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Author Topic: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction  (Read 740 times)

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Offline Lavinsko

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Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
« on: March 16, 2022, 07:48:45 PM »
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    • This thread is meant as a companion to the Fantasy book thread, but as the title suggests is meant for science fiction (sci-fi) novels.  Catholic authors are actually well-represented in the genre.

    There are of course the classic stories such as "The Quest for Saint Aquin" by Anthony Boucher.
    https://www.sdfo.org/gj/stories/thequestforsaintaquin.pdf

    Other Catholic classic sci-fi authors worth checkong out are R.A. Lafferty and Murray Leinster.

    A more recent writer I've enjoyed is the Cuban-American author Carlos Carrasco, who has recently published the first book in his space opera series "Faith and Empire" about a an order of space-exploring Catholic Knights.  I believe you can get if for free on kindle if you go through this link:
    https://books2read.com/FAITHandEMPIRE-1

    He also has a very thoughtful short story collection that read like "Twilight Zone" stories from a traditional Catholic perspective.

    I also recommend the works of Brian Neimeir, who wriites military-themed space opera "soul Cycle" stories and the "Combat Frame Xseed" books inspired by the Gundam anime series.  He also writes a very informative blog from a Catholic perspective.
    https://brianniemeier.com/books/

    Do you have any books or authors you like?

    EDIT: It would be negligent of me to not mention that Jules Verne, one of the founders of modern science fiction was a devout Catholic.
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    Offline DigitalLogos

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #1 on: March 16, 2022, 07:59:24 PM »
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    • I honestly haven't read much Catholic-inspired Science Fiction, but there's certainly some with Catholic elements even characters that I have read.

    A Canticle for Leibowitz by Catholic-convert Walter M. Miller comes immediately to mind.

    And then, of course, Fr. Robert Hugh Benson's excellent Lord of the World.

    One series I recall really enjoying when I read them years ago, but, definitely hesitate to recommend to Catholic readers is the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons. It's a great Sci-Fi series which has a space-faring Catholic Church as one of its major factions. The horrific Priest's Tale is one that has stuck with me for a while. The first book is structured like the Canterbury Tales, with a group of individuals telling their own tales surrounding the strange world Hyperion and the foreboding creature called the Shrike.
    The biggest caveat is that it doesn't necessarily portray the Church in a good light and there's quite a bit of obscenity, which has long prevented me from re-reading the series.

    I'll be following this thread, as I'm always looking for good books to read.
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    "Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." [Matt. 6:34]

    "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin." [Ecclus. 7:40]

    "A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon." [Ecclus. 27:12]

    Offline compline

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #2 on: March 17, 2022, 06:21:57 AM »
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    • One title that comes to mind is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. One of its main characters is a Jesuit priest who is part of a mission to engage an alien species for the first time on behalf of humanity.
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #3 on: March 17, 2022, 06:58:47 AM »
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    • Quote from: compline on March 17, 2022, 06:21:57 AM
    One title that comes to mind is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. One of its main characters is a Jesuit priest who is part of a mission to engage an alien species for the first time on behalf of humanity.

    Let me guess.  Jesuit tells the aliens that there is no God, that it's all just a story.  :laugh1:
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    Offline DigitalLogos

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #4 on: March 17, 2022, 08:22:17 AM »
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    • Quote from: compline on March 17, 2022, 06:21:57 AM
    One title that comes to mind is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. One of its main characters is a Jesuit priest who is part of a mission to engage an alien species for the first time on behalf of humanity.
    That reminds me of another book called A Case of Conscience by James Blish wherein a priest who engages an alien species on another world comes to find something sinister about their origins.
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    "Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." [Matt. 6:34]

    "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin." [Ecclus. 7:40]

    "A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon." [Ecclus. 27:12]

    Offline Lavinsko

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #5 on: March 18, 2022, 09:15:39 PM »
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    • Quote from: compline on March 17, 2022, 06:21:57 AM
    One title that comes to mind is The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. One of its main characters is a Jesuit priest who is part of a mission to engage an alien species for the first time on behalf of humanity.
    If I recall the book was about losing faith and the author converted to judaism.  Probably best to stay away from it.
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    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: Catholic Inspired Science-Fiction
    « Reply #6 on: March 18, 2022, 09:16:31 PM »
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    • Who needs science fiction when we are living it in real life..
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    May God bless you and keep you
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