Book: The Sparrow

Author: Maria D. Russell
Publisher:

This book has been doing the rounds of various SF stores and has been
talked about a lot on Amazon. (Way out here in the boonies, that`s how we
get our books, folks). For some reason, when I first heard about it, I felt
it would be too touchy-feely, Iowa ladies book circle for my preference: Lousy cover art doesn`t help. I was very pleasantly surprised.

This is a first contact novel. For those of you who are already ho-humming,
hang on. Its different. Just when you think you`ve seen it all an author
comes along who adds a new perspective. This is not hard SF, and will
appeal more to people who liked "Enders Game" or the "Foundation" series.
Very much about human interaction and attitudes, with the science taken for
granted.

Funny, thought provoking and anguished by parts, the depth comes from the
large cast of believable and different characters and the very unusual
plot. Both the humans and their counterparts are credible, and you don`t
get that "hang on, this isn`t right" sense of being jerked backed to
reality that ruins so much Science Fiction. The best thing is, it will probably appeal
to a few non-SF readers as well.
The subtext is moral and religious, and the prose is delicate but carries
authority. Some pretty interesting questions raised, and Russell unusually
makes no claim to possessing the answers. This is universal and you don`t
have to be a Catholic to appreciate it.

Its set in the near future. The solar system is well mapped, factories in
orbit and mining in the asteroid belt. Its about what happens when a SETI
astronomer picks up transmissions from the Centauri system. He happens to
be catholic and the Jesuits send an STL mission to investigate. They find a
planet with two sentient species.

The mission is a disaster and only one person survives, a charismatic
priest, crippled and emotionally scarred. The story is built around his
debriefing in a hostile home environment.

The ending has a twist. Be warned.

All in all I enjoyed it immensely, and recommend it.