Rating: 
Summary: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
Review: In describing this book to friends, I found it extremely hard to classify. To describe it as a "Jesuits in Space" novel is as insulting as it is inadequate. Technically, it's sci-fi, which I don't tend to read very often, but it also covers anthropology, SETI, social commentary, commentary on the Catholic priesthood & monasticism, the inner workings of sacerdotal celibacy, and on Columbus and the subsequent ugliness that seems to be an inherent part of First Contact situations. Ultimately, though, I'd have to say it's a book about faith, done in such a way and to such a degree that it's not easily ignored. In fact, that's what I eventually had to tell my friends -- "You'll just have to trust me that it's worth reading."THE SPARROW had my interest within the first 20 pages, and by page 100, it had climbed to my Top 100 List. I thought the dual timeline helpful and interesting. I thought the characters were brilliantly done. Russell does a great job at showing the very intimate motivations of several characters, who manage somehow to be both deep and clever. In fact, very clever. The repartee between the characters is one of my favorite parts of the book. The only thing I can mention as a detraction was that so many characters die "off camera". I was not put off by it, but many readers might be. As for random observations: 1) The sequel, CHILDREN OF GOD, should be considered the second half of the same book. Definitely read it, and right after the first one. It's a question of symmetry. 2) This is a very disturbing book, but our lives are richer for having them disturbed in this way. 3) Any priest who quotes YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN at his own hearing is ok in my book.
Rating:
Summary: the story of love and anger of a priest towards God...
Review: hmmm... I just finished reading this book... and now am in the first few pages of its sequel. Although the author is a former Catholic who converted to Judaism, I found this to be a very much a Christian book, which may sound ludicirous to those who have read it. But first, I loved the style of the book and the way the book was laid out- it was amazingly well-plotted out. I do admit though that the science, some -uh- untactful language, the way that a few characters were introduced left much to be desired. But as in other long and complicated books, those little desires were unimportant. More importantly, the journey of Fr. Emilio takes center stage in this book. It is a love story- between Emilio and God and how God continues to test Emilio in his love for Him. It has been said of God that He keeps those who suffers close to his heart (see the book of Job). He is a broken man at the beginning of the book... and the reader only wants to know what happened to him that could have been so terrible. There are so many things that could be touched upon in this book, such as the relationship between the humans and the new species, but this is the most important theme in this book- the struggle of Emilio to understand God's plan and to return to God. Love stories aren't always pretty and ugly, there are always fights and the struggle to understand the other side but then the relationships grow stronger... I realize that my essay doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I just wanted to comment on a subject that is very close to my heart and I saw this in this book.
Rating:
Summary: For those seeking the truth.
Review: If you are seeking the truth, you will not be disappointed in reading this book, and its sequel, CHILDREN OF GOD. They both are enthralling and thought-provoking. You will wish that you could meet the characters face-to-face, then realize that maybe you already have in the people around you. You will learn new vocabulary, as the author is learned. You will relearn your very own soul. These books are life-altering. If you are so affected by these books as I am, in the future, you will buy several copies of each to hand to friends, so that they themselves can learn about themselves what you have learned about yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Breath-taking, haunting...
Review: I must admit to being utterly shocked by the knowledge that not everyone thinks this book as powerful as I do. I have been gripped (increasingly, over 5 readings) by its incisive analysis of inter-cultural (mis)understanding and the havoc which can be wreaked through the 'best', innocent intentions (even those of genuine love). As for characterisation, I immediately fell in love with both Emilio and Mary ~ and I am VERY choosy: the relationship between these two I found stunningly profound and tender. I defend this novel resolutely. It's my favourite of all time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not exactly sure how to rate this book
Review: One reviewer said this book was poorly written. I would have to disagree. I thought it was very descriptive regarding the horror that Fr. Emilio feels at what has happened to him. When he sets out on the expidition to this new planet, he believes he will discover beings who will be somehow similar to himself, and to humanity. He believes that God has created these beings and that he will be finding "brothers", even if they may not look like him or think like him. Yet what he finds is so alien that everything he believes in is now in question. Furthermore, Fr. Emilio believes he will somehow discover the voice of God or the face of God on this far away planet, from which the most incredibly beautiful music can be heard. He does not find God; God has no place on this planet. He returns to earth, horrified at what he experienced, trying desperately to figure out what went wrong, to understand how his own actions, and those of his much-mourned friends, caused events to spiral out of control. I am unsure how to rate this book. I was extremely disturbed by the story, which I suppose means the author did a good job writing her characters and bringing the reader into the pathos of her story; yet, I can not think of a single person to whom I would recommend this book. Take this for what it's worth: the writing is excellent, the story disturbing. Read at your own risk.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible writing, but little horror
Review: Let me say first, that I have no problem with the Vatican
launching spaceships. That is a very good and intruiging
idea. If the secret of real estate is "location, location
location", the secret of good novels is "the writing, the
writing, the writing". Unfortunately Ms Russell just does
not write very well. All the characters are less than one
dimensional - to quote Dickens' description of Jacob Marley,
"they have no bowels". The present day US Democratic political cliches continually
uttered by one of the characters are out of place the first
time you read them and completely, mind jarringly wrong the
seventeenth time. Where was Ms Russell's editor???? The story itself of the priest's descent into horror is a good
idea, but Ms Russell does not have the literary ability to
handle it. What I wanted was real descriptive horrific degradation that is
described as such. What I got I feel was a feeling of the priest
saying "oooh, this is very unpleasant", but nothing stronger
than that. There is never any feeling that his faith is in danger
because his plight is so slight. All in all, this could have been an excellent book - in the hands
of a real writer - but as it is, it just be very bad.
