The Sparrow is not really science fiction, even if it has a space ship and first contact with aliens. Russell creates unique and lovable characters as she explores anthropology, sociology and religion against the backdrop of an alien planet. The book is worth reading just for the characters but the story's unique chronology, where the reader hears the beginning and the ending at the start and works toward the middle, makes it too intriguing to pass up. ( )

I really wish I could give 3.5 stars on here, but I can't justify giving it a full 4th star.I have to call this a "good" book because it caused an explosion of ideas and concepts in my head while reading it. I was impressed with the range of themes this story contains. It's theological, sociological, anthropological, psychological, and philosophical, with a fair amount of heavy science thrown in to keep the sci-fi nerds pleased.The characters are all just a bit too unbelievable for me though. Emilio was the worst. I could not relate to him throughout any of the book. He came across as whiny even before all the trauma he'd suffer on the alien planet. I also thought his relationship with Supaari after everyone else died was uncharacteristic. Yes, Emilio was mortified with grief at first, but he completely failed to communicate well with Supaari. In every other mission the priest had been on, everyone sort of falls in love with him, yet Supaari is utterly bored with him, so it was unbelievable when the alien discards him.Anne and Sofia were unrealistically perfect female characters. Any flaw they had was somehow excused, justified, or reconciled in some way or another. I love strong female characters, but they have to remain human. The author admitting that she saw herself as Anne was self-promoting and awkwardly narcissistic.I have so much trouble with the event that caused all the trouble of Rahkat, the alien planet: planting a garden with Earth plants. WTF?! I'm no type of scientist and I was appalled at the concept. Endangering the ecosystem and introducing the concept of farming to a sentient species who did not have it as part of their lives is such an obvious abomination, even though I'm not a naturalist (like the character Marc) or an anthropologist (like Anne). For crap's sake, that was just ridiculously stupid. Had the been less educated Earthlings, yes, I would have viewed it as an honest mistake.Those are my rants for this book. I did love the two alien races, and the concept of herbivore/carnivore and prey/predator was brilliant. I was in love with the gentle Runa species and thoroughly intrigued by the Jana'ata and their control of the planet.I really feel like Russel failed with the sci-fi aspect of Rakhat, however. I was left with a very unclear picture of what Supaari's city looked like. We were given just the tiniest glimpse of what it was like, while throughout the rest of the book we had to suffer long prose and dialogue about theology and dinner party banter. I enjoyed those parts, mind you, but it was unfair that the description of this alien world didn't get as much attention.All in all, the book is worth reading for its themes and concepts, but the story and characters weren't enough for me to read the sequel. ( )

This is an amazing book. The interweaving of the past and "present" to form one story; the cultural misunderstandings (both on earth and Rakhat) and thinking you "know" what happens as the story is slowly revealed make this a shocker. Loved it. ( )

Lots of moral questions raised, but what do you expect from a book about a Jesuit priest in space. Go ahead read it. ( )

Fr. Emilio Sandoz is a broken man in the beginning of the novel - half-dead when he was found on the planet Rakhat and returned to Earth. He believes God abandoned him in a mission he so fully felt God had led him to do. The author deftly moves the story from present-to-past throughout the book - it is both wonderful to learn the hows & whys & successes of their mission to a planet far beyond the stars (hitching a ride on an asteroid!) and devastating as well when the horrors begin (like any foreign visitor, Fr. Sandoz and his friends introduced destruction into the environment without meaning too). The title comes from the book of Matthew, Chapter 10, verse 29 about how not one sparrow can fall to the ground without the Father knowing it -- but it is quietly pointed out deep into the book: But the sparrow still falls. There may be some who read this book who will abhor what happens to Fr. Sandoz near the end of his mission on the planet...while others will respect the honing of a man by God and pray may it never be so for them. ( )