The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

Father Ruiz-Sanchez is a dedicated man--a priest who is also a scientist, and a scientist who is also a human being. He has found no insoluble conflicts in his beliefs or his ethics . . . until he is sent to Lithia. There he comes upon a race of aliens who are admirable in every way except for their total reliance on cold reason; they are incapable of faith or belief.

Confronted with a profound scientific riddle and ethical quandary, Father Ruiz-Sanchez soon finds himself torn between the teachings of his faith, the teachings of his science, and the inner promptings of his humanity. There is only one solution: He must accept an ancient and unforgivable heresy--and risk the futures of both worlds . . .

I'm not sure I've read any Blish. possibly a short story once upon a time. My copy of this arrived about a week ago. I'll be jumping into it once I finish my current read (almost finished).

The Scribbling Man wrote: "I'm not sure I've read any Blish. possibly a short story once upon a time. "

I've checked the list of books here on GR and seems I haven't read him either

my first Blish. started today!

I enjoyed his Cities in Flight series.

Read Night Things. It’s an okay short book. I do, however, have several of Blish’s books, Black Easter, Day After Judgment, Cities In Flight, A Case of Conscience. Plus have several books of essays on writing.

Thomas wrote: "I enjoyed his Cities in Flight series."

And I did not! Hated it, really. But that was long ago. I look forward to reading this one. It sounds interesting.

FWIW, I didn't care for "A Case of Conscience" when it was newish. I doubt I will be trying it again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B...
Gosh, he died young! Interesting & well-done article. Now, will the link post?

I just finished the first part, which I understand to more or less be the original story before it was expanded into a novel? It definitely read like a self-contained narrative and I'm curious to see where it grows from here. I've pretty much stormed through this section in the last 24 hours and really enjoyed it. Just a very engrossing and interesting read.

Finished. A very interesting book, on so many levels

My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

also a nice text about it by Jo Walton - https://www.tor.com/2010/11/29/aliens...

I've also finished Part 1. I like it. I was wondering about the reference to Finnegans Wake, so I looked it up, and though I didn't find the answer to why that was in this book, I did see a reference to the final event of part 2. Boo! I wasn't looking for a spoiler! Oh, well, I'll continue anyway.

I'm about 30 pages from the end. Part 2 seems a bit less focused to me, and I think it's apparent that it was written later as an expansion rather than being part of the same story. I don't dislike it, but I'm not sure what to think of it at the moment. Kind of reminds me of both Stranger in a Strange Land and The Man Who Fell to Earth.

Ed wrote: "I've also finished Part 1. I like it. I was wondering about the reference to Finnegans Wake, so I looked it up, and though I didn't find the answer to why that was in this book, I did see a referen..."

I also was curious about the Finnegan's Wake reference. I was actually surprised when it was revealed that was what he was reading, because the quoted passages seemed more legible than I remember from dipping into the book! So I wondered if it was accurate or not, or maybe meant to infer a distortion of the text over time (i've never actually read it properly). But I didn't find anything that suggests that. I think the main thing is that what he's pondering over with the book is meant to be a thematic parallel with his ethical quandary in the story.

I've just finished the book and preferred part 1 to part 2, but did enjoy the book overall.
I read The Cities in Flight series ages and this book is nothing like them.
I was impressed by the ending, but the party scenes in that weird apartment were offputting for me.

Rosemarie wrote: "the party scenes in that weird apartment were offputting for me.."

I agree on the party, but I guess it can be just because I am not a partygoer. As for the apartment with a miniature garden, I rather liked it

The Scribbling Man wrote: "Part 2 seems a bit less focused to me, and I think it's apparent that it was written later as an expansion rather than being part of the same story. "

Agreed. At the same time, I liked the idea of how Earth developed, turning most people into Morloks - the underground working class. And a celebrity turning the world upside down - quite nice

right, Stranger in a strange land was also what it reminded me of immediately. I'm at 60%, liking the first part, not liking the second.

Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I think if I had just read the first part, I would be keen to read more Blish. If I had only read the second, I probably would never touch him again. Is there any more Blish worth recommending to me based on that?

Wow, by every page turn now I have more trouble to follow what exactly is going on. Second part is really confusing- allthough my basic knowledge of english must also be part of the problem.

