection and I easily give it 5/5 Stars!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Karina Fabian. As well as author profile and interview with Karina.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!
This volume of 12 short stories in the genre of Catholic Science Fiction is a treat for the fan of either genres. The authors tackle themes of morality, science, and the role of religion in humanity's future in new and engaging ways. They compare and contrast religions of aliens. Belief systems and living out faith in difficult times. The contributors are:
Colleen Drippé
Karina Fabian
Barton Paul Levenson
Alex Lobdell
Alan Loewen
Derwin Mak
Ken Pick
John “Fish” Rundle
Andrew Seddon
J Sherer
Tamara Wilhite
And the stories are:
The Ghosts of Kourion
Antivenin
An Exercise in Logic
Cathedral
Otherworld
The Battle of the Narthex
Tenniel
Tin Servants
Basilica
Cloned to Kill
Frankie Phones Home
Dyads
There are many excellent stories in this collection. And the authors I have not read before are now on my radar to keep an eye out for. The story by Andrew M. Seddon, The Ghosts of Kourion, appears as part of a recent novel by him, Ring of Time. One of my favorite pieces is Antivenin by Karina Fabian. I really want to read more stories in this universe. And a novel is now out, Discovery, which has some of the characters. Another excellent offering was Basilica. But honestly all the stories in this collection are worth the read.
I read the first anthology with name 11 years ago. And loved it. I picked this one up and thought I had read and reviewed it but was mistaken. After reading a recent book by, The Old Man and the Void, Fabian I went back and read this collection. And what a wonderful collection it is. Infinite Space, Infinite God I was a fantastic anthology and this one is just as good. I only wished that the third anthology edited by Fabian and Fabian, Leaps of Faith, was available electronically. I would already be well into it before writing the review of this volume.
This is an excellent collection for those who love great short stories. Those who appreciate Science Fiction. And those who enjoy good Christian or Catholic Fiction. It is a fantastic collection and I easily give it 5/5 Stars!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Karina Fabian. As well as author profile and interview with Karina.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!
April 19, 2011
For an upcoming blog tour, this is a review copy.
Way back in 2008, I reviewed Infinite Space, Infinite God, an anthology of science fiction centered on Catholicism. In some ways we cannot avoid comparing a second volume to the first. In fact, editors Karina and Robert Fabian do the same in the introduction when they point out that the first anthology had stories centering more on the Church as an institution. In this second book, the stories tended to focus more on individuals and their struggles, using Catholicism as the context through which we view them.
I found Infinite Space, Infinite God II to be a stronger set of stories overall and one that I could recommend unreservedly to non-Catholics because the overall themes ran strongly to a general science fiction theme rather than to faith. This is not to say that the stories don't address faith, but even for nonbelievers there is something interesting to be found in practically every one of them. The stories are imaginative and, although some are light-hearted, all of them lead readers to think about serious issues, as is the case with the best science fiction. I also especially enjoyed the way that each of them featured the Church which has adapted to the future but which never ignores or betrays her mission.
As before, I found each story introduction to be well written and interesting although, as before, I found there was a bit too much revelation about the story or what characters learned for my taste. I read most of them after I read the story as a result. However, this is an issue that I have come across in many anthologies and it is a matter of personal taste.
My favorite stories:
* The Ghosts of Kourion. This is a bittersweet tale of "what if" combined with time travel. The story's ending will have us all examining our own smallest deeds.
* Antivenin. I was on the edge of my seat as Sister Rita ran into worse and worse encounters in this "snakes on a spaceship" story. Riveting.
* Tenniel. A showdown of sorts from which it seems that no one can emerge victorious. And is victory always what we think it is?
* Dyads. This was my hands-down favorite. Not only was I fascinated by the alien culture, I was captivated by the brilliant translation of the Catholic faith into something that was equally alien but equally true, revealed by God. Also, I was riveted by the conundrums faced by the two faiths in resolving their problems.
I can't say nearly as much as I would like about these stories without giving away plots but these stories equal anything found in other science fiction anthologies. They are practically perfect in every way.
