Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site tektronix.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!stever
From: stever@tektronix.UUCP (Steve Rogers)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: RE: Black Easter
Message-ID: <1618@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Dec-83 01:20:40 EST
Article-I.D.: tektroni.1618
Posted: Tue Dec  6 01:20:40 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Dec-83 04:35:01 EST
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 40

As quoted from an afterword by David G. Hartwell in Blish's THE DAY
JUDGMENT:
   
     "Although the DAY AFTER JUDGMENT can be read as an indepen-
     dent book, it is essence the climax of a two-volume novel
     (the first volume is BLACK EASTER, in which the major 
     characters are introduced and the stage is set for the events
     in this book.)  The two volumes comprise the middle section
     of a three-part work which considers the same theme in the
     past, present and future settings."
   
     "...The "After Such Knowledge" trilogy consists of DOCTOR
     MIRABILIS (1965, revised 1971), a historical novel concerning
     the life of the medieval scientist/theologian [Roger Bacon];
     BLACK EASTER and the THE DAY AFTER JUDGMENT (originally l968,
     1971), a fantasy work set in contemporary times about the
     end of the world brought about through black magic;  A CASE
     OF CONSCIENCE (1958), a science fiction novel concerning
     the discovery of an alien race without original sin.  Blish
     states that it was only after the completion of BLACK EASTER
     that he became conscious of the works as a trilogy:
     
        ""I realized that I had now written three novels,
        widely separated in times of composition and even
        more in ostensible subject-matter, each one of which
        was a dramatization in its own terms of one of the
        oldest problems of philosophy:

              IS THE DESIRE FOR SECULAR KNOWLEDGE, LET ALONE
              THE ACQUISITION AND USE OF IT, A MISUSE OF THE
              MIND, AND PERHAPS EVEN ACTIVELY EVIL?
    
    
I found all three works to be extremely interesting.  DOCTOR
MIRABILIS is heavy reading, but brought great satisfaction.
The two volumes of the middle of the trilogy were easy
reading, but raised interesting points and I think an original
situation.   CASE OF CONSCIENCE is interesting to me in the
presentation of its example of alien thought.  To me "doctor"
and "case" are worth rereading many times.