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Summary: This was a very creative work - but lacked depth.
Review: I was dissappointed that the author did not address the issues of free will insofar as the main characters seemed to be fatalistic in their views. While Emilio was convinced that he was doing God's will, he never was heard to pray or to communicate with God in any way - one had the feeling that he did not know how. It was hard for me to believe that the author had a full knowledge of what Christianity or Judaism is all about. There was just not enough philosophy of these beliefs to convince one that she really had a deep understanding of Jesuits, the Catholic Church or Judaism - also, one could not tell if she has embraced Orthodox Judaism, Conservative or Reformed Judaism. We do not really know. Despite the foregoing, I found this book to be one that held my interest and moved me emotionally. I just wish she had let us know more about what her characters were thinking as they went along.
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Summary: What a Build-Up then....
Review: I read this book since I enjoy sci-fi and fantasies. I was very interested in the beginning. The characters were great. I liked them. The story was believable. But Then... the story died in the last chapters. To much, to quickly and after the author had spent so much time bringing us there. It left me feeling diappointed that I took the time to read the book.
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Summary: Deserving of her award!
Review: I was at the 1998 World Science Fiction Convention to hear the announcement that Mary Doria Russell had won the Joseph W. Campbell Award for best new writer. I literally jumped up and down and cheered. This is an amazing book. It won't answer your questions, but it won't matter. It's one of those rare books that you close and instantly know you are the better for having been there.
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Summary: Science Fiction For Those Who'd Rather Not.
Review: I'm not much of a science fiction fan but for some reason I decided to give this book a try(probably my predilection for history and religion/spirituality). Whatever the reason, I'm glad I picked this one up and plan to read its sequel. I was drawn into and stretched by its struggles with faith, both personal and institutional. The real surprise came in how the story made me revisit my understanding of what's going on when cultures make first contact. Though at times a bit plodding, it made me stay up half the night to finish it and I found it "sticking with me" for quite a while after. Definitely worth reading, particularly if science fiction usually bores or scares you off. Christians who like easy answers shouldn't bother, but if you wrestle with truth-questions, an interesting view.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Believe the Hype
Review: This is really not a very good book. The writing is uneven and at times sloppy, the character development is laborious and not very believable, and the pacing is so slow as to cause you to scream with frustration, whereas the denouement is so rushed as to leave you scratching your head and wondering where the book went (especially in the trade paperback edition, which fools you by padding out the back of the book with a rather pretentions reader's guide to discussion). Yes, some of the characters are rather engaging in the end, but they all die anyway, so what's the use? None of them seem real. And stuff that is important at the start of the novel (like the hand mutilation) turns out not to mean that much in the end, even though the author spends many words on describing it. As an SF novel, this book pretty much fails to be any good. As a mainstream novel that draws on SF conventions, it probably does a bit better. It does have a somewhat haunting qaulity, but it's really not worth your time.
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Summary: Where Is God When You Need Him?
Review: The Science Fiction genre has one amazing potential. It allows the author to explore any technical, social, political, philosophical or religious concept imaginable. It doesn't have to have "good" science in it in order to be a worthwhile piece of literature. Most "technical" space operas are simply filled with Star Trek gibberish anyway. The science in this book is execrable, but who cares. It wouldn't have mattered if the group went to the planet Rakhat on winged horses. This book explores religious and social concepts. If we have absolute faith in God, will he catch us when we fall over backwards? How can we anticipate that the most inocuous seeming activities may have destructive results on a planet's society. Many philosophical themes run through this book, and I enjoyed it, even though I am an agnostic. There seems to be quite a divergence of opinion on the substance of the main characters. I liked them, and they were real to me. I thought they were witty, concerned human beings.
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Summary: At least someone always hears the tree falling. . .
