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gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
1.0
I hated this book. I admit that I didn't make it all the way through it. This is because it was too terrible to read. Seriously. Four guys are doing a survey of an inhabited alien planet, and before they leave, they meet to discuss whether they will vote to open the planet to human trade. One guy is all for enslaving the local people and using their planet to make bombs, as he hates the aliens for being different. One guy says that he isn't really smart enough to have an opinion. The third guy seems to have a reasonable opinion that the humans and aliens have much to learn from each other. And the main character, who is a Catholic priest in addition to being a scientist, thinks that the peaceful, rational aliens must be a product of the devil. WTF?!? Who picked these guys? Were these the best and brightest? The most stable? How about a little open-minded? No. I'm guessing that the author had a point to make and nothing, certainly not the need for believable characters, was going to get in his way. There is some old SF that is truly great (see the work of Alfred Bester), but much has terrible characters, pedantic dialogue and weak plotting. Blech! While A Case of Conscience was quick reading, I don't think it was worth the time. A similar idea was the basis for Speaker for the Dead, and that did a significantly better job.
cwirka11's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
It wasn't worth the time.
gggggggg_g's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dantalion_xi's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant narrative involving both religion and science. A rare experiment, finely crafted, which leaves you pondering for days. With one of the best sci-fi ending of all times, if you ask me.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
This is a cautionary tale about mans second expulsion from the "Garden of Eden." Guess who ends up being the snake this time, you guessed it, its the humans.
wardhammer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
grayjay's review against another edition
1.0
This was pretty terrible.
A team of humans has been living on an alien-inhabited planet called Lithia in order to report on what the colonizing Earth should do with it. One member of the team, a Jesuit Priest, decides that because the reptilian Lithians are good and ethical people without Religion, the planet must be sealed off and never returned to, because the whole planet is an elabourate trap set by Satan to ensnare humanity. The rest of the team thinks he's being ridiculous and they return, bearing the gift of a Lithian egg.
Back on Earth, they raise the Lithian, who becomes a popular political commentator on Television. Through his influence he starts a revolution that could lead humans down a dark path. He is, in essence, the Anti-Christ.
It was just so silly. A sort of Satan Panic sci-fi novel. It contained many long passages of theological debate.
A team of humans has been living on an alien-inhabited planet called Lithia in order to report on what the colonizing Earth should do with it. One member of the team, a Jesuit Priest, decides that because the reptilian Lithians are good and ethical people without Religion, the planet must be sealed off and never returned to, because the whole planet is an elabourate trap set by Satan to ensnare humanity. The rest of the team thinks he's being ridiculous and they return, bearing the gift of a Lithian egg.
Back on Earth, they raise the Lithian, who becomes a popular political commentator on Television. Through his influence he starts a revolution that could lead humans down a dark path. He is, in essence, the Anti-Christ.
It was just so silly. A sort of Satan Panic sci-fi novel. It contained many long passages of theological debate.