The Sparrow
The Sparrow, Book #1
By Mary Doria Russell

Review brought to you Staar84

Summary:

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. (Amazon)

Review:

Going into a book knowing that things will not end well (Emilio is the lone survivor of the mission) raises expectations. Can the author really live up to that precedent? In this case, absolutely. Each time we get new information more questions (and expectations) are raised. There are hints in the Biblical references for those familiar with them, or willing to look them up, but familiar or no, you won’t be lost; the main character is a Jesuit priest and it would be odd without such.

This is more literary sci-fi. Most of the book takes place on Earth, either before the mission or after, with flashbacks to Rakhat. But the story isn’t about spaceships and aliens (although the science is there; the author had only written scientific papers before this novel). Ultimately, it’s about people and their relationships, how and why certain people come into our lives, and the way love and faith and loss can affect someone through a lifetime. The characters seem real and are wonderfully flushed out.

I thought this was a beautifully written book, and has become one of my favorites. It’s stunning and brutal, and it will stay with you long after you put it down. I’m looking forward to reading more of Russell’s books in the future.