Author:	James Blish
Copyright:	1958
Date Reviewed:	8/31/85
Rating:	7.5

Synopsis: A team of four scientists are exploring Lithia in an attempt to make a recommendation on how it is to be classified and used. The team includes Michelies, Agronski, Cleaver and Father Ramon Ruiz-Sanchez. The Father first comes to see Lithia as a paradise, what Earth might have been like had Adam and Eve not been expelled from the Garden of Eden. The intelligent beings, called Lithians, have no concepts of hate or war or economy. They spend their lives determining the secrets of nature. When the Father learns about how their young grow, he realizes that it's too perfect. The only possible explanation is that Lithia was created by the Adversary to tempt the human race. The father must recommend that Lithia be isolated forever. The other members of the scientific survey team have different ideas. Cleaver wants to make the whole planet into secure nuclear depot and use the Lithians as slaves (they have no concept of money so they can't be paid). He plots an elaborate scheme to make the other members believe that the Lithians are out to get them and deserve what they get. The scheme backfires when Cleaver gets sick and the father discovers that he's been hiding facts. Michelies, who opposes Cleaver, wants to open up the planet for trade. Agronski doesn't know what he wants. No decision is agreed upon. Before the party leaves, they are given a gift by Chtexa: his unborn child.

Back on Earth, the lizard fetus, Egtverchi, grows into a mature Lithian who possesses none of the ways of the people of his home planet. He is cynical and unruly, although still very bright. Egtverchi, is given time on a T.V. show and soon gathers his own following. As he becomes more powerful, he becomes more dangerous. The new "Messiah" preaches a discontent with society. His pleas for non-violent demonstration create planet-wide riots. Meanwhile, the Father makes a pilgrimage to Rome in this Holy year of 2050 to be excommunicated. In proclaiming that Lithia is the Devil's handiwork, he must suggest that the Adversary can posses the creativity necessary to create life. This is against Christian belief since only God is truly creative. Instead of punishment, Pope Hadrian charges Father Ruiz-Sanchez with the exorcism of the entire planet of Lithia.

In his final riot provoking speech, Egtverchi renounces his ties to Earth which give the authorities the legal right to deport him. Egtverchi flees before capture and hides aboard a ship destined for Lithia. This ship is carrying the final equipment that Cleaver needs to complete his nuclear conversion experiments. Mike and the Father make it to the moon just before Egtverchi arrives at Lithia. A scientist there has invented a device that lets them see current events 50 light years away and with this device, the father exorcises Lithia and blows it away.

Review: "A Case of Conscience" kept my interest throughout and I found it difficult to put down; but there really wasn't too much there. The first section was very obviously a short story that was meant to end where it did. I found the religion interesting. Instead of being preachy about Christianity, it assumed that it exists in all its infinite ritualistic details and went on from there. The story is basically about good and evil and how evil can be smart enough to seem like good. There were some glaring technical problems; probably because the book is now over 25 years old. We know today that there are no problems stockpiling nuclear fusion weapons. Transporting lithium is not really that difficult just because of its low density; it can be cooled to liquid form which is more dense and easier to handle. Also, the invention of the instant telescope seemed a little too convenient.