The heroes enter the scene
The reader begins to observe the fate of the heroes when they have been on a foreign planet – Lithia for some time. At first, it is not known why they were there – we receive this information only with time. On the other hand, from the very first paragraphs you can admire the painted image of a distant planet and its inhabitants. Although this motif is very well known in SF, the authors are not always able to present a place in such a way that it fascinates the recipient, and Blish managed to do so.
In the opening scene we meet Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez – a Jesuit and biologist. He is definitely the main character of the novel. Besides him, there are also other characters – some of them only episodically, while others will have a significant impact on the plot. Importantly, not all of the leading characters will appear at the beginning of the book. We will have to wait a bit to get to know one of them.
A planet like Eden
When studied by Father Ramon and his companions, the planet may be somewhat reminiscent of Eden. Besides, the protagonist also pays attention to it. Plants belonging to groups separated by eons on earth coexist in this world. More importantly, however, the Lithuanians living on the planet seem to be a race that never left Paradise. They know no war, violence or sin. At the same time, they are also alien to religion. Here, of course, the main character wonders how it is possible to create such a wonderfully moral society without the precepts of faith.
It is possible that had the priest not been on the expedition to Lithia, everything would have turned out differently. But evidently James Blish wanted to look at the nature of good and bad and what they flow from. The figure of a Jesuit is very well suited for noticing certain things, and also for reflecting on them, which the author eagerly uses. In the second part of the novel, the situation is a bit different – thoughts on important topics still appear, but not all are filtered by Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez. Unfortunately, it is noticeable that some of the main character’s conclusions are significant overinterpretations.
The whole thing smacks of the mouse
The Question of Conscience is quite an old novel and it can be noticed while reading it. Luckily, James Blish did not describe too many technical inventions, so we have nothing to complain about in this respect. However, some anachronisms can be felt somewhere in the way the narrative is conducted or in the reality surrounding the characters. Importantly – although the story is a bit smacky, it has aged quite well. And since it also touches upon timeless topics, it is worth getting acquainted with.
When you sit down to read, do not count on quick action. The whole thing is rather calm and unhurried. However, it gives us time to admire the created world. The first part of the book is more interesting. An alien planet and its inhabitants can fascinate and catch the reader’s attention. The following chapters fare slightly worse against this background. As a whole, however, it is definitely a noteworthy item, and it is not surprising that she won the Hugo Award in her time.
