LAMB%TARTAN@CMU-CS-C.ARPA (11/18/83)
Sorry to include a long text, but someone asked: Subject: book search.. From: kevinw at SU-DSN@ISL at Sumex-Aim I have been told about a book (perhaps by Piers Anthony or Poul Anderson) (maybe a short from a magazine) about a time when God gets sick and dies leaving the devil holding the bag. Problem is, it doesn't take too long before the devil decides he got the raw end of the deal and was better off before, but now its too late -- he has got to play god. Anybody know where I can find this? Sounds like it could be a fairly interesting/amusing story if it exists. This particular story doesn't ring a bell, but reminded me of a pair of books by James Blish: ``Black Easter'' and ``The Day After Judgement.'' In the first, a modern magician arranges to let all the demons out of Hell for one night. The second is a sequel. Neither is a particularly amusing story; in fact they're rather grim. I thought they were worth reading, though. In any case, the second ends with the protagonists meeting Satan, who has discovered that now that God has vanished (for whatever reasons; never explained in either book) he's left having to fulfil the role. Blish wrote at least two other books dealing with the relationship between man and God, and particularly with mankind's desire for knowlege. ``Doctor Mirabilis'' I haven't read yet. ``A Case of Conscience'' is a very good book; I believe it won some sort of award, but don't remember which one. In it, a Catholic priest is sent to investigate some planet which appears to present conclusive proof of evolution; he has to struggle very hard with the conflict between his faith and the evidence of his eyes. A very thoughtful book; it ends in a way that leaves you to make your own conclusions. -------
TMPLee.DODCSC%MIT-MULTICS@sri-unix.UUCP (11/25/83)
Concerning "The Five Doctors": it is the twentieth aniversary show -- the first show was aired November 23, 1963. At least here in the Twin Cities the PBS station is making a big enough deal about it that they are showing it on the same day (November 23) as it is being shown in England.