The Sparrow

By: Mary Doria Russell

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: To make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end.

©2008 Mary Doria Russell (P)2008 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

“A startling, engrossing, and moral work of fiction.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Important novels leave deep cracks in our beliefs, our prejudices, and our blinders. The Sparrow is one of them.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“Powerful...The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

Good performance & book, lousy mastering

The audio seems sped up at times, and there's portions where the audio quality is crap.

Imaginative and unique

A great combination of futuristic sci-fi with woven together with the history of the Jesuits. I loved it!

Stellar!

I can't say enough about this book.... The only negative is the ending seemed so abrupt, but because I loved the characters so much and wanted to know about every day of their lives. Even after 15 hours I could have spent another 15 engaged!
This is now one of my favorites ever. No, its not hard-core sci-fi at all, or even speculative...it is thought provoking. I have also heard other David Colacci narrations, and this was truly great.
That this was also written 22 years ago really adds impact.
In terms of recording quality, the first 30 minutes had some static. It may have been just my download, but I don't know. After that the recording was totally fine.

Excellent book!

My only complaint is that the narrator's voice Trails off several times and I might be losing a word or two but this problem only persists for probably the first third of the book. other otherwise, I loved the story, the performance, and everything else about the book.

Well written

This was a very well written story and I enjoyed bouncing back and forth in time. Its an excellent way to get bits and pieces of the story and keep a reader (or listener) interested until the end. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that part of the story are disturbing but sometimes you have to force yourself to hear it to be reminded that, for some, those horrors are real. I'm looking forward to Children of God as I have heard it heals the wounds that the Sparrow creates

fantastic highs, crippling lows, great story

One of the best books I have read (listened to) in a while. I had this feeling, that, as far as I remember, I only also felt while reading 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro. Both Ishiguro and Russell have an amazing ability to describe human beings through simple yet profound moments. I enjoy science fiction generally but often complain that the characters are too flat, predictable, just there to carry the plot along. In this book, I loved the characters, they were all as real as people can be. Joyed now, after finishing, to discover the book has a sequel. I feel wrecked by the book, but, wrecked in a good way. I feel I need to raise my arms up and down and then point at this book.

But, I should mention story a little, not too much. If first contact of other alien species is a fun topic for you this is a good read. If mystery and needing to know what happens is something you like in books here you go. If you want a book to give you all the emotions, pain, happiness, contentment, sorrow, well, um, again, here is this book.

Great story, great narration, abrupt ending

The story was great and the way it was narrated really helps you visualize the scenes and understand the characters. My main issue was with how the book ended. The story was great overall, but I feel the ending was rushed and could have been expounded through more chapters detailing the story further. Overall however, a great read

oh my

I think this is possibly the best book I've ever read. however, I wish I'd read a print version, because I had to "rewind" several times because I'd somehow missed incredibly important information which was just touched on at the end of a chapter and left for half an hour until the next chapter... ah well. yay multitasking.

A work of profound beauty and imagination

This is one of those absolutely breathtaking works of science fiction that makes the more cowardly critics say things like, "Well, it's not really sci-fi, it's a novel!". "The Sparrow", with its space travel and alien species, is definitely sci-fi. As with any other work of good fiction, it tells us something about humanity. Because it is sci-fi, it does so by framing the human in an alien setting. Mary Doria Russell gives us human characters, whose joys and sorrows draw the reader in as they explore Russell's strange new world. Using anthropology, linguistics, history, physics, philosophy, and - above all - a deep understanding of the human heart, Russell has crafted an incredible, believable alien world as a mirror with which to study our own reflections.

I also teared up on public transit because of a sci-fi Jesuit linguist from the slums of Puerto Rico. 10/10 Would read/cry again.

Inspired

I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the fact that I an atheist. However in the author's acknowledgements she mentioned my favorite author as her inspiration. Now it makes perfect sense.