A CASE OF CONSCIENCE. London: Faber and Faber Limited, [1959]. Octavo, boards. First British (and first hardcover) edition. A presentation copy with signed inscription dated 1960 by Blish to Dirce Archer on the front free endpaper. A novel expanded from a 1953 novella of the same title. "A Jesuit priest visits the 'unfallen' planet Lithia, where he solves a biological riddle and wrestles with his conscience. A thoughtful and entertaining work, with a range of intellectual reference unusual for the American SF of its day -- one of the masterpieces of 1950s SF, and Blish's best book." - Pringle, The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction, second edition (1995), p. 59. "A rich, ambiguous, deep-cutting probe into the most ultimate of concerns." - Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-136. The final part of the "After Such Knowledge" trilogy. Winner of the 1959 Hugo award for best novel. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 26. Survey of Science Fiction Literature I, pp. 303-07. A fine copy in fine dust jacket with very mild dust soiling to rear panel. A very sharp, attractive copy. Copies of this book signed or inscribed by Blish are rare. (#112174).
Price: $4,250.00
"First published in mcmlix" on copyright page.