Mogen Library

What I've been reading lately:
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, is practically beyond categorization. Science fiction? Philosophical fiction? Theological fiction? Anthropological fiction? Horror? Whatever category you pick, I believe that it is the best I've read in any of them.

SETI listeners finally pick up a true transmission signal from a star system that is feasibly reachable from Earth (given the advances in space travel in the story's future setting). Rather than merely mathematics or words, the short signal is composed of exquisitely ethereal music and song. The world is astonished, but it is the Jesuits of the Roman Catholic Church that first mount and finance a mission to discover the planet and beings behind such mesmerizing art. The chosen team is composed of a variety of scientists and Jesuit priests with the optimum skills to reach the source and engage in first contact. The voyage will take 17 years to travel each way (only months for those on board) and is equipped to stay for 3 years. But after 2 years on the planet Rakhat pass, contact with the team, is lost with no warning or explanation.

A second mission financed by an international team, sent shortly after the first, then arrives to discover that only one of the original voyagers, Father Sandoz, is still alive, but on death's door. What happened? Sullen, broken, and bitter, he refuses to tell them and is shipped back, alone, to be debriefed by his Order.

Alternating between the history of the team members before the mission, their time on Rakhat, and the struggles of the members of the Jesuit Order to find out what caused the catastrophic failure of the mission after Sandoz returns forms the compelling narrative of The Sparrow.

A compelling book for group discussion, The Sparrow, raises questions that deal with all the categories above in a unique but oddly familiar story.

What I've been reading lately...

A high school Christian mission trip to Central America goes horribly wrong in a story by Andrew Klavan that could very easily become reality in the dangerous political climate of the present day. Good teen discussion book. Highly recommended