Catholic Science Fiction? (Eric Sammons) 3/12/26

The trilogy consists of 'Out of the Silent Planet', 'Perelandra', and 'That Hideous Strength'. It follows Dr. Elwin Ransom, a philologist, as he is kidnapped and taken to Mars (Malacandra), then to Venus (Perelandra), and finally back to Earth. Each book explores themes of good vs. evil, free will, and the cosmic hierarchy, drawing parallels with biblical narratives and classical mythology. The series delves into spiritual warfare, the nature of sin, and the struggle between personal ambition and moral integrity.

Shard of Eden is a science-fiction novel by Eric Sammons that imagines an early 22nd-century world recovering from a war with artificial intelligence. In a world where the Catholic Church exercises significant global influence, the Pope commissions a faster-than-light mission to investigate a strange signal from 1,200 light-years away. The narrative follows Captain Dominic Rourke, a veteran of the AI wars, and the ship's chaplain, Father Mateo, as they confront theological and moral questions about intelligent alien life, original sin, and redemption. Sammons weaves themes of faith, mercy, and human fallenness into a plot that explores AI, space travel, and sacramental theology. The book aims to be good storytelling first while engaging Catholic theological questions about incarnation, soul, and evangelization in a cosmic context.

Written in 1907, 'Lord of the World' is an apocalyptic novel that forecasts a future where religion, particularly Christianity, has been largely eradicated. The world is governed by a secular, humanistic regime led by a charismatic figure named Julian Felsenburgh, who is often referred to as the 'Lord of the World. ' The story follows Percy Franklin, an English Catholic priest who becomes Pope Silvester III, as he navigates this dystopian world and confronts the spiritual and moral decline of society. The novel explores themes of spiritual emptiness, the erosion of traditional morality, and the ultimate conflict between faith and a secular, totalitarian government.

Set in a world devastated by a nuclear apocalypse known as the 'Flame Deluge', the novel follows the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz as they dedicate their lives to preserving scientific knowledge. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different time period, spanning over 2,000 years. It delves into themes of Christian theology, the tension between religion and science, and the cyclical nature of human civilizations. Miller's work is a stark warning about the consequences of military build-up and the importance of the marriage between science and faith.