Play Book Tag discussion

The Sparrow tells the story of a catastrophic mission to Rakhat a newly discovered planet, 4.3 Light Years from Earth. Unhampered by the bureaucracy of government, the Jesuits send an eight person team to investigate the planet and it's people. Only one returns, Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz. This book is his story, and that of the seven others on the mission.

Despite initial success, the mission goes horribly wrong. When a United Nations-led team arrives several years later they find Sandoz with brutally mangled hands, working in a brothel, standing over the body of an alien child he has just murdered. Emilio returns to earth nearly a half century later, alone, emaciated and almost catatonic. Most of the story is told from his viewpoint, alternating between 2015-2019 and later recounting his time on Rakhat under interrogation by the general authorities of the Jesuit mission, after he returns to Earth (2059).

I was hooked from the opening page. It's science fiction, but felt more like a mystery to me. The story was both character and plot driven. I found the aliens to be very interesting and, knowing from the beginning the condition Emilio returns to earth in, watched for signs of brutality. I enjoyed learning about their culture and how they were both different and similar to humans in many ways. I thought the author did a wonderful job of making them so vivid.

There are a few flaws that made no difference in my enjoyment of the book. Of course, many aspects of the novel are implausible. How could the Jesuits get a mission ready before the United Nations? When the team gets to Rakhat, they seem almost uninterested in making contact with any alien beings. Some readers may be offended by some of the sexual and religious concepts but I felt it was done well.

This book both fascinated and disturbed me. I'm still thinking about it and planning to read the sequel "Children of God" in order to finally understand what what happened to Emilio on Rakhat.

Great review! This is on my TBR and I'm planning to read for WPF this year.

I always say and I know that Karin will chime in and confirm that you should not read this as a stand alone that you do indeed need to read the sequel Children of God.

Great review. I love her writing. Besides for Children of God her other books are not science fiction.

One of my all-time favorite books.

Great review, I was really hoping to read this in January and just didn't manage. Hopefully sometime this year. Quite excited for it now.

Nice review. This is on my list to read.

I agree - on my all-time favorite list. Discussed it in two different book groups. One woman had related it to various parts of the Bible - a whole analysis. This book just blows me away. Thanks for the great review. peace, janz

The Jesuits could get a mission ready because they are private and they have the money to buy what they need. Any government agency has to debate, decide where the money comes from, settle political debts or promises- all that takes time. The Jesuits just have to have the head people meet and decide. A dear friend of mine was President of my university, a state owned public school, The University of (fill in the blank with a state). After he resigned, he said he would never again work for a government owned school and he did not. He was grabbed up immediately by a private university and stayed there until he retired. He was the best President of a University I ever had. peace, janz

I agree regarding the attraction and disturbing factor of this book. I rated it four stars, too.