A Case of Conscience

Brief Overview

The novel «A Case of Conscience» by James Blish tells the story of the planet Lithena, inhabited by intelligent beings called Lithians, who live in harmony and without sin. The main character, Jesuit priest Ruiz-Sanchez, travels to Lithena as part of a scientific expedition to study the local society and decide whether to establish contact with Earth. He faces a moral dilemma: the Lithians seem like perfect beings, yet their society knows nothing of God. Ruiz-Sanchez concludes that Lithena might be a creation of the devil, designed to tempt humanity. His decision sparks conflict among the expedition members and leads to dramatic consequences when a Lithian named Ektar travels to Earth, ultimately causing catastrophic changes on both planets.