January Books 3) A Case of Conscience

[nwhyte]

One of my 2009 resolutions is to re-read the Hugo-winning novels which I haven't otherwise reviewed on-line, in more or less chronological order (allowing for the gaps in my library). The first by most measures is James Blish's A Case of Conscience, published as a novel in 1958 (an expansion from a shorter piece which won a Retro-Hugo in its own

Comments

[getawaywithit]

Have you read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell? It sounds as though it borrows (I don't know how intentionally) a lot of plot and ideas from this.

[nwhyte]

It's a rather different situation, by a writer whose strengths and weaknesses are quite different to Blish's - Russell's Jesuits are much less realistic, and her aliens actually less alien; and her future society less alien too.

[nickbarnes]

I enjoyed all of "After Such Knowledge", maybe 10 years ago. I think my favourite part was probably "Doctor Mirabilis", which you might poo-poo for its flimsy HPS.

[gareth_rees]

I like the pair of Black Easter and The Day After Judgement. Apocalyptic black comedy, plus Milton pastiche.