Saturday, March 12, 2011

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - Book 9

My latest read is The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. Here's Amazon's description:

In 2019, humanity finally finds proof of extraterrestrial life when a listening post in Puerto Rico picks up exquisite singing from a planet which will come to be known as Rakhat. While United Nations diplomats endlessly debate a possible first contact mission, the Society of Jesus quietly organizes an eight-person scientific expedition of its own. What the Jesuits find is a world so beyond comprehension that it will lead them to question the meaning of being "human." When the lone survivor of the expedition, Emilio Sandoz, returns to Earth in 2059, he will try to explain what went wrong... Words like "provocative" and "compelling" will come to mind as you read this shocking novel about first contact with a race that creates music akin to both poetry and prayer.

The Sparrow is billed as a science fiction book, perhaps because it involves an alien encounter, but it's like no science fiction book I've ever read. It examines the basis for faith, our cultural assumptions and more in an odd but compelling narrative. I wasn't bored while reading this book, though some of the mystical perorations could have been shortened for my taste. Instead, I was fascinated and intrigued. At the start of the novel, you know that something terrible has happened, but it's not till the end that you get the whole story. I won't spoil it by revealing what that is.

The Sparrow is peopled by vivid, richly drawn characters, both human and non-human and an undercurrent of tragedy pervades the narrative. There's a lot of mystery surrounding Emilio Sandoz, the Jesuit priest who's the main character, and it's revealed piece by piece as the story unfolds. Both the best and worst moments of the story revolve around him - the best, when he discovers God as he stands on the soil of a new planet; the worst, when his faith is shattered by a tremendous betrayal.

The test of this book is that I am eager to read its sequel, Children of God. I'll be reviewing that as soon as I can.

2 comments:

  1. This challenge sounds perfect for you. Can't wait to see the books you choose.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's an interesting challenge, Lisa - I've just received some more books from a friend which will make it onto the list.

    ReplyDelete