Rating:
Summary: A powerful pair!
Review: I'm stunned to see how negatively some readers have felt about this book. We (my wife and I, and our book club) recently read "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. On one level, it is a work of mild science fiction, a genre I usually avoid. Just below the surface though, lurks one of the most thought provoking tales I had ever read, touching on issues including love, hate, God, religion, philosophy, and our place in the universe. That last sentence contained the word "had" as opposed to "have" for one reason- the follow-up to The Sparrow. Russell exceeds the lofty standard of the original with "Children of God" by revisiting the planet and exploring the motivation for events from the standpoint of the two alien cultures- blowing away many of the assumptions that I had after reading the first book. Suddenly nothing was as simple as it had seemed when viewed through my own set of beliefs and cultural suppositions. I believe it would be beneficial to any reader to check out both books- I found them entertaining (nearly impossible to put down, in fact) and quite enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: If you can get past the insipid sci-fi setting...
Review: This is a good, good read. Emilio is a powerful charcter-- and as the book changes settings and time frames, you find yourself desperate to find out how a man such as himself ended up so broken. The setting, though, is ridiculous. I felt as though two books, by two authors were smushed into one-- the first is a fantastic story about the human condition, and the second is the type of brainless sci-fi suitable only for airplanes. However, once I ignored the setting, the book was great.
Rating:
Summary: Great new sci-fi from a new author
Review: A science fiction tale with a twist. In the near future the first radio contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence is made. A clear radio signal is picked up from Alpha Centauri. It's not prime number sequences or other mathematical symbols, rather beautiful music. While the UN argues over how best to organize an expedition, another more independent group with considerable financial means responds - the Jesuits. God has other children out there, we must know them. The year is 2019 and the journey is made, but at some point something goes horribly wrong, and only one of the 8 journeymen returns nearly 40 years later, and he's not talking much (and he hasn't aged 40 years either, due to the relativistic effects of interstellar travel). Russell spins a masterful tale combining three different timelines woven together, pre-trip Earth, the ship and their exploration of Rakhat, and post-trip debriefing of the priest/professor who returned alive. The result is a nice suspense-building device, as you simultaneously learn about the preparations for, the trip itself, and the investigation of the result. Russell does a great job of rationing out the pieces of the story using this format. The character development is extensive and the description of the alien civilization is compelling. I was initially skeptical and was tempted to put the book down after about 100 pages, but having hung in there, by 150 I was firmly hooked, and by 200 I was ruing the fact that it would eventually have to end. The scientific aspect is not central - as in much of the fiction I prefer these days - but what is there is accurate enough (though requiring some generosity - it's unlikely that we'll be able to drive an entire asteroid at 2G acceleration within 20 or so years), and supports the story in a wonderful and unobtrusive fashion. I confess that the religious aspects of this story were almost equally as interesting as the scientific and cultural. As one who has a religious background to form some context, I was intrigued by the twist this element gave to the story. I have to give this book 5 stars, very impressive!
Rating:
Summary: A great new work of speculative fiction
Review: As much a work of profound philosophical fiction as science fiction, this book documents the first Jesuit mission to an alien world following first contact. A close examination of a group of old friends thrown into a terrible ordeal when things go horribly wrong, and the personal toll this takes on a certain Jesuit Priest. Intense read; exceptionally well-developed characters. You will also want to read the sequel Children of God for full resolution of the plot, which is VERY important.
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