Leo wrote: "Wow, by every page turn now I have more trouble to follow what exactly is going on. Second part is really confusing- allthough my basic knowledge of english must also be part of the problem."

Part two is confusing, whether your English is excellent or not. It's a mess compared to part one.
It almost seems like a different author.
I've read the author's Cities in Flight series, which were not confusing and I found them to be an enjoyable read-that was many years ago.

Yes, the 2nd part was confusing enough to re-listen to some pieces right after I was over them. Maybe it was intentional? - to show that future Earth is more alien to readers than an alien planet from the 1st part?

It certainly was bizarre!

It certainly illustrates the operation of the Manichean heresy and how dangerous ignorant innocence can be.

I agree part 2 is confusing. I was especially confused in the big party scene. Too many characters there and I still don't understand what sort of "elevator" or whatever was involved.

Oleksandr wrote: "... Maybe it was intentional? - to show that future Earth is more alien to readers than an alien planet ..."

If he was trying that, he failed for me. His future Earth still has regular trains and telephones and apparently fax machines. There is even a reference to McCarthy, as if he would still be a relevant reference for most people long into the future.

There is the difference that people live underground, though I don't think he explains why.

I think part 1 was originally published alone and part 2 was written later. That makes me wonder whether the end of part 1 was originally different. It ends with a "gift" to the Earth people. That gift is the whole basis of part 2. So I wonder whether that was originally in part 1, or only added to allow a part 2.

It seemed to me that a lot of the storyline was conveyed through conversation. There were times the technical language was too complex and I was lost on the decisions made after the conversations.
I did find it interesting that the author referred to religion and several works of literature in the course of the book.
I did wish we had more of Egterverchi's viewpoint instead of having it second hand.

The gift felt like a final blow/twist to me and not in the least bit like anything unresolved or necessarily something that needed building on. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole of part 1 was the original standalone story, ending and all.

Natalie wrote: "I did wish we had more of Egterverchi's viewpoint instead of having it second hand"
..."

I agree. I think this is quite a big problem with the second part.

This book has a Duchess of Averoigne. Although I didn't realize it, this is a fictional area invented by Clark Ashton Smith and used by other writers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averoigne

Thanks for sharing that info, Ed. I've recently read the works of Smith and that's why the name Averoigne seemed so familiar.

Ed wrote: "This book has a Duchess of Averoigne. Although I didn't realize it, this is a fictional area invented by Clark Ashton Smith and used by other writers."

Interesting, thanks!

The Scribbling Man wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I did wish we had more of Egterverchi's viewpoint instead of having it second hand"
..."

I agree. I think this is quite a big problem with the second part."

That's the reason I wasn't keen to reread this one!

Ed wrote: "This book has a Duchess of Averoigne. Although I didn't realize it, this is a fictional area invented by Clark Ashton Smith and used by other writers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averoigne"

Always like this sort of thing, SF/F in conversation with itself! "Easter Eggs", some call them.

The Scribbling Man wrote: "Natalie wrote: "I did wish we had more of Egterverchi's viewpoint instead of having it second hand"
..."

I agree. I think this is quite a big problem with the second part."

I would have enjoyed it more if it included more from him, but it would have been a very different book. Blish was trying to explore religious themes and the Manichean heresy. More talk from Egterverchi wouldn't have added anything to that discussion.

PK Dick has several times written about a similar idea, coming, I think, from Gnostic Christians. The idea that God created the world, but the Devil/Adversary/Demi-Urge created an illusion that keeps most humans from seeing the real world. I thought that was the Manichean heresy.

Instead, it seems the heresy was that the Adversary was able to create real, living creatures. (And St. Augustine was a believer in that for a while.) There did seem to be some shared ideas between those two world-views.

I think that the simple discovery of intelligent alien life would cause great storms in many religions. That was just glossed-over completely and the only trouble at the Vatican here was from the idea that the Adversary must have created the Lithians because they had "Christian Morality" without having known of Christ.

I'm glad I read it. It improves my opinion of Blish, based mostly on the first part. I'd only read before "Cities in Flight" and I didn't finish it. (It also has a religious theme, though I didn't know that since it is revealed only at the end.)