Religion in Science Fiction
Published February 12, 2005
A few thoughts about some science fiction works that treat with religion were spurred when recently, on a whim, I started re-reading Hyperion, by Dan Simmons, a novel which purports to tackle the question of what directions and forms belief in a Higher Being might take in a future where mankind has found ways of colonizing the Galaxy.
As a science fiction novel, Hyperion is a decent-to-good read. The main setting is a planet named after John Keats' unfinished poem Hyperion; and Keats is the planet's capital city; one of the main characters is Martin Silenus, ancient, hard-drinking, morality-spurning poet of uncertain provenance and talent; the format of the novel could be said to be based loosely on The Canterbury Tales, in that it proceeds by means of the main characters telling their stories to each other as they undertake a pilgrimage — all very clever, don't you know. In the background is a mysterious, metallic, blades-on-seemingly-every surface, not-quite mythical bloody embracer of pilgrims, a figure known as the Shrike, to whom, of course, the Church of the Shrike is devoted.
I suspect the novel's genesis has significant roots in Walter M. Miller Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz, a book to which Hyperion (both alone, and together with its sequel, The Fall of Hyperion) is inferior in characterization, treatment of theme, story, plot, breadth and depth of theological meditation — in short, in every way except melodrama.
A Canticle for Leibowitz is a post-apocalyptic novel in which the monks of a small desert abbey are the main preservers of the written word, especially scientific knowledge, through the centuries following civilization's collapse and on into its gradual re-emergence. I would call faith the main character here, as Miller meditates on its forms, difficulties, and suspect rewards through a changing cast of characters who inhabit Leibowitz Abbey as they go about the business of preserving the legacy of their doubtful patron saint. A Canticle for Leibowitz is probably the most successful treatment of religion and theology and their sociological effects ever attempted by a science fiction writer.
The only major science fiction work I've read which might be said to come close to A Canticle's achievement in regards to religion is Frank Herbert's Dune. And while it is, in a sense, about religion, it is much more about cultural ramifications of ecological crises and shortages of natural resources than it is about the probably futile, possibly fatal, but nearly irresistible attraction of mankind to believing in a purposeful Universe. Besides, the Dune series became way too long. One book was enough.
A minor work which delves deeply into theological approaches is Stanislaw Lem's short story, the "Twenty-First Voyage" [of Ijon Tichy], which can be found in the collection Star Diaries: Further Reminiscences Of Ijon Tichy. In the story, Tichy finds himself on the Planet Dichotica discussing theology with robot monks who belong to the order Demolitia. Hilarious and thought-provoking, it stands as one of the best meditations on the nature of faith that I've ever read. It's a story worth searching out and reading.
- Religion in Science Fiction
- Published: February 12, 2005
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: Spirituality, Books: SF, Books: Original Fiction
- Writer: John MacKenzie
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There are more than a few other science fiction novels with a religious theme - I posted on fictional messiahs around Christmas time.
Actually, I thought Dune's theme more about jihad than religion.
There is also a novel about a Jesuit priest missionary to aliens, whose name and author escapes me now. It asked if a separate savior would come for an alien form, or if aliens might not need saving, having never Fallen in the first place
It must be fairly old since I read it when I was in high school. Perhaps someone else on BlogCritics can patch the gap in my memory?
I always thought that Madeline L'engle's books in the "Wrinkle In Time" series, while written for youth, were a fantastic read. She does a good job of blending religious concepts with science, while remaining very entertaining and thought provoking.
uh, Dr. Pat "more about jihad than religion" isn't the former a part of the latter?
It is interesting to see any SF story that can treat religion fairly, maybe I should say objectively, and creatively speculate what technological advances might influence religion in the future. I always wonder if the movement of man into space and unltimately to other planets might render moot the idea of Apocolypse as foretold in Revelations.
Miller's book is a reasonable archetype, but you've neglected Gene Wolfe's body of work. Every Wolfe story has an implicit religious foundation, and many are explicitly religious. See for example The Sword of the Lictor books and the two Whorl series.
The religion in jihad is like the religion of the Crusades - an excuse, a driving mechanism to inspire the gun-fodder. A bumper-sticker theme.
Remember, in Dune, the Fremen were willing to destroy their gods and the source of their religious rites in order to achieve economic control.
Jihad is politics, not religion.
Thank you for this very articulate summary of some above average work. A good listing set to a genre of journey and search. Your critque was informative and engaging. I have read most of the works cited and can only support your impressions.
Look forward to another series...
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I had to dig up the reference, OCD-driven as I am on the subject of books I've read (even once).
The book that asked whether our human Saviour would be applicable to aliens (or needed by them) is A Case of Conscience by James Blish.
Blish also wrote Black Easter, in which asked if the predicted victory of God's Legions in the Apocalypse might not be due to the bias of the Book, and several others, all dated in the late 50s and 60s.
These two novels and the questions they asked are part of why I am a "rational agnostic." Blish's religious-question novels are collected in After Such Knowledge.
Frank Herbert wrote a lot about religion, often far more directly than in the mostly excellent Dune series.
