The Sparrow

What Hacker News says

1. redfloatplaneMay 2026
   Ah, an opening to recommend The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, about a Jesuit going to space to speak with aliens. It won the Arthur C Clarke Award in 1998. I read it recently and it has stuck with me very strongly!
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2. stoolpigeonJan 2026
   You might enjoy Beckey Chamber's Galactic Commons series. She does a great job of creating all kinds of interesting characters and exploring them and what makes them unique.

   The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell is very compelling.

   And I seconded it below but I'll mention it again - the Bobiverse series is excellent with amazing exploration.

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3. thepuppet33rJul 2024
   The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

   https://marydoriarussell.net/novels/the-sparrow/

   Almost didn't finish it. Whatever your feelings on religion are, it's a fascinating and heartbreaking exploration of how far a man can be pushed before he loses faith in his god.

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4. poncho_romeroDec 2023
   Along these same lines, I would recommend _The Sparrow_ by Mary Doria Russell. An interesting story about religion meeting extraterrestrial life, and the implications thereof. Plus the dialogue, characters, and world building are wonderful!
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5. canistelMay 2023
   I never imagined Science Fiction could mix with Catholicism, but the weird combination sets an interesting backdrop for The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

   (There is the book A Canticle for Leibowitz too, or at least these are the ones that I have read)

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6. kioleanuOct 2022
   A similar book is „The Sparrow“ by Mary Doria Russell - humanity catches a radio signal of signing from another planet 4 light years anway and, since it’s so close, they send a delegation. The main character is a Jesuit linguist priest and he learns the languages spoken there
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