The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Release date: 1996 / 10 tapes
Synopsis (from back cover): Emilio Sanchez is a remarkable man, a living saint and Jesuit priest who undergoes an experience so harrowing and profound that it makes him question the existence of God. This experience — the first contact between human beings and extraterrestrial life — begins with a small mistake and ends in a horrible catastrophe.
Review: For this review, I am grateful to have so recently found Updike’s rules for reviewing. As I’ve stated previously, I am not an aficianado of science fiction. I have enjoyed Ray Bradbury’s short stories — and Orson Scott Card’s Ender series — but I never choose to read science fiction and struggle when “forced to.”
In fact, I’ve been wondering if I have a streak of bad karma to work off… Not only was my book club’s choice science fiction, but the day before I finished The Sparrow, I received my next novel to read for the Center of the Blind — a 650 page science fiction novel titled Razor’s Edge (22 hours of reading, in case you’re wondering…).
To make matters worse, another volunteer had already read the first 100 pages and then discarded it — so I had the additional pressure of missing the first 100 pages (can you say, “LOST”?) not to mention many, many alien names like C’haiu and Zhazou… without the benefit of hearing how the first reader pronounced them!
But, I digress… back to The Sparrow! If I judge this novel based not on whether I enjoyed it, but on what Russell’s intentions were — The Sparrow is a success. Russell has been very generous to share her thoughts and reasonings behind this novel and after even a cursory review of a few interviews, I’m impressed by her depth of thought and ability to translate her vision into fiction.
Here is a taste of her prose and an indication of her mission:
During what Europeans were pleased to call the Age of Discovery, Jesuit priests were never more than a year or two behind the men who made initial contact with previously unknown peoples; indeed, Jesuits were often the vanguard of exploration.
The United Nations required years to come to a decision that the Society of Jesus reached in ten days. In New York, diplomats debated long and hard, with many recesses and tablings of the issue, whether and why human resources should be expended in an attempt to contact the world that would become known as Rakhat when there were so many pressing needs on Earth. In Rome, the questions were not whether or why but how soon the mission could be attempted and whom to send.
The Society asked leave of no temporal government. It acted on its own principles, with its own assets, on Papal authority. The mission to Rakhat was undertaken not so much secretly as privately–a fine distinction but one that the Society felt no compulsion to explain or justify when the news broke several years later.
The Jesuit scientists went to learn, not to proselytize. They went so that they might come to know and love God’s other children. They went for the reason Jesuits have always gone to the furthest frontiers of human exploration. They went ad majorem Dei gloriam: for the greater glory of God.
They meant no harm.
Now, one regret I have regarding my experience of this novel is that I chose to listen to it. The waiting list for the book version from my library was too long — but happily the cassette tape version was available, so I listened to it during my hour-long commute to the barn every day. This I do not recommend.
While The Sparrow is quite plot-driven — which usually works well in an auditory format — it was very difficult not to actually see the alien and planet names and this was a barrier to my initial familiarity with the characters.
Happily, if not surprisingly with three former English teachers, our discussion was interesting and explored issues of “first contact” and loss of innocence. So, while I was not able to get beyond my dislike of this genre, I do think The Sparrow lends itself well to discussion.
Anyone else read this novel? I would love to hear multiple perspectives!
I read this book last year (why is there a waiting list for this? are they making it a movie or something?). I am no lover of sci-fi, but I have a great love for the study of religion, its limitations, and people’s interpretation of religion. I thought the story was intricate and really well-wrought, with a cool interplay between the present and the past that kept me hanging on until the horrifying end. It reminded me of another science fiction book that was based on The Canterbury Tales called Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Worth reading!
The Sparrow was the second science fiction book I had ever read and I balked even though it was highly recommended. I was not sorry as I really enjoyed it and went on to read more of Russell’s works. (My first dip into SF was reading The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.)
I read this when it first came out and remember finding that it reminded me of Ursula Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. I’m glad you enjoyed your discussion and hope you will give other books in the genre a try.
Hi Virginia and Anna! Thank you for the comments… After reading your impressions, I might consider reading the sequel to The Sparrow…
Thanks for stopping by, Gavin! I do like science fiction short stories… I promise not to turn away from the genre entirely!
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reading science fiction books is the stuff that i am always into. science fiction really widens my imagination ::,
I was going to make a comment but see I had previosly! At my bookclub last month, a member discussed her latest read, Doc by Mary Doria Russell and rated it highly. I suggested members read The Sparrow by Russell as it was another great read!