Your article prompted me to dig out "The Godmakers" (New English Library 1974 paperback, 40 pence when new!) - about the process of divinity -and "The Dosadi Experiment" (Futura 1978 paperback, £1.60) which deals with spiritual, political and social issues and was a MASSIVE influence on me back in the day, on a par with another old favourite, Herman Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game".
I agree that Canticle and Dune are two of the most effective books that tie in religion to involving science fiction.
Nice review, John!
After reading the Dune series I often wondered what Herbert's vision of God consisted of. It would have been interesting if he had authored an Orange Catholic Bible to supplement the Dune series. Perhaps it would have negated L. Ron Hubbard and his bio-feedback hoopla.
That's weird. Silas' comment was the first one I was notified of.
Anyway, Silas, I think that Hubbard is his most effective negation.
DrPat: It's been a long time since I read A Case of Conscience. The details are very foggy. And yes, Dune is much more political than relgious.
Stephen: My neglect of Wolfe's work is due to my inability to read his longer fiction. I liked some of his short stories which were published in Isaac Azimov's Science Fiction Magazine in the '80's, but other than that I have some sort of block with his stuff.
alienboy: I had forgotten about The Dosadi Experiment. Now that one's worth a reread. I'll look up The Godmakers, too. Thanks.
Z.Z. Bachman: Thanks
That should be: Silas, I think Hubbard is his own most effective negation.
I think I've read and enjoyed all the works in this post and thread (bar the later Dune novels).
IMO you're a little hard on Hyperion, which I particularly like. The story of the Jewish character, who like Abraham is ordered to sacrifice his child to a new God, was particularly thought-provoking for me. Like Dune though, it is blighted by its sequels: you might want to read book two for the conclusion of the Abraham thread, but do yourself a favour and don't venture beyond it.
Someone mentioned Sherri S. Tepper. She has written several books with religious themes; one I remeber in particular ("Raising the Stones" maybe?) contrasts the religious freedom of a violent religion with the personal freedoms of its society. Be aware that some of her books (especially the later ones) might be described as "very feminist", which in almost all cases is a good thing. As to her writing: IMO she easily writes the best first-half-of-a-novel of any SF author working today, but she often examines social problems so complex that no real resolution is possible. In these cases, she winds up introducing some new factor late in the book in order to bring a resolution, which is unsatisfying. She is generally a thought-provoking and polished read, however.
Finally: I can't believe nobody has mentioned Phillip K. Dick yet. Where to begin...
Gordon
Hey, I said Hyperion was a decent-to-good read. It really only suffers in comparison to A Canticle for Leibowitz. And I feel very comfortable making that comparison considering that Simmons' Wandering Jew, Sol Weintraub, and the child Rachel, as well as the dead Earth (and Simmons' portrayal of the Catholic Church) are very obvious homages to A Canticle.
Sheri Tepper has several uber-themes that run through many of her later novels. Feminist topics supply one set; religious concepts supply another; free will and pre-destination (not quite in the religious sense) inform a third. All of her novels (even the early ones) have a noticeable environmental sub-theme.
Raising the Stones is one of those novels with very little in the way of feminist arguments.
Gibbon's Decline and Fall, by contrast, has very little connection with either of the other two over-arching themes, but is wholly focused on a feminist topic which Tepper calls the "Hail Mary fallacy" (that every woman is "full of grace," blessed and overjoyed to become pregnant.)
DrPat: "There is also a novel about a Jesuit priest missionary to aliens....
That might be The Sparrow and/or Children of God by Mary Doria Russell.
I could recommend A Rose for Ecclesiastes by Roger Zelazny.
NOT The Sparrow - that's all I found for 7 mortal windows of Google list under Jesuit+alien+missionary. The priest's name I vaguely recalled, too, and it was similar to the main character in The Sparrow.
But the book I recalled from my childhood was A Case of Conscience by James Blish, copyrighted 1956, I think. Maybe '58. The Sparrow is recent, like 1997.
Incidentally in the search, I also uncovered links to two real-life RC church organizations debating the issues Blish explores in his book. One is tasked by the Vatican to lay out the philosophical grounds for missionary work to a sentient alien life form, should one ever be found.
Interesting. Thanks. We are pulling together a list of Catholicism in Science Fiction.
Lednorf's Dilemma by David Conn is really good book.
I agree with Michael A. Bowie. There is no book in the Christian science fiction genre that comes
close to LEDNORF'S DILEMMA. Its unique path to exposing the mental blocks of atheistic scholars and cynical scientists is truly amazing.
The four major concepts in the book dazzle the scientists, illuminate the new-age theologians, and frighten the cynical intellectuals. Every point the book makes is inarguable. One wonders: Has the case for Christ and His absolute truth ever--until now--been so powerfully put to the cynics of the world? The book's suasion is inexorable.
What if you have really good ideas and story lines but no honest writing skill? Some my friends that are non-fiction authors know about the problem but the not the solution.
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Interesting... thank you. Added 'Star Diaries' to my Amazon wish list.