Way back in 2008, I reviewed Infinite Space, Infinite God, an anthology of science fiction centered on Catholicism. In some ways we cannot avoid comparing a second volume to the first. In fact, editors Karina and Robert Fabian do the same in the introduction when they point out that the first anthology had stories centering more on the Church as an institution. In this second book, the stories tended to focus more on individuals and their struggles, using Catholicism as the context through which we view them.
I found Infinite Space, Infinite God II to be a stronger set of stories overall and one that I could recommend unreservedly to non-Catholics because the overall themes ran strongly to a general science fiction theme rather than to faith. This is not to say that the stories don't address faith, but even for nonbelievers there is something interesting to be found in practically every one of them. The stories are imaginative and, although some are light-hearted, all of them lead readers to think about serious issues, as is the case with the best science fiction. I also especially enjoyed the way that each of them featured the Church which has adapted to the future but which never ignores or betrays her mission.
As before, I found each story introduction to be well written and interesting although, as before, I found there was a bit too much revelation about the story or what characters learned for my taste. I read most of them after I read the story as a result. However, this is an issue that I have come across in many anthologies and it is a matter of personal taste.
My favorite stories:
* The Ghosts of Kourion. This is a bittersweet tale of "what if" combined with time travel. The story's ending will have us all examining our own smallest deeds.
* Antivenin. I was on the edge of my seat as Sister Rita ran into worse and worse encounters in this "snakes on a spaceship" story. Riveting.
* Tenniel. A showdown of sorts from which it seems that no one can emerge victorious. And is victory always what we think it is?
* Dyads. This was my hands-down favorite. Not only was I fascinated by the alien culture, I was captivated by the brilliant translation of the Catholic faith into something that was equally alien but equally true, revealed by God. Also, I was riveted by the conundrums faced by the two faiths in resolving their problems.
I can't say nearly as much as I would like about these stories without giving away plots but these stories equal anything found in other science fiction anthologies. They are practically perfect in every way.
November 29, 2010
Infinite Space, Infinite God II is a collection of twelve stories that reject the "conventional wisdom" that Christianity is inherently irrational and anti-science, that a spacefaring mankind will shed its religion, like a butterfly discarding its chrysalis, and that any intelligent life we discover will not be religious in any meaningful sense.
Ultimately, though, these are stories about people-ordinary people of faith thrust into extraordinary situations. Their faith guides their actions, and it makes a difference in their world. It's a practical faith that guides them to serve others, sacrifice their own ambitions, and endure suffering with patience and hope.
This anthology is also unique in that it showcases the Christian faith from a Catholic point-of-view. This means that you will encounter a Church whose structure and practice remain intact and consistent into the future, adapting to change while tenaciously preserving and applying the lessons of its heritage. Human frailty and divine intervention meet in the act of prayer, and wonderful things happen.
I enjoyed this book very much. Rob and Karina Fabian have assembled a nice variety of imaginative tales, serious and lighthearted, introspective and action-packed, from near-space to the other side of the galaxy. Some could happen tomorrow, others are set thousands of years in the future. There's something for everybody here.
My favorites:
"The Ghosts of Kourion," by Andrew M. Seddon - A lovely, bittersweet story about a time-traveling researcher who discovers the difference between changing history and becoming part of it. I liked the way Seddon dispensed with all the usual tropes and paradoxes of time travel to focus on the human story at its core.
"Antivenin," by Karina Fabian - I'm a big fan of Ms. Fabian's Rescue Sisters stories, about a community of nuns performing search and rescue along the hazardous frontiers of interplanetary space. This time, we meet Sister Rita, an anomaly even within her order-a "dirtsider," raised on Earth, struggling to fit in, whose experience becomes vital when a simple space rescue is complicated by a very terrestrial threat. If you think the words "nun," "action," and "suspense" don't belong in the same sentence, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
"An Exercise in Logic," by Barton Paul Levenson - Sister Mary Julian must match wits and parse theology with stubborn aliens to prevent a planet-busting disaster. Levenson shows us that logic isn't necessarily the final answer to every dilemma, and gives us a strong, savvy heroine in Sister Mary Julian. He also pens my favorite line in this anthology: "You can't pray to your god in here! This is the Ecumenical Temple!"
