Aside from a few Gene Wolfe stories, I can't think of much good science fiction (or “speculative fiction,” as the cool uncool kids say) that is about religion in a devotional sense. But I bet I could find more of it, if I just knew where to look.
My mind isn't totally made up about two stories at Third Order Magazine, except to say that both of them seem like they'll be haunting me for a while. Eve Tushnet's “Love” is set in a universe where people have been infected with a disease that becomes contagious only when they do something self-sacrificing. Tushnet has as much insight into different kinds and qualities of love as any living writer I can think of, and so I'm inclined to think of this story as a keeper. Also interesting is “A Believer's Guide to Azagarth,” which imagines interplanetary missionaries to a shapeshifting species that may or may not have souls. It started off medium, got intensely weird, and ended in spiritual revelation.
I guess what's weird to me about these stories, on first read, is that I'm used to SF that is more interested in social dynamics than personal spiritual musings.
Anybody have any thoughts on these stories?
5 comments:
Hello sir. (Yes, I did googlestalk myself for reviews!) I wrote one of the stories you mentioned - the Azagarth one, which spewed out of my brain in about four hours during the PZ Myers vs Catholicism Crackergate debacle, see:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/07/16/crackergate/
Basically the primary issue of contention between Myers and the religious world was regarding transubstantiation; whether a cracker could magically transform into the body of Jesus. To me that meant asking the question, EXACTLY does that mean if we're being strictly literal? And do Catholics really want that?
I'm an atheist; I never knew modern-day people actually believed in religions until I was in my early twenties. To me at least, this story is more social commentary than spiritual.
Thanks for the link, William -- I didn't know about Third Order. Having just read the two stories, my only thought right now is: We could use more like them. Very good reads; "haunting" is right.
Rachel,
Then I have to say: great job with the main character. I guess that I was reading it as a more devotional story, and I persisted in that reading the whole way through.
If I'd known you would be dropping by, I wouldn't have dashed off such a quick “review.”
Anyways, I enjoyed your story, even if I misinterpreted it on first reading. It's exam week, so I'm trying to save my close reading skills for the tests... So, thanks!
Hee! I'm quite embarrassed I jumped in here. :D I think your way of reading it is just as valid as mine!
No embarassment: it's a wonder of the Internet, to have a short story's author make a few comments after you find the story on a website…
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