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The Sparrow Paperback – November 1, 1997

by Mary Doria Russell (Author)

1,039 customer reviews

Book 1 of 2 in the Sparrow Series

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Set in the 21st century - between 20 and 60 years from now - The Sparrow is the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and talented linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who - in response to a remarkable radio signal from the depths of space - leads a scientific mission to make first contact with an extraterrestrial culture. In the true tradition of Jesuit adventurers before him, Sandoz and his companions are prepared to endure isolation, suffering - even death - but nothing can prepare them for the civilisation they encounter, or for the tragic misunderstanding that brings the mission to a devastating end. Once considered a living saint, Sandoz returns alone to Earth horrifically maimed, both physically and spiritually, the mission's sole survivor - only to be blamed for the mission's failure and accused of heinous crimes. Written in clean, effortless prose and peopled with memorable, superbly-realised characters who never lose their humanity or humour, The Sparrow is a powerful, haunting fiction - a tragic but ultimately triumphant novel about the nature of faith, of love and what it means to be 'human'.

The Sparrow

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This strange, ambitious science fiction novel has already won enough attention for its first-time author to make it a selection by both the Book of the Month and QPB clubs. Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit linguist, heads a team of scientists and explorers on an expedition to the planet Rakhat, where contact has been established with two apparently primitive races, the Runa and the Jana'ata. The narrative shifts back and forth between 2016, when contact is first made, and 2060, to a Vatican inquest interrogating the maimed and broken Sandoz. A paleoanthropologist, Russell makes the descriptions of the inhabitants of Rakhat both convincing and unsettling. Check out Amazon.com's Sparrow feature and read an excerpt from the book! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

An enigma wrapped inside a mystery sets up expectations that prove difficult to fulfill in Russell's first novel, which is about first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. The enigma is Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit linguist whose messianic virtues hide his occasional doubt about his calling. The mystery is the climactic turn of events that has left him the sole survivor of a secret Jesuit expedition to the planet Rakhat and, upon his return, made him a disgrace to his faith. Suspense escalates as the narrative ping-pongs between the years 2016, when Sandoz begins assembling the team that first detects signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life, and 2060, when a Vatican inquest is convened to coax an explanation from the physically mutilated and emotionally devastated priest. A vibrant cast of characters who come to life through their intense scientific and philosophical debates help distract attention from the space-opera elements necessary to get them off the Earth. Russell brings her training as a paleoanthropologist to bear on descriptions of the Runa and Jana'ata, the two races on Rakhat whose differences are misunderstood by the Earthlings, but the aliens never come across as more than variations of primitive earthly cultures. The final revelation of the tragic human mistake that ends in Sandoz's degradation isn't the event for which readers have been set up. Much like the worlds it juxtaposes, this novel seems composed of two stories that fail to come together. BOMC, QPB and One Spirit Book Club selections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Black Swan; 1st edition (November 1, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0552997773
ISBN-13: 978-0552997775
Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.3 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
Average Customer Review: 1,039 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,057,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2918 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Science Fiction
- #4074 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy
- #8944 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > First Contact

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Top customer reviews

A Marriage of Science and Religion for Every Mature Reader

ByAmy Deringer Robinsonon February 27, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Father Emilio Sandoz of the Society of Jesus has never considered himself to be a mystic or a saint. His faith is not founded in a "feeling" about God, or even in any kind of love for Him. Sandoz was attracted to the centeredness, the morality of the faith as a mere boy, when he was rescued from the slums of La Perla by a Texan Jesuit priest with a penchant for swearing and an eye for diamonds in the rough.

So when first contact is made with an alien world in the neighboring galaxy of Alpha Centauri, and that first contact comes in the form of lovely, wistful, transcendent music, Father Sandoz is astounded and amused and intrigued. But when he and each of his closest friends turn out to have the precise skill sets required to make the journey out to this new world, he is shaken. And when, against all possible odds, Father Sandoz and those dearest to his heart land on that far away alien Garden of Eden just eighteen short months later, he is transported. For the first time, he feels, he has encountered and fallen in love with the Living God.