Review: Poor reviews notwithstanding, this book is an entertaining read. You should know from the outset that two defects, common to first-time novelists, are readily apparent: the dialogue is simple, childish and hoakey at times, and the science is questionable at best. However, the story stands on its own. Anyone who enjoys originality, genuine entertainment and post-conclusive thought should read this book. The depths of desparity, evidenced in Sandoz's disruptive commentary, are remarkably well thought-out and efficiently executed. The conclusion is quick, but understandable. Before you read this book, please understand that Sandoz's resolution will not be found in the lastparagraph, nor will it come from his mouth or his subjective narration. Rather, his bretheren provide it for you (along with the explanation of the title, for which reason I woke my friend at 1200 to reveal) in their supposition that God's action is simply watching, sorrowful, and remembering. Fortunately, this is the logical outcome of the novel. Read and enjoy. One post-script: no hard-core sci-fi fan will love this book as it requires a modicum of thought and patience to appreciate.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing and compelling
Review: This book was recommended to me, and against my better judgement I read it. I loved it!!! It was a moving and convincing portrayal of struggles of faith. One part of my brain kept saying "No, that couldn't happen!!" while the other part of my brain was enthralled, saying "I wonder what happens next" It was a book that stayed with me and made me think a lot about my beliefs. I was convinced that the impossible was possible and that the characters were real. It is my next book club choice and I highly recommend it for a read that makes the reader disappear into the page.
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Summary: Not only SF, but also an exploration into human emotion...
Review: Insightful looks into Jesuit culture shine brightly along with perfect, detailed sentences in *The Sparrow,* Mary Doria Russell's debut novel. Emilio Sandoz is the Jesuit priest who isn't certain whether or not he truly loves God. Sofia Mendes is the tough, smart woman, whose childhood provides a tough hide against the love that she doesn't let herself feel. George and Anne Edwards are the humorous, engineer/doctor couple who will help Emilio find stability and coax Sofia to be happy among people again. And Jimmy Quinn is the scientist who hears mysterious songs resonating from deep space, songs that will bring them all together in a mission to an alien planet. The five, along with two other Jesuit priests and the approval of the Father General and the entire Jesuit order, make a light-speed journey to Rakhat. They go there to meet the ones who make the music. They go to learn the language. They don't go to Rakhat for converts. They go to learn and appreciate God's othe! r children. They go for "the greater glory of God." What happens when God isn't listening? Russell has created an entirely believable world with entirely believable characters. Her writing is easy to read and delicate, yet conveys strong feeling with ease. *The Sparrow* is not only an exploration in science fiction, but also one of human emotion. The characters all have problems, all of which are believable. Modern Catholicism (which seems to remain as much intact in the story's futurisitc time frame as it is today) makes an interesting facet within the book, but doesn't take away from the story itself. The story shifts frequently between time frames: before the mission and after the mission, until in the second half of the book we actually glimpse the mission itself. Russell makes her plot changes smoothly and flawlessly, building suspense. The only problems in this book are one or two scenes in which Russell's bid for shock value rather than the usual great d! etailing didn't win me over. Nevertheless, this book will, ! in turn, make you joyful and rip your heart out. Mary Doria Russell has a long and successful career in science fiction ahead of her, and it's up to us readers to enjoy the ride.
Rating: 
Summary: The Sparrow, a sparrow to the eagles of SF.
Review: The Sparrow, masquerading as a SF novel, is a silly, pathetic attempt at a romantic/religious soap opera. It is an embarrassment to honest soap opera, romance, and SF hacks alike. The target readers are women with the mentality of twelve year old Catholic schoolgirls who still lust after some priest of their adolescence; and women who are titillated by priests using dirty words. Ms. Russell's characters are incredibly trite, shallow, and most of all, predictable. The Sparrow is an excellent example of the pseudo literary writing style, meaning: characterized by extensive, superfluous bull hockey. Technically, the little physics the book contains is often wrong. The narrative is so filled with inconsistencies that I can only assume that Random House and the editor of this compost heap fodder are the laughing stock of the industry. Not surprisingly, after 406 pages of random manure mixing, the conclusion is a one page dump leaving many loose ends.
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