The Sparrow and A Case of Conscience
The Sparrow is similar to James Blish's science fiction novel, A Case of Conscience. It also involves a Jesuit priest confronting an alien civilization.
On her website, Mary Doria Russell addresses this speculation with the following statement:
I get this question all the time, because Blish's 1958 story is about a Spanish Jesuit in space. If I ever read this story, I guess it didn't make much of an impression on me, because I don't remember it. I still haven't come across it, but people have told me that the protagonist is named Ruiz-Sanchez, so they thought I must have named Emilio Sandoz in homage to Blish. In fact, Emilio got his name from the pharmaceutical manufacturer who made my son's cold medicine. Danny got a cold in 1992 when I started the book, and I noticed the name Sandoz on the medicine label and thought it sounded good. No symbolism or homage beyond that, I'm afraid!
Read more about this topic: The Sparrow (novel)
Famous quotes containing the word case:
“In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)