Chronicles of a comer, and other religious science fiction stories Book

Some of my favorite science fiction stories about religion are in this short collection.

The Problem of Pain by Poul Anderson reminds me of the passage in Deuteronomy, where Moses asks, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you..." The Biblical answer starts with fear and ends with the Ten Commandments, but Anderson's story asks what would happen if an alien's god wanted something different.

Towards the Beloved City by Phillip Jose Farmer isn't just a great science fiction story about religion, it great short story that transcends genre. By contrasting sci fi cliches (alien invasion!) with religious belief (apocalypse!) Farmer forces the reader into a state of confusion and anxiety that mirrors the emotions felt by the protagonist as he (and we) try to figure out what is true--at least in the context of the story. If he is asking, "This is Revelation, isn't it?" then we are asking, "Isn't this supposed to be science fiction?"

Chronicles of a Comer A story in the style of Diary of a Madman, this is the interior monologue of a man whose belief in the Second Coming waxes and wanes. When he says "reality has once again overtaken me; joyfully I will confront it," it is not clear to me if the author intends us to think he has finally lost it or not--which is part of the thrill of the story.

In This Sign by Ray Bradbury features a delightful Episcopal missionary, looking forward to the possibility of discovering new sins on Mars. What he finds, however, more closely resembles the "lilies of the field."

The Wolfram Hunters by Edward D. Hoch and The Gift of Nothing by Joan C. Holly feature cringe-making stereotypes of Native Americans and are not among my favorite religious science fiction stories.