In a word - excellent. The Sparrow is a "first contact" science fiction novel, but it's also an example of the genre that's great for non-SF fans. Although it's a story about a Jesuit mission to an alien planet, the focus is more on the question of faith.

The novel uses a non-linear storytelling device, so in the first few pages you know the outcome - Emilio Sandoz has returned to earth alone and broken, and scandalous stories about a dead child and a brothel have preceded him. His superiors attempt to extract the full story from him - there are hints that the scandals have had a disastrous effect on the Church.

Despite knowing the end result, I found the slow reveal of the "how" and "why" totally fascinating. I've seen some complaints that Emilio's final confession wasn't as shocking as they expected, and I'm puzzled by that one - I thought it was pretty implicit from the beginning what had happened to him, and that the story was not so much what did happen, but the progress Emilio made towards healing and coming to terms with it.

My only complaint is that there are two characters on the expedition who don't get much in terms of being fleshed out - Alan Pace and Marc Robichaux are so colorless and neglected compared to the others. The others - Anne, George, Sofia, D.W., and Jimmy - are so vibrant and their relationships are so endearing that just knowing they don't make it back to Earth is enough of a heartbreak.

Wow!! This book was like nothing I have ever read- it was unbelievable. It just kept getting stronger with every turning of the page. A group go off to a newly discovered planet after hearing some breathtaking music. Headed by Jesuits (4) and 4 civilians,they go off to Rakhat to make contact. This book delves into religious faith, found and lost; the power of God; the power of family and belonging; the power of love; the power of acceptance and forgiveness. It packs such a powerful punch.The book grabbed me and did not let me go till the last page. It is so profound- it makes you look at your own life and beliefs. I highly recommend this book!!!

If I wanted to read about sexual slavery, rape, gang rape, and gang rape with an audience, I'd just read the news everyday. Actually, I do read the news every day. This kind of stuff is rampant. It always blows my mind that SF-F authors - who can write about ANYTHING, no limits - often choose to return to stuff like sexual slavery.

This is not entertainment for me. It is real life, it is every day, and it is NOT what I seek out in my fiction.

Russell is a great writer - this one-star is not a reflection of her writing. Her character development is also excellent, which makes it that much worse when a character we love, a wonderful man, gets brutally raped over and over and over and over ad nauseam.

They also slaughter and eat infants and children.

No matter how good the writing is I cannot get on board with this. Call it a personal hang-up. If I knew sexual slavery and gang rape were the punchline to this novel, I'd never have read it.