Sacred Visions

by Andrew M. Greeley, Michael Cassutt (Editor)

Presents a collection of science fiction stories, including eight classics and four especially commissioned for this volume, that explore Catholic themes

Genres: Science Fiction, Anthologies

363 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

Andrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found that it is hard to review a collection of writings from different authors. In part, because it can be trite to state which is your favorite story and which is your least. It is also unfair to compare the writing styles of the different authors. Collections serve a variety of purposes; the first is to give you samples of a number of authors' writings, and the second is often that those writings are grouped by type or style or purpose. This collection fits both categories. It is a collection from 12 authors writing about the universal questions of faith and ethics, within a Catholic context and of a science fiction of fantasy theme. Four of the pieces were specifically commissioned for this volume and the other eight are classics of Science Fiction, including the short story form of two award winning novels.

The works included are:

Gus - Jack McDevitt
The Pope of the Chimps - Robert Silverberg
Curious Elation - Michael Cassutt
Trinity - Nancy Kress
Saint Theresa of the Aliens - James Patrick Kelly
Our Lady of the Endless Sky - Jeff Duntemann
The Seraph from Its Sepulcher - Gene Wolfe
A Case of Conscience - James Blish
Xorinda the Witch - Andrew M. Greeley
A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller Jr.
The Quest for Saint Aquin - Anthony Boucher
And Walk Now Gently Through the Fire - R.A. Lafferty

I first read this book years ago. Now I pick it up from time to time and randomly read stories. The stories are varied and powerful; they will evoke emotions, faith, doubt and awe.

This collection is some of the best religious science fiction I have ever read. It will be a good read for any Catholic, or a Christian who would like a different look into the Catholic faith. It will also be a good read for fans of science fiction, for some of the works included are considered masterpieces in the genre.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of short science fiction stories and novellas which all have a decided religious, in this case Catholic, theme. I have always been fascinated by the intersection of religious and scientific searches for a greater understanding and exploring Catholic themes in a science fiction setting made particular sense to me given its long tradition of, and reverence for, higher education. While I can recommend the book, and most of the stories, they, of course, vary in quality (sadly, the last was one of my least favorites). They are all generally reverent, although sometimes heretical, but I don't think any stray into blasphemy. Often they are stories of the persevence of faith within the unavoidable advances of science. Not all end well, but they are an intersting exploration of ideas.

[Nicholas Whyte]

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1289970.html[return][return]The subtitle of this anthology is 'Award-winning SF with Catholic Themes', and it's almost accurate - a couple of the stories did win awards, and most of them are at least loosely related to Catholicism. But I think that description rather undersells the collection, which is in general very good, and which really addresses the intersection between religion and science fiction from a number of different directions, not all of them obviously Catholic in sensibility; Robert Silverberg's 'The Pope of the Chimps', for instance, looks at non-human religion. (I believe that all the other authors here are in fact Catholics, with the possible exception of Nancy Kress.)[return][return]Several other classics are included: 'The Quest for Saint Aquin', by Anthony Boucher; 'A Case of Conscience' (the original short story, which is the first and best section of the novel) by James Blish; 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' (the original version, much improved by the author for the novel) by Walter M. Miller. There are also a couple of good original stories by Gene Wolfe and Jack McDevitt. [return][return]I got a lot more out of this collection than I did from the collection of Jewish sf which I read last year, and I don't think it is just because I am Catholic rather than Jewish. The editors here have consciously sought stories that engage intellectually with religion, rather than being based on cultural stereotypes (though admittedly the latter are not completely absent). I think this anthology would be much appreciated by any sf reader with an interest in religion and a basic knowledge of Christianity, and it's a bit unfortunate that it was marketed solely to Catholics.