The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
01/10/2002 . Source: Sue Davies 

Pub: Black Swan Transworld Publishing 1997. Price: £ 7.99 (UK). ISBN 0552 99777 3.

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'In Star Trek everyone spoke English.'

Emilio Sandoz is a Jesuit linguist. He specialises in troubled countries, soaking up new languages and cultures. When his close friend, Jimmy, discovers singing in the radio waves from the stars Emilio knows that God has sought him out for a very special mission. A tale of space travel develops into a journey of faith.

Although the author admits to having sought help with the science and speculation parts of the novel, the structure is sound and the narrative flows smoothly. The character development and plot are very satisfactory and the characters involving.

The use of certain characters is occasionally shocking. The violence in the book is mainly 'off screen' deliberately so. The witnesses have to tell their tale and re-tell it. They are forced to deal with events that they would rather forget.

There are two narratives which mirror each other: the excitement followed by the despair with an apparent mystery. Sandoz is accused of unspeakable behaviour and reviled by the press and his Church.

Yet contemporaneous accounts claim his behaviour was almost saint-like and were putting forward suggestions of potential canonisation. The painful process of telling the story to his confessors takes place at the same time. The reader has to constantly try to read into the narrative and discover reasons for what follows.

The explorers travel at close to the speed of light so Sandoz the sole survivor returns many years after his departure. For him it has been just two years. Many of Sandoz and his colleagues' actions have been endlessly dissected and forgotten by the press and public.

His return is an embarrassment to a Jesuit church in disarray from the revelations. It would have been easier for everyone, including him, if he had died. We learn most of the real story at the same time as Emilio Sandoz' confessors. It is a painful process for both him and his confessors where each layer of humanity is stripped away.

'The Sparrow' looks at faith. Using the setting of space exploration, Russell can examine human society. Central to the text is the complete lack of understanding, the arrogance of thinking you know all the answers.

Sandoz is almost destroyed by believing his God either abandoned him or that the Universe is an empty place.

Although occasionally feeling that the characters are only there to make certain points the novel is an engrossing read and I look forward to reading its sequel.

Sue Davies