“When on the last night of his lizard existence he laid his bulging brain case again in that hollow of mosses where there was the most dimness, he knew in his blood that on the morrow, when he awoke into his doom as a thinking creature, he would be old with that age which curses those who have never even for an instant been young. Tomorrow he would be a thinking creature, but the weariness was on him tonight....”
In this thought-provoking science fiction novel, a human priest is sent on a mission to an alien world. His encounter with an intelligent, non-human species challenges his beliefs and raises profound questions about the nature of faith, ethics, and the unknown. more
James Blish, born on May 23, 1921, was an influential American science fiction author known for his diverse range of science fiction themes, including space opera, sociopolitical science fiction, and hard science fiction. His work, particularly the 'Cities in Flight' series, is considered a classic in the science fiction genre. more
“Progress is one step closer to excellence.”
“Striving for perfection is wasteful if excellence is good enough.”
“Fear deprives us the fullness of existence.”