But crossing languages, cultures, and species is a treacherous business. As missionaries throughout the millennia of human history have learned, the cost of leading the vanguard of discovery can be very, very high. How will a fledgling faith hold up in the face of loss and suffering and despair? Can we love a God who takes away as much as He gives, who is neither simple, predictable, or safe?
Mary Doria Russell accomplished in her debut, award-winning novel what I thought was impossible in the modern age. She married the foremost theories of medicine and technology with one of the oldest and most rigidly structured religious faiths. She took atheist and Jesuit characters and treated each with the same honest affection, bound them together as a family unit, and then dissected them in a ruthless pursuit of literally "universal" truths. She did not shy away from a single charged, political question. She looked the reader in the face as she led us to an abyss we all recognize, but work very hard to ignore.

I have a new favorite book, folks. And I am challenged, once again, to expand my own view of what's possible to achieve in fiction.

0Comment 45 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Fantastically haunting

ByCamilleon August 7, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

The less you know about the plot of this book going in, the better. I don’t think there’s any way my review will do this beautiful book justice, but I’ll give it a whirl.

I will admit that I was wary about this whole Jesuit priest thing. Nothing against anyone’s faith – I just don’t tend to read many books where religion is prevalent. I was worried it would feel preachy or that I would feel isolated for not having the same views as the characters (why I thought this, I don’t know; it’s not like I’d feel isolated if reading about a barbarian because I have a non-barbaric lifestyle, I’m just silly like that.) That was certainly not the case. This was an exploration of one man’s faith and how the events of this mission affected his views on God.

This is a haunting and poignant book and the end had me crying like a baby. The set up to this interplanetary mission is a slow one, I’ll warn you. The party doesn’t arrive on the planet until just about halfway through the book. However, I found it was worth the wait. The first half of the book builds up the characters, so when the plot picks up and things start happening, you care about these people.

My only real issues with this book were how much it made my hands hurt (no, not from the weight of the book, but due to a certain scene which I think you’ll understand if you read it) and how willingly Emilio’s peers in Rome were willing to demonize him without really knowing what happened on the mission. I would think that having known him, they would have been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt – as a reader, once I was given some of his backstory, I was certainly willing to hear his side of the story before passing judgment. It was puzzling, but really, not a big issue.

I can’t wait to read the sequel! If you’re looking for a character-driven sci-fi that explores faith and raises interesting social questions about what could occur if humans did make contact with other life forms, and you’re ready for some feels, then I highly, highly recommend this.

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ByCpheon July 23, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've seen a lot of reviewers rave about this novel over the years and ended up choosing this for part of a sci fi reading challenge. I'm the first to admit that sci fi isn't a genre that I feel a lot of affinity for.

I appreciated the concept of the novel, the biblical references and the world building overall. However it was the tortured main character Father Emilio Sandez who captured my attention. I enjoyed the worlds and cultures that the author portrayed but felt that the delivery of the story did wax and wane in parts.

This was very different to my normal reading fare. A dark and harrowing read at times.

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Riveting narrative

ByQuarterback's Momon August 5, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

One of the most original narratives I have ever read. Shifting from the "past" of 2019 to the "present" of 2060, we are drawn into a riveting mystery of what happened to a crew sent to meet the residents of a distant planet. But that's just the barest outline. There are some weak links - why I withheld that fifth star. It is nevertheless an engrossing story, with characters you care about deeply, especially the central protagonist, the Jesuit priest, Emilo Sandoz.

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Most recent customer reviews

Interesting premise. Gripping read.

Published 4 days ago by jude gordon

Awesome plot and setting

Published 8 days ago by art

The Sparrow Flys

Verose but an interesting read.

Published 14 days ago by Donna

Enjoyed it, definitely a good and thought provoking read.

Published 19 days ago by Dave Taylor

I'm half way through this book andI am captivated.

Published 20 days ago by JILL S FORD

Didn't live up to the hype

I wanted so much to love this book. Great premise, good reviews... but:
a) The author kept writing herself into a corner & instead of writing her way out, went for hamfisted...Read more

Published 20 days ago by WriterGirl

Everyone that i know praises this book, but i couldnt finish it ... no interest

Published 20 days ago by Ts

Great sci-fi story

I found this book to be a challenging read. Not knowing much about Jesuits, the book introduced me to them.Read more

Published 21 days ago by Mark Steinhauer

Intersting Premise

We read this in our book club and everyone enjoyed it. Most said they would not have picked the book to read if it hadn't been a book club book but were glad they did.Read more

Published 22 days ago by Evergreen

Very good book.

Published 23 days ago by Whidbey Susan

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