Mary Doria Russell's debut novel, The Sparrow, took us on a journey to a distant planet and into the center of the human soul. A critically acclaimed bestseller, The Sparrow was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Books of the Year, a finalist for the Book-of-the-Month Club's First Fiction Prize and the winner of the James M. Tiptree Memorial Award. Now, in Children of God, Russell further establishes herself as one of the most innovative, entertaining and philosophically provocative novelists writing today. ...
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Mary Doria Russell's debut novel, The Sparrow, took us on a journey to a distant planet and into the center of the human soul. A critically acclaimed bestseller, The Sparrow was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Books of the Year, a finalist for the Book-of-the-Month Club's First Fiction Prize and the winner of the James M. Tiptree Memorial Award. Now, in Children of God, Russell further establishes herself as one of the most innovative, entertaining and philosophically provocative novelists writing today. The only member of the original mission to the planet Rakhat to return to Earth, Father Emilio Sandoz has barely begun to recover from his ordeal when the So-ciety of Jesus calls upon him for help in preparing for another mission to Alpha Centauri. Despite his objections and fear, he cannot escape his past or the future. Old friends, new discoveries and difficult questions await Emilio as he struggles for inner peace and understanding in a moral universe whose boundaries now extend beyond the solar system and whose future lies with children born in a faraway place. Strikingly original, richly plotted, replete with memorable characters and filled with humanity and humor, Chil-dren of God is an unforgettable and uplifting novel that is a potent successor to The Sparrow and a startlingly imaginative adventure for newcomers to Mary Doria Russell's special literary magic. From the Hardcover edition.
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Add this copy of Children of God to cart. $106.87, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1999 by Books On Tape.
A grand follow up to the scifi masterpiece "The Sparrow"
I hope there is a third to complete the trilogy!
Phyreblue
Nov 26, 2008
Unique, compelling read
I can't recommend this book enough. It's been said here already, but this is the sequel to "The Sparrow" and this book would not stand alone. On the up side, The Sparrow is a fantastic read. The general premise for these books, that the Jesuits race to send a mission to the first detected alien civilization while terrestrial governments dither about what to do, is such a unique idea. When I first read about it, it seemed novel, but unlikely. Russell makes it plausible and interesting. The charachters in both books are compelling and real. They have complex motivations. You'll love and hate them. The dialogue is often hilarious and memorable. And the story will keep you turning the page. I had a writing instructor once tell me that you know a good author when, as you read, you catch phrases that make you think, "Man, I wish I had come up with that." It happened about once a page with both of these books. Moreover, I think Children of God is at least as good as The Sparrow, and considering The Sparrow won a Hugo, I think that's high praise. Great book!
pamela1717
Jul 13, 2007
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES!
Warning: don't try to read this one without reading 'The Sparrow' beforehand. Many sequels can exist on their own without reading the previous book but this is not one of them. This book will answer questions that you may have had after 'The Sparrow'. It also explores the other side of the coin from the people of Rakhat's perceptive. Sandoz returns to Rakhat and will encounter another character from the previous book (which I will not disclose as it may spoil a little of the suprise in the book--the surprise happens early so you won't have to wait long-basically around 20 pages). In my review of 'The Sparrow' I gave it 4 stars as it stands by itself. Once I read 'Children of God' my rating for 'The Sparrow' thus increased to 5 stars. I have loaned both of these books to male and female friends and they have recieved stellar reviews.