"Tenniel," by Colleen Drippe - A moving, complex story set in a hostile world, a human colony that has collapsed into tribal barbarism. To prevent genocide, a Catholic bishop must engage in single combat with a vicious warlord, but how can committing sin serve God's purpose? Ms. Drippe doesn't provide any easy answers, but does provide a gripping tale with strong characters that showcases the challenge of evangelism on the frontier, where physical and spiritual threats go hand-in-hand, and martyrdom is the rule, not the exception.
I think Infinite Space, Infinite God II stacks up quite well against any collection of short spec-fic you're likely to find on the shelves this Christmas season. It would make a great gift for any science fiction fan on your list. This is a good read with a unique perspective and will linger in your mind a long time after you've finished it.
Ultimately, though, these are stories about people-ordinary people of faith thrust into extraordinary situations. Their faith guides their actions, and it makes a difference in their world. It's a practical faith that guides them to serve others, sacrifice their own ambitions, and endure suffering with patience and hope.
This anthology is also unique in that it showcases the Christian faith from a Catholic point-of-view. This means that you will encounter a Church whose structure and practice remain intact and consistent into the future, adapting to change while tenaciously preserving and applying the lessons of its heritage. Human frailty and divine intervention meet in the act of prayer, and wonderful things happen.
I enjoyed this book very much. Rob and Karina Fabian have assembled a nice variety of imaginative tales, serious and lighthearted, introspective and action-packed, from near-space to the other side of the galaxy. Some could happen tomorrow, others are set thousands of years in the future. There's something for everybody here.
My favorites:
"The Ghosts of Kourion," by Andrew M. Seddon - A lovely, bittersweet story about a time-traveling researcher who discovers the difference between changing history and becoming part of it. I liked the way Seddon dispensed with all the usual tropes and paradoxes of time travel to focus on the human story at its core.
"Antivenin," by Karina Fabian - I'm a big fan of Ms. Fabian's Rescue Sisters stories, about a community of nuns performing search and rescue along the hazardous frontiers of interplanetary space. This time, we meet Sister Rita, an anomaly even within her order-a "dirtsider," raised on Earth, struggling to fit in, whose experience becomes vital when a simple space rescue is complicated by a very terrestrial threat. If you think the words "nun," "action," and "suspense" don't belong in the same sentence, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
"An Exercise in Logic," by Barton Paul Levenson - Sister Mary Julian must match wits and parse theology with stubborn aliens to prevent a planet-busting disaster. Levenson shows us that logic isn't necessarily the final answer to every dilemma, and gives us a strong, savvy heroine in Sister Mary Julian. He also pens my favorite line in this anthology: "You can't pray to your god in here! This is the Ecumenical Temple!"
"Tenniel," by Colleen Drippe - A moving, complex story set in a hostile world, a human colony that has collapsed into tribal barbarism. To prevent genocide, a Catholic bishop must engage in single combat with a vicious warlord, but how can committing sin serve God's purpose? Ms. Drippe doesn't provide any easy answers, but does provide a gripping tale with strong characters that showcases the challenge of evangelism on the frontier, where physical and spiritual threats go hand-in-hand, and martyrdom is the rule, not the exception.
I think Infinite Space, Infinite God II stacks up quite well against any collection of short spec-fic you're likely to find on the shelves this Christmas season. It would make a great gift for any science fiction fan on your list. This is a good read with a unique perspective and will linger in your mind a long time after you've finished it.
April 2, 2011
I had just recently read the first Infinite Space, Infinite God and I was looking forward to this one.
While there is also much to like in this selection of stories, to my mind it was not quite as good of collection as the first one and a little darker. Still the stories were worth reading as a whole and I can't really put my finger on why I liked this collection less than the first.
While there is also much to like in this selection of stories, to my mind it was not quite as good of collection as the first one and a little darker. Still the stories were worth reading as a whole and I can't really put my finger on why I liked this collection less than the first.
June 1, 2012
I enjoyed this as much as the first anthology of the same name - which is to say, I really liked it! I would love to see some of these stories made into